Oftentimes we get asked about the history of chair massage. Actually seated massage has been around for centuries, as can be seen on very old Japanese block prints. But it was in the 1980s that practitioners began to think about a different way to deliver massage to clients. They wanted to bring massage more into the mainstream by providing convenient, safe, affordable massage that didn’t require private space. Chair massage is now offered in many offices, movie sets and editing studios, factories, trade shows, events, spa parties, you name it. Schools began to develop courses in chair massage techniques in the mid to late 80s.
Affectionately known as the Father of Chair Massage, industry leader David Palmer started design work in 1984 with a French cabinet maker to come up with the first portable wooden massage chair.
He wanted to provide a comfortable way to support the client’s whole body with easy access for therapists. Many changes have come to the design, one of the first being adjustability to head positioning, but the client position remains basically the same. Many manufacturers make massage chairs now and we all have favorites based on safety, sturdiness, adjustability, comfort, speed of set-up, weight, etc.
Worksite chair massage uses the latest massage chair equipment. A person can relax deeply on a massage chair. Seated massage is an excellent way to receive the health benefits of massage while taking a break from a taxing workload. It is convenient, affordable, and so worth it!