Subscribe to The Massage Message e-newsletter now through Father’s Day and be entered to win a free gift certificate for a 1-hour massage!

The drawing will take place on Father’s Day.

(You’ll see the subscribe form in the right-hand column about half or two thirds of the way down the page…)

If you sign up for The Massage Message between now and then, your name will be written down on a slip of paper, put in a hat with all the other names, and we’ll pick one. Then you’ll receive your gift certificate! And if you’re not local, I’ll either get you a certificate to go see a colleague of mine in another city (I’m connected… ) or one from SpaFinder! Your choice.

Can’t wait for the drawing? Take advantage of my Father’s Day Special and purchase one right now! Click here.

It seems that nowadays it’s very unusual to hear of a serious athlete who doesn’t employ massage as part of their training regimen and recovery strategy. Indeed, if the budget permits, any Olympic athlete today will receive massage therapy at least once or twice per week – or some (like Michael Phelps) even twice a day! Here’s a list of quotes by or about various athletes from the Beijing Games about massage and bodywork.
Michael Phelps
I have been getting two massages a day and ice baths.
Read more…

INNOVATIVE GIFTS FOR DAD

Michele Thompson, MS

Before you rush out to buy your dad the usual tie, shirt, cologne or fishing lure, think outside the Father’s Day gift box and surprise him with a present he’ll truly enjoy. These five innovative Father’s Day gifts are more than fitting for the hip and healthy dad as well as a husband who deserves something out of the ordinary this year. Warning, however, don’t expect dad to ever be satisfied with a typical no-thought present again. Give your dad one of these gifts and he’ll know how much he really means to you!

HoMedics iCush-100 Immersive Audio Sync Massage Seat

Give your contemporary dad the ultimate in indulgent entertainment experience. The iCush isn’t one of those boring massage cushions that simply pulse mono-rythymically. The iCush connects dad to his gaming system, MP3 player, and TV, giving him a full sensory experience of his games, music, and movies. Dad can plug in his iPod or MP3 Player or use the included adapter to connect directly to his TV, XBOX, PlayStation or other gaming console. This may not be the place for podcast workouts, but the iCush features are sure to get your dad’s heart racing.

Panasonic Massage Lounger

If your dad is anything like mine, you won’t prove to him you’re a success in your career until you can afford to buy him one of these: the Panasonic EP30006KU/TU Real Pro Ultra Total Body Massage Lounger, with 480 square inches of air massage and 200 square inches of back coverage.

What’s air massage? The chair uses 36 airbags to massage your feet, calves, arms, hands, waist, shoulders, and even your derriere. The bags expand and contract, squeezing your muscles until you melt like butter. It can recline to 170 degrees (you can sleep on it if you really wanted to) and four types of pre-programmed, 15-minute massages: shiatsu, deep, swedish, and arm and leg stretch. (There’s also a 5-minute quick massage if you are short on time, but who doesn’t have the time for a massage?)

Unlike most other massage chairs, this one will “scan” your body for your size and height, so that it can give you a massage that’s contoured to your body. So your massage will feel like the one a real masseuse would give you. If you want to program your own massage, the attached computer panel lets you do just that (up to 24 programs can be set to memory). The chair also has a kneading function called “Junetsu.” It’s available in black or brown leather, and will sell for $4,799.95. Consider it the ultimate TV-watching chair.

June 3, 2008

Americans are among the hardest-working people on the planet, so it’s good news that more of us are learning to savor the stress-dissolving satisfactions of massage.
One-third of American adults have turned to massage for pain relief, often on their physicians’ advice, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. Baby boomers are particular enthusiasts, averaging seven massages annually. They’re followed closely by adults 18 to 44, who averaged five massages in a year’s time.
No matter what age, anyone who has experienced a massage knows the only issue is how long to wait before having another — and that matters mainly because prices can easily top $100 for an hour of kneading and squeezing, stretching and compression.
To the rescue comes the massage lover’s dream — and the ideal Father’s Day gift: a 21st-Century version of the classic recliner.