Why Seated Massage?

Seated Massage, which is often called “Chair Massage”, includes techniques that provide fully-clothed seated massage and bodywork therapies to clients. The greatest benefit of seated massage is the ability to provide massage therapy services virtually anywhere. Seated massage is being used in places like airports, malls and workplaces to provide stress relief and invigorate clients. The OAKWORKS® Portal Pro™ is ideally suited for massage therapists wanting to take their practice to the client. The lightweight yet rugged frame is ideal for travel. The off set wheels fold neatly out of the way while the chair is in use and engage instantly when moving the Portal Pro™. Another advantage to seated massage is that most sessions do not make use of massage oils and creams. This makes seated massage ideal for people on the go. With no prep time or cleanup time, you can begin the therapy session immediately and the client can be on their way in no time at all. Less time spent with each client will enable you to treat more clients.

What massage techniques are used with seated massage? The most common techniques used with seated massage are shiatsu, amma and/or other Swedish massage techniques. Swedish massage is a vigorous system of treatment designed to energize the body by stimulating circulation. There are usually five basic strokes, all flowing toward the heart, which are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. What’s the most important aspect of seated massage? Outside of the obvious importance of proper massage technique, the key element to seated massage is the positioning of the client. Massage chairs that lack positioning adjustments will leave you client feeling worse. It’s imperative that each client be positioned properly to obtain the full benefits from the session. The ergonomic design of the Portal Pro™ makes it perfectly suited for accommodating clients of all sizes. Adjustments can be made quickly to the Portal Pro™ for body frames from tall to short and everything in between. OAKWORKS® patented Quick Lock™ face rest enables precise positioning of the head, neck and shoulders. Seat height adjustments allow you to position the client at the perfect height. The rigid frame design of the Portal Pro™ will ensure that when you’ve adjusted the chair to the desired settings, it will hold its position without flex or wobble.

What's the advantage of the Desktop Portal over the Portal Pro™? The Desktop Portal offers the massage therapist an even lighter portable seated massage option. In places where it may not be practical or even possible to use the Portal Pro™ such as for clients who are bed-ridden, desk-bound or simply to busy, the Desktop Portal allows the massage therapist to provide services wherever a table or desk and a chair or seat are present. The Desktop Portal uses the same patented Quick Lock™ face rest used in the Portal Pro™ to ensure optimal client positioning.

Now that I have purchased a Portal Pro™, where do I begin? You should spend some time getting to know your seated massage chair and practice adjusting it to different body types. You may want to ask friends and family to help you so that you can practice adjusting the chair to various settings. Thanks to the superior engineering and design of the Portal Pro™, it doesn’t take long to master making adjustments to the chair. Sizing up each client and learning how to position your seated massage chair will ensure an enjoyable experience for your clients and keep them coming back.