Like many, you have probably heard of or even gotten a traditional Western massage using Swedish techniques, deep tissue or sports massage practices. You may have also heard about Tui Na massage, a Chinese massage that is becoming increasingly popular.
What is Tui Na?
Tui Na is a form of bodywork based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Working along meridians throughout the body, the Tui Na practitioner taps into these energy points, using stretches and pressure points, to balance the body’s vital energy (qi).
What does the name mean?
The name comes from the two words describing actions during treatment: tui means “to push” and na means “to grab or squeeze.”
How are Tui Na massages different from Western massages?
Unlike Western massage techniques, Tui Na goes beyond the muscles, bones, and joints to work with the body on a deeper, energetic level. Tui Na massage is often used in concert with other TCM therapies including acupuncture and cupping. Practitioners aim to sense the energy of the client with their hands, and affect the flow and distribution of that energy during the session.
How does Tui Na massage help your qi?
Tui Na is intended to restore physiological and emotional balance by unblocking channels of qi through the body that have been blocked by tension, bad habits, and poor health.
The qi moves through the body’s meridians. When movement is stagnant or when the energy is too low or too high disease can occur.
Benefits
Tui Na can be used to treat pain and illness, or to maintain good health. The technique is effective in reducing stress, encouraging relaxation, and deepening sleep. It’s often used for conditions and injuries related to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Some of the conditions it can help treat:
- neck and back pain
- musculoskeletal disorders
- premenstrual syndrome
- fatigue and insomnia
- headaches
- arthritis
- osteoporosis
- stress
- digestive conditions
- respiratory conditions
* Based on treatment principles, specific techniques are combined to treat the presenting complaint and underlying pattern.
