Massage tools you use and tool you wish for!

[Don T]

So I'm going to work on a series of review articles for some of the more common massage tools that we like to use. I'd love some feedback from you guys on what tools you use often and what you like or don't like about them.

For example - I still haven't found a stool/chair I REALLY like.

But I LOVE bottle holder holster thing - why I didn't buy one sooner I'll never know....

What tools do you consider essential for massage therapists?

What tools do you consider basics to invest in as soon as possible?

Which ones are the nice-to-have dream tools?

Angela

 

[BiGstylin]

there was a topic about this a hundred years ago but i can't find it.

i'm not sure what my 'can't live without' item was then - probably my hot towel cabbi. especially this time of year when it's so cold - i use lots of hot towels during my sessions. my clients adore it.

now, it's still my hot towel cabbi, although my exercise ball ranks pretty high up there.

good topic!

 

[DuckyMcQuackers]

I love my CustomCraftworks stool, my digital thermal back warmer, and my iPod!

 

[LAkers Fan]

Makingachange, this might be the thread you remember:
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3905

I agree with Elsewhere on the ipod & thermal back warmer. Although I prefer the manual thermophore (on/off button only). I don't like to mess with any settings.

AngEnland, I also love my holster, although I hardly consider that a tool anymore. To me, it's a necessity, just like sheets & oil.

Hmmmm. I feel like I should think of something no one's mentioned yet. So, I just strolled through my office, looking around. I love it all, but here are a few more specifics:

- My computer. It's new for me to have one in the office. For years, I only had one at home. Having a computer at the office is awesome!
- Portable space heater -- heats up my treatment room very fast on cold winter mornings.
- Deluxe fitted fleece pad set. Twice the thickness of normal fleece, and covers the whole table (including sides & face crescent). Comfy!

 

[sally joe!!!]

Ohh.. I want one of those fitted fleece pads. Where can I get one?

 

[nat]

Ipod
Hydrocollator
extra foam padding for my table

 

[KLJ08]

Yeah, my iPod! AND my portable speakers:
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-speakers/logitech-mm50-portable-speakers/4505-11313_7-31510921.html
I get about 7 hours of play before needing to recharge them. I do home visits exclusively, so it is really convenient to not have to find an outlet and my clients love the sound quality. And it comes with a little pocket-sized remote.

Love my thermophore, too, during the wintertime.

 

[Nostalgic for Disaster]

MtnLionz, those are the exact same speakers I have. Too funny!

Elsewhere, I love my fleece pad set & highly recommend it. I bought it from Earthlite. Here's the link:
(scroll down the page & you'll see it on the right. "Deluxe Fitted Fleece Page Set: $48.99")
http://www.earthlite.com/massageLinensCoverings.htm

 

[fyou6382]

Awesome! Thanks Blisss. My fleece pads kind of suck... lol.. That one looks luxurious!

 

[NOt Me]

I have a list of tools that I would not give up now that I have them:

My aquarium. Nobody ever complains about waiting for a few minutes, it changes the mood of the room.

My electric lift table. The longer I practice, the more necessary it becomes.

Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy. Full color illustration of all the muscles, attachments, tendons, ligaments and nerves.

Interactive Functional Anatomy software. Perfect for showing people with complicated issues why just "rubbing right here" is not going to "fix" them. Also great for illustrating why standing a certain way can cause pain in a totally different area.

My cups. I have both of these sets here. You would have to pry them from my cold dead hands. I also love my traditional glass cups. I use them in at least half my sessions.

 

[Tris]

Ipod users: You use an Ipod for room music instead of CD player? Or for personal music?

Breathe: Salt or fresh water aquarium? In my old massage room I had a 75 gallon salt water reef and it was amazing. The man I worked for stole it. Yeah. :-(

I now have a 50g at home with fresh water fish but never thought about setting up another one in my new location - it would definately be a nice thing to have.

Angela

 

[deduceit]

Saltwater, 30 gallon, live corals, two fish and a shrimp, lots of hermit crabs. I love it. I think some of my clients come just to see the shrimp.

 

[Richard N]

I have those same speakers!!!!!!!! Since most of my work is chair massage, I got tired of lugging stereo and cd's. My ipod and speakers work great. I use my ipod for personal and work use.......this from a person who thought cd's was a jump up in the technology world. I couldn't do without my Earthlite (2nd generation) chair. I work it to death and it never complains. I guess my fitted headrest covers are in this group too.

I like my fitted fleece pad for my table......and the flannel sheets.....and the table warmer..........now that it's snowing here, it's needed. If I did more table, I would want a hydrocollator and an aquarium.

 

[Cookie_Cohen]

Ipod users: You use an Ipod for room music instead of CD player? Or for personal music?

I use it for room music instead of a CD player, and then I take it with me for the drive to & from the office (to listen to favorite podcasts in the car). I love my iPod. I have 12 massage music playlists, each about 4 hours long with no repeated songs. When I had a CD player, I got tired of new massage music quickly. Now, I can actually go a year without buying new music, just because I listen to a wide variety every day. It's never boring.

Funny/embarrassing story: I accidentally set my ipod to random play at the office, instead of choosing one of my playlists. It was fine for the first few tracks -- all relaxing massage music. Then, in the middle of my client's massage, an NPR commentator starts introducing a panel of guests to talk about the latest Middle East peace talks. Relaxing - not! Luckily, it was one of my regular clients who is very easy-going. I just quickly switched to one of my massage playlists, and relaxation reigned again. :

 

[Rupert]

Ha ha!!! At least it was "peace talks" instead of Metallica or something.

hehehehehe

Angela

 

[zasek]

Blisss, I've done something similar. One of the companies I do chair massage for has a nice lobby with a wall to wall to ceiling waterfall in the background and plants lined up end to end. I work in one of the corners and I usually put my instrumental piano music on......well, one day I plugged in my ipod, forgetting that the last song I had on (from working out at home) was AC/DC's "Highway to Hell". To say it surprised everyone was an understatement. I shrugged and said, "Sorry, I thought it was the instumental version." The people up front laughed. One of my clients there actually does plug in his headphones to my Guns n Roses songs when he has his turn.

 

[greatwhitenorth28 AM]

Where are your review articles going to appear?

 

[pinkprincess]

My articles

Whoops - couldn't post becuase I'm too new still or somethign? I KNOW I've posted more than 10 posts! *laughing*

Will PM the post to you.

Blessings, ANgela

 

[Pompal 09.]

Ipod users: You use an Ipod for room music instead of CD player? Or for personal music?

I use it for room music instead of a CD player, and then I take it with me for the drive to & from the office (to listen to favorite podcasts in the car). I love my iPod. I have 12 massage music playlists, each about 4 hours long with no repeated songs. When I had a CD player, I got tired of new massage music quickly. Now, I can actually go a year without buying new music, just because I listen to a wide variety every day. It's never boring.

Funny/embarrassing story: I accidentally set my ipod to random play at the office, instead of choosing one of my playlists. It was fine for the first few tracks -- all relaxing massage music. Then, in the middle of my client's massage, an NPR commentator starts introducing a panel of guests to talk about the latest Middle East peace talks. Relaxing - not! Luckily, it was one of my regular clients who is very easy-going. I just quickly switched to one of my massage playlists, and relaxation reigned again. :

I only have relaxation music on my ipod for that very reason.
I was just joking about how innappropriate it would be if a song, say Akon's "Smak that ..." came on during a massage!

 

[magix151]

Tools I have and love: hot towel cabi, holster, fleece table heater, heated booties (great for cold-feeted ladies in the winter), crock pot, waterproof/oilproof table cover, homemade ricepack

Tools I'd love to have: The Body Cushion, a 1 or 2 person sauna, electric lift table