Review of Sanyo HEC SR1000K Massage Chair

November 21st, 2008

The following is a product review and evaluation of the Sanyo HEC-SR1000K massage chair recliner. This is the entry level massage chair model for Sanyo. We will present the salient features, functions and warranty coverage available for this massage chair. Let us take an in depth look at the Sanyo SR1000K massage chair recliner.

With all massage chairs, make sure that you check out the warranty coverage. There is substantial variation between models of the same manufacturer and also between manufacturers. Let us focus on the warranty of the DR 6700. The roller mechanism is covered for a three year period. This is what massages the back and the mechanics are contained in the chair back. The parts and labor are covered for one year each. There is also in home repair available and that is picked up by Sanyo for the first year.

Sanyo has designed two auto programs which run the full massage chair with the touch of a button. These 2 programs are named Relax and Recovery. As their name implies, the types of massage treatment is geared around the name. Recovery is used after strenuous activity. Relax is more subtle and looks to induce full body relaxation and tranquility of the mind.

Sanyo has incorporated a stiffness detector in the SR-1000K. The stiffness detector senses tight muscles in the body. It uses technology similar to a lie detector and knows where stress is being detected. The sensor works by you holding the sensor in your hand. The sensor then feeds that data to the computer which then directs the massage to concentrate on the stiff areas detected.

There are manual massage methods also built into the programming of the massage chair. These manual massages use one type of technique once selected. However, you can compliment the manual massage technique with 2 variations of leg stretches. Just select the type of stretch you would like and the SR 1000 will add it as part of the manual program as it is running.

The SR1000K also comes with a unique leg rest massager. The leg rest can be used to target the following areas: calves, back of the knees, sole of the foot and the Achilles tendon/heal. The leg rest contains a roller mechanism that massages the calves and the back of the knees. You can flip down the unit and then put your feet on it. This allows you to target the soles of your feet for a nice soothing massage. You can vary the speed of the massage and also the direction of the rollers.

There is a remote that runs all the functions of the SR1000. The design is fairly simple and intuitive for first time users. The buttons are a good size and easy for the average user to push. There are little lights that are used to show the level of intensity of the massage and also the roller width.

The SR-1000 massage chair has some very good features for an entry level massage chair. It contains some of the electronics from Sanyo’s high end chairs like the stiffness detector and the physical shape sensor. The warranty for this recliner is also good for this level of chair. The design is a little funky and unfortunately Sanyo located a power box on the side of the chair which takes away from its attractiveness. We also wished they had more than 2 automatic massage programs in the recliner. But, if you are looking for a solid massage chair with some fairly contemporary styling, the SR-1000K is a nice massage chair.

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A Massage Chair Saves Thousands for Massage Therapy

November 21st, 2008

It may seem like a contradiction. How do you save money when you have to spend money? Most people look at massage chairs as luxury items. They certainly are luxury items if you really do not need the massage therapy that they can provide. On the other hand, if you do need the massage therapy that they then massage chairs can save you a significant amount of money. Many people suffer from back pain or other conditions that require medical or chiropractic treatment. We all know that health care costs continue to rise. How do you save money buying a massage chair?

Have you ever gotten a massage at a day spa? If so, then you know that a time needs to be set with the massage therapist. We also need to go to and come back from the day spa. The massage therapist works for a fee. We need to pay the masseuse by the hour and also give a tip. Let us assume we go to the spa once a week for a year, then the massage therapy bill will be thousands of dollars.

Some people need to go physical therapy or perhaps a chiropractor. The health care providers help to set you back on the right path of healing your condition. They help you get started with some basic techniques and treatments to help correct the situation. Many of these providers make use or recommend massage therapy as a compliment to your healing process. If you have started a path to recovery then these visits start to add up until you can take over on your own.

Traditional massage therapy has been delivered by humans for centuries. Certainly this is a fantastic method to receive massage therapy. However, massage chairs now provide an alternative that delivers effective massage therapy. These therapeutic recliners range in price from $1,000 to $7,000.

