Corporate Massage - All you need to know!

Getting your business unstuck and thriving!

Ben Ciccarone, LMT

10/31/20239 min read

At Wellness Way Massage, we believe that corporate massage services can be a powerful tool to help improve the productivity and well-being of your employees. Our team of experienced massage therapists provide onsite services tailored to each office's unique needs. From tension-release techniques to invigorating techniques, our skilled licensed massage therapists can create custom massage sessions designed to relax, renew, and rejuvenate within your office environment.

Massage Therapy in the Workplace

We are living with Post-Pandemic issues such as social isolation, Zoom fatigue, depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout. Could workplace massage be a way to help? While there are only a few studies that have looked into the effectiveness of massage for work, what has been done shows promising results. Earlier studies imply that massage therapy at work can lower blood pressure, decrease cortisol levels, reduce levels of stress, and amplify productivity and job satisfaction.(1) (2) (3)

When was the last time you got a massage?

Most people think of it as an extravagance, but corporate massage services are actually very beneficial. Not only can massage ease aching muscles, they also help improve mental health by conveying that employee well-being is taken seriously.

Relax Your Muscles

Human bodies weren't meant to sit in front of computers all day, and even the most ergonomic chairs won't prevent physical tension from building up over time.

The Three Most Frequent Workplace Injuries that Require Time Away from Work

The National Safety Council's data on workplace accidents shows that two of the three most frequent injury categories that cause time away from work are musculoskeletal :

Sprains, strains, and tears – These are the common injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons that can happen due to sudden twisting, stretching, overuse of a muscle group, or overexertion.

Aching or discomfort – Chronic back pain is one of the most-common issues among workers whose jobs require them to be seated in an office chair for long stretches.

Corporate massage therapy services can help alleviate these tensions and reduce the chances of injury.

It goes without saying that straining our muscles causes more than just headaches: our businesses also suffer from losing thousands of dollars when an employee needs time off work to recover from an injury.

Corporate massage therapy is a proactive solution. We can target the issue before it manifests into a larger problem.

Take time each day to improve your posture. Keeping your spine straight with your shoulders back is an important part of staying healthy and strong. When you're in a good posture, you'll experience less muscle fatigue and increase circulation and digestion. Plus, it sends a message of confidence and authority when you interact with others. Having your feet flat on the floor, evenly distributing weight, and lowering and pulling back your shoulders are all important components of good posture that help keep the body working properly while conserving energy.

Releasing Stress

A break with a massage session can help you de-stress. Focusing on your breathing and relaxing your body during a stressful day will reduce the physical strain stress can have on our bodies.

Taking time to relax may also increase productivity afterwards, as massaging increases blood flow to the brain and provides it with more oxygen. This will energize you while enhancing problem solving and critical thinking skills.

On a deeper level, interventions to regulate one's physical stress reactions may help decrease the chances of burnout.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is made up of two sections that control automatic bodily functions such as heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure. If the brain senses danger, the sympathetic nervous system takes over—the "fight or flight" response—pumping cortisol into the body, raising heart rate, alertness and burning glucose for energy.

Opposite to this reaction is the parasympathetic nervous system, which works to bring the body back to a state of balance once danger has passed.

The sympathetic nervous system is meant for short bouts of adrenaline followed by enough rest and recovery. In modern times, remaining in this state constantly is detrimental to our health.

In fact, this explains why we often crave sugary, glucose-dense food when under pressure at work.

The consequences of an overactive sympathetic nervous system can be serious, from burnout to chronic heart problems, chronic fatigue, Type ll diabetes and risking obesity.

So, what does a massage therapy have to do with this? In a nutshell, it's important to give your body the time to switch off and enter the parasympathetic 'rest and digest' mode. This state helps you sleep better, cope with more tasks and ultimately reduce the threat of burnout.

