There’s nothing quite like a Shiatsu massage. If you’ve ever had one, you know what we mean.
Shiatsu massage chairs provide professional massage therapy in the comfort of your own home. No making an appointment, driving to a massage center, interacting with a massage therapist, and driving home. You simply ease into your massage chair, choose your settings, and relax.
What you get isn’t just random pressure from a few rollers. In a high-quality Shiatsu massage chair, every single movement is choreographed and programmed by massage experts. In fact, the equipment in several chairs may be nearly identical, but you’ll immediately know when you’re getting a Shiatsu massage versus an ordinary massage.
In other words, it’s the choreography that defines the “very best Shiatsu massage chairs” (like those we offer in our collection of The World’s Best Massage Chairs®).
If you’re looking for a Shiatsu full-body massage chair or even a Shiatsu massage office chair, your first question may be, “What is Shiatsu?” Shiatsu is a Japanese word that literally means “finger pressure.” Shiatsu massage was invented by Tokujiro Namikoshi in the 1920s,although its history goes far back to the roots of massage in Japan.
Shiatsu was derived from a historical Japanese massage modality known as anma, which, in turn, was derived from a traditional Chinese massage modality known as tui Na.
Using a unique finger pressure technique, a Shiatsu massage stretches and massages tired and sore muscles. But an effective Shiatsu massage goes beyond simple muscular relaxation. It’s a true mind-body technique that, when done correctly, provides both a relaxed body and a calmed mind.
You’ll often see that fact alluded to in Shiatsu massage chair reviewers. The person will talk about the profoundly positive effects of a skillfully executed Shiatsu massage. You may also see them express their surprise that a chair can provide that experience—but it absolutely can!
As noted above, a great Shiatsu chair massage is all about how the movements are orchestrated. Shiatsu massage chairs recreate finger presses through slow, pinpoint movements that target specific problem areas of the back and neck.
These movements include kneading, tapping, rolling, and pressing to stimulate your Shiatsu points and mobilize your spine. You’ll know you’re in a chair, because you sat down in it. But if you close your eyes and imagine a skilled massage therapist behind you, you’ll swear you’re getting a massage from a person, not a chair. And if you have a heated chair, it’ll feel like you’re in a warm, cozy, massage room at a spa.
Importantly, the benefits you get from a Shiatsu massage chair are the same as from a human practitioner. They include deep relaxation, pain relief, improved functioning of the extremities, and much more.
The fact that Shiatsu massage chairs are capable of amazing things doesn’t mean all of them have the same quality standards. That’s why it’s crucial that you “do your homework” on chair manufacturers and models. A Shiatsu massage chair is a significant investment. You want to be sure you get a great return on that investment for many years to come.
It’s important to know that some massage chairs with a long list of features don’t provide an effective and enjoyable massage that delivers the desired benefits. Fortunately, our Comfort Consultants can help you identify the contenders among the pretenders. They know massage chair technology inside and out, and they’re happy to help you find the Shiatsu massage chair that meets your needs and fits your budget. Whether you find the perfect chair in a few minutes or in a process that unfolds over several months or more, they’re eager to assist you every step of the way.