We do interesting things when we compare. We look at things in the short term. I see the price of getting a massage as $75/hour and think that is cheap compared to a $3,000 massage chair. Is it really cheaper? Let us find out. My massage costs $75/hour plus gratuity which at 15% is $10.00 for a total of eighty-five dollars. How many hours of massage therapy do I get for the cost of a massage chair? Let us divide the $3,000 by the $85/hour. We get 35 massage therapy hours.

If we look over the longer run, we find that paying for the massage by the hour will buy the massage chair after 48 sessions. OK, now let us look at this from the massage chair perspective. A $3,000 massage chair is designed to last 1,000 hours. How much do we need to pay per hour of massage therapy. Let us divide $3,000 by the 1,000 machine hours and we get $3.00. That is right, with a massage chair we are paying $3.00 for an hour of massage therapy. Compare that to the $85.00 we are paying our massage therapist!

Obviously the economic advantage of the massage chair is almost 30 times greater than the massage therapist. Add to this economic advantage, availability. A massage recliner is at your disposal 24/7. You can also add accessibility by having it in your home. Obtaining a massage is as easy as being at home. When you start to put the massage chair into the total perspective, it comes out with some strong advantages.

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Product Review: Sanyo SA5000 Massage Chair

November 21st, 2008

This is a review of the mid range massage chair the SA 5000 by Sanyo. This review covers 5 different categories including Warranty & Customer Service, Comfort/Ergonomics, Ease of Use, Features and Massage Therapy. We give equal weight to each category which can earn up to 20 points. The scores of the individual categories are summed to give an overall rating of a possible 100 points. We have found this system to cover the salient points of the massage chair. Let us take a look at the SA 5000.

Warranty & Customer Service: We first cover the warranty and customer service. These are your long term protections from potential problems with your purchase. This product is has the following warranty coverage: 3 years on the roller mechanism, 1 year parts, 1 year labor and 1 year in home technician service. We like the 3 years on the roller mechanism. The best manufacturers cover parts for a minimum of 3 years, so Sanyo is a bit light here. They do offer 1 year in home technician service which is a plus. Sanyo has a national call center for customer service which is fairly competent. We give an overall rating of 15 in this category.

Comfort & Ergonomics: The SA-5000 comes with a well padded back pad on the chair back. The head support cushion is contoured and adjustable. he armrests have sufficient padding. The leg ottoman cannot be extended which may be a concern for taller users. This massage recliner was originally designed in Japan for that market and later exported to the USA. The main remote has a simple layout with one touch buttons for automatic massages. There is also a wired remote, but it has limited functionality. We give the SA5000 a 15 for ergonomics.

Ease of Use: Massage chairs have evolved to full body massage loungers. This is an excellent development, but on the flip side, manufacturers need to ensure that their product remain simple and easy to use. The SA 5000 remote control is fairly straightforward to use. It has 4 single touch automatic programs. You have a Program Memory button that memorizes the last few minutes of massage and will store it for future use. There is a side panel that contains the manual massage functions. The SA 5000 comes with a wired sub remote. This sub remote has the pulse monitoring system and has the program memory function and enables you to work the foot rest and chair back. This recliners earns an 18 in this category.

Key Features: The SA-5000 comes with some unique technology from Sanyo. They include their GK roller systems for neck and shoulder massage. They also have a stiffness detection system integrated into the massage recliner. The GK roller system can reach out over the shoulders. It performs a grip massage that is effective to relieve tension and soreness in the shoulder and neck regions. The stiffness sensor is based on lie detector technology. It monitors your pulse and perspiration to determine areas of stiffness in the body. This is then fed into the computer which then directs the massage for those specific areas. The SA 5000 earns an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The SA 5000 comes with automatic programs, 4 programs stored in the Memory Program, 4 manual massage techniques and 4 massage courses for the back. The automatic programs are Stiffness, Relax, Recovery and Fine. There are 5 adjustments for both the massage speeds and roller width adjustments. There is the Grip massage which effectively targets the neck and shoulders. For the lower body, this recliner comes with 24 airbags to provide relief for the feet, calves and thighs. There are specially designed airbags that provides a multi-point shiatsu massage. This provides a penetrating and soothing massage. We give the SA-5000 an 18 in this category.

