Cricut cutting machines use cartridges to create the cutouts and Beyond Birthdays is a shape cartridge. Crafters can also use cartridges that have fonts, solutions, licensed and classmates. Cartridges tend to have themes like birthdays or be focused on an event like Mother’s Day. However Beyond Birthdays is not like this as the cartridge goes beyond just one theme and covers a large variety of them. This makes it great as a general use all year round cartridge.

Its creator is Cecelia Harris and she has decided upon a great gathering of greetings, symbols, phrases, icons and of course shapes. The manufacturers have also added creativity devices like framed in square or oval, shadow and shadow blackout and card in square and rectangle. This cartridge is perfect if you want to design a gift wrap, make a scrapbook, create a greetings card or cut out personalized invitations.

There are still specific times of the year that are referred to in the phrases, symbols and shapes such as birthdays, holidays, baby showers, mother’s day, father’s day, graduation, weddings and congratulations. It pretty much has something that can be used for most special occasions a person can think of, even valentine’s day, 4th July and parties. So whatever you might want to say in a greeting card, you are sorry or thanks or just to say hi, this is the cartridge for you.

There are so many different projects you can take on using the Beyond Birthdays cartridge. For example how about getting a simple and plain calender and using the cartridge to personalise it into a great desktop calender? Each month can have different signs and inspiring words on it and the main picture can relate to a person’s birthday that month. Don’t have any birthdays that month? How about a family picture or using the theme of your children. The possibility in designs is endless and it would also make a great Christmas gift.

Then once the calender has served its purpose take those decorated pictures and put them up somewhere. Or if you don’t have a desktop for a calender use it as notice board by pinning to cork. Great for tracking family appointments.

Reviews can be very helpful in determining the types of products that might fit your needs. The most effective reviews are ones that cover the salient issues regarding the product you are interested in obtaining. Our experience is that most customers want to know about key aspect of a massage chair such as warranty, ergonomics, ease of use, massage therapy and key features. As such, we have developed a systematic approach to evaluating massage chairs based on the above 5 categories. We also weigh each of these categories equally and give a score up to 20 points. The total possible rating for a massage chair is therefore 100 points. This review will take an in-depth look at the top of the line Omega Massage chair. This is the Montage Premier which is in the luxury range of $4,000 to $5,000.

Warranty & Customer Service: For the consumer, the warranty is a form of risk reduction. In any transaction, one party takes on more risk than the other. The warranty is to reduce the risk of the consumer and balance out the transaction. Therefore, warranty is especially important on higher ticket items. The Montage Premier is backed by one of the best warranties available. Omega Massage gives you 5 years on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years labor and 90 days in-home service. Omega also covers any parts shipping expense for one year. This is a more comprehensive warranty than any reputable manufacturer. From a customer service standpoint, Omega has a national warranty call center and is responsive and technically competent with minimal turnaround times. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Warranty & Customer.

Comfort & Ergonomics: We like the ergonomics of this well designed massage recliner. This chair is designed for the American market. It can fit users up to 6′ 6″ and has a weight limit of 300 pounds. The recliner is wheel chair accessible for those individuals who might have trouble getting in and out of the chair. There is a wireless sub remote that offers tremendous convenience for the users. The chair is comfortable to sit in and has a very nice synthetic leather which is very soft. The synthetic leather is also very easy to clean. We rate the comfort and ergonomics a 19.

Ease of Use: This category is about intuitive use of the massage chair controls. They should be simple and easy to use for first time users. This recliner comes with many advanced features in the remote control. It comes with a wireless sub remote which is well designed and simple to use. There are 5 single touch automatic programs. The chair back and footrest work off a wheel control like an ipod. The LCD control panel shows exactly what massage functions are being applied. The myriad of manual controls have great descriptions in the side panel of the remote. We rate the ease of use for the Montage Premier a 19.

