Are you considering a lightweight portable massage table but you’re not sure how lightweight your table needs to be? Read on for guidelines about choosing a lightweight massage table.

Do I Need a Lightweight Massage Table?

If you transport your table 3 or more times a week, you may want to consider purchasing a lightweight massage table. The strain of carrying your massage table can take a toll on your body over time. It can also zap your energy before and after a massage session.

The question is—how lightweight does your portable massage table need to be?

As a general ballpark figure, a portable massage table that weighs less than 30 pounds is considered lightweight. An ultra lightweight table is generally defined as 27 pounds or lighter.

What Is the Massage Table Weight Based On?

The portable massage table weight listed by a manufacturer is based on the weight of the massage table alone. This means that the weight of the headrest, side extenders, arm shelf, or other accessories that store inside your table are in addition to the rated massage table weight.

What Is the Ideal Massage Table Weight?

The ideal weight for a portable massage table depends on you as the therapist. If you are short with a slight frame, even a lightweight massage table may weigh more than you’re comfortable with. In this case, the best thing you can do is purchase a massage table cart or a rolling massage table bag to take the strain off of your back and shoulders. If you are taller and stronger, a heavier massage table may work just fine for mobile appointments.

What Makes a Massage Table Lightweight?

Many different factors affect the weight of a massage table, including the weight of the materials used, the table width and length, and the foam thickness. Although some truly lightweight wood massage tables do exist, most ultra lightweight massage tables are constructed with aluminum rather than wood. Aluminum is a lighter weight material and just as strong—in fact, stronger—than wood.

Another factor that reduces the weight of a portable massage table is the length and width. If your clients are short to average height and you always use the face cradle, you may be able to squeak by with a shorter massage table. Massage table width is not as negotiable, however, since the width of the massage table impacts your body mechanics. Performing massage on a table that is too wide or too narrow for your body type can result in injury.

Foam thickness is another possible compromise. The thicker the padding, the heavier the table will be. An uncomfortable massage table, however, is not worth the weight it will shave off if it makes your clients unhappy.

Final Words of Wisdom

When shopping for a lightweight massage table, don’t forget to look at the dimensions! It’s better to purchase a heavier massage table (and use a table cart, if needed) than to purchase a massage table that forces you to compromise on your body mechanics or your clients’ comfort.

Seated massage provides an escape from the stress of work and everyday life.

Chair massage is a growing and increasingly profitable massage service. The benefits of seated massage allow you to expand your massage services into the workplace, outdoor events, group or social events, and countless other areas. A portable massage chair can serve as a marketing tool to strengthen your client base, build an independent business, or obtain your first clients after massage school.

Seated massage is an excellent introduction to massage therapy for potential clients. A chair massage allows clients to sample the power of healing touch before experimenting with the deeper benefits of full-body massage.

Chair massage is typically administered with the client fully clothed, eliminating the need for absolute privacy and opening up your massage practice to public locations and group events. Chair massage usually involves shorter sessions, which is appealing to busy clients who may struggle to block out an hour or more of their time.

A controlled research study published by the International Journal of Neuroscience provides scientific evidence that office chair massage reduces job-related stress and increases the productivity of workers. Seated massage is particularly beneficial for relieving neck and shoulder tension built up from long periods of sitting or repetitive motion work.

Massage chairs are easily portable and take up less space than a massage table. The structure of the massage chair is designed to mimic the fetal position and invoke a sense of nurture and security.

Open yourself up to a wider client base through corporate massage.

Massage in the workplace allows you to reach individuals who may never have considered booking a massage therapy session before. Their reasons for neglecting the power of massage may differ, but they generally boil down to two excuses: time and money.

Excuse #1: Time

Many of your corporate clients will fall into the overworked or overstressed category. They simply can’t find the time or energy to book a table massage and travel to your office. With the on-site convenience of corporate massage, however, your clients have no excuse. Chair or desk massages take as little as ten minutes and include no prep or travel time, so your clients don’t have to block out an hour or two in their day. They also don’t need to plan ahead by booking an appointment a week in advance.

Excuse #2: Money

The other limiting factor for table massage is cost. With corporate massage, almost anyone can afford to invest in regular massage. Some employers cover the full cost of a workplace massage contract. Other employers subsidize your services and employees pay a reduced cost. Lastly, some corporate locations hire your services for the convenience of their employees, who pay you directly for your services. Even in situations where the employee covers the full cost, the shortened sessions offered with seated massage cuts the cost down to a reasonable rate for any employee to cover.

Some potential massage clients may be hesitant to try new things. Chair massage is a great way to introduce the power of massage therapy to new clients. It also allows the client to remain fully clothed, which may be another barrier to table massage. With these hesitations aside, more individuals will benefit from your healing touch through corporate massage.

Make outcalls easier with these convenient massage accessories.

As a mobile therapist, you face unforeseen challenges and inconveniences with every new appointment. Take some of the uncertainty and hassle out of outcalls with these three massage accessories for the mobile therapist.

One of the biggest hassles for professional outcall massage is carting your massage table and supplies around to various locations. While you may be able to convince a few of your regular clients to purchase their own massage tables, there are several practical accessories available to make your job easier.

1. Massage Table Cart

Lugging around a portable massage table all day, no matter how lightweight it may be, can be a chore. It can also be hard on your back, and you don’t want to risk injury in a job that depends on your own strength and well-being.

With a rolling massage table cart, you can take it easy on your back and transport your table over long distances without tiring out, so you can save your energy for the massage. Most table carts also fold for easy storage in your vehicle or office.

2. Deluxe Table Case

When you travel for outcalls, do you find yourself making multiple trips to the car and back just to haul in all of your equipment? Do you forget to pack important items? Keep all your essential equipment and accessories in one place with a deluxe massage table carry case.

The extra storage space is perfect for therapists on the go, allowing you to store bolsters, linens, lubricant, and other supplies all in one place—which means you’ll be less likely to forget something and you’ll have fewer items to carry in separately.

3. Massage Product Holster

As a mobile therapist, your environment changes everywhere you go, which means you may or may not have a convenient place to set your massage oil or lubricant. With a massage product holster, you don’t have to worry about where to set your lubricant. You can keep it at your side, ready for use at all times. The product holster is compact and folds for easy storage in your deluxe table case.

Massage therapists who offer in-home and on-site mobile massage face the dilemma of purchasing a portable massage table that is both lightweight and top quality.

• A portable massage table should be crafted from lightweight but sturdy materials. The Canadian maple wood used in constructing the OneTouch massage tables offers the premium strength and quality that a client expects without sacrificing the lightweight feature essential for a portable table. For the ultimate in lightweight tables, the aluminum OneTouch Ultra-Light is one of the lightest portable massage tables on the market.

• A carrying case is essential for transporting a light portable massage table. OneTouch lightweight massage tables come with a free zippered carrying case with an adjustable over-the-shoulder strap and side handle. Also available are the OneTouch massage table case with wheels and the rolling table cart, perfect for preventing back strain or for therapists who require greater ease in transporting their table. Both OneTouch cases include an extra pocket on the outside of the case, perfect for storing massage oils or lotions, hand sanitizer, face cradle covers, or massage table sheets. Massage table cases offer protection and prolong the life of your massage table.

• All accessories should be removable for easy storage. The massage table accessories for OneTouch are secured with elastic straps underneath the table and fold into the table’s built-in storage space when the table is ready to be put back in the carrying case.