Shiatsu is a unique form of Japanese therapeutic bodywork which incorporates gentle, yet deep, rhythmic pressure, as well as yoga-like stretches that act as a passive form of exercise. The aim of Shiatsu is to help create balance within the individual, and therefore has the potential to produce a number of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Some of these benefits include the following:
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In the Eastern Healing Arts, the use of touch as a therapeutic tool has a long time-honored history. Practiced informally since atleast 200 B.C., Shiatsu was systematized in the early 1900s and brought to the United States where it became accepted as a versatile and effective form of therapeutic bodywork widely practiced today.
Tui Na
Tui Na is an ancient Chinese therapeutic massage which dates back to the Shang Dynasty (1700 B.C.) and is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) today. It can be translated as "push-pull" or "push-grasp", and uses various techniques such as kneading, pressing (acupressure), grasping, rolling and shaking to remove blockages along the meridians in the body, thus increasing circulation and bringing qi and blood to the body's surface in order to promote the healing process. Tui Na aims to break up scar tissue and adhesions, warm and relax the muscles and other soft tissues of the body, and serves to stretch and mobilize the joints. It stimulates both energy channels and specific acupuncture points, and is especially beneficial for specific musculoskeletal disorders, as well as chronic stress-related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems. Tui Na is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, as the two treatment modalities complement one another well.
Kristen A. Chew, L.Ac., C.M.T, C.Y.T. . San Francisco, California . 415.692.1191 . info@kristenchew.com