Key Features: There is an array of great features in this massage chair, but we find the full body heat and the lower body traction system to be key features to point out. The Montage Premier comes with heating elements in the chair back, the seat and the leg rest. Each of these areas can be individually controlled. This allows the user to target the use of heat where they most need. We find heat is a great compliment to massage therapy and is used in spas throughout the world. Omega has added an effective lower body traction function. This traction function gently stretches the lower body including the lower back, hips, knees and ankles. The leg rest is brought to the horizontal position. The airbags are activated to hold your ankles in place. The leg rest then lowers successively to 3 positions. When the leg rest lowers, it stretches the muscles and tendons throughout the lower body. The Montage Premier earns a 19 in Key Features.

Massage Therapy: This massage chair is the most comprehensive on the market. It has tremendous capability to deliver a full sensory experience. You have 5 automatic programs, 4 manual massage techniques, and 6 manual massage courses. There are 4 levels of speed adjustment and 4 roller width adjustments. The air compression massage system covers your buttocks, hips, thighs, calves, feet, hands and arms. Additionally, you can apply heat to 3 separate areas of the chair. Slip on the headphones and let the music relax your mind. Get a great lower body stretch from your hips to your ankles. This is a very soothing, invigorating and the most comprehensive massage experience you can get from a massage chair. The Montage Premier earns 20 points for massage therapy.

The Montage Premier earns a 96/100 points on our rating scale. The Montage Premier is the most comprehensive massage therapy chair on the market today. You get comprehensive warranty coverage without having to buy an extended warranty. The chair comes with a wide array of massage treatments to target practically all areas of the body. It provides a strong massage which can be softened with the included extra back pad. Bottom line, this massage chair delivers a soothing and comprehensive massage experience every time.

There are many terms to describe massage chairs. Commonly, you can find robotic massage chairs or shiatsu massage chairs. There are many different terms which can cause confusion for those looking for a massage chair. Shiatsu massage chairs provide a shiatsu massage therapy. This is a massage therapy that origins are in Japan. Let us first explore shiatsu massage then we can make sure that any shiatsu labeled chair actually qualifies for this designation.

Shiatsu massage is a branch of ancient Chinese medicine which was developed in Japan over many centuries. Acupuncture has been used since ancient times, but the use of pressure instead of needles is acupressure. The Japanese healers have practiced many ways to heal the body and to reduce aches, pains and general discomfort. This particular massage therapy developed by using pressure applied to different areas to unblock and enhance energy flow. Through much trial and error, the Japanese healers found specific areas now called acupressure points which were found to help to heal the body.

As the pressure points were being discovered and correlated to different body parts, massage therapies were used in conjunction. Massage techniques such as chopping and kneading were used. Chopping helps stimulate the muscles to increase blood and lymph circulation. Kneading was found to elongate the muscles to help increase flexibility and healing after physical exertion. The use of pressure points where firm pressure is used with either chopping and kneading started the foundation to traditional shiatsu massage.

Shiatsu massage therapy has 3 main parts which include acu-pressure, kneading and tapping massages. Usually the acu-pressure points are detected by performing a body scan. The massage chair then customizes the massage to the user. The back rollers have the kneading and tapping movements. The best massage chairs have these minimum requirements to qualify as a shiatsu style massage chair. Some brands that offer them are Human Touch, Sanyo, Panasonic and Omega Massage.

One of the original lineages of shiatsu massage chairs are by Panasonic. The EP 30003 massage recliner provides two different styles of shiatsu style massage. It has the traditional shiatsu massage and also the Junetsu style. The Junetsu style differs from traditional shiatsu with the use of small circular and penetratng motions. The Junetsu style is good deep tissue relief. The combinations in the auto programs are well thought out for a therapeutic and relaxing massage.

Sanyo has their high end chair that comes with a multi-point shiatsu leg and foot massage. The Sanyo HEC DR7700K uses specialized airbags with built in acupressure nodes to provide penetrating relief to the feet, calves, ankles and legs. The airbags will energize applying firm pressure to the part of the lower body. Other airbags energize with the acupressure nodes to stimulate the pressure points to provide whole body relaxation.