Overall, we rate the Sanyo SA-5000 an 84/100. The SA 5000 comes with many of the same technologies as Sanyo’s high end version the DR7700. The stroke length of the back rollers is 28 inches compared to 31 inches for the DR 7700, but most of the same technology is in the SA 5000. The factory warranty is just ok and you may want to explore an extended warranty to equal other manufacturer’s coverage. The GK rollers are a nice feature for neck and shoulder coverage. The leg rest would be more ergonomic for the American market if there was an extension built in. If you are looking for a massage chair recliner in this category, the SA 5000 is one you should check out.

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Got Back Pain? The Shiatsu Massage Chair is Your Best Friend

November 21st, 2008

Do you have back pain? Believe it or not 8 out 10 people suffer from some sort of back pain. You are certainly not alone. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden sharp pain. In time you either grow used to the pain or you can find relief from the pain. There are a multitude of back pains, but in general there is acute back pain and chronic back pain. Acute back pain is usually a temporary condition with recovery periods in a few days to a few weeks. Chronic back pain, on the other hand, typically persists for longer periods of time. With chronic back pain the expected healing time for the identified cause may persist even after the cause has been treated.

How can one find relief from back pain? There are many remedies for back pain ranging from taking drugs, to acupuncture to inversion therapy to massage. It is interesting to note that the most common relief of back pain is taking pharmaceutical drugs. There are other alternatives out there that are natural remedies. The secondmost common relief of back pain is massage therapy. More and more studies show that massage is effective fin relieving both acute and chronic pain. However, unlike drugs, massage is a completely natural remedy. Most of the time, the misalignment of bone, ligament, muscle, and tissue causes back pain. You can choose to just dull the pain with drugs, but that just avoids the problem. Seeking massage therapy, on the otherhand, can get to the root of the problem. Massage helps to stretch and soothe aching, tired muscles and ligaments in a natural way.

Massage Chairs for Back Pain? The best massage chairs on the market today have extraordinary capabilities. Many massage chairs can perform Shiatsu massage, Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage and many others. These massage chairs perform a body scan to detect your acupressure points for a Shiatsu massage. The shiatsu chair will then tailor the position of the massage rollers to stimulate your acupressure points. This Acupressure massage helps the flow of natural healing based on the pathways that flow throughout the body.

You can find some massage recliners that incorporate the Swedish massage technique. Thie Swedish or Classic massage technique uses flowing, long, strokes to stretch and elongate tight muscles. Select a Deep Tissue massage and enjoy a penetrating, soothing massage. With the Deep Tissue technique, the massage cair program will start more superficially and then begin penetrate layer by layer. This approach relieves aching, sore, and tired tendons and muscles. You can enjoy these massage therapies with the touch of a button with a shiatsu massage chair.

Heat therapy helps to loosen and relax tight, sore muscles and effectively reduce pain. Heat is more effective than cold for treating chronic pain. If you suffer from arthritis, heat is more effective for muscle relaxation. The premier massage recliners come equiped with full body heat. Heating elements with individual controls are buit in the chair back, the seat and the footrest. These therapeutic massage chairs are very effective in relieving suffering from back pain.

Music therapy is a complimentary relief and natural remedy to reduce the disability, anxiety, and depression associated with chronic pain. Many shiatsu massage chairs have a built in MP3 player. Music therapy induces relaxation, helping you to let your stress and anxiety go.

