massage chair

[hamster]

does anyone know where i could go to buy a massagechair. rather inexpensive if you have any ideas let me know                              thanks

 

[Hooch Monster (suspended)]

I know that massage warehouse has the Avila chair at a good deal.  E-bay has some off name chairs pretty cheap.  Now to my question, I would like some input comparison between the Avila by Earthworks and the Portal Pro from Oakworks......Any opinions would be helpful. :

 

[stogburn]

massage chair

I just got the avila chair from http://www.massagewarehouse.com it was very inexpensive, comes with the case, free shipping,great deal!I got it in the mail yesterday (it only took 4 days). It is a bit big and heavy, but I took it to my husbands work and it was comfortable for everyone from my 8 yr old son to a 300+ over 6 foot man.

 

[Brigitte H]

massage chair

I guess I should read the whole message before I reply! The oakworks chair is much more portable, lighter weight ect. and is easier to set up. I just liked the price,warrantee, and weight tolerances of the earthlite. It also came with some extras that are cool, like a detatchable bag for glasses and stuff, a sternum pad, and aroma therapy well. Hope that helps good luck with your decision, it can be tough! Either way I think you would be getting a great chair.

 

[chris b]

I have the Avila and I chose it because it is plastic...no pealing paint or rust and no water damage from outside events ( rain, mud, accidental spills)  By the way , I love the chair and it is easy to set up and take down.

 

[gosh137]

i thought that the avila is made from carbon fiber?  I plan on purchasing a massage chair in the near future.  And I've look at a few.  I really like th Ergo Pro but it is a bit costy.  If i wanted the best i would get the Ergo pro.  But since we are all on budgets nowaddays I would get the portal pro or the avila. But since I have'nt seen the avila in person I'm thinking the portal pro would be good.  but I've heard both positive and negative feed back on the avila.  What do you think??

 

[.....]

I am currently going through the same process and have narrowed it down to the Earthlite avila and the Custom Craftworks Portal Pro.  Although I do like the Stronglite Ergo Pro, I just don't see the benefits that warrant the hundreds of extra dollars over the other two models.  For a long time I was really focused on getting a chair with wheels, but honestly, after renting the Ergo Pro and Portal Pro to use at various events, and rolling them to and fro...I was so unbelievably frustrated that the wheel base is so close together.  Invariably, the chairs flip onto their side or all the way over when you hit a bump.  Then the cordura case gets scuffed and you have to stop to reposition the chair.  Ultimately, I gave up on rolling the darned things and carry it in.  They are so light anyhow that now I don't think I'd even get wheels on my chair.  So the extra little goodies on the Earthlite are a bit appealing.  I've just never used the Earthlite and am hesitate to invest the money into a unit that I have not set up, broken down or used.  They claim that the frame gives a bit, so that jostling or rocking type movements don't compress the client into the chair but rather, bounce them back.  I like that idea, but wonder if it is even noticable.  I think in the end, I'll just keep my eye out for the better deal and let karma bring the right chair to me.  : )

 

[Ajack (got it back :3)]

massage chair

I do corporate chair massage every six weeks and I use a Custom Craftworks chair. I love it. Light, set up is very easy. Clients remark all the time how comfortable it is, which is what you want them to be in those precious 10 min. you have them in the chair. I also bought an off brand on e-bay and it is fine also, but my vote goes to Custom Craftworks! Haven't used the earthlite, but our business has Earthlite tables, and honestly, we used Custom Crwk tables at school and I feel they are superior.

 

[Valerie X Account #22!]

massage chair

I have the avila and like it. I've not used any other massage chairs so I can't compare. The frame of the avila does give a bit and I love that feature. You can get a little rocking motion going on which I feel helps with my flow. My chair massage isn't as rigid.

 

[Premier Lady]

Has anyone had any experience with the Pisces chair?  I like the idea that you can make the client horizontal.  Is it easy to use?  get in and out of?  Light enough to carry?  Hard to use because of its circular design?  It's pretty pricey, but, I think the horizontal factor could be worth it.  How large a client can fit in and out of it? etc... Thanks!

 

[Windy]

 massage chair

Now to my question, I would like some input comparison between the Avila by Earthworks and the Portal Pro from Oakworks......Any opinions would be helpful. :

I have the Avila. It's great and I really enjoy it - the only thing I dislike is that it's difficult to gracefully get it in and out of the "suitcase" bag it comes with.  Once you successfully get it packed in the carrying case, there are wheels to roll it around and it's very easy to transport.

