Benefits of Corporate Massage Therapy on Employee Health

Stress is almost synonymous with a working environment in the current business world. The constant meetings, deadlines, deals, etc., demand undying attention, 24x7. These unavoidable elements result in employees' tense and disturbing state of mind.

Working with such a mindset affects not only productivity but also employee wellbeing. Though employers utilize ideas to combat this workplace stress, one solution above the rest bears instant results. This idea is corporate massage therapy.

What is Corporate Massage Therapy?

Corporate massage therapy is a relaxation session at the office, generally lasting 10-15 minutes. This process doesn’t require one to take their clothes off and concentrate on specific body parts. These are the back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, etc.

These therapy sessions work by relaxing the muscle tissues and compressed nerves, reducing spasms and painful contractions. This helps one operate efficiently and smoothly.

Corporate massage therapy also helps ease hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, insomnia, fatigue, etc. To have a healthy work environment, fighting these discrepancies is vital. And what’s better than helping cure the whole lot with just one activity?

For these reasons, it is crucial to include corporate massage programs in employee wellness programs today. Now that we have covered its importance, let’s see how you can benefit from this wellness idea.

Types of Corporate Massage Therapy

1. Chair Massage Therapy

Known as "corporate massage," this is a handy way to give massages at work. Specially designed chairs are used for employees to sit in while getting a massage. It helps with better blood flow, wakes up the muscles, and helps people feel less stressed.

The massage focuses on relaxing the back, neck, shoulders, head, arms, and hands. This type of massage is great for employees who spend much time on computers, driving, lifting, or standing for long periods.

2. Table Massage Therapy

Practitioners apply gentle finger pressure, rocking, stretches, and deep work to make the body feel balanced and relaxed. This technique also boosts blood flow and helps with clear thinking. It gives employees a special experience that they wouldn't get without having massages at the workplace.

3. Reflexology

Reflexology works on the idea that special hand and foot points are linked to different body parts. Our therapists use gentle pressure on these points to help energy flow freely. This brings balance and deep relaxation to your employees.

Techniques for Corporate Massage Therapy

Corporate massage therapy includes various techniques. All these techniques aim to provide relaxation and stress relief in a workplace setting. Here are some common techniques used in corporate massage therapy:

* Trigger Point Therapy:

Trigger point therapy targets specific muscles, releasing tension and alleviating pain. It is often used in corporate massage sessions to focus on the neck, shoulders, and back areas.

* Shiatsu Massage:

Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese technique that involves applying pressure to specific points along the body's meridians to balance energy flow. It is often performed on a mat on the floor, but adaptations can be made for seated chair massage.

* Aromatherapy:

Aromatherapy uses essential oils in corporate massage to enhance the massage experience. It promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances employee well-being through diffusers, lotions, or oils.

* Stretching and Mobilization:

Stretching and mobilization improve flexibility, increase range of motion, and release tension. Therapists can guide employees in corporate massage sessions, particularly for desk-bound individuals.

* Breathing Techniques:

Breathing techniques involving conscious control of breath can enhance relaxation, reduce anxiety, and improve overall well-being, particularly in corporate massage sessions.

* Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques:

Incorporating elements of mindfulness and guided relaxation to help employees disconnect from work-related stressors.

Benefits of Corporate Massage Therapy on Employee Health

Having massages at work can make employees happier and more productive. Massages help by relieving stress, easing muscle tension, and boosting blood flow. This can make people feel more energized, focused, and creative.

When employees feel good, they do better at their jobs, enjoy their work more, and are less likely to leave. Plus, massages at work create a calm and positive atmosphere, making everyone feel better.

1. Reduced Stress

Sitting in front of the computer all day long adds to workplace stress levels. Massages help to release the physical stress accumulated throughout the workday. In just a matter of moments, a rub down with a massage chair helps with better circulation and muscle stimulation.

A deep tissue massage can help relax and ease body tension. This eases fatigue and helps employees feel relaxed and manage stress better.

2. Fights Pain

Working continuously in front of a computer can also result in body pain. It is mainly because of working in one position for an extended amount of time. The areas worst hit are the neck, lower back, shoulders, and arms. If left unattended, this can cause serious trouble later on.