Why not use technology to really reduce the pain and anxiety associated with your back pain. Technology is being incorporated at a faster rate into massage chairs. If you are looking to relieve your acute or chronic back pain, massage therapy is the natural answer. You can find a masseuse or a massage chair. A massage therapist is great, but you are limited to a particular time and place. On the other hand, a massage chair is ready and waiting for you. You can find a broad range of of massage therapies built into the massage chairs of today. With the touch of a button you can find relief within the comfort and privacy of your own home. If you got back pain, your best friend is a shiatsu massage chair.

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Product Review Montage Premier Massage Recliner

November 20th, 2008

We take a look at the Omega Montage Premier massage chair in this product review. The Omega Montage Premier is the top of the line for Omega. This massage chair has an awesome array of features to please the biggest massage enthusiasts. We will walk through a few of the top features of this massage recliner. Also, we will present the warranty coverage as well. Let us take you through the advanced functions of the Montage Premier by Omega.

We will first go through the warranty coverage with the Montage Premier massage chair. Omega gives you 5 years protection from defects on the frame. You get 3 years coverage for both parts and labor. Free shipping of parts is provided for the first year of ownership. You also get 90 days of in house technician service. This is certainly comprehensive warranty coverage provided by the manufacturer.

What about the features? Let us take a look at the advanced features of the Montage Premier. When you start the massage, the Montage Premier makes a scan of your back. It locates your neck and shoulders and maps out your acupressure points. These data points are feed into the computer program. The program is then adjusted based on your individual map of your body.

How is the massage therapy of the Montage Premier? The Montage is packed with some exciting massage programs. There are five automatic massage treatments. The five automatic programs run the entire massage chair with the touch of one button. Additionally, there are four manual massage techniques. You can select one of the four techniques and select from six areas of focus. You can pinpoint an exact spot or select from 6 different regions of the back, neck and shoulders.

The Montage Premier has an air massage system. The air massage system uses airbags throughout the recliner to provide a compression type massage. The air massage system covers your arm, hands, buttocks, thighs, hips calves, and feet. The air system provides a firm or gentle squeeze, hold and release. This 3 part action helps to reduce stiffness and relieve aches and pains.

Omega created the Montage Premier to provide a massage chair that can fit taller individuals. This massage recliner can fit people up to six foot six and weighing up to 300 pounds. This is the first and only massage chair that really fits people taller than five foot eleven. This is certainly a breakthrough for taller individuals who have had to seriously compromise with the massage chair recliners of the past.

Omega introduces its Footflex technology in the Montage Premier. The Footflex technology uses a series of air bags and the reflexology massage technique for the feet. The airbags target the heel and the arch of the foot with an alternating activation to stretch and massage the bottom of the feet. Meanwhile, the reflexology nodes gently push up into the feet to induce full body relaxation. This is an excellent foot massage therapy and provides great relief for those on their feet all day.

Omega also puts in many functions to compliment the massage therapy. They have included full body heat. Heating elements are built into the chair to help reduce swelling and improve blood flow. One of the more important non-massage features is a music player with headphones. If you get a massage at a spa, they will play relaxing music to create an environment conducive to relaxation. This is a point missed by all the top massage chair brands except Omega.

The Montage Premier is perhaps the top massage chair in its class. It simply has more options that add value beyond just the thorough massage treatments. This massage recliner comes with the most thorough warranty available. There is a lower body stretch function. You get full body heat that can target specific areas. The MP3 player comes with headphones, so you can create your own in home spa. You just cannot find a massage chair that has all the excellent features found in the Montage Premier massage recliner.

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Product Review of the Omega OM510 Massage Chair

November 20th, 2008

Are you seriously looking for a shiatsu massage chair? In this review we examine the Omega Prestigio OM-510 shiatsu massage chair. This is a midrange model in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range. Omega is known for its advance technology, state of the art design, and striking aesthetics. The Prestigio OM-510 is put through the test to find the best in class massage chair recliner.

