Everything You Need to Know About Taking Home a Massage Chair & Using It for the First Time
One of the best ways that you can enjoy true relaxation right in the comfort of your own home is to invest in a luxury, high-quality massage chair. With shopping and set up in front of you, allow us to provide a quick rundown of everything you need to know about getting a massage chair ready to go in your house.
And knowing what to look for when shopping can be a huge help. When you’re shopping for a chair consider this:
1.) Massage Functions: What are you looking for in terms of features? Do you want something with all the bells and whistles or are you looking for something more stripped down? The number of options you’re looking for will play a big role in choosing the right model for your wants and needs. You’ll find options like rolling, tapping, kneading, shiatsu, reflexology, and vibration functions, as well as heat, zero gravity, and inversion.
2.) Massage Positions: As well as a fantastic back rub, are you looking for a longer track that can reach your legs? Do you want a larger chair that can tend to your lower legs and feet? Do you want a chair that can massage your arms and wrists? These massage area options are typically provided by airbags, massage heads, or rollers strategically placed throughout the chair. Advanced massage chairs can also feature a thumb-like massage head to mimic the feeling of human hands and to better utilize the shiatsu massage technique. You can also find chairs that allow you to adjust the width and depth of the rollers. These will be important considerations when looking at your new massage chair.
3.) Massage Airbags: Airbags provide effective tension relief and relaxation by massaging through pressurized air in cells that are typically located in the lower back, hips, legs, and arms of the massage chair. The airbags inflate and deflate to compress and manipulate your muscles, stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. When you’re looking for a massage chair, consider getting one that can pair advanced rollers with airbag massage. That way, you’ll get the best possible results.
4.) Heated Massage: Heat can dramatically increase the effectiveness of a massage and many modern massage chairs include heat as a feature. By offering infrared heat, your massage becomes significantly more effective because the warmth can encourage your muscles to relax and boost circulation.
5.) Recline Function: Most high-end massage chairs feature a variety of recline options, some of which include zero gravity and inversion. The zero-gravity feature reclines the chair back so that you’re reclining on the rollers and can experience a reduced effect of gravity on your muscles and joints. You’ll be in a gravity neutral position, which lowers your heart rate, reduces tension and boosts healthy circulation. Studies have shown that adding recline to your massage not only offers a deeper massage experience but also significantly increases the benefits. And the inversion feature can up that, allowing you to experience relief from lower extremity swelling and even more spinal decompression.
6.) Massage Power: Massage strength, especially when you’ve never used a chair before, is crucially important. Over time, you will get accustomed to your massage chair, so keep that in mind when shopping. Look for something that you believe you can get used to and go from there. Just don’t push it too far. You’ll need to make sure that the massage is adjustable so that you can tailor it to each day’s needs. Many massage chairs offer removable padding as well, which can add more customization to the strength of your massage.
7.) Massage Programs: Most massage chairs have pre-programmed options for designed programs and manual techniques. These provide a timed massage that addresses specific areas and concerns. There are several in most chairs designed for relaxation, stretching, and more. The more advanced massage chairs usually have body-mapping technology as well that tests the reactions of various areas of your body and customizes the massage accordingly.
That’s some good advice. But how should you be using your massage chair to enjoy it to its fullest?
Nowadays, you don’t have to schedule a massage with a masseuse around your busy day when you to get a massage. When you invest in a massage chair, and let it soothe you every time you experience the need, is can be a huge improvement over having to book a massage at random times. Plus, they can deliver impeccable massages, leaving you feeling refreshed and invigorated.
We want to make sure you get the best massage when you decide to invest in one for yourself. Your massage chair should dig deep into your muscles and soft tissues, provide pain relief, enhance relaxation, and help you to take some much-needed time for yourself.
Well, let’s take the chance now to explain what you need to know about using your chair for the first time. Read on to discover our top tips for getting started with using your massage chair:
- Start slow.
- Explore your chair’s settings.
- Think about your problem areas.
- Properly clean and maintain your massage chair.
1. Start Slow
As we discussed in a previous blog post, people who are new to massage chairs should start off slow. Since your muscles aren’t used to being massaged regularly, this will help prevent unpleasant soreness.
For your first week, limit yourself to one or two sessions. Then, slowly increase to two or three sessions per week as you get more used to it. You can learn more about why it might hurt sitting in your massage chair for the first time here.