A therapeutic massage can help fight this pain as well. Each pain point has a specific source from which it arises and can be corrected. Professional massage therapists can help alleviate this pain by applying the perfect massage regimen to fix this.

3. Mental Wellness

Mental wellness is also a very vital part of employee health. Massages have a lot to offer regarding an employee's mental health. As an employee spends the entire day focused at work, one can get overwhelmed due to the work pressures and suffer mentally.

Massages can help increase one’s mental health and alertness. Some of the advantages of corporate massage therapy in this aspect include

• Decreased anxiety due to the calming effect of the relaxation process
• Improved mood as a result of the refreshed feeling one gets after the session
• Increased focus and alertness

4. Body Posture

Often, employees at the office suffer from lousy body posture due to unhealthy working habits. These can be because of poor workplace ergonomics, seating positions, working in one position for a long time, etc.

Having a proper rub down can also mend these negatives and make for better posture. It is made possible by relaxing the body tension. This allows for relaxed joints and muscles, which promote freedom, ease the pressure points, and promote natural posture.

5. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is an injury associated with doing a task frequently, like typing. For example- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome arises in wrists while typing all day long with bad work habits.

A proper deep tissue massage can help in this sort of injury. A rub-down can increase circulation in the affected areas, which flushes natural toxins and reduces inflammation. It also helps release the tension in muscles, ligaments, and tendons affected by the RSI.

6. Improved Immune System

Having a proper immune system is vital for employees to function correctly. This also further helps employers reduce their healthcare expenses. Massages can help build a suitable immune system by relieving stress, insomnia, body pain, etc.

These were some benefits of having corporate massage therapy as part of your employee health program.

Other than these, having such massage services also increases many desirable qualities in a workforce. These are reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, better job satisfaction, improved employee morale, attractive perks to pull in better hires, etc.

7. Stress Management

At the workplace, stress is inevitable. But, one can always keep a check. Stress also hampers an employee's mental health and emotions. It is essential to keep the workplace a priority-free environment.

When stress increases, negative thoughts build up, and the mind gets clogged. This makes it challenging to work. Many companies have set up programs for workers to get quick massages during the day.

For example, chair massages can help reduce stress and build up tension. The chair massages also promote employee health, good circulation, and positivity. The employees will feel refreshed and energized to work.

8. Increased Productivity

Employees would want to work when there is a positive working culture. When employees are happy, it becomes easier to fulfill their desired tasks. Introducing a corporate massage will create a significant impact on work performance.

These wellness programs give employees a chance to be more productive by curbing stress and anxiety.

Employee’s productivity can be limited due to such factors:

• Becoming Anxious
• Not being able to stay focused
• Stressful Environment

9. Hiring and Retention

Offering wellness programs and therapy massage improves the overall well-being of an employee. When a recruiter talks about corporate massage to a potential hire, they will be excited about their fitness goals.

This also helps in employee retention and enhances morale. When employee retention increases, it helps in reducing stress and efficiency.

How to Implement Corporate Massage Therapy in the Workplace

Setting up a corporate massage program at work is straightforward.

• Start by finding a licensed massage therapist who knows about corporate massage.
• Your massage therapist can tailor a program to meet the needs of your staff in collaboration with you.
• This could be scheduling regular massage appointments or providing massage services only as needed.
• Encourage employees to take advantage of the massage program.
• Gather feedback from employees and the massage therapist. Make adjustments to the program based on feedback and evolving needs.
• Assess the impact of the corporate massage program on employee well-being and productivity.
• Determine the long-term feasibility and sustainability of the program. Explore options for continued support and expansion if successful.

Follow these steps to introduce corporate massage therapy in a way that meets your workplace's needs.

Conclusion

It is hard to accept, but stress will arise in every working space. It is just one of those unavoidable factors, but thankfully, curable in an office environment. So, it is your responsibility as an employer to cure this problem whenever it arises.

Now, there are many other ideas to correct stress that cost less than massage therapy. These can be office meditation, yoga in the workplace, office exercises, etc. But, given the benefits of corporate massage therapy, it is surely money well spent for yourselves and the employees.

The factors in this chair massage program that cost money are the trained professionals and a corporate chair massage. These chairs are specialized site chairs made for the job. Once you have these two figured out, it’s smooth sailing all the way forward.