If you're looking for a persuasive argument in favor of incorporating corporate massage therapy services into the office environment then look no further. Not only is it effective at tackling muscle pain and tension, but it can also help keep stress levels down. Plus, everyone loves a massage!

Chair massage can help businesses get unstuck and energized in a number of ways:

More Energy for Employees: Chair massages offer a fast and effective way to perk up employees. A short chair massage can help get rid of fatigue and raise alertness, making workers more efficient and concentrated on their duties.

An energizing chair massage is a fast, simple solution to combat workplace fatigue and increase alertness. The quick energizing chair massage method Wellness Way Massage offers helps workers relieve stress and become more diligent and articulate with their duties.

Stress Reduction: Stress is a significant energy drain. Chair massage can be a great way to reduce stress. When an individual is in a stressed state, their ability to make good decisions, think creatively, and work productively diminishes. When workers are not as tense, they will find it easier to come up with imaginative ideas and solutions to the issues facing their business.

The effects of stress can leave you looking worn out. Loss of sleep, weight gain, and weaker immunity caused by stress can cause real physical harm. Stress courses through the veins and capillaries of the body like a slow-moving flood, dispatching energy to trigger the fight-or-flight response while inhibiting other activities.

By decreasing stress, one's body is able to access its normal levels of energy output.

Stress causes already difficult days to appear unbeatable. As worries accumulate, it can feel as if there's no way to regain control. Problems become too hard for one person to solve alone and nothing seems to go right.

Stress can result in feeling anxious or irritable around other people, making it difficult to work or socialize effectively. Additionally, stress can be felt in the body as tension headaches or chronic shoulder pain, or conveyed through physical sensations such as pressure or tightness.

Wellness Way Massage offers a relaxing chair massage service to help combat stress.

Improved Morale: Offering chair massages to personnel can improve morale and cultivate a more contented workplace. Employees who are cheerful and relaxed are more likely to be active and driven to deal with business issues. Giving chair massages as an incentive can raise their spirits and interest in their work. Morale that is higher typically leads to increased vigor and enthusiasm in the office.

Creativity and Problem-Solving: Your office can be full of employees who are tense and stressed out. This might have led to several issues where the business has been stuck in a rut for weeks now. However, by providing chair massages to these employees, you can help them relax and reduce their muscle tension.

When stress levels are reduced, it can lead to improved creativity and problem-solving abilities. Your employees will be able to think more creatively and come up with new ways to approach long-standing problems. By reducing stress and freeing up mental energy for creative thinking, your workforce will feel relaxed and energized, and they're more likely to be innovative when coming up with ideas or solutions for business challenges.

Increased Productivity: When employees feel better after a massage, they can do their best work. The feeling of relaxation works like a mental reset button that gives workers renewed clarity, motivation, vigor, and the ability to overcome stress and be more productive. Chair massages will increase productivity by helping employees recover from overwork, stress and fatigue.

When workers feel good about themselves and their work, they are more likely to perform better at every task they undertake. After a chair massage, employees feel refreshed and revitalized, ready to tackle projects with boundless energy. The chair massages Wellness Way Massage provides can help companies grow by increasing employee performance as well as satisfaction.

Better Focus: Chair massages can help employees maintain better focus and motivation throughout the workday. This sustained attention and energy can lead to improved problem-solving and decision-making.

Imagine a Massage therapist's fingers flowing across the client's back, pressing and squeezing knots and tight spots, relaxed muscles feel like elastic bands and melt into the massage chair, sending dull aches and pains into oblivion.

Employee Retention: Offering chair massages can be seen as a valuable employee benefit. This can help retain and attract top talent, which is crucial for businesses looking to overcome obstacles and achieve growth. A stable workforce minimizes disruptions and allows the business to maintain its momentum and energy.

Team Building: Chair massages can promote a sense of community and teamwork in the workplace. A more cohesive and supportive team is better equipped to collaborate and tackle business challenges together.