As your body gets accustomed to frequent massages, you can use your massage chair much more often. You’ll always just need to pay attention to how your body is feeling and avoid pushing it too much.
2. Explore Your Massage Chair’s Settings
As you’re getting used to your chair, you’ll want to take your time going through the remote and settings on the chair so that you understand how to make it do what you want when you want. Most massage chairs come equipped with a variety of settings and features, and to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your massage chair, explore all of its features and settings before choosing a routine to be your standby
Since most massage chairs offer user-friendly controls, it should be a quick and easy learning process.
3. Think About Your Problem Areas
When using your massage chair, be sure to target areas of your body that you know need the most love. For example, if you’re on your feet all day, you’re going to want to take advantage of the foot rollers.
Or, if you regularly experience muscle soreness, your chair’s back and shoulder rollers can help provide relief from the knots. By remembering to focus on the areas that need it most, you’ll see quicker and better results, which will help you to really the biggest bang for your buck.
4. Properly Clean and Maintain Your Massage Chair
After purchasing a massage chair, the last thing you want to do is decrease the time you can use it.
To keep your chair running smoothly and looking great for its entire life, always clean and maintain it consistently.
We recommend:
- Regular cleaning: By giving your massage chair a surface cleaning every one to two weeks, you’ll keep it looking fresh and prevent the buildup of dirt and debris.
- Periodic deep cleaning: To get into all of your chair’s nooks and crannies, give it a deep and thorough cleaning every couple of months.
- Consult an expert when necessary: If your massage chair starts making strange noises or failing to work properly, don’t just hope it will fix itself. Instead, immediately consult an expert to prevent further damage.
- Use your chair regularly: By using your chair on a regular basis, you’ll be able to make sure that its internal components stay in tip-top shape.
- Consider your chair’s environment: Don’t place your chair in direct sun, or leave it in a location where small children and pets can easily access it.
Click here to read our in-depth guide to massage chair maintenance and cleaning.
How to Use a Massage Chair
Many people have no experience with massage chairs, and many of our customers are buying one for the first time. They don’t know how to use one, and it can be a bit overwhelming the first time you sit down. They are electronic devices after all, and they require your control for it to work perfectly.
Make sure when you’re setting up your chair for the first time, you read through all the safety protocols and basic use and maintenance instructions in your user’s manual. I know, I know. Reading the manual? But it truly will help you to better understand how the chair works and what you should do if anything seems off.
You will first need to plug your massage chair in and power it up. Make sure that you placed the chair right correct distance from the wall for it to fully recline and then have the remote or finger controls ready.
Hopefully, you looked over the user’s manual or had a sales expert help you take a peek at the options on the remote, but if not, this is your chance to look through the remote so that you can experiment with each of the programs and massage techniques. Take a few minutes to sit with each program, each massage style available, and really take the chance to determine how it feels to you. Maybe make yourself a little cheat sheet of the names of your favorite programs so that you can reafer back to it when you’re looking to hop in your chair and quickly get started with your massage.
You’ll also want to take time to adjust the shoulder position of the rollers if you need and experiment with the intensity of the massage, and that includes the airbags. In addition, make sure that the body scan of your features read you correctly and adjust anything as needed like the length of the leg rest or the shoulder height placement. You’ll also want to make sure that any adjustments you make are locked in so that they’ll be ready to go when you use the chair next.
And one last suggestion, try to make sure that you put your chair in a relaxing space with lots of open space for it and a place where you can control the lighting and temperature to make your massage especially cozy and relaxing.
All the care and precautions above will help you to make sure that your chair will be there to stay and a hit for the whole family.
Don’t let your massage chair go to waste. Refer to these tips and you’ll be able to get the most bang for your buck, effectively relieve aches and pains, and keep your chair working as it should for years to come.
Finished With Your Research?
So just remember, take the time to enjoy your massage chair, but don’t overdo it. You can look into the chairs, techniques, and other benefits of massage in the Learning Center on our website, and you’ll be able to see the physical benefits each of the styles offer and what to be prepared for from them. If you have any questions or are interested in purchasing your first massage chair, check out our Massage Chair Buying Guide or give us a call. You can even reach out through email at info@massagechairplanet.com.
With all this in mind, don’t forget about our financing options. We understand that investing in a massage chair is a big decision, and we want to help make that process as simple and stress-free as possible. Our sales representatives are ready and excited to get you into the perfect chair!