The history of massage goes back at least 5,000 years, to the Chinese Cong-Fu of the Toa-Tse, the oldest known book written about massage. It's had an interesting turn through history- the Egyptians created reflexology, India used massage and Ayur-Veda as a code of life, Homer mentions massage and the oil they used for it, ancient Olympic athletes were given massages and the Greeks also used natural magnets to alleviate pain. in the 1st century BCE, the Chinese invented acupuncture, while the French had a hand in the development and study of massage in the 15th century CE. After that, people began studying massage as it affected circulation and muscular contraction, and massage spread all over Asia and Europe, and in the 1800's, the United States. Freud eventually became very interested in massage as a means to treat hysteria and to confront those things we store in our unconscious. Aromatherapy was introduced in 1937 by a French chemist named Rene Maurice Gattefosse after he immersed his burned hand in lavender oil and was surprised by how quickly it healed.
Massage itself is using pressure to manipulate the superficial layers of muscle and tissue in order to heal the body and alleviate pain. Massage is often applid with hands, fingers, forearms and elbows, but sometimes knees and forearms are used as well. These days, massage chairs are quickly becoming a good alternative for people who need a massage everyday but can't afford it. The iJoy massage chair is especially well suited to this, as it comes the closest of any chair to replicating actual human touch.
Ayurvedic massage, as mentioned above, originated in India, and incorporates both massage and yoga. I love this style of massage, but have kind of changed it to fit my own life. I use my iJoy massage chair and then either follow a yoga video or go through my own routine of yoga poses. It's an incredible way to relax the body and then allow it to stretch, rejuvenate and get stronger. A very important part of yoga is learning to breathe correctly. Have you ever watched an infant breathe? They use their belly exclusively- you'll see it rise and fall with each breath. As we get older, whether through subconscious tension or the conscious decision to make our bellies look smaller, we start breathing less with our diaphragm and more with the top of our lungs, so our chest expands and our shoulders rise. This doesn't allow as much air into our lungs and bodies, which means there is less oxygen in our blood, and this makes us feel fatigued and lethargic. There is so much more energy to be had if we would just breathe the way our body wants to. At first it takes a lot of concentration, but after a few days, your breathing will be natural and healthy again. Try putting your hand on your stomach or waist and try to make that expand. Watch in a mirror and make sure your shoulders don't rise. Your torso should form something of a pear shape, so your belly is wider with each breath.
My iJoy massage chair is the perfect solution for all of my aches and pains. Massage chairs are shown to increase circulation, relax and soften injured and overused muscles, increase flexibility, reduce recovery time, release endorphins and reduce muscle cramping. I have chronic pain in my neck, back and shoulder, and using my chair is the only thing, next to paying extravagant amounts for repeated massage therapy sessions, that gives me relief. In the first week of having my chair, it more than paid for itself in the amount of time I used it as compared to going to a masseur.
Not only does it work miracles on my body, the iJoy massage chair also fits into my house, size-wise and style-wise. So many massage chairs are just these monstrosities that don't ever look like they belong anywhere. Not so with iJoy; these are sleek, classy designs that won't overpower a room.
I heartily recommend getting in on this centuries-old practice of massage therapy, and believe me, your wallet and your body will thank you if you look into iJoy massage chairs instead of going to a therapist as many times as you need a massage. Instead, just sit back in the comfort of your own home and get the same quality massage!
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