The Montage Premier Massage chair by Omega delivers a penetrating and invigorating shiatsu massage. The Montage Premier has the best foot massage of the high end chairs. This chair has acupressure nodes that penetrate both the arch and the heel of the foot. It performs an alternating sequence which stimulates the major organs and induces full body tranquility and relaxation. Omega also incorporates an MP3 player to play your favorite music to keep your mind occupied on relaxing.

Of course, there are more massage chairs that provide shiatsu massage therapy, but these are the best of the best. Find out if shiatsu massage is right for you. If so, then you will do very well with any of these chairs. Many companies advertise that they perform certain functions, but they may not actually deliver it. If you stick with the top brands like Sanyo, Omega and Panasonic then you will get years of shiatsu massage therapy from your massage chair.

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese medicine technique which it is thought to be derived from acupuncture. However, in the case of acupressure, physical pressure is used to acupoints by various movements. Acupressure is one of the most effective methods for tension related ailments. It stimulates various acupoints which is believed to promote blood flow and healing.

Acupressure is normally performed by using the hands, thumbs, elbows or mechanized equipment. These instruments are used to target the body’s acupoints. It is not that when this pressure is applied to the acupoints, that it will unleash the body’s natural pain relievers.

Acupoints are given places that are especially sensitive to impulses in the body. They also conduct these impulses readily. When these points are stimulated they release endorphins. Endorphins are the neurochemicals which help to suppress pain. This helps to relieve the pain of injury or discomfort from physical activity.

When the acupoints is pressed, this elongates the soft tissue fibers. This helps the muscle to relax, the blood to flow more readily and toxins to be flushed. Enhanced blood circulation brings more nutrients and more oxygen. This helps keep the area functioning smoothly.

Keeping your body and harmony is important. Acupressure massage helps to restore the emotional and physical balance. The impact of stress on the body can accumulate tension resulting in muscle fatigue. This can get the body and mind out of balance. Relaxation is essential to help restore the emotional side. Relieving the tension from the body helps the physical side.

Traditional Chinese medicine works off of a holistic understanding of the body. It is believed that there are pathways connecting acupoints to internal organs. When an acupoints is stimulated, a signal is sent through the meridian to its corresponding organ. This has provided a framework for connecting acupoints to ager organs.

There can be just harmony in the body when the pathways are blocked. Energy may not effectively flow through the body. The stimulation of acupoints target the release of these blockages in the body. This helps to restore the energy flow and harmony in the body.

Oftentimes acupressure massage is used in conjunction with sports therapy. Athletes routinely use acupressure to improve muscle tone and to relieve stiffness and tension. It can be applied prior to an event or as part of the warm down after physical exertion. Is used to relieve pain, improve flexibility and help prevent injury.

We have all experienced muscle stiffness or aching in the joints. This may occur when we exert this muscle more than usual. It becomes stiff and begins to hurt. Acupressure massage is great to relieve this build up of tension. By elongating the soft tissue areas, it restores flexibility and relaxes the muscle.

Realize that when your muscles are stiff, it will take some on doing to restore their flexibility. There is an initial threshold to cross where discomfort and pain is stemming from overcoming the stiffness. However, once you regain some flexibility, then the pain. And the muscle and joint will feel well again.

Acupressure is by no means a substitute for medical care. Although overcoming initial muscle stiffness can cause discomfort, he acupressure massage should never cause pain. Always seek your physician’s advice before pursuing any type of alternative treatment.

Where do you get in acupressure massage? There are many massage therapists which specialize in acupressure massage. You can check your local listings to find one nearby. Another way to go is with a massage chair. Massage chairs are programmed with many of the popular massage techniques. They provide you with acupressure massage on demand.

The beauty of acupressure is it is a natural treatment to benefit both the body and mind. It helps the mind to relax which releases the tension in the body. As the massage penetrates through the muscle and soft tissue areas, stiffness is melted away. This promotes a healthy balance which is positive for healing and maintaining your immune system. Restoring this balance requires periodic massage treatments.

This is a massage chair review of the new Panasonic EP 1285. The EP 1285 is the luxury model of the new line of contemporary urban massage chairs. This is a new and contemporary design change for the Panasonic brand. We will take a look at the new features of this chair. We will also present the warranty coverage and other salient information.

