| Many companies claim to make shiatsu massage | | | | and retails for around $4,300. It's a lot of money, I |
| chairs but in reality the chairs offer nothing of the | | | | know, but you really are getting something that is in |
| sort. At best, most offer a general type of massage. | | | | the top tier. It's a very stylish chair but more |
| Genuine shiatsu is the application of pressure with | | | | importantly, it comes with physical body shape |
| fingers and thumbs on energetic pathways, called | | | | detectors that will automatically adjust the massage |
| meridians to improve the flow of energy. Quite | | | | rollers to your body shape to deliver a perfect |
| frankly, most chairs lack the technology needed. | | | | massage. You get a leg massager but no arm |
| However, some do. Here's a review of some of the | | | | massagers with this model. |
| best shiatsu massage chairs currently available. | | | | Retailing for a thousand dollars less - and in my |
| The HoMedics Shiatsu massage chair and others, like | | | | opinion, a better chair - is the OSIM iSymphonic |
| the iJoy, are often touted as giving a genuine, | | | | Massage Chair. Now, this chair is packed with the |
| human-like shiatsu massage. But they really don't. The | | | | latest technology. It uses optical sensors to detect |
| problem is that in order to get a genuine shiatsu, the | | | | your body shape and to automatically align the rollers |
| chair has to be intelligent enough to know your body | | | | to deliver a stress relieving massage. There are also 5 |
| shape, just as a professional massager takes into | | | | Healthcare programs and you can customize them to |
| account each persons height, weight and so forth. | | | | create your own unique massage. But, what's really |
| Chairs like HoMedics and iJoy are cheap and lack the | | | | impressive about this chair is the music therapy |
| technology required. Don't get me wrong, they're | | | | system. Unlike the Fujikura chair (mentioned above), |
| good chairs, but you simply can't find a shiatsu chair | | | | it just doesn't play music, rather the massage given is |
| for under $1,500. | | | | directly orchestrated by the music of your choice; if |
| So, how much do you need to spend? Well, if you | | | | you decide on hard rock, you'll get a pounding, but if |
| want a chair that does deliver, then you're talking | | | | you listen to soothing classical, you'll get an altogether |
| around $1,800. | | | | gentler massage. |
| The Fujikura 2000 massage chair retails for this price | | | | The Inada i.2 Massage Chair (HCP-i.2A) retails for |
| and comes with an intelligent 4 roller system that | | | | around $3,300 and is cheaper then either the Sanyo |
| conforms to the contour of your spine and a special | | | | or OSIM but I believe offers the best value for |
| neck massage function that directly targets stress | | | | money. Like the OSIM massage chair, it uses optical |
| relieving "tsubo points" on your neck. It also has | | | | sensors to detect body shape and automatically |
| other features such as 26 air bags - 20 of which are | | | | adjusts the chair rollers. Also, like the OSIM, it has no |
| in the foot and calf massager - as well as arm | | | | arm massagers but it does come with vibration in the |
| massagers. The massage modes include: rolling, | | | | armrest. The overall design of the chair is very |
| kneading, shiatsu results, compression and percussion, | | | | contemporary and stylish. |
| chop action and flapping. As an added bonus, the | | | | For its cost and feature list, the Inada is certainly a |
| chair comes with a music therapy system. | | | | shiatsu massage chair I would recommend. However, |
| Fujikura is a Japanese company and if you really | | | | it's worth trying to test the others out if you |
| want the best shiatsu massage chair you should buy | | | | possibly can, especially the OSIM and Sanyo massage |
| one designed by a Japanese company. The Sanyo | | | | chairs, so you can be absolutely sure which one is |
| HEC-SA5000K Massage Chair is the genuine article | | | | best for you. |