Inada Sogno Massage Chair

The new Inada Sogno Massage Chair has hit the massage chair industry like a storm. Since it was first officially introduced to America at the Las Vegas Furniture show back in February of this year, the interest for this chair has been quite phenomenal.

Just the look of it immediately strikes you. It is a very contemporary look and certainly does not look like any other massage chair that I have seen. It is sleek and stylish. It comes in standard slate and dark chocolate colors, with the PLUS version also available in the creme color.

It is important to know that their are two models of the Inada Sogno massage chair: the Standard and the Dream Wave PLUS models. I will go into detail as to the differences, after I mention a few of the other features that are available on both models. I own the Sogno PLUS model and will talk from exprerience when I contrast the chair models.

Other than the aesthetics, the first thing that hits you is the arm massage and how it is integrated into the frame of the massage chair. It is a thorough air bag massage that massages not only the forearm, which is typically what is present in other massage chair with an arm massage feature. The Sogno massage chair has air bag massages on the arm, forearm, and finger. The airbag devices cover the whole arm. It is quite incredible actually. My arms and fingers tingled for quite some time afterwards.

Once you position yourself in the Sogno massage chair, you will feel like you are in a cocoon. The chair envelopes you and gives you a secure feeling of well-being. The body coverage of the chair is over 1200 square inches, which is the most coverage of any other massage chair chair in the world. And after having sat in my own Sogno, I can tell you that it massages more parts of my body than any other chair I have sat in.

The neck massage and traction feature is very unique. It combines a tractioning of the neck while at the same time massaging the neck musculature. The neck massage unit is actually a separate device that looks like a headrest. When it is functioning, the neck device pushes down on the shoulders (trapezia muscles) and actually does something like a trigger point massage to those muscles. While the neck device is doing that, the rollers within it are massaging the neck "paraspinal" muscles. It is very comfortable to sit in and lay on and the effect is absolutely delightful.

The ottoman is one of the most practical calf and foot massagers that I've seen. Although it is not as amazing as that of the HT-1650 massage chair, from Human Touch, it can cater to varying heights more effectively than any other chair I have ever seen. It has an "accordion-like" extension feature that I have seen work on a 6' 7" man as easily as it did on a 14 year old girl. It also has a youth program that is designed for shorter folks. It is very unusual that a massage chair can cater to both body morphologies without having to compromise the quality of the massage.

The hip massage system is wonderful for Ilio-Tibial Band (ITB) massage. I've not seen another massage chair that addresses the sides of the thighs. Many have thigh and butt massage that works on the gluts at the back of the buttocks and thighs, but I've not seen one like the Sogno massage chair that works the sides of the thighs like this chair. It actually made my ITB's a little tender, which didn't surprise me since I had knee surgery a couple of years ago, and the ITB is one of the muscles that is compromised by a knee surgery and it is generally full of trigger points (localized muscle spasms). The fact that it hurt a little afterwards is a good sign that it is truly massaging the ITB and not just touching it.

The remote control is very easy to use...and I mean easy. It is not a pedestal type of remote, but tucks into a little pouch at the right side of the chair when not in use. It has simple programs which are easy to find and activate. Along with the Human Touch massage chair remotes and the remote of the new Panasonic 30000 series, this is one of the most user friendly remote controllers.

Now, here are the differences between the Sogno Standard model and the Dream Wave PLUS model: (since this article was originally written, the Standard model has been discontinued. The differences are still important should you ever have the chance to buy a used Standard model)

1. Dream Wave Technology - the Sogno PLUS has a very unique technology wherein the seat shifts in a forward-back, side-to-side motion to move the the buttocks and thighs. It is not just a massage, but a passive motion that induces motion into the lower lumbar discs and perhaps even the sacro-iliac joints. It is gentle and very soothing and is the first attempt at creating a truly 3-d movement experience for the hips. Also, while the seat is shifting from side to side and front to back, the rollers of the low back will massage one side at a time, pushing that side forward. It resembles the position your spine might be put into by a chiropractor adjusting the low back of a patient. I have never seen anything like it and I really love the feature. The greatest deficiencies in most massage chairs is in the seat and buttock. This chair makes a great stab at improving that!

2. Lumbar heat - the Sogno PLUS massage chair has a lumbar heat feature that the Standard model does not have. Many chairs have lumbar heat, so this is nothing new...but it is one of the differences between the two models.

3. Creme color - this color is only available in the PLUS model. It is a popular color so if you want it, you must order the PLUS model.

Well, that is about it. The Dream Wave PLUS retails for $6799.00. My opinion, based on sales numbers in our showroom, is that the Sogno PLUS is by far the better buy and more popular chair.

For another thorough write up on this massage chair, check out this article:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Inada-Sogno-Dream-Wave-PLUS-massage-chair

Check out the chair here:
http://www.massage-chair-relief.com/sogno_massage_chair.html

To purchase the Sogno PLUS or Standard model massage chair, call toll-free 1-888-259-5380.