We always encourage you to first compare the warranty coverage of the different chairs that you are interested in purchasing. Warranty coverage will provide you with peace of mind and protection down the road. Although it is rare that a problem occurs, it does happen. You want to be covered so that you can get the most out of your purchase.

Panasonic provides you with a one year warranty coverage of parts on EP 1285. They also provide you with three years of warranty coverage on the roller mechanism. The roller mechanism is the system that provides the massage for the back and shoulders. You also receive one year of in-home technician service. This is a critical service to have, so any problems you have a technician will come to you.

The contemporary urban massage recliner series is an exciting development from Panasonic. This is a clear change in direction from the typical industrial designs of the past. Now, Panasonic is introducing some contemporary and sleek designs into their lineup.

This massage chair comes equipped with nine manual massage techniques. This is a tremendous variety at this price point. You can find massage techniques such as Swedish, shiatsu, Hawaiian and chiropractic. These massages can be targeted for a specific area like your shoulders or lower back. This is great to release specific areas of tension that you may have.

Select from four different automatic massage programs with the EP 1285 massage recliner. Each of the automatic massage programs controls the entire chair. With the push of a single button you can get a full body massage. These programs also allow you to adjust them based on the height of your shoulder.

The EP 1285 comes with an air massage system and the leg rest. The leg rest has 12 specially designed airbags to help improve the circulation of the lower legs. The airbags are synchronizing to provide a soothing massage by directing the pressure upward from the feet through the calves. This is a soothing and relieving massage.

Panasonic has incorporated a new leg stretch technology and to the leg rest. The stretching technology works to alleviate stiffness and your hips, lower back and thighs. It uses a combination of holding your legs with air pressure and the rising and lowering of the leg rest.

Panasonic incorporates its Swede-Atsu urban massage technology. This utilizes two to four firm rubber massage heads which are used to stimulate the stroking of the palm and the pressing of the heel of the hand. This provides a realistic massage feeling. These massage techniques help to relax the muscles.

Panasonic is beginning to understand the importance of matching the interior decorations with suitable massage chair designs. This is a start in the right direction. The nine manual massage programs are a good feature included in this lounger. The air compression massage for the lower legs is pretty effective in helping the circulation of the lower legs. The stretching system is also a nice feature at this price point. If you are looking for a massage chair in this price range then check this one out in more detail.

1. Define Your Needs: There are a great variety of features, functions and technology available in massage chairs. Think of some of the benefits that you expect from purchasing a massage recliner. Are you looking to relieve your back, shoulders, neck, legs, feet or arms? What kind of budget do you have? Is this a long term or short term investment? Most people want 24/7 relief in the comfort and privacy of their home. Think about what you want to get out of your purchase.

2. Back Pain Relief: Are you are looking for back pain relief? If so, what parts of your back is most important? Massage chairs have rollers that can provide full back, shoulder and neck coverage. Many have width adjustments to expand or contract the rollers. Also, the stroke length is important. The stroke length is the amount of travel the back rollers have when moving up and down the chair back. Typical stroke lengths are 23 inches to 31 inches. To get the proper coverage of the back define what areas are must haves for a shiatsu massage chair

3. Massage Therapy: Are you looking for deep tissue massage that penetrates beyond the superficial muscle layers? Shiatsu massage uses the body’s acupressure points combined with kneading and tapping for whole body relief. Swedish massage uses longer strokes, kneading, squeezing and heat. A gentle Hawaiian massage using sway, stroking and light tapping may take you to the islands while you relax. The technology integrated into many shiatsu massage recliners is incredible. Have fun and find the massage therapies you enjoy most and look for massage chairs that have these capabilities.

4. Lower Body Massage: Do not forget your lower body. Shiatsu massage chairs have very effective lower body massage therapies. There are two technologies to consider for the footrest. The mechanical paddle systems or the air massage system. The mechanical paddle system is basically a motor driven paddle system which is used to massage the calves. The paddle system is limited to just the calf massage. The paddle system provides a vigorous tapping massage. The air massage system is driven by a compressor and delivers a compression massage to throughout the lower body. The air massage system uses a squeeze, hold and release massage while also stimulating reflexology points. There are some chairs which combine both technologies. The lower body massages have improved tremendously over the last few years.

