The Teal Center For Therapeutic Bodywork, Ltd.

Services

Seated Massage

Wellness Drives Productivity in the Work Place

• Stress and Productivity in the Work Place Today
• Advantages of Seated Massage
• Research Report and Metrics
• Why You Should Offer Seated Massage

Stress and Productivity in the Work Place Today

Stress is a killer of productivity in the work place today. Managers across the country now realize after years of downsizing and work force reduction, that they are faced with a smaller work force that has more responsibility than ever before. Work/life balance initiatives have moved to the forefront of executive managements’ concerns to retain and protect the workforce that remains.

According to The American Massage Association ¹, “…unrelenting stress can damage your body, ultimately leading to discomfort or pain. It’s a contributing factor in most disease processes.” Adverse effects of stress can manifest themselves as headaches, high blood pressure, tense muscles, colitis, heart disease, and hypertension. In response to stress, your body produces more adrenaline, shallow breathing, increased heart rate and increased blood flow to large muscles all while your immune and digestive systems are being inhibited.

Therapeutic massage can help you and your employees relieve the pain and discomfort of stress and to find a better work/life balance. Massage Magazine reports ², “Corporations seeking to improve workplace morale and enhance the health and productivity of employees are turning to workplace massage. This benefit is now being considered more often by companies large and small to keep staff performing at their best, especially during the recent economic upheaval and related stresses.”

The medicine for stress is the relaxation response. Modern medicine supports this opinion by recent action – 53 million Americans sought out massage in 2007 with one of five of them discussing it with their doctor ³. In those discussions, physicians recommended or encouraged massage a majority of the time (58%).

So what is seated massage? Seated massage is a short, concentrated session that lasts as long as a typical coffee break. The massage chair requires little space, allowing an empty office or corner to be changed into a wellness retreat offering relaxation and stress relief.

Employees receiving massage report immediate relief from pain, an enhanced sense of well being and improved mental acuity. Additional benefits employees receive from seated massage include clearer thinking and decision making, improved morale and increased productivity.

Advantages of Seated Massage

The advantages of seated massage make it ideal for the office and special events:

• It’s convenient—the work is done through your clothes and requires no oils or showers.
• Results are immediate—most wellness programs take months to produce positive results.
• Seated Massage is easy and safe—no special fitness level or training is required.
• Effects are cumulative—consistent use reinforces the benefits.
• Massage relieves headaches and backaches, eye strain and neck strain.
• It’s enjoyable and encourages other steps to total wellness.
• Helps prevent repetitive use injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
• It relieves anxiety and depression.
• It helps to prevent “burnout”—physical and emotional exhaustion.
• It’s affordable.

Research Report and Metrics

Interested in metrics? There is an abundance of research supporting the effectiveness of seated massage. We will reference one study that illustrates this effectiveness with scientific clarity and objectivity. 3M, a Fortune 500 company, and the University of Texas, a respected academic institution, were led by Ms. Karina Garcia, PhD and licensed massage therapist, to investigate:

1. What are the employee perceptions of professional massage performed in the work place?
2. Are the beneficial claims being made by massage practitioners substantiated?
3. What are some of the general perceptions of professional massage?

The results, in terms of hard core numbers, of the employees who received massage:

• 99.7% say massage should be made accessible to all employees
• 99.0% reported release of muscular tension
• 94.6% would recommend massage without reservations
• 91.9% indicated enhanced overall well being
• 91.8% plan to continue massage
• 88.9% indicated reduction in stress
• 79.5% say massage is an on-site necessity in the workplace

Why You Should Offer Seated Massage

• Reward hard working employees
• Attract customers to sales events
• Enhance your fund raiser or charity event
• Add value to your health fair and corporate fitness events
• Relax staff when under stress—strategic planning, software coversions, mergers and acquisitions, downsizing and layoffs
• Make any special event memorable

The Teal Center has a dedicated staff of nationally certified massage therapists to provide you the benefits of seated massage. Please contact Tammy Pearman at tpearman@tealcenter.com or 703-522-7637 to plan your event today.