When looking at a massage chair, the company that makes it is very important. There are many massage chairs out there, but very few reputable manufacturers. Beware of massage chair companies that only sell at home shows, as many are just fly-by-night operations. It looks like a good deal until you need service, then the problems begin. It is important to go with a manufacturer that has the staying power through good and bad times. With Omega Massage, you are in good and competent hands.

The Prestigio OM-510 massage chair has strong warranty protection. Omega Massage has one of the best warranties in the industry. Omega’s standard warranty can only be matched if you purchase the extended warranty of other manufacturers. This is extra value provided by Omega and gives the customer more protection and lowers their risk. The Prestigio OM-510 warranty comes with 5 years on the frame, 3 years parts, 3 years labor, 1 year shipping and 90 days in-home service. Omega has comprehensive warranty coverage on their shiatsu massage chairs.

The Prestigio OM-510 shiatsu massage chair is chic, with its highly varnished wood armrests and leg footer silver accents. This is perhaps the most attractive massage chair on the market today. Many massage chairs may be functional, but they come in unattractive designs and cheap plastic side panels. Omega is famous for its striking massage chair designs. The Prestigio is a fantastic example of their design prowess. Omega also made the OM-510 comfortable with a removable back cover. There are two detachable head pillows and an extra back pad. Omega also includes a beautiful wood side table as a nice compliment to round out this massage chair recliner.

With the Prestigio massage chair choose from tapping, rolling, kneading, and Shiatsu, or combinations of all 4 massage functions in automatic mode. In the automatic program mode select from 3 timed massages from 10, 20 and 30 minutes. In the manual mode, select from 4 back courses and select the massage technique for the back. The manual courses are upper back, lower back, full back and pinpoint. The Prestigio does a great job on the lower back or lumbar area. In fact, it covers the lumbar area better than any massage chair we have tried.

The foot rest and seat of the Prestigio has is controlled by an air massage system. This lower body air system can work in either manual or automatic mode. In automatic mode, the program will control the lower body massage and alternate through the feet, calves, thigh and buttocks. Switch to manual mode and concentrate the air massage on the feet or any other area. The air pressure can be adjusted to three levels to suit individual needs. A special feature of the Prestigio shiatsu massage chair is its Knee Stretch Technology. The footrest of the Prestigio holds the feet and calves in place. The Prestigio then gently stretches the ankle and knee joints while extending the thigh and calf muscles. This feature helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness in the legs. The knee stretch technology also helps improve your range of motion and joint mobility.

The Prestigio massage chair has reflexology points built into the foot wells. These reflexology points stimulate relaxation and stress relief in the corresponding organs and areas of the body. If you enjoy a great foot massage, the Prestigio massage chair for you. Insert your tired, aching feet inside and enjoy! The Prestigio OM-510 massage chair by Omega Massage is one of the best models in its class. It provides a strong and thorough back massage and has a tension relieving lower body massage. Omega provides a strong, comprehensive warranty. The Prestigio has Knee Stretch Technology and the Reflexology foot massage. If you are looking for a shiatsu massage chair to help to reduce tension, pressures, muscle aches and pains, this is a solid choice of chairs.

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Chair Review: Sanyo HEC-DR-6700K Massage Chair

November 20th, 2008

We will present a systematic review of the Sanyo DR-6700 massage chair recliner. This is one of the higher end Sanyo massage chairs. Sanyo is known for integrating many advanced features into their recliners. This review will cover five main categories ranging from warranty coverage to massage therapy. See how this high end massage chair is rated.

