Tui na (pronounced TWEE-nah) is a type of bodywork that falls under the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) umbrella. TCM includes Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese dietary Therapy, Moxibustion and Tuina.
Literally translated, Tui na means "pinch and pull" which doesn't sound particularly appealing, but it is a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating style of massage. It uses techniques like "rolling," "grasping," "kneading," "shaking" and "pressing" in order to encourage the Qi (pronounced "CHEE") to flow through the meridians, or energy channels. It has been around for thousands of years and follows TCM theory: "when there is pain, there is no free flow; when there is free flow, there is no pain." By encouraging the circulation of Qi and blood, the pain dissipates and the client feels better.
If you are looking for a Swedish style "mush your skin around" type of massage, this is not it. Tui na is, however, a highly therapeutic style of massage that is great for sports or other soft tissue injuries, general muscle tightness and relieving stress that is held in the body, causing symptoms such as headaches, TMJ, back pain, neck pain, etc. It is also helpful for preventing injuries with athletes or exercisers by releasing tight muscles that restrict movement and impair range of motion. By releasing this tension, athletes can perform better in their sport or activity of choice.
Tui na is done fully clothed in loose, comfortable clothing. It is often performed as an adjuctive technique to acupuncture or moxibustion, but also can be a stand-alone treatment. Like acupuncture and other TCM modalities, Tui na focuses on the whole body, in addition to the symptoms, so that the client feels a greater sense of well-being afterwards. The goal is to bring the body back into balance using manual techniques done by the practitioner's fingers, hands or elbows. Tui na is often referred to as "acupressure" where pressure is used instead of needles, but Tui na is not just an alternative or replacement for needles, it is its own form of Chinese medicine. Typical Tui na sessions last about 30 minutes.
Tui na is safe and can be used by people of all ages, from infants to seniors, and some techniques can be taught for use at home as self-care.
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