:: SOUL BALANCE ::

Onsite Massage (Chair Massage)

Chair Massage is fast becoming a popular
form of skilled bodywork In airports,
shopping malls, convention centres,
corporate board rooms, supermarkets,
street corners, sporting events, dentist's
surgeries and hospitals. You can now find
practitioners bringing professional massage
for the first time to the great untouched
masses.

Apart from the physical benefits of the
massage itself, it has proven to be a source
of relaxation for the client. Whether its 5
mins or half hour session, the benefits of
switching off the mind and relaxing the body
are plentiful. The beauty of Chair Massage is
its simple message that massage can make
you feel better, whatever that means to
you, anytime you want. You don't have to
be sick or enlightened or wealthy to
appreciate its benefits. It is truly massage
for the masses.

Chair Massage also acts as the entry-point
for clients into different kinds of bodywork. I
would venture to say that an increasing
amount of people are having their first
massage in a chair than on a table so
essentially Chair Massage clients become the
foundation for future table clients. I know of
practitioners who practiced Chair Massage
initially only to have their table practice
increase as a result.

The accessible nature of Chair Massage has
brought it to offices and factories, corporate
events and trade shows, sporting events and
concerts, hospitals and care centres,
shopping centres and airports. Last month
Walmer was delighted to take their 20 years
experience in this industry to the Toys for
Boys Exhibition and Off the Rails Live at the
RDS.

Therapists were kept working round the clock offering
chair massage to attendants. The act of giving a
chair massage is extremely comfortable for the
Therapist and as a result their posture and stamina is
fully protected and sustained.

June will see the start of a new post graduate ITEC
Diploma course in On Site Massage Therapy. The
syllabus will include On Site Massage routine for Chair
Clients and in addition will incorporate Stress
Management to include the effects of Diet and
Exercise on Stress, Short & Long Term Stress, How
Stress can be treated and Coping Strategies.
The Stress management aspect is significant in
helping clients totally relax during the Chair massage
and indeed any other treatment that you currently
offer. It will give the client something extra to take
away from the treatment, allowing the effects of the
treatment to continue in the days or weeks that
follow. Full syllabus can be viewed online in the College
Section. www.walmer.ie

Michelle Burke Delaney
Dec 07