Warranty & Customer Service: Warranty is your protection from defects due to materials and workmanship. However, these warranties vary substantially from manufacturer and also by model. Here is the breakdown for the HEC-DR6700K massage chair: 3 years on the roller mechanism. The rollers give you the massage in the chair back. 1 year parts. 1 year labor. 1 year technician field service. We like the 1 year field service, but the parts and labor is rather short. Customer service is pretty good for Sanyo. Overall, the DR 6700 earns an 18.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Believe it or not some massage chairs are only comfortable to sit in when they are running. A massage chair needs to double as a recliner in our humble opinion. The DR-6700 cradles the body when you sit in it. The padding makes for a plush seat. The adjustable head pillow can be positioned to support your head well. The main functions of the chair are ran from the remote and it is in an accessible location. We give the DR6700 an 18 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We really like that massage chair manufacturers are adding features like there is no tomorrow. The counter-weight to this is ease of use. If a device is overly complicated, then it just won’t get used, no matter how great the feature. The Sanyo comes with two remotes. The chair has a main remote and a sub remote. The sub remote must be held for it to perform the stiffness detection. It is an interesting feature, but not at the expense of having a second remote. We give the DR6700 a 17.

Key Features: There are many interesting features in the DR6700 massage recliner. The two that stand out the most are the Grip massage technique and the physical shape sensor. The Grip massage is a manual massage technique included in the 6700. The Grip makes use of the specialized GK rollers used by Sanyo. The Grip massage can come over the shoulders and provide a gripping action to soothe the tops of the shoulders. The physical shape sensor detects if your body shifts in the chair. When a shift is detected, it adjusts the massage to better target your body in its new position. Talk about massaging a moving target! We give the DR-6700 an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The DR 6700 has 4 automatic one-touch massage programs. The programs are as follows: Stiffness, Recovery, Fine and Relax. There are also manual massage techniques which include the following: Grip, Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping and Combo. Each of these techniques is specialized with a particular movement to loosen or revitalize tight and sore muscles. In manual mode, just select the intensity of the massage to be more or less invigorating or select the width of the rollers to cover the areas of your back that you need attention. Target specific areas by selecting the region which includes: neck and shoulders, lower back, lower body and quick course. You have a lot of good options to choose from with the DR-6700. Our rating of the massage therapy is 19

How did the HEC DR6700K do in our review? We scored this massage chair recliner a 90/100 points. Overall, the DR6700 is a very solid chair. It is comfortable and well designed. You get some interesting advanced electronic features with the physical shape sensor and the stiffness detector. We are somewhat disappointed with the short warranty coverage for parts and labor at 1 year. The massage therapy is very effective and the Grip massage is a nice soothing and relieving manual massage. If you haven’t tried the DR6700K, you should compare it with Sanyo’s top of the line model. The DR-6700 massage chair is one you should look at further in the luxury massage recliners.

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Massage Chair Recliners Duplicates Swedish Massage Therapy

November 20th, 2008

Swedish massage is a set of 6 elements developed in the 18th century by Henrik Ling. Ling pioneered the use of 6 integrated elements which effectively allowed the body to absorb more oxygen. This is now called classic massage and is found throughout the world. These 6 elements are now being replicated by technology and are available in massage chair recliners. The premier massage chairs brands of today offer music, heat, tretching and an array of massage therapies. The 6 elements of Swedish massage are available in the best massage chairs.

Most of us experience stress in our daily lives. We may be under pressure at work which gives us mental stress. Mental stress causes us to tense up which means are muscles are not relaxing. We may be working out and exerting more physical activity. The muscles become sore and ache after being under the stress of exercise. Both mental and physical stress can take its toll on the body.

To help alleviate the pain, aches and soreness, massage treatments have been developed and practiced through time. Swedish massage is considered one the most basic massage styles. Swedish massage is aimed at alleviating pain and to enhance the body’s health. It helps detoxify the body by increasing cell metabolism which eliminates their waste materials.

Swedish massage uses 6 elements which are effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapottement, traction and vibration. Effleurage uses long sweeping strokes covering many parts of the body. Petrissage uses kneading and squeezing of the muscles. Friction or heat helps muscles relax and helps blood flow. Tapottement is the use of a tapping or chopping motion to loosen muscles. Traction is the pulling and stretching of the arms and legs. Vibration is used to shake and loosen muscles to relieve tension and stimulate the capillary vessels.

