Massage. Hearing the term makes one think of high end, luxury spa where clients wear clay masks and thick, pristine robes, and cucumbers. It makes one think of incredibly rich people with way too much time on their hands. However, massage is not a luxurious activity anymore. In Fact it has been dubbed to be a necessity, especially for the everyday man and woman who work, live, and love in a highly competitive and increasingly worsening economy.
The act of massage can be defined as pressing and rubbing one’s skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments in order to relieve pain and reduce stress. Massage can range from light stroking to deep pressure and tissue massage. Massages are an essential form of therapy that allow one to experience a high that is brought on by the release of endorphins and serotonin following pain relief. Massage is a vital form of physiotherapy as well. Athletes receive deep tissue massages in order to prevent injuring themselves out on the field as well as to prevent the exacerbation of an existing condition. Not only physical, but massage therapy also has a number of mental health benefits. It reduces stress and helps manage anxiety. It relaxes the high strung and overworked. It allows an emotionally overloaded person to calm down slowly and gradually.
There are multiple types of massages. The most common ones of these are,
- Swedish massage
A Swedish massage uses a mixture of long strokes, flesh kneading, circular motions, and vibration. This whole type is centered around being as gentle with the client as possible. It is most commonly employed to help a person relax and recharge.
- Deep massage
A more forceful type of massage in comparison to Swedish, deep massage is used to address muscle damage and injuries. In this type, slow and impactful strokes are used to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.
- Sports massage
Sports massages are geared towards sporty and active people. It is more closely related to Swedish massage in terms of technique and uses gentle and long strokes and flesh kneading.
- Trigger point massage
Trigger Point massage is a specialized type of massage that focuses on areas where tight muscle fibers have formed. These muscle fibers are generally resultant of an injury or overuse.
While massages sound lovely and are a necessity, it is impossible for people to find time in their day to go to a massage parlor or spa. If they somehow do manage to carve out some time, there is the question of the massage parlor’s credibility and the availability of one’s favorite massage therapist. Due to this, a lot of people have started to turn to massage chairs. Initially written off as a fad in the ’90s to appease the youth, massage chairs have gained popularity and credibility as a legitimate form of relaxation.
Massage chairs allow one to experience all the benefits of a proper and deep massage without having to leave their home. It lets them relax and re-center without having to strip down and have an awkward interaction with a massage therapist.
There are a number of benefits of using massage chairs,
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Massage chairs are wonderful when it comes to managing and reducing stress and anxiety. The chairs have proven to be effective in a number of studies. A 10-15 minute long massage helps alleviate symptoms of physical and psychological stress. It lowers oxygen consumption, blood pressure, and the level of cortisol. Most, if not all the studies, had similar results proving that massage chairs are a smart investment that offer a range of long term health benefits.
- Relaxes and Loosens Muscles
When one engages in movement-based activities and sporty activities that are beyond their body’s limit, their muscles experience soreness. This soreness can be attributed to the overworked muscle groups. The pain is a signal from the brain to showdown and relax. Massage chairs are great for a time like this. The use of a massage chair inherently involves relaxation and it also loosens the overworked and tightened muscles groups.
- Improve blood flow
In a massage chair, the functions of punching, patting, and squeezing are performed by a roller system that moves and vibrates all over the back of the user’s body. This promotes improved and healthier blood flow. The chairs also help in increasing the retention and circulation of blood. Improved blood circulation leads to a number of health benefits being unlocked, these include accelerated recovery from injury and illness, eliminating toxins from the body, and increased production of endorphins.
- Strengthen the immune system
A 30-minute massage has the capability of increasing the number of lymphocytes in the human body. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that fight off infections, viruses, and diseases. They are responsible for protecting the human body from harmful entrants.
- Reduce pressure on the spine
Massage chairs have the ability to reduce the pressure that is present on the spine, given how the spine is a highway that holds all the vital organs together as well as support the human body’s mass, it experiences heightened pressure. This heightened pressure on the spine can be reduced by massaging muscle areas in order to stimulate increased blood flow.
Given the vast benefits that massage chairs offer and their convenience, many Malaysians have started turning to the recreation and relaxation unit for their massage needs. The top three massage chairs of 2021 were,
- OSIM uDivine V Premium Massage Chair
OSIM massage chairs have customizable massage programs and are fully equipped with a quality sound system as well as smart safety features. The massage chair’s price is RM 13,038.00.
- OGAWA Luxr Amor Massage Sofa
The OGAWA massage chair comes fully equipped with remote control and a swing feature. It also comes with a free eye mask. The massage chair’s price is RM 3,640.00, making it one of the most affordable lines in the market.
- GINTELL DéSpace Star II Massage Chair
The GINTELL massage chair comes with six preset healthcare programs, Bluetooth speakers, and 36 airbags. The chair costs around RM 5,488.00 and is one of the safety products in the industry.
Massage chairs in Malaysia, often referred to as relaxation chairs, are necessary for the maintenance of a healthy and happy life. It helps maintain one’s mental as well as physical health. It allows people to decompress after a particularly draining day and is a vital household as well as office appliance.
