A fish's body flows in a wave from head to tail, a graceful, continuous movement that propels it through the water. The wavelike undulation of a goldfish was the inspiration behind the Chi Machine, a wellness tool that is widely used in the Far East and gaining popularity in the United States.

The Chi Machine seems to be a relatively simple device: a rectangular box with a sliding stirrup mounted on top. While you lie on your back on an exercise mat with your ankles resting on the stirrup, the machine's motor rhythmically moves your legs side to side, creating a wave of movement through your body. Marketers of the device claim it is an effective form of passive aerobic exercise that has positive effects on a wide range of symptoms and maladies, including poor circulation, digestive problems, sore muscles, joint pain, insomnia, asthma, obesity and much more.

My own introduction to the Chi Machine came via an enthusiastic report from a friend. After a five-minute session on the machine, this normally reserved woman was exclaiming about how her shoulder and hip, injured in a car accident, were suddenly relieved of pain. Furthermore, over a 24-hour period following her session, her spine was released from innumerable kinks and tensions. After the machine was turned off, she reported feeling a powerful yet gentle flow of energy throughout her body that she compared to sensations obtained through yoga and Tai Chi.

Based on that report, I was intrigued about the prospect of integrating the Chi Machine into my massage practice and eager to experience it for myself. The machine arrived five days after I placed my order. It was a gray and white unit with the austere look of a piece of medical equipment. I soon had the box plugged in, set the timer to five minutes (as suggested for a first session) and was lying on my back, allowing the machine to do its work.

As I gently swayed back and forth, I noticed that I was taking longer, deeper, slower breaths. I started to feel a bit more uncomfortable in tense areas of my body. It was as though these areas, especially my lower back, were being re-sensitized, emerging from the numbness of an earlier trauma. When the machine turned off, I certainly felt the feeling of "chi" my friend had referred to. I would describe this sensation as profound rather than subtle.

Responses to sessions with the Chi Machine vary. The experience can produce a brief feeling of mild nausea, which the manufacturers claim is an indication of rapid detoxification evoked by increased lymphatic circulation. For others, the machine may instigate an emotional catharsis, similar to that occasionally experienced through massage or other energetic practices. In some cases, the machine may be contraindicated entirely. The movement of the unit may be counterproductive to anyone who has recently had major surgery, a bone fracture, or is pregnant (1st trimester). Some preliminaries are suggested, including drinking water before and after a session, and beginning with shorter sessions (particularly in the case of the elderly or ill). Using the machine on a level and stable surface is also recommended.

In general, my massage clients and friends who have used the machine have had productive experiences. One friend described his second session on the machine in this manner:

Dr. Inoue Shizuo, Director of the Japan Health Association, developed the Chi Machine through 38 years of research into passive aerobic exercise. Believing that lack of oxygen was the root cause of most illness, Dr. Inoue explored the possibilities of oxygenating the system with a minimum of effort. He began by developing an exercise method in which he would manually lift a patient's legs with his hands and rhythmically swing them back and forth, imitating motions he had observed in fish and snakes. He reported the patient obtained dramatic results using this procedure.

Further research into these movements had Dr. Inoue convinced that such sinuous movements could balance the spine and have a generally positive effect on the autonomous nervous system. The movement may also help to flush out the body's lymphatic system and provide general stimulation to the immune system. By focusing attention to specific muscle groups, Dr. Inoue noticed that muscle tone could be developed and fat could be lost via the balancing of the autonomic nervous system, which aids in digestion. Many of his findings have been verified by Japan's Medical Affairs Bureau, although similar support for the machine from American medical associations has not been forthcoming.

Dr. Inoue's work and the new availability of the Chi Machine in the United States has opened up some intriguing areas of research for individuals and practitioners. Experiments with the Chi Machine may ultimately produce a new paradigm of passive aerobic exercise, and may open up some scientific investigation into "chi" itself, the ancient Chinese concept of life-force energy.

Stephen Charles Barry is a massage therapist who practices in North America and the West Indies. He writes, speaks about and distributes wellness tools. Stephen can be contacted via e-mail at nrchi4u2@hotmail.com or call (914) 735-0867.