Improved Relationships: Chair massages can also improve employee-manager relationships. It is a tangible way for employees to feel valued. When employees feel that their well-being is a priority for the business, it can lead to better communication and collaboration, which is essential for overcoming challenges.

Health and Wellness: Promoting employee health and well-being can lead to reduced absenteeism and fewer health-related disruptions in the workplace, which can help keep the business on track and focused on growth.

The health and well-being of employees often suffer due to stress, overwork, and the general pace of the work environment. Sitting for hours on end in poorly designed chairs that force the body into awkward positions can take its toll.

With chair massage, your business is more focused, and less likely to be overwhelmed by obstacles. It's less likely for your business to get stuck and more likely your business will be unstuck and moving forward.

Employee Engagement: Engaged employees are more likely to go the extra mile to help the business succeed, and are more likely to be energized and passionate about their work. Chair massages can be a part of an overall employee engagement strategy, which can help break through stagnation.

Employees are more likely to take on the extra responsibilities and tasks needed to get the business to the next level.

Happy employees are more likely to contribute in a positive way.

A work environment that is supportive and caring is more likely to get employees to go the extra mile for the business.

Engaged employees are more likely to support the business and help the business make advancements.

When employees feel supported, they are more likely to feel valued, which can make them more involved in the business.

Employee engagement can make employees feel as though they have a voice and are listened to. This is a valuable asset, especially if the business is going through a restructuring.

Compared to what it's like now, close your eyes and imagine what it would be like arriving at your office and seeing your employees swarm to their workstations and computers with renewed vigor, the stress of the business has been lifted from their shoulders. They are eager and excited to start their day.

Imagine an office where everyone is happy, relaxed, and working together.

This is a more harmonious work environment from which your business is more likely to overcome obstacles and where everyone works together to get unstuck, overcome challenges, reach goals, and have a greater impact.

The Benefits of Using Corporate Massage for Improved Workplace Health

Should you request a massage in the office? Most likely, yes—but you'll need to get your boss or human resources manager on board first. Here are some ways that you can present your case for chair massage in the office. Chair massage is much more than just a fringe benefit; it's an essential part of corporate wellness and helps cultivate a healthy work environment.

So, how can you convince your employer (or yourself, if you're the boss!) to bring Wellness Way Massage to your workplace? Follow these tips and soon a massage chair (and your massage therapist) will make an entrance into your workspace.

Chair massage is beneficial

Massage feels great while also being good for the body. Even a brief chair massage during work hours can enhance immunity and curb pains caused by sitting all day long.

Chair massage is cost-effective

A chair massage with Wellness Way Massage is affordable, plus our Massage Therapists are all vetted and licensed. And they bring either the massage chair or a table for clothed table massage. Plus, you can enjoy the advantages of chair massage in 10-15 minutes, instead of spending an hour or 90 minutes getting a complete table massage.

Chair massage increases productivity

Massage produces endorphins, referred to as the "happy hormones", which brings about feelings of well-being and decreases stress. Endorphins activate the receptors that reduce pain and stress in the body. Lower levels of stress and pain combined with heightened morale leads to happier, healthier, and more efficient workers.

No outrageous office behavior

Employers may view happy hours as a reward for staff and an enhancement to team spirit. While such events may be enjoyable, they can sometimes result in unpleasant HR issues, as well as employees turning up late for work the following morning. Chair massages at the office lets employees become only blissfully happy - no drunken escapades required!

References

1) A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Repeated Massage on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal and Immune Function in Healthy Individuals: A Study of Mechanisms of Action and Dosage https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2011.0071

2) Massage therapy in the workplace: Reducing employee strain and blood pressure

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44644874_Massage_therapy_in_the_workplace_Reducing_employee_strain_and_blood_pressure

3) Employee outcomes following work-site acupressure and massage https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279719337_Employee_outcomes_following_work-site_acupressure_and_massage_This_chapter_was_first_published_as_a_paper_in_Massage_Therapy_Journal_2000_393_48-64_394_40-47