Chair Massage FAQs:
What is a chair massage?
A chair massage is a 15-20 minute massage that focuses on the high tension areas of the neck, back, shoulders, arms & hands. It is performed on an ergonomically designed portable massage chair. You sit on the massage chair facing forward, with your head in a face rest. Chair massage is espe- cially effective at producing therapeutic results in a brief period of time by concentrating the mas- sage on the areas of greatest tension.
How much space is needed?
Space requirements are minimal – only a small 5’ x 6’ area is needed for the therapist to set up the massage chair and have enough room to move around comfortably.
Do I remove my clothing?
No. During a chair massage, you remain fully clothed. At most, you may be asked to remove any jacket or obstructive jewelry during the massage.
Is oil used during the massage?
No oils are used in chair massage. Sometimes a light and absorbent lotion is applied during hand massage. Please let the therapist know if you prefer no lotion.
What about cleanliness?
The massage therapist cleans & disinfects the massage chair, face-rest and hands between each massage. Each massage recipient also receives a fresh face-rest cover to ensure cleanliness.
What if I want more or less pressure?
Just ask! The massage therapist is trained to adapt to a wide variety of body types and sensitivities to pressure. The therapist will check in with you during the massage, but never hesi- tate to let them know your preference.
What can I expect in a chair massage?
During the session, the therapist will focus on relieving muscle tension in your neck, shoulders, back, arms and hands. If you’d like more time spent on one specific area, just let the therapist know.
Can I have the therapist work on just one area?
Yes. If you’d like the massage therapist to focus on one specific area just let them know. At the beginning of the massage they will ask if you have any specific concerns. Keep in mind, the more time spent on this specific area, the less time spent on the other areas.
Will I be tired afterwards?
It’s easy to mistake a sense of relaxation for fatigue. After a few minutes needed to “readjust” to the surroundings, however, research has shown chair massage recipients are more alert and focused than ever.
I’m pregnant. Can I still get a chair massage?
Massage can be very beneficial for women during pregnancy. Be sure, however, to let the massage therapist know you are pregnant before the session begins so they can assure your safety and comfort. This is especially true if you are in the first trimester, when it is not physically obvious that you are pregnant.
Are there contraindications for chair massage?
Yes. Medical contraindications include but are not limited to: uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes, herniated discs, malignancy, inflammation, fevers. Please inform the therapist of any acute or ongoing health conditions before the chair massage.
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ASIS – Promoting Peace One Body at a Time
Self Massage or Not:
This four-step procedure is a simple massage technique that can be done, by yourself, in the privacy of your own home. Although almost any gentle massage technique will be of benefit, these four techniques should be a part of your personal regimen.
More specifically, step One is a gentle draining motion designed to drain the breasts lymphatic system and is possibly the most important of the four steps. Steps number Two and Four are to assist in the movement of venous fluids. Feel free to experiment with these to movements and find what is comfortable for you. Step Three is simply to help keep your support ligaments in good health and assist in the fight against gravity.
This procedure should be done at least twice a week.
Step One: Use your fingers to gently smooth away from the nipple. These movements travel from the nipple and directly away using no more pressure than what you would apply to your eyelid. Any more pressure would flatten the lymphatic vessel and stop the flow of toxins and fluids. Also, make this stroke slow, not fast, for it to be effective.
Step Two: Gently massage the breast with a kneading-like motion, using lifting and pressing movements.
Step Three: Slowly and carefully use your hands to twist the breast in a clock-wise and anticlockwise direction, being careful not to put too much tension on the breast.
Step Four: Use both hands as shown to apply several, moderate pressure, compressions to move out more pressure fluids.
Things to keep in mind:
*Focus on creating movement.
*Don’t worry too much about proper direction.
*This pumping action is different than massage.
*As you move the breast in the initial direction, use some pressure.
*Then release and let the breast return to its normal position. It becomes a pumping action.
*On the move up, use pressure and then release to allow the breast back.
*This mimics and enhances the natural movement of the lymph system.
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The Breast is a mound of glandular, fatty and fibrous tissue located over the pectoralis muscles of the chest wall and attached to these muscles by fibrous strands (Cooper’s ligaments). The breast itself has no muscle tissue, which is why exercises will not build up the breasts. A layer of fat surrounds the breast glands and extends throughout the breast. The actual breast is composed of fat, glands with the capacity for milk production when stimulated by special hormones, blood vessels, milk ducts to transfer the milk from the glands to the nipples and sensory nerves that give feeling to the breast. These nerves extend upward from the muscle layer through the breast and are highly sensitive, especially in the regions of the nipple and areola, which accounts for the sexual responsiveness of some women’s breasts.
Because the breast is made up of tissues with different textures, it may often feel lumpy. This irregularity becomes less obvious after menopause, when the cyclic changes and endocrine stimulation of the breast have ceased and the glandular tissue softens. Estrogen supplements after menopause can cause continued lumpiness. The breast glands drain into a collecting system of ducts that go to the base of the nipple. The ducts then extend through the nipple and open on its outer surface. In addition to serving as a channel for milk, these ducts are often the source of breast problems.