These 6 techniques have been integrated into the best massage chair recliners on the market today. These massage recliners uses different mechanical components to accomplish these massage techniques. Effleurage is performed by rollers in the chair back and covers the neck, shoulders and back. Petrissage is performed by the rollers moving toward each other in a pinching or kneading movement. Friction is accomplished by adding heating elements in the chair to warm up areas of the body. Tapottement is performed by the rollers doing a rhythmic tapping action. Traction is used in the lower body by mechanically raising and then lowering the footrest to stretch the lower body out. Vibration is performed by the placement of vibrating motors in strategic locations in the chair.

Not all massage chair recliners can perform all 6 techniques. All techniques are performed to different degrees and can vary from model to model and from manufacturer to manufacturer. Omega Massage’s Montage Elite massage chair and the Panasonic Real Pro Elite have the most comprehensive Swedish massage techniques. The Montage Elite is the most comprehensive Swedish because it has full body heat capabilities where the Panasonic Real Pro Elite does not. Try them both and decide for yourself.

Back in the 18th century, Mr. Henrik Ling, who pioneered the Swedish massage, might not have imagined his techniques would be integrated into a massage chair in the 21st century. As he might not of thought his massage would be offered in spas around the world. However, Mr. Ling recognized that Swedish massage must be performed on a routine or periodic basis to release built up stress. If tension is left unchecked, then further damage to the body continues. Relieving this build up is critical for the health and well being of an individual. Mr. Ling would be happy to see people getting his massage therapy on a routine basis with a massage chair recliner.

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Chair Review: Sanyo HEC-DR 6700K Massage Chair

November 19th, 2008

We will present a systematic review of the Sanyo DR-6700 massage chair recliner. This is one of the higher end Sanyo massage chairs. Sanyo is known for integrating many advanced features into their recliners. This review will cover five main categories ranging from warranty coverage to massage therapy. See how this high end massage chair is rated.

Warranty & Customer Service: One of the first areas you want to check out with a massage chair that you are interested in is the warranty coverage. Massage chairs are complex machines and you just want to make sure in the unlikely event something goes wrong that you are protected. Let’s look at the warranty coverage for the DR6700. The roller mechanism which is what provides the back massage is covered for three years. Parts and labor are covered for one year. Sanyo also provides you with one year of in home technician service. The parts and labor is rather short. The good part of the warranty is the 1 year technician service. We rate the warranty an 18.

Comfort & Ergonomics: Believe it or not some massage chairs are only comfortable to sit in when they are running. A massage chair needs to double as a recliner in our humble opinion. The DR-6700 cradles the body when you sit in it. The padding makes for a plush seat. The adjustable head pillow can be positioned to support your head well. The main functions of the chair are ran from the remote and it is in an accessible location. We give the DR6700 an 18 for comfort and ergonomics.

Ease of Use: We really like that massage chair manufacturers are adding features like there is no tomorrow. The counter-weight to this is ease of use. If a device is overly complicated, then it just won’t get used, no matter how great the feature. The Sanyo comes with two remotes. The chair has a main remote and a sub remote. The sub remote must be held for it to perform the stiffness detection. It is an interesting feature, but not at the expense of having a second remote. We give the DR6700 a 17.

Key Features: There are many interesting features in the DR6700 massage recliner. The two that stand out the most are the Grip massage technique and the physical shape sensor. The Grip massage is a manual massage technique included in the 6700. The Grip makes use of the specialized GK rollers used by Sanyo. The Grip massage can come over the shoulders and provide a gripping action to soothe the tops of the shoulders. The physical shape sensor detects if your body shifts in the chair. When a shift is detected, it adjusts the massage to better target your body in its new position. Talk about massaging a moving target! We give the DR-6700 an 18 in this category.

