treatment because the client’s back is taken out of compression. BRITTANY PASTERKIEWICZ COURTESY OF MASSAGE WAREHOUSE | www.massagemag.com | September 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 33 In the prone position, a well-designed face cradle can be a crucial component of a high-quality massage table or chair, supporting the client’s head and neck in a way that will lead to tension release and enhanced relaxation. For this reason, Paris said he highly recommends that massage therapists upgrade their face cradles. “We’ve developed a new FacePillow system that simply changes the entire massage experience by eliminating pressure points and using our proprietary cushioning system,” he said. According to Craft, too many standard face cradles cause the head to be supported by the forehead, dropping the client’s chin and putting the neck in a less comfortable position. To remove this barrier to client relaxation, Comfort Craft focused on designing a face pillow that offers proper head support. “There are more options with a high-quality product, such as an adjustable headrest, which places the client’s head in the correct position and alignment to the body,” said Suber, Comfort Craft’s vice president. “Our tables have the sliding headrest, which takes comfort one step further by allowing the head to move independently of the body, which helps let the neck elongate and relax.” For clients with disabilities and conditions that prevent certain movements, a massage table that provides optimal support during the session may not be the only requirement for comfort. Such clients may also need access to a massage table that can lower down and raise up automatically in order to get on and off the table in a safe and comfortable manner. Come tax time, the cost of investing in one of these tables may be substantially offset by the Disabled Access Credit. Practitioner benefits A piece of equipment that can make your clients more comfortable and improve their overall massage experience has the potential to help bring more people through the door and keep them coming back as repeat clients. This is an obvious benefit for your bottom line, but it’s not the only reason to consider investing in a highquality massage table or chair. Among the other potential perks of investing in top-notch equipment is reduced strain and increased energy for the practitioner. “A therapist with high-quality equipment will not only have a more comfortable product, but if the therapist invests in an electric table, they can, with a push of the button, be able to put the client in the position they need without putting strain on themselves,” Suber said. “This, in turn, reduces the effort placed by the therapist, which keeps him or her more energized by the end of the day.” 34 | MASSAGE Magazine | September 2015 | www.massagemag.com | Even if one does not choose to invest in an automated table, the padding and design of a higher-quality product may decrease practitioner strain by enhancing client relaxation and giving the massage therapist easier access to certain areas of the body, as well as the ability to perform specific techniques without exerting as much energy. “A product made at the highest quality is designed to be a tool to help extend the career of the therapist, since it helps in lessening the strain the therapist goes through during massage sessions,” Suber said. “Therefore, a higherquality table and chair are worth the expenses.” Purchasing a top-quality product can also mean saving money in the end, due to the fact such equipment tends to be built to last. Also, high-end massage tables and chairs can help practitioners develop a more professional image and better compete with other massage therapists, spas and franchises in the area. “If you’re in an area where massage therapists are charging $50 an hour and you want to charge $60, your equipment better portray that you’re professional and you’re worth that,” said Bryan Hawley, D.C., who teaches continuing education classes for massage therapists and serves as medical advisor for Pivotal Health Solutions, which owns Custom Craftworks. “Your equipment and office is going to say more to the client than you ever will. A high-quality massage table or chair sends the message that you’re here to stay and you took the time to build a superior practice.” A valuable investment From increased client comfort and decreased practitioner strain to a more professional image and the ability to save money by keeping one massage table or chair for a longer period of time, there’s a long list of benefits that can come from investing in a high-quality foundation for your massage services. “I teach continuing ed workshops for table and chair massage, and I’ve seen a lot of equipment over the years,” said Dale Wheeler, L.M.T., B.C.T.M.B., owner of Education Destinations and The Massage Professionals. “I think it boils down to the old adage: You get what you pay for.” Brandi Schlossberg is an avid bodywork client and full-time journalist based in Reno, Nevada. She has written on many topics for MASSAGE Magazine. She wrote the articles “Every Massage Therapist Needs Liability Insurance” (May 2015) and “Build a CAM Network” (May 2014). M | www.massagemag.com | September 2015 | MASSAGE Magazine | 35 36 | MASSAGE Magazine | September 2015 | www.massagemag.com | IMAGES: THINKSTOCK Hospital-based