The ducts end in the nipple, (which projects from the surface of the breast), and are a conduit for the milk secreted by the glands and suckled by a baby during breast-feeding.
Surrounding the nipple is a slightly raised circle of pigmented skin called the areola. The nipple and areola contain specialized muscle fibers that make the nipple erect and give the areola its firm texture. The areola also contains Montgomery’s glands, which may appear as small, raised lumps on the surface of the areola. These glands lubricate the areola.
Beneath the breast is the pectoralis major muscle, which assists in arm movement, and supports the breast tissue. Each woman’s breasts are shaped differently. Individual breast appearance is influenced by, fat, age, heredity, and the amounts of hormones. In addition, previous pregnancies and lactation play a major role.
Breast tissue growth occurs as a result of the effects of estrogen, progesterone, prolacin, prostaglandins, and human growth hormone. It is important that all of these hormones be present in the body in the proper balance for breast tissue development.
During childhood, estrogens are secreted in small quantities. Following puberty however, the quantity of estrogens secreted under the influence of the pituitary hormones (FHS, LH) increase by 20 times.
At this time sexual organs change from those of a child to that of an adult. The external genitalia enlarge. Estrogens effect on the breast causes fat deposition, development of the stromal tissues of the breast and growth of an extensive ductile system. Along with estrogen, progesterone and prolactin are secreted in higher quantities from the ovaries after puberty. These two hormones are responsible for growth of the lobules and alveoli of the breast determining growth and function of these structures.
Progesterone promotes development of the lobules and alveoli of the breasts causing the alveolar cells to proliferate to enlarge and to become secretory in nature. However, progesterone does not cause the alveoli to secrete milk unless stimulated by prolactin from the pituitary. Progesterone cause the breasts to swell partially due to changes in the lobules and alveoli, but also partly from increased fluid retention in sub-cutaneous tissues.
The Developing Breast:
Each successive menstrual cycle works subtle and not so subtle changes to the breasts. The subtle changes take place in the lobules. Over time, even in the absence of pregnancy, some of the type 1 lobules grow more “leaves” and eventually they become re-classified as type 2 lobules. The shifting tides of sex hormones that induce monthly build up and break down of the uterine lining also govern the ever complexity of the breasts. Just as the womb prepares to conceive each month, the breasts also prepare to begin the production of milk. The mammary ducts dilate, and the epithelial cells change into capable of secreting breast milk. This change is sometimes experienced as pain during menstrual cycles.
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Join us for a fun evening in Tucson, April 20th from 4:30-6:30
At the NEW ASIS MASSAGE EDUCATION CAMPUS
In Tucson’s Arts District.
639 N. 6th ave
ASIS Massage - Tucson AZ
520- 343-0338
By John Sumser of AOL Jobs
Life is good if you are Reid Hoffman. The self-made billionaire was a part of the founding team at PayPal. He took his winnings from that expedition and went on to found LinkedIn. Hoffman knows what success is.
Anyone can be an entrepreneur.
Actually, the point is more forceful. You don’t have a choice; your future involves being an entrepreneur. Rather than a fixed destination and a once in a lifetime occupation, you are headed for a series of opportunities. The question is not whether you take them but how well.
It’s always day one.
He stole this from Jeff Bezos. At Amazon, they always say it’s Day 1. That means that Amazon is in a state of perpetual beta; that every day is the beginning of the company; that the trappings of success are the roots of failure. Keep yourself and your work fresh through constant reexamination and redefinition.
A million people can do your job. What makes you so special?
This one comes from a long standing billboard on Silicon Valley’s Highway 101. Hoffman insists that you have to regularly (weekly or monthly) review the value you deliver and make sure that it is better than your competition, seen or unseen.
Beware of success. It breeds arrogance. Arrogance precedes massive failure.
Hoffman knows this terrain well. Not content to sit back and count his billions, he launched LinkedIn with serious personal and financial involvement. Thinking that you know it all because you’ve had a little success is the single biggest predictor of the next fall. Be paranoid about your history and question what you’ve learned.
Take risks when others take refuge.
When the economy goes south, the company folds or the world ends, hunt for the lemons and make lemonade. Anyone can whine and complain about how bad it is. Economic improvement depends on being able to evaluate the circumstances and discover the opportunities.
Weak links are critical.
You’d expect that Hoffman would talk at least a bit about networking. His view is that the weak links, people you don’t know very well, are the most important parts of your network. They are the gateways to things you don’t know about already.
You may have noticed that I gave you six items when I promised five, The final lesson in Hoffman’s book is a time honored approach to building a career: under promise and over deliver. Always try to delight your customers and colleagues. Always.
Happy Graduation to another set of competent
massage therapists.
Good Luck and Safe Travels.
Mountain America Credit Unions Education Line of Credit
is offering low interest loans to attend ASIS Massage!
Students can receive financing for classes beginning
This Month in Tucson, and Sedona-Verde Campuses:
For more information on this financing, visit them on line:
