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Tuina Is A Vigorous And Deeply Penetrating Massage Treatment
A form of Oriental Bodywork Therapy, Tuina in Chinese literally means to “push” and “grasp.” In China, Tuina has been practiced for over 3500 years. It is a vigorous and deeply penetrating massage treatment that is part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Tuina’s details and procedures that are used in addressing a broad range of medical conditions have been recorded more than 2,500 years ago in The Yellow Emperor’s Classics of Internal Medicine. After such a protracted span of development, the form of Tui Na utilized today is the most tested and tried hands-on treatment in the world and is the groundwork upon which Swedish and Shiatsu massage are founded.
Tuina follows the theory underlying traditional Chinese medicine that states the movement of vital energy or chi through the energy channels (meridians) is essential for the treatment of disease and the maintenance of health. Through the use of manipulation techniques and massage therapy, Tuina aims to bring about a more harmonious movement of chi through the collaterals and meridians, giving the body the ability to heal itself naturally. According to the Chinese, the basis of vitality and health is on the balance of chi in the body. One of the best ways to achieve this is through an array of procedures that make up Tuina therapy. A session of Tuina may seem on the surface a mere thorough workout for the joints and soft tissues for the casual observer; however, the therapist strives to do more than this. He targets the specified acupuncture points and energy channels. To eliminate obstructions to the flow of chi, these points and channels are massaged in various ways.
Tuina is especially effective in treating chronic pain, especially those caused by musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. Tennis elbow, sciatica, immobility, and back, shoulder, and neck pain all respond very to this treatment. But without addressing the general status of chi, it can be very difficult to treat a specific condition even with Tuina. Expert Tuina therapists sometimes also use Chinese herbs to promote faster healing. To augment the other treatment modalities salves, liniments, compresses, and external herbal poultices are also used.
Watsu Therapy And The Immense Relaxing And Pain Relieving Benefits It Can Provide
Watsu integrates both the benefits of shiatsu massage and water therapy. It is a type of therapy that focuses on deep breathing while the body of the client is moved weightlessly through warm water by the therapist. Watsu is often referred to as water breath dance.
Watsu adopts a lot of its stretching procedures from shiatsu massage due to its objective of freeing up obstructions on the meridians or chi (vital energy) channels in the body. Watsu also appropriates methods from acupressure, a type of treatment that implements various pressures with the hands or fingertips to bring back the smooth movement of chi throughout the body.
Watsu is performed based on the same meridian map that is so essential to acupressure and Shiatsu massage. The difference between these techniques and Watsu therapy is that the latter also integrates gentle stretching to help soothe and loosen the muscles. Watsu procedures are performed in a therapeutic pool. This helps the massage therapist to carefully maneuver his/her client into the different stretches, without upsetting the peaceful and soothing setting.
The therapist supports the client while moving the client through a series of unbroken balmy stretches during a Watsu session. Oftentimes, the therapist will carefully rock the body of the client in the cradle position. This cradling position is deemed to be the most nurturing posture as it recollects the position of a mother gently holding her baby. The muscles are stretched and isolated as the therapist cradles the body of the client.
The water helps the therapist move the client smoothly through the stretches. Then the therapist administers acupressure massage, first to the client’s upper body, and then to his lower body, whilst maintaining support of the client’s spine. This support is important since without it the client might float away because of the water’s anti-gravitational quality. Also, the warm water enhances circulation and keeps the muscles relaxed.
In Watsu therapy, water is heated to about 96 degrees Fahrenheit and its (water’s) warmth as well as acupressure massage and Watsu therapy’s gentle stretching enables the clients to get over water traumas such as a near drowning accident or they don’t know how to swim.
It is believed that Watsu leads to a deep sense of calm due to the therapist’s gentle touch and the warmth of the water. A lot of people, in fact, compare the emotions they feel during a Watsu session similar to what a fetus must feel when it is inside the womb of its mother: a feeling of safety, love, relaxation, and warmth.
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