Getting a massage done need no longer involve a trip to the spa or dialing in a personal masseuse. With the press of a button, rollers, vibrators, tappers and air bags team up to give you a massage just the way you want it. Anushya Mamtora sinks into some luxe leather massage chairs and wraps around eye massagers, to tells you how pampering gets its new high with compact and accessible personal massage equipments
Act 1. Scene 1. After a tiring day at work you fill a tub with hot water, add those essential oils and bath salts and soak your feet in for ten minutes of bliss. You then cut two slices of cucumber and place it on your eyes to ease the strain, switching on the music to add to the experience.
Act 1. Scene 2. You come back home after a tiring day at work and plonk yourself on the massage chair, set it to the ‘relax well’ mode and sit on it for 10 minutes as it kneads your every muscle for complete relaxation. You then zap on the eye massager and click on the remote for the most soothing eye massage ever and perhaps that special head massager that combines air pressure technology and vibration, and yes, set it all to soothing music.
Thanks to innovative technologies and easy accessibility of massage equipment, you no longer need to look pleadingly at your reluctant spouse for a quick foot rub, nor will you need to fix a monthly appointment with the masseuse. Now, you have your own, at home.
New technologies
While air bags technology and vibrations ruled the roost in the massage world, newer tech is being experimented with in the personal equipment category.
Hydro: Cashing on the natural, hygienic and therapeutic properties of water, high-end massage equipments are blending in hydrotherapy with other massage therapies for a wholesome massage experience. The latest to hit the Indian market is the Aqua Spa, where one steps in fully clothed, is covered with a water-proof blanket and is massaged upon using 36 computer controlled water jets for a ‘finger tip’ stimulation. Customers can manually customise it to mimic a gentle shower or extreme force. And yes the best part, one steps out as fresh as a daisy but as dry as a bone! While it’s difficult to house the same in individual homes, it is ideal for office spaces where the bosses want to earn some brownie points.
Music: Usually teamed with massage equipment, especially chairs, head and eye massagers, music is used to complement the experience as well as act as a therapy of its own. Most manufacturers give users options on the kind of music which usually ranges from chirping birds, flowing water and breathing. Osim’s uCrown head massager for example has in-built speakers with a choice of music and programmes. Some equipment also provide the option of plugging in your iPod and listening to your personal favourites
Heat: Usually peculiar to massage chairs and back massagers, companies recreate the traditional ‘hot water bags’ therapy by incorporating a heating system in the equipments that can either be a default option or be adjusted to suit personal needs.
Light: Chromatherapy is the latest tech to step into personal massage equipment, beginning with the massage chair. OSIM’s uSpace uses this therapy as the user gets cocooned in the chair and chooses from ‘relax’, ‘balance’ and ‘rejuvenate’ which soothes with the perfect blend of light and colour.
Ergonomically sound
If one were to check out the timeline of Panasonic massage chairs, it’s easy to see how much massage equipment have evolved from boxy compartments to those that boast of ace design, take the shape of your body and simply blend in with the home environment like a piece of décor. The massage chair has been the most ergonomically evolved from an eye-soar of a humungous dentist-chair-like design to a chic and colourful unit such as Panasonic’s Sofa Chair or the uSoffa Petit of OSIM. The use of luxurious fabrics, high-end leather and wooden accents has made the ‘convertible’ massage chair swivel from a masseuse to a classy office chair.
The introduction of smaller equipments that are compact, aesthetically designed with apt features too have won customers across the globe. Massage cushions to relax your back, strap-ups to don on for targeted body massages, one to wrap up just your head or your eye, or simply just your calves and feet or neck and shoulder, and hand-helds to focus just anywhere, the equipments are getting compact and specific by the day. This is of advantage to those who don’t want to go the whole hog with a chair and shell out anywhere between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh but still want to indulge in a little pampering. Smaller equipment start from as little as Rs 6,000 and go up to Rs 1 lakh depending upon the features offered.
Trendy the traditional way
The latest in the massage scene is to take a leaf from traditional techniques and present it in its modern avatar. No wonder then that brands like Panasonic and Omega have massage chairs with Swedish massage options. Massage chairs are equipped with rollers, heating elements, tappers and vibrators to effectively perform the six important techniques of the Swedish style: traction, vibration, friction, effleurage, petrissage and tapottement at the click of the remote button. Japanese manufacturers have also brought in the oriental massage Shiatsu to the massage table… err chair.
The magic chair
From airport lounges to five star hotel rooms, office spaces to a personal library, massage chairs have made their presence felt in every nook where one feels the need to relax. These chairs have evolved from regular massage techniques to advanced tech which aims at making the experience as close as possible to a trained masseuse. The advanced ones also let you choose from various programs and moods to give you just the perfect massage. If you are looking for one to lounge in, here are some popular brands to consider:
OSIM : One of the leading massage equipment brands with a plethora of options to choose from. Its massage chairs are popular and range from full body ones to designer options. While its latest, vibrantly hued uSoffa Petit is an eye turner, one can choose from the basic Rs 1.20 lakh NORO Melody or the highly advanced uDesire (Rs 2.49 lakh) and uSpace (Rs 3.99 lakh).
Panasonic : Specialising in massage chairs, their latest is the New Real Pro claimed to be the world’s first ‘massage technique selector’ with 1,117 combination of massage variations.
Sanyo : A whole host of massage chair options. (Have to add details as website is not opening properly)
Johnson Health Tech: In collaboration with Proline Fitness. Johnson has a neat range of chairs to choose from. (Visiting the store today so will add details)
Did you know?
While most massage chairs come with remote controls and even touch screens to browse and pick an ideal massage session, there are some who take it a tech step further by making it an app. One can wirelessly control the functions with an iTouch, iPhone or iPad!
