The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WHETHER you are a working woman, a busy mother, or both, a local beauty therapist recommends treating yourself to a massage for a quick escape and to alleviate the stress brought on by the daily challenges and responsibilities.

Having a massage may be considered a luxury by some, and is something many women only get to do once every blue moon, but with so many benefits to reap, Nadine Johnson, a masseuse and aesthetician at The Nail Lounge, said it should be on the list of things to do on a regular basis for every woman.

While there are different styles of massages being offered by spas and salons around town, this nail bar and salon on Parliament Street offers something unique – a chair massage.

Salon owner Georgette Sands recently included massage therapy to the list of services at The Nail Lounge after receiving a number requests for it, especially from tourists in the downtown area.

“People have been coming in and asking, ‘Do you do massage?’ So there has been a high demand for the service, especially from the tourist market, so that is why we decided to introduce the chair massage. A lot of people who come here would like to have a full body massage done, but we just don’t have the space to accommodate that. The upper body massage is supposed to be a stress reliever,” Mrs Sands said.

Chair massage is a style of seated massage that is typically short and focuses on the back, shoulders, neck and arms.

“I am qualified in Swedish massage, which will be the basic relaxation to relieve some tension, and this is the basic one that most people get. The Swedish massage is good for blood circulation, to release some tension and stress. Then there is the deep tissue massage, which works well if you have a specific problem, however, the techniques are different,” Mrs Johnson, the masseuse, said.

“The technique of a Swedish massage is firm but doesn’t hurt.”

Women who want a quick fix but have very little time to spare, Mrs Johnson said can benefit greatly from a chair massage.

“Massage is very good for blood circulation, and of course the chair massage is good quick fix. If you have a bad day or something, a little bit of stress, it is good because the chair massage is about 10, 20 or 30 minutes. So it is a quick fix to get you revitalised again,” she said.

“Most people get this kind of massage regularly and they get them once a week, but having a massage is a luxury to a lot of people. The chair massage is good because you can scoot out on a lunch hour and get it done.

Giving an example of a typical client, Mrs Johnson said: “One lady was having a stressful time on the cruise ship and she came to us and that was quick fix for her. I feel more people should get it, even if it is only 10 minutes a week. You feel a little revitalised afterwards.”

The Nail Lounge’s chair massage involves a special chair, with one’s face resting in a cradle. The neck and back are completely relaxed while the therapist relieves muscle tension using Swedish massage moves like kneading and compression.

“The neck, back and shoulders are common areas that people experience a lot of tension. They are the primary areas that people hold their stress and tension,” Mrs Johnson said.

“Everyday life can cause this tension, including your job or marriage. Some people also carry stress and tension differently. For example you could be sitting at a desk and answering phone and lean more to one side and that may cause it the tension to build up. You may hold your handbag on one side and that is pressure as well.”