5. Warranty Coverage: Warranty coverage varies as much as the variety of massage chairs on the market. First, sort your list down to reputable manufacturers. Find out if the manufacturer has national retail accounts, this ensures that there warranty means something. Typical warranty coverage includes parts; labor, in home service vs. service center, shipping expenses. Interestingly, Fortune 500 manufacturers like Panasonic and Sanyo have short warranties from the manufacturer, but then sell extended warranties to match the rest of the massage chair industry. How long does the manufacturer cover parts? If you need service, can a technician come to your home or do you need to send your massage chair to a service center. This is important, as sending around 200 lbs of massage chair is not an easy task. Also, how long will the manufacturer pick up any shipping expenses to repair the massage chair?

It is an exciting time to be looking for a massage chair. The technology is so advanced and the features are very effective. Research into the various massage therapies and find the ones that will most effectively work for you. When you start to find some models, check around for others that match what you want in a chair. The best is always to try the massage recliner, and then you can test its effectiveness directly. Shop around to find the best deal; do not forget to factor in taxes and shipping. Most of all, find a massage chair to meet your needs today and tomorrow.

The advance of technology in massage chairs continues to evolve rapidly. The feature sets continue to grow and most chairs provide full body capability. One company has maintained terrific features and effective massage therapy. Omega Massage, Inc has consistently brought a series of excellent chairs. The chairs have been solid and with long term effective massage therapy.

The entry level massage recliner for Omega is the M-2 Orion massage recliner. This model provides a Hawaiian style massage technique with its Sway massage. The M-2 loosens the tight muscles of the back with its gentle, yet penetrating sway massage.

The massage heads located in the seat are very invigorating. They provide thorough and deep penetration through the muscle. You can also add vibration to help blood flow in the same area. The leg rest also extends out an extra four inches. You can locate the leg massage where you most need it.

The Prestigio OM-510 massage chair is a stylishly designed mid-range recliner. The OM 510 comes with some excellent programming for its automatic massages. These therapeutic massages penetrate throughout the back for deep relief.

The Prestigio has much lower reach which provides great penetration to the lower spine. A variety of innovative programming techniques result in a soothing, yet invigorating massage. The strength of the massage is perfect and penetrates through the muscle for deeper relief. Comes equipped with manual programs as well to target exactly what you need.

The Montage Elite massage chair is an excellent luxury massage chair. The Montage Elite comes with 5 automatic programs for different types of treatments. You can choose more subtle massage therapies or more vigorous depending on your situation. If you have a particular area, then you can select a particular massage technique and pinpoint a given area for relief.

The Montage Elite is the luxury model from Omega. They leave no stone unturned. They have incorporated the best set of features into one chair then anybody else. This massage chair has full body heat with individual controls. Select the lower body stretching to stretch your hips, knees and ankles. Slip on the headphones and really relax to your favorite music.

If you are looking for the best, try the Montage Premier massage chair by Omega. The Montage Premier has it all. It comes with the same great features as the Montage Elite, but with the addition of an arm and hand massage. The Montage Premier has an effective air massage system built throughout the recliner.

The Montage Premier is a chair built for the total massage experience. Slip on the headphones and drift off in your favorite music. Activate the heat and apply it to sore areas. As you warm your body up, start the Activation program and let it gently warm up your muscles and provide soothing relief and invigoration.

The Montage Premier is rated to 300 lbs and can accommodate people over six feet tall. They have built an extendable leg rest. The chair back is a bit longer than usual. The length of travel of the massage mechanism in the chair back is 30 inches. You get a full two and a half feet of massage coverage for your spine. This allows the Montage Premier massage chair to provide excellent coverage.

If you are looking for a massage chair, then you should check out the Omega massage chair line. Omega is known for their striking designs, advanced technology and effective massage therapy. They have developed some of the most innovative and feature filled massage chairs on the market today. Omega has a massage chair for all your massage therapy needs.