Massage Therapy: The DR 6700 has 4 automatic one-touch massage programs. The programs are as follows: Stiffness, Recovery, Fine and Relax. There are also manual massage techniques which include the following: Grip, Shiatsu, Kneading, Tapping and Combo. Each of these techniques is specialized with a particular movement to loosen or revitalize tight and sore muscles. In manual mode, just select the intensity of the massage to be more or less invigorating or select the width of the rollers to cover the areas of your back that you need attention. Target specific areas by selecting the region which includes: neck and shoulders, lower back, lower body and quick course. You have a lot of good options to choose from with the DR-6700. Our rating of the massage therapy is 19

How did the HEC DR6700K do in our review? We scored this massage chair recliner a 90/100 points. Overall, the DR6700 is a very solid chair. It is comfortable and well designed. You get some interesting advanced electronic features with the physical shape sensor and the stiffness detector. We are somewhat disappointed with the short warranty coverage for parts and labor at 1 year. The massage therapy is very effective and the Grip massage is a nice soothing and relieving manual massage. If you haven’t tried the DR6700K, you should compare it with Sanyo’s top of the line model. The DR-6700 massage chair is one you should look at further in the luxury massage recliners.

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Swedish And Ayurvedic Massage Methods-Which One is For You?

November 19th, 2008

Various influences in massage therapy have cropped up leading to the creation of various methods that differ in techniques but offer the same health benefits. The Swedish and Ayurvedic massage both have different origins and use contrasting styles but contribute a lot to achieve a healthy and relaxed body.

With all the different varieties of massage therapy programs available today, it has become really difficult for individuals to select which one of them.

The Swedish Massage, which is frequently called the classic or traditional massage. This is the most common massage therapy method and it is what most individuals ordinarily favour. The long and flowing strokes characterize this method, and it is ideal for loosening muscles, improving joint flexibility and aiding in better circulation.

The first stroke is known as effleurage, involves long, gliding strokes from the neck down to the base of the spine, or from the shoulder down to the fingertips. It is also done on the limbs with all strokes directed toward the heart to assist blood and lymphatic flow. The therapist uses their whole hand or a thumb pad. This technique is done for familiarization of the person’s body

Next is petrissage that consists of the gentle lifting of muscles up and away from the bones, then rolling and squeezing them, with a gentle pressure. It generally involves rolling, squeezing, or pressing the muscles to enhance deeper circulation. It increases circulation through eliminating toxins from muscle and nerve tissue.

The third technique friction, is the most forceful one and uses deep circular movements using fingertips. it is applied near bony areas and joints, it relaxes the muscle fiber which in turn enhances flexibility in muscles and joints.

After friction, another technique called tapotement is done. Tapotement is a series of quick forceful movements made by striking or tapping the muscles with the hand. It can be applied with a closed fist, fingertips and the edge of the hand. It releases tension and relieves muscle cramps.

Last of all, a therapist will use vibration or shaking, this would normally entail the pressing of hands on the back or limbs and shaking in a vigorous motion for a few moments. Again this is used to improve circulation and is advantageous to individuals with low-back pain.

On the other hand, Ayurvedic massage originated from India and its aim is to produce harmony and balance within the individual and it aids in the removal of toxins and rejuvenation of the body. It was not practiced publicly until Indian practitioners decided to roam around and give muscle, joint and back massages

Ayurvedic massage is based on a specific system that includes the knowledge of Ayurvedic and Greek systems of medicine which is focused on Ayurvedic doshas and marmas or pressure points. Muslim massage techniques were also adapted in this system.

Ayurvedic massage uses specific oils that suit your dosha. One such, is the Abhyanga-Garshana which comprises of skin brushing followed by an oil massage. Udwarthanam which is a slimming massage that uses herbal powders and the Ayurvedic foot massage which is a deep massage where the therapist uses their feet.

Now you have adequate knowledge on both Swedish and Ayurvedic massage, it is up to you to choose between the two which best suits your style of relaxation. Remember both massages have unique qualities and techniques, the selecting part can be a little tricky though, so if you are still undecided why not try out both?

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