A few months ago, I attended a chair massage class.  One of the other participants had brought her Oakworks chair, so I finally had first-hand experience with another chair.

The big advaneforum.xxxe I have noticed about the Oakworks chair is that you don't have to put it in the bag to roll it around. The chair folds up easily and because it has wheels right on it, you can roll it around like a suitcase but without fussing with a bag.  From what I've been told, you should plan on carrying plenty of business cards when you do this (especially if you take the long way through the lobby and to the elevator) because the chair is a real conversation piece.

Other than this particular feature, the two chairs seem to be about equal.  They are both comfortable, both easy to assemble and easy to adjust, they even come in similar colors.

If you're tall and strong enough to want to carry your chair (I'm not) this feature may not even be a consideration.  It would be a big enough consideration for me to justify the additional expense, when I'm ready to buy a second chair.

 

[Johanna C]

Stonehealer,I haven't personally used the Pisces Dolphin chair, but know another MT who has. Admittedly this was about 5 years ago...  She said that it wasn't as easy to use as she would have thought.  I was envious of her getting to work with it... and she said, "Don't be."I bought a Quicklite myself, because it's what we used at MT school and I feel that anybody that needs to be horizontal, I would prefer they come in for a table massage anyway.  Oh, and Rozzy, regarding where you can go to buy a massage chair... have you considered buying a used one?  I personally don't use mine for much.  Just a couple times per month. But one of my MT teachers doesn't even own one... he just "rents" one from another MT he knows in his city... I think it's something cheap too, like $10 per day. lolAnyway, thought I'd throw those ideas out there for you, because you might be able to "rent" a few from fellow MT's and then you would have personal experience with them, and would better be able to judge which one you wanted to invest in for yourself.If I had it to do over... I'd get the Sports version of the Quicklite... it's a little bigger and heavier, but you're able to have bigger clients on it too. Though mine's held up fine for being 6 years old!

 

[jobromancer]

Thanks for the input!  I have such a thriving practice without using a chair and I really dislike working with a chair anyway, so, I have successfully avoided buying one thus far.  Although, I also work with some patients who suffer with positional vertigo and a chair is the only way to go with that type of difficulty.  I figured the Dolphin 2 might be hard to use, as you would have to mess around with it to get it to work horizontally.  I am also a college professor and am asked to do lecture/demonstrations fairly often.  I use a Spirit, 32" wide bed and I transport on a Traveller, which is also very large itself.  The whole process is heavy and clumsey at best, getting it all into and out of the back of my van.The lightness of the Dolphin with the ability to still do flat back and neck bodywork in a demonstration setting is why I keep looking at it.I wonder if the newly redesigned second Dolphin is any better than the first?  If anyone else knows about this I's sure love to hear about it.And even though this thread is about chairs, I'd also be curious to know about the picses light weight, aluminum bed.  Is it sturdy enough for a larger person?Thanks!

 

[darachow]

I'm with you...I don't much care for doing chair massages.  Not exactly sure why, but I prefer table work immensely.  More satisfying to me I guess.  I have the Oakworks Portal Pro and though I don't use it much, I haven't had any problems with it and the clients love the comfort factor.  One even said, "This chair would be great for reading a book in." LOL

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have the Earthlite Stronglite (I think) that I got from massagewarehouse.com and I love it.  It came with the sternum pad and glasses holder on the chair and it's very easy and quick to set up and adjust, but the only complaint I have is the carrying case.  A friend of mine has another chair and it fits in the case perfectly, like a guitar, but mine just kind of rests in there and it moves all around when I'm transporting it.  I would like to get a case with wheels but can't find one for massage chairs.  Anyone know where I can find one?

 

[smarge22]

If the issue is just getting a massage chair and not going broke, take a look at Sam's Club online.  They have a chair for $193+ shipping.  From the looks in the picture it appears servicable.  www.samsclub.com is the internet address.  I am NOT now, nor have I ever been, associated in any way with Sams Club, aside from spending money in their stores.

 

[Nick A. Please]

Check out http://www.tatumtable.com.  I sold my Oakworks chair and bought Tatum chair.  Equal or better quality and less weight, easier to handle -- important considerations for me.  I'm not affiliated in any way with Tatum, just own their chair.

 

[teecrush]

Does anyone have any input now that the Ergo Pro has come down in price?  Is it a better option than the Avila II or Portal Pro III?  Also, does anyone have any thoughts on whether a particular chair is easier to work on if the massage therapist is short like me?Thanks!