why bamboo Massage Sticks?
The short answer
They enhance techniques while requiring less effort, meaning a more efficient and enjoyable experience for both the practitioner and the client.
Bamboo massage sticks are used as extensions of one’s own body in providing therapeutic and relaxing massage to another person or yourself. Techniques include rolling, effleurage, pressure point, deep tissue, and tapping. They pivot and provide more leverage, and allow for penetration and pressure in areas that are difficult to work on without applying unwanted pressure and discomfort to the practitioner.
The long answer
Ease of use
These are lightweight compared to many other materials, making them easier to use with greater precision and control. They pivot and provide more leverage, and allow for penetration and pressure in areas that are difficult to work on. Once in a while may not be so bad, but the pros who see 5-10 clients a day, it adds up to bodily stress and injury, and a dip in efficiency towards the finish. By utilizing bamboo massage sticks, even that "end of the day" client can get the real benefit of deep effective massage, while the therapist can reduce their own physical fatigue and potential for injury.. `
Versatility
Bamboo massage tools come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, so that no matter what technique or the area of the body to apply it, there is a bamboo massage stick that will provide the work needed with less effort. Some particular tools are better suited for working on pressure points or deep tissue kneading, while others are better suited for effleurage, and some excel more at rolling or tapping.
Thermal properties
Bamboo is pretty darn good at retaining heat ( or cold), which is nice. The consensus is that bamboo beats stones when comparing thermal benefits during massage. In addition to offering great massage, warm bamboo sticks provide additional therapeutic benefits. These tools are often used in conjunction with oils/lotions and with heat via use of a heating pad of some sort, and rotating pieces in and out every few minutes as they cool. As standalone pieces without the oils or heat, they still perform as excellent massage tools, easy to work through and penetrate a bit of clothing.
Sustainable and Eco-friendly
Consider the energy output required for extraction and manufacturing or metal or plastic massage tools. What about wood? Compared to an equal sized stand of trees, bamboo will generate over 30% more oxygen and sequester 2x- 5x the amount of carbon, depending on the tree species. Trees require decades to harvest, bamboo generally in 2-3 years, repeatedly, every year. Additionally natural bamboo doesn’t require, pesticides, herbicides or any other chemicals. It isn’t really even close, if caring for the future of our planet is important to you, then hand made bamboo massage tools are the very best you can buy.
Strength, durability and resilience
Bamboo is known for it’s legendary strength and durability. Quality bamboo massage tools are virtually unbreakable under normal circumstances, and when treated right during production and during their lifetime, they will last at least 10 years or longer. They can withstand just about anything you can throw at them including repeated cleanings.
Aesthetically Pleasing with good energy
They just look cool, exuding a sense of groundedness and relaxation. The unique visual appeal of our bamboo massage tools adds to the overall ambiance and makes for a good impression. There is an undeniable warm and grounding energy in the bamboo, organic and earthy like a dear old friend. It is beautiful and exotic, with legendary properties of strength and resiliency, yet it is just humble grass. The natural balance of things, is there within it. What an ideal assistant in helping to pass on these qualities through the art of massage!
Why Domestic Bamboo massage sticks?
For starters, you’ll know right where your massage tools grew up; in our pesticide and herbicide free groves in southern Ohio, USA. We typically use the lower few feet of the bamboo culm, where the wall of the bamboo are the thickest and strongest in order to support the weight of 20-30 feet of swaying grass overhead. We find these pieces make great massage sticks and are better at retaining heat. I cut my bamboo tools very close to nodes, the rings on the outside that correlate with a woody membrane on the inside that separates the otherwise hollow tube into sections. These areas are thicker and are responsible in part for bamboo’s incredibly strength, and after our heat treat add to the durability of our pieces. After sanding the edges to insure a smooth working tool, I use various open flame artistic techniques to heat treat each piece, which drives out the moisture and starches that attract insect damage, and pulls a layer of protective oil to the surface, which when quickly burnished, hardens into a smooth protective shell, enhancing not only our massage sticks durability and longevity, but also it’s unique visual appeal that brings out the beauty of natural bamboo.
It’s hard to find fault with an aesthetically pleasing product that is carefully hand-crafted from a natural, organic, durable, sustainable, eco-friendly plant, is beneficial to the recipient and the user, with intent to aid in providing healing.
Click here to shop our Bamboo Massage Tools on Etsy
Don’t take our word for it
A few of the dozens of 5-star reviews from verified buyers of massage sticks on our Etsy shop…
“I’m a LMT and took the time to use this before reviewing. Holds the heat well and stands up to being cleaned often very well. Nice rounded edges so I don’t have to worry about scratching clients. I love it and will probably order more!” -Jay “This tool for massage is sturdy and quality material. Will be back for sure.” -Ron “Totally awesome ! One of a kind ….. GREAT SELLER ! “-mcqpad “The item looks and feels amazing. Thank you!” - Maya “These Bamboo stick are made to perfection and love!! When I used them for the first time for a healing treatment ... I could feel the healing magic. Thank you…!!” - Brenda “I love my bamboo massage stick. It’s wonderful. Thank you!” -Sarah “Beautiful piece of bamboo and I love the effect on the wood from the heat treatment. I have rattan tools for massage and the bamboo is so much lighter with a lovely texture in comparison…. it feels wonderful, can't wait to experiment more!” -vintagedoodles “I am a massage therapist and will certainly enjoy using these in my practice… And the quality is good and matched the description. I am very happy!” -Sharon “Quality and look is perfect. Im a LMT and my clients love this bamboo , deep tissue too for upper traps/ shoulders!” -Laurel