A Heavenly Portable Back Massager

Stretching Massager

I have slouched ever since I can remember. No matter how much I remind myself to sit and stand up straight, I get lazy along the way. Thus, my back pain these days comes as no surprise. Every now and then I get lucky enough to have my wife give me a nice back massage. And less frequently, I pay for a massage session.

But I found a more convenient way that doesn't break the bank. The Baloom stretching massager is a compact massage mat that you lay flat on a floor. A bed will work, too, so long as your mattress is firm. You plug it in, lay down on the designated area and start a heavenly massage session.

There are three area-specific modes, four pre-programmed sessions, three intensity levels, and even an option to turn on the heat. You control it all via the remote. The first mode is a neck and shoulder stretch that stretches out those muscles to release tension and let you experience whole body relaxation. The second mode is a back and waist stretch in which the unit slowly lifts your back to stretch the distance between spinal vertebrae, releasing pressure between the intervertebral discs and nerves. For me, this mode hurt and helped the most. When I set the machine to high intensity, it lifted my back up beyond my comfort level. But then it felt amazing afterwards. The third mode is the pelvic stretch, which alternates between muscles in the pelvic and hip region to embrace inner balance and strength while releasing stiffness and increasing flexibility.

The four programs are energized, to boost your energy with a comprehensive yoga session that collectively stretches your shoulders, neck, back, and pelvis to improve blood circulation and rejuvenate your body. It's ideal for people who have general muscle tension and fatigue. The second program improves your flexibility via stretching, which also releases muscle tension and soothes sore and aching muscles. This is for people who need to stand or stay in the same position for long periods of time. The third is a twist program that twists your lateral muscles to release tension and knots, and to relax stiffened muscles. It's for elderly people or anyone undergoing physical rehab. And the fourth program is flow, which is a progressive and sequential flow of stretches that realign your spine and correct your posture. It's for students who sit for long periods of time. Or for people like me who slouch. And it feels fantastic.

As you’re laying on this, you can hear and feel it working away. The machine has 22 dynamic air chambers that feel like they’re adjusting to your body. You can hear them pump air along the way, which actually gave me confidence that it was figuring out the lay of the land. The manufacturer says you can also customize several features and options to maximize your experience. I know at one point, I localized all of the massage to my lower back.

At about $300, it beats buying a pricey massage chair that takes up a lot of space. Or one of those clunky back massage units that you place against the seat back of your couch. In fact, Baloom folds up neatly into a zippered package with a handle, and you can tuck it away under the bed or in a closet.