Why it's not just employees who benefit from massages at work

The success of a company also depends on its employees. That's why more and more company bosses are placing great importance on the health and well-being of their employees. The better they feel, the more productive and motivated they are. You also feel valued and noticed. Massages are a good way to combat mental fatigue, tension and loss of energy. They reduce harmful effects that are primarily caused by stress.

The benefits of a massage in the company are obvious

Promoting and maintaining the health of staff is becoming increasingly important. Because they are the foundation of every company. In order to take appropriate precautions and derive measures, you should first filter out the factors that endanger your health. First and foremost is a serious enemy: stress! This is fueled by time pressure, immense workloads, environmental factors such as noise, poor posture, prolonged work on a screen and sometimes disharmony among the workforce. You can't always escape stress, regardless of whether it's provoked from outside or you're putting yourself under pressure because of high demands. Physically, stress is primarily noticeable through symptoms such as tension, headaches, difficulty concentrating, lack of energy, tiring quickly and general malaise. These in turn affect the productivity and performance of employees.

How could you prevent or reduce stress? Massages have proven their worth not only in alternative medicine. Instinctively, you long for relaxation and peace after a long, tiring day at work. Muscles and tension can be relaxed during a massage. If the body is relaxed, this is also transferred to inner well-being. Almost as if the physical and mental pressure was being lifted and massaged away. The body can eliminate bad energies and is stimulated to release positive energy through therapeutic kneading. The motivation through the small energy booster in the workplace increases, as does the employee's performance.

At the same time, the employee is grateful for this service from the employer. On the one hand, this strengthens the workforce's loyalty to the company and, on the other hand, increases the reputation of the management. An extremely positive side effect of health promotion is the reduction in sick leave and absenteeism, which also increases production for the company.

The introduction of massage in the workplace and its history

The massage therapist David Palmer had the idea of using massages to promote the health of a company's employees and in the 1980s it met with open ears from large corporations such as Apple. Palmer specialized in Amma massages. This therapeutic and traditional type of massage comes from Japan and primarily relieves tension in the neck, shoulders and back, the areas most commonly affected. The causes for this are mainly work-related stress, harmful posture and physical strain. Due to the obvious advantages and thanks to his powers of persuasion, Palmer managed to successfully introduce the Amma massage in a professional environment.

What options do companies have?

There are different ways to implement the massage service for employees. The choice depends, among other things, on the type of business, the working hours, the environment and the spatial conditions.

We would like to introduce four relatively universal methods in more detail:

Company masseur/masseuse:

• More often than you might think, companies spare neither effort nor expense to provide employees with a soothing massage. They hire a therapist and set up a suitable massage room so that employees can make an appointment quite flexibly and see the masseur even if they have acute complaints.

Massage chair:

• You're discovering them more and more often at airports, in shopping centers or even at the hairdresser's: massage chairs. Companies have also become aware of them and have set up the chairs so that employees can relieve their tension. Providing this service requires little preparation and there are no permanent fixed costs. Employees and companies benefit equally from the skills of mechanical therapists.

Mobile massage:

• The company commissions a local therapy center that offers a mobile service. The therapists then come to the company at regular intervals and offer their massages there. For reasons of space, massages are usually carried out on special seats/chairs or portable massage tables and massage mats. Some companies also have relaxation rooms that are equipped with loungers or usable furniture.

Stationary massage:

• The companies negotiate special conditions or framework agreements with local therapy centers so that employees can use the massage service in the cooperative practice.

Which massage techniques are particularly suitable for the workplace?

Offering massages to employees is a measure that pays off in the long term. A short neck massage can have a revitalizing effect in everyday working life. It should be noted that the application should primarily be effective without putting the employee under additional time pressure. For one Amma seat massage For example, undressing is not necessary as it is mainly used for complaints on the upper body and back. Of course they are Amma massage or the popular one Shiatsu massage Also possible while lying down, if the circumstances allow it. There is frequent demand from employees for head and foot reflex zones as well as hand massages, depending on which parts of the body are particularly stressed.

Amma massage:

Translated from Japanese, this method means: "Soothe with hands." Basically, it is a therapeutic acupressure method that is intended to help the human body regenerate and reduce restlessness, usually caused by stress. By stimulating the points along the meridians (channels), the energetic flow is to be stimulated, i.e. the reduction of negative energy and the release of positive energy. A treatment of around 15 minutes is sufficient for this. This can be easily integrated into the working day. At the Amma massage The customer kneels on a special massage chair and keeps his clothes on. The therapist now massages specific points on the back, neck, upper arms, hands, hips and head, thereby stimulating the flow of energy.

Shiatsu massage:

This massage method also comes from Japan and can be translated as “finger pressure”. The therapist also sometimes uses the elbows, knees and feet. At the Shiatsu massage it's about deceleration! And that's exactly what you need in your hectic everyday work life. A physical and mental “come to rest”, shut down and calm down. For the massage, the customer lies on a soft mat or lounger and can remain clothed. The masseur first feels the customer's stomach with very light pressure. This tells him where the energy flow is blocked and where treatment is particularly needed. The massage can also include gymnastic elements, in which the customer always remains passive and is moved by the therapist.

Reading tip: In ours In our blog post we have more in-depth information about Shiatsu massage, whose background and process are collected.

Massage service in the office – what should you bear in mind?

In order not to cause unwanted “side effects” of massage therapy, some factors should be taken into account:

physical fitness:

Massages have an effect on breathing, circulation and the musculoskeletal system. It is therefore important for the employee to know whether there may be any possible contraindications. He should be in good health.

Openness:

It is important that the employee can relax. Massaging alone cannot relieve tension. The employee should be able to mentally engage in the therapy. This requires trust in the masseur and the treatment. Massages are only successful holistically, i.e. only if body and mind are equally stimulated.