The world is speeding up in every sphere of life and with it is speeding our aging process.
We occupy ourselves so much in life that most of us do not even get time to treat ourselves to a little pampering and care.
After all, who among us can afford to go to a spa or hire a masseuse?
A good massage chair is no longer a luxury that only a few of us can afford to use. It essentially brings the spa to you and lets you relax and unwind from the daily stress of life, in the comfort of your home.
Now that we got that out of the way, the 15 benefits of Massage Chairs that you cannot overlook follow!
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Relaxes and repairs muscles
Everything we do requires our muscles to contract (even a simple smile or frown needs at least ten muscles to work). Muscle soreness or sprains is a genuine problem for people, whether they work out regularly or engage in absolutely no physical activity.
There are two solutions to soreness – sleep it off or massage the sore muscles; eating a painkiller or using a pain relief spray gives only temporary relief. Combating soreness by resting calls for taking the long route and none of us has so much time, so the best way to relax and repair your muscles is to opt for a massage.
A massage chair effectively conditions your muscles and provides quick, long-lasting relief from muscle related problems by using technology that mimics the real effects and benefits derived from a traditional massage.
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Aligns and decompresses the spinal cord
About 90% of all animals to have ever existed do not have a spine. Human beings, on the other hand, have a backbone and that’s what separates us from other creatures – we can stand up on two limbs instead of crawling on all four.
Spinal cord injuries and ailments have become so common these days that we all know someone who has experienced slipped disc or cervical spondylosis. The most frequent cause of spine-related troubles is excessive sitting for prolonged periods of time and lack of exercise.
A significant component of any massage therapy is focusing on the back/spinal cord area to relieve pressure and align it. Massage chairs recline and use kneading and heat therapy techniques to recreate the same focus and provide similar results as that of traditional massage therapy.
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Improves blood circulation
Our arteries and veins are like a complex network that circulates blood pumped from the heart all over the body. With even a slight problem in this complex chain of arteries & veins, the blood and nutrient flow to a body part may be restricted and can lead to health issues.
Fat accumulation, inadequate physical activity, and tobacco consumption might form plaque that narrows blood vessels. While exercising is the best way to ensure a steady and adequate blood flow throughout the body, most of us are too lazy to work out regularly.
A massage chair is the next best way to improve blood circulation due to the various techniques that use vibration. A zero gravity massaging chair significantly helps in improving blood circulation as well.
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Corrects and maintains posture
Some of us hunch, some slouch, some shrug. If a survey were conducted to assess how many people have perfect posture, it would surely be a small minority of us. Poor posture while standing, sitting through your day at a desk job, and even while sleeping can lead to various spinal and shoulder problems in the long run.
The excessive curvature of the spine or tensed shoulders is not easy to remedy and if left unchecked, may cause a severe injury that can burn a hole in your wallet.
A massage chair helps realign and decompress the spinal cord, thereby providing relief from any cervical or deltoid tightness. Regular sessions using your massage chair can contribute significantly to posture correction and maintenance.
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Depressurizes nervous system
The nervous system is the brain’s medium of exercising control over the body. Everything we experience and all our reactions is made possible because of a functioning nervous system. A pressured or pinched nerve can be caused by a plethora of reasons, and a massage is an excellent way to heal it.
Conventionally, a deep tissue massage would be prescribed to deal with a pinched nerve and depressurize the entire nervous system. There are various types of massage chairs out there but most of them are capable of replicating a deep tissue massage as well – all you have to do is increase the intensity of kneading and vibration.
Although usually pinched nerves heal themselves, it is wise to be on the safer side and spend a few minutes in your massage chair.
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Relieves stress, anxiety, and depression
Life takes a toll on us physically and mentally in today’s world. Mental health is just as important as physical health, if not more. The number of people dealing with stress, anxiety attacks, and depression is multiplying, and not a lot of solutions are genuinely useful.
A study was conducted, which showed that a massage reduces the cortisol, a hormone related to stress, level in humans. The increased blood circulation and better breathing pattern from a massage greatly help in relieving stress.
A massage session has been known to provide a few moments of thoughtlessness or an empty mind, which is the perfect antidote for anxiety. So, spending a short time in your massage chair can do your mental health a whole world of good.
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Enhances endorphin and dopamine levels
Endorphin and Dopamine are two hormones that act as neurotransmitters of happiness. Essentially, endorphin and dopamine are responsible for the “feel good” experience we call being happy. Various studies have shown that exercise releases endorphin and dopamine. But exercise isn’t the only thing to do so.
A massage has been proved to release a lot of endorphin and dopamine into the bloodstream, and that explains the slightly light-headed feeling one gets during and just after a massage session. So, you can choose to be happy – sit in your massage chair and let these two hormones do the rest.
