Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Dave Cabebe

Pictures of leaves and waterfalls decorate the walls of room 205 of the Health building, and a mini water fountain sits on a table next to a leather massage chair.

The Health building staff is calling the chair the "wellness massage chair," and it is available to any student in need of some relaxation, stated Melinda Chu-Yang, wellness and health promotion coordinator, in an e-mail.

"Students should expect to feel relaxed and relieved while using the massage chair," she stated. "The 'wellness massage chair' will massage and stretch a person's body."

Chu-Yang said in an interview that the idea of the "wellness massage chair" was brought about as a way to help students relieve their stress.

She stated other universities have also purchased their own massage chairs to help their students relieve some tension.

"The 'wellness massage chair' gives students a 15-minute massage and a choice of four different massages," Chu-Yang said. "Students just need to sit back and relax, and the chair will massage you."

Students have the choice between a Shiatsu, Swedish, deep massage and stretch massage, Chu-Yang stated in an e-mail.

Some students, such as Lisa Carlson, a senior environmental studies major, said they had not heard about the "wellness massage chair."

"I don't really go to extra things, I just go to my classes and then do my homework and then leave, usually," she said.

Carlson said she is skeptical about using it.

"I'm not big on sitting in massage chairs," she said.

According to the "wellness massage chair" flyer, students should bring a towel and clean socks when using the massage chair.

Chu-Yang stated that is for sanitary reasons, but to also keep the chair in good condition, so the Wellness and Health Promotion Center can continue to offer the service for a long time.

With the flu season nearing, Chu-Yang stated that keeping everything sanitary is important.

"We ask students to use the hand sanitizer that is in the 'wellness massage chair' room prior to getting their massage," Chu-Yang stated in an e-mail. "We are using cleaning wipes to wipe down the massage chair at the beginning and end of every day. The wipes are also in the room if students would like to wipe the chair down before they use it."

To use the wellness massage chair, students must make an appointment at Health building 209, Chu-Yang stated in an e-mail.

Appointments for the massage chair are available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., she stated in an e-mail.

"We would like students to utilize this free service that is excellent in helping relieve stress during a stressful semester," Chu-Yang stated. "A student can walk in and make an appointment immediately if there are open slots. Students are only allowed to make one appointment per week."

Carl Ihenacho, a defensive end for the SJSU football team and senior psychology major, said the massage chair can be beneficial for all students.

"I think that could be something, especially around the time of finals, that can be useful for students who have a little break time and feel stressed," he said.

Some students have enjoyed the massage chair so much that they have returned for repeat appointments, Chu-Yang said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools