Inside the pad are eight roller ball nodes to stimulate both the large and small muscle groups, coupled with a heating pad for better circulation. The roller balls move in 3D; not only do they rotate, but they also press into your back in alternating patterns to simulate a true shiatsu massage.
You can use this massager at home or in your car, which is perfect for de-stressing before or after a meeting or workout. While it may not necessarily be as powerful as some other models listed on our home page RelaxLikeaPro.com, this product has plenty to offer that makes it worth your dollar.
Features and Benefits
First, a bit about the massager and its highlights.
Includes Large and Small Roller Balls
The InvoSpa shiatsu massager goes above and beyond when it comes to comfort. The massage pad has eight roller balls inside it: four of them large and four of them small. The larger ones work on your back, shoulders, and neck. The smaller ones, meanwhile, focus on the smaller muscle groups that require finer attention. Your thighs, calves, ankles, and feet benefit mostly from these smaller balls.
The layout of the nodes mimics the feel of human hands. Even if you lack someone who can give you a good deep-tissue massage, the InvoSpa model can make your body feel like you just spent a day at the spa. Also, the motors in the nodes run quietly, so you don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone nearby or interfering with your relaxing music playlist.
Three Speed Settings
The three speed and strength settings control the intensity of the massage. Whether you want a gentle, soothing massage or an invigorating one, the InvoSpa massager can likely give you what you need. The controls for adjusting the settings are easy to use and easy to reach, unlike some models that place the controls in an out-of-reach spot.
The nodes glow more brightly in correspondence with the intensity of your massage, so even if you don’t have it on you can see what speed it is. The three operating speeds are markedly different but not so wildly disparate that you can’t adjust as needed. In other words, it doesn’t swing from barely touching you to slamming your back with hard rocks. We’d advise starting with the lowest intensity and working your way up to higher settings.
Dual Directional Massage
Similar to alternating directions when you stir liquid, alternation directions during a massage can better stimulate the flow of blood and the recovery of deep muscle tissue. The InvoSpa massager’s design takes this fact into account.
Every minute, the roller balls will reverse direction to create an invigorating effect in the body and prevent the nerves from being fatigued with the same constant sensation.
Although the system automatically triggers this effect after a minute, you can do it manually by pressing the second button on the controller. It’s probably best to switch it every thirty seconds, but you can leave it to go for a full minute. Just don’t overdo it because you’ll make your back numb and unresponsive to massage treatment.
Heating Pad
The InvoSpa massager uses infrared technology to produce heat and add to the benefits of the massage. Infrared heat produces a more milk effect than a traditional heating pad, so you don’t have as much risk of burning yourself. It’s not meant to be a full-on heating pad, just a slight boost.
Heat, when introduced to muscle tissue, affects it by making the blood vessels larger, lowering tension and bringing freshly oxygenated blood to the surface of the skin. In turn, this is what promotes healthy muscle recovery and tissue healing. The heat also directly expands tissue, creating a relaxing effect on tense muscles.
If you’d rather have a massage without the heat, you can turn the heat off by pressing the bottom button on the controller.
Easy to Carry
Some shiatsu massage pillows and pads are too bulky to carry around. The InvoSpa’s design takes into account that you likely have a busy schedule without a lot of time to relax. No matter how little time you have, you need to take some opportunity for self-care, and the InvoSpa does just that. Its design is small enough to carry around with you comfortably, and you can charge it up on the go.
Not only do you get a standard 110-volt charger, but you also get a car adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter port. The entire assembly comes with a carrying bag, so you don’t have to worry about losing parts.
What’s Unique
Many massagers don’t aim to simulate the true shiatsu experience as thoroughly as does the InvoSpa model. Nothing can replace a human being, but this comes close. The feature that sets it apart is the rotating and alternating motion of the roller balls, as well as the variety of sizes. The periodic direction switching causes your muscles to be stretched and expanded in another direction to offset nerve fatigue.
It also seems to have more emphasis on the ability to enjoy it while traveling. Not many products of this type are both small enough to fit in a handbag and powerful enough to give an adequate massage.
Another factor is that many shiatsu massagers are focused on soothing the back and shoulders. The smaller nodes on the InvoSpa model make it especially suited for treating the smaller muscle groups. It just takes a little adjustment of the straps, but you can still get the same relief. If, for example, you want to massage your calf, place the pillow lengthwise along the calf or wrap it gently, set your program, and enjoy.
Potential Drawbacks
The biggest problem we can find with this massage tool is that it doesn’t put out quite as much heat as one might expect. If you’re looking for a product specifically to engage in heat treatment, the InvoSpa isn’t for you. It only uses slight infrared heat which isn’t enough to warm you the way a traditional heating pad does.
Another potential problem is that the massager may not be as powerful as you’re used to in some other models. It’s not meant for extra heavy duty relief, because the motors aren’t really strong enough. You have to hold the massager somewhat tightly against your body to feel the full effects, but if it’s too tight friction can prevent the balls from moving the way they’re intended.
Others might feel like the shape of the massager is awkward or unwieldy, but with enough adjustment you can easily get used to it. The straps take some time to get accustomed to using them, and the length doesn’t accommodate itself easily to smaller people.
Conclusion
This massager’s a decent pick for on-the-go comfort, but we prefer something that has a bit more juice to it. It attempts to do more than most products of its type, but the motor powering everything isn’t strong enough to give a powerful massage experience.
If you’re fine with gentle treatment, then we think this massager may be a good fit for you. We do like its portability and emphasis on massage in multiple directions. It’s one of the closest feelings to an actual human you can get when using the InvoSpa massager.
Despite its drawbacks, the InvoSpa can be a sound investment to make in your health and comfort. For specific concerns, check out the website or read the user manual online before buying. Documentation is available on the company’s website.