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1st table purchase recommendation for a new student?

I am a new student and I am looking for recommendations before I purchase my 1st table. I'd like something portable and nice that I can continue to use after becoming certified. Any recommendations on brands, essential accessories and add-ons would be greatly appreciated? Looking for answers including:
•reputable brands?
•metal or wood?
•what to look for in a headrest and/or bolster?
•do they make portables that can be plugged in for heat and or to raise/lower?
•leather, polyurethane or other?
•Additional accessories needed?

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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on March 27, 2015 at 8:49pm

Hi Meg!

I'd recommend an Astra-Lite table; they are made of aluminum, are light weight and super easy to adjust the height on. You just push the button in and slide the leg up or down to the next opening. They are very nice; I have owned 2 of them. Here's the website: http://www.astra-lite.com/ The website isn't great but the tables are! They are more expensive than most but well worth the extra $$. I would add the extra foam as an additional accessory; it's not expensive and it's worth it.

Headrest: If you can afford it, get a Boiance face cradle. They are the best out there and your clients will be so much happier than with a normal face cradle! If you can't afford the Boiance yet (they are more expensive), look for a face cradle that is larger than standard and has some provision to take pressure off the sinuses. (For example of a not-so-good one, the face cradles that come with the Astra-Lite tables need to be thrown away - they are designed to tuck into a space underneath the table for easy transportation and are not big enough for comfortable use.)

Bolster: softer is more comfortable for clients. I use a half-round one rather than a full-round one and it works very well.

I don't know of any portables that can be plugged in for anything but I've never looked specifically for that. If you want heat, a good table warmer is inexpensive and easy to take on and off. I used to do outcalls several days a week and I got really fast at the table warmer!

I wouldn't do leather. If you get oil on it, it will be a problem.

Additional accessories (not related to the table): If you are going to be doing outcalls, I would highly recommend one of these: http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/63917?feat=2911-GN2&page=adventu... It's not exactly like the one I have but I got mine several years ago. Mine is big enough to fit the bolster, face cradle, sheets, portable music speaker (you need one of those!), and more.

I hope that's some useful information!

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on March 27, 2015 at 10:18pm

http://www.roberthunter.com

This guy makes really good tables. They are solid with no squeeks.

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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on March 27, 2015 at 10:40pm

Looks like they have good products!

I forgot to mention that you will want to have a bag to carry the table in. That's an important accessory!

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Permalink Reply by Meg on April 3, 2015 at 7:44pm

Thanks to you both!!!! My sister surprised me with a massage table as congratulations gift. It does not have any of the bells and whistles but I think it will work well while I'm in school. I'm going to spend some money now on top quality accessories: face cradle (I'm checking out Boiance), soft bolster and table warming. This way the only thing I should need to upgrade is the table itself once I'm well practiced! Thanks again to you both!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on April 3, 2015 at 8:57pm

That looks like a nice table! What a great sister!

I like that you can get your feet/legs under the end. So many tables have structure there and you bang yourself on it trying to work on necks and shoulders.