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Boosts immunity and energy
A massage session boosts immunity and testosterone by stimulating the lymphatic system and increasing the lymph flow throughout the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for getting rid of toxins and other unwanted wastes from the body.
It also serves the purpose of transporting bacteria-fighting white blood cells throughout the body. The lymphatic system is the first line of defense against infections and diseases, and your massage chair can work wonders for it. A boost in the lymph flow also takes away muscle soreness and fatigue and revitalizes/energizes you.
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Detoxifies and revitalizes skin
Ever increasing pollution and deteriorating credibility of skincare products have left most of us dealing with skin pigmentation, acne, and scars. A massage therapy causes friction and heats the pores, resulting in the release of toxins and pollutants that cause skin problems.
Massage sessions provide overall conditioning for skin cells – help repair damaged cells, create new cells and maintain the overall cellular health by improving the nutrient flow through better blood circulation.
Persistent skin problems call for an appointment with a dermatologist, but your massage chair can serve as a home remedy to reduce significantly (if not eliminate) recurring skin problems.
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Increases mental alertness
If we could have a way to relax and do nothing and derive better concentration and focus afterward, wouldn’t that be a blessing? To have laser-like precise focus can be a significant gift when there’s so much going on in our minds always.
Studies have shown that a massage session can increase your concentration level and allow you to better focus on things, though it is not a permanent increase.
There can be many reasons for this – from the increased blood circulation and oxygen flow to the brain to the release of hormones like serotonin into the bloodstream. Massaging pressure points near the temple and across the forehead help in improving focus and concentration as well.
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Helps with digestion
Our health is much dependent on the food that enters our system. We could go an entire day eating healthy save one wrong meal, and that may be enough to cause constipation, diarrhea or some other stomach ailment.
A full body massage includes massaging the stomach and stimulating the intestinal movement; the contents pass more swiftly and help clear the body of the toxins and waste in the intestines.
Regular massage sessions using your massage chair will keep a healthy stomach and reduce the chances of almost all stomach related problems by helping the digestive system work more smoothly.
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Refines breathing
All meditation techniques focus on breathing for one essential reason – our bodies rely on oxygen intake every second of every day, more than we realize. With the hustle-bustle of life and uncontrolled air pollution, our lung capacity deteriorates daily, and we seldom focus on ways to restore it. Meditation is not the only solution to this problem.
Traditional massage techniques focus on pressure points all over the body, including the chest cavity, which helps in restoring lung capacity.
Technology is so advanced now that a massage chair effectively replicates the same human techniques and nuances, and aids in improving your breathing pattern by increasing the oxygen intake.
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Facilitates better sleep
A massage session takes away tiredness, improves blood circulation, enhances oxygen intake, releases “feel good” hormones, removes toxins, reduces stress, and so on. The benefits of a massage are not limited to while it lasts or right after it ends.
One of the most significant benefits arises in the form of a very sound and deep sleep to complete a full circle of relaxation for the body. Insomnia, erratic sleep and insufficient sleep are nightmares for your health in the long run, and your massage chair can be a powerful ally in the fight against these sleep-related problems.
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Speeds up rehabilitation and recovery
No matter what we do for a living, all of us have gone through minor injuries or sprains. Whether it is in the gym or an accidental fall down the stairs, injuries hurt a lot and can be tough to combat. Physiotherapy and massage techniques are primarily used to speed up the recovery from all kinds of injuries.
Blood clots, knots, cramps, sprains, and everything else related to the muscles, tendons, and bones can be remedied with gentle and focused massage. By applying pressure to the affected areas, the recovery process gets shorter. A study has shown that massage also helps alleviate the side effects of cancer treatment.
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Develops Flexibility
As we grow old, the natural flexibility of our bones decreases and gets replaced by tenacity. Lack of flexibility causes minor hiccups in day-to-day life and can lead to excessive pressure on the bones and joints in the long run.
Regular massages help develop flexibility and keep joints more fluid, thereby increasing the range of motion. Your massage chair can help build and preserve your flexibility by working on your muscles, ligaments, and tendons using techniques like kneading, rolling, vibration, heat therapy, and so on.
The Final Verdict
The benefits derived from a traditional massage session at a spa also apply to massage chairs. Technology has advanced enough to give massage chairs the ability to replicate and perform nearly all the techniques used by trained professional masseuses or masseurs.
Comparing traditional massage sessions at a spa with a massage chair, the latter gives you the additional advantages of convenience, the flexibility of timing, no queues, and consistency in quality.
While your masseuse/masseur may not deliver optimally on some days, your massage chair is programmed to adhere to the highest quality massage services and the best brands of massage chairs are continually researching and improving the techniques packed for your comfort.
Getting a massage chair and installing it in your home will surely give you a ton of benefits. The convenience and value derived from a massage chair makes it a quality product.