When it comes to the various forms of massage many differences can be found. This is very apparent when it comes to such forms as sports massage therapy and Tuina.

Sports massage therapy is almost as straightforward as it sounds. It is mainly used to treat those in the many different athletic fields such as basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, and etc. This type of massage is used in both a therapeutic and preventative manner. Applied during warm-ups, at competitions, and during trainings this type of massage may help to prevent or at least treat sports related injuries.

This can mean an increase in the athlete’s range of motion, mental clarity, flexibility and improvement in his or her performance. Almost every single sports team imaginable retains the services of a licensed sports massage therapist. Even some professional athletes will have a private massage therapist.
 

Tuina is a style of Asian massage therapy that has been around for many centuries. It uses basic hand massage techniques just as the sports massage therapy does. It is meant however to affect the flow of Qi, or chi, thorough the body. It does so by using pressure to affect various acupressure points, nerves, muscles and blockages. It is these blockages that help to cause the feelings of illness in many clients.
 
By bringing the Qi back into balance the patient, or client, and it is this sense of balance which helps to bring vitality and health back to the client.

Whereas sports massage therapy is intended to relieve acute musculoskeletal pain, Tuina is better suited to alleviating chronic pains as well as disorders affecting the respiratory and/or digestive systems. Interestingly enough Tuina has also been noted to relieve such maladies as symptoms of premenstrual cycle, headaches, emotional problems, and constipation. While sports massage therapy has its values in one aspect Tuina has a much greater chance of touching on all the maladies that may be plaguing the client.

 

While many people may know the most popular form of Chinese massage techniques, Tuina, but there are other forms that are also effective in treating many of the same infirmities. From Anmo to Zhi Ya massage, each of these different forms has their own merits and can help different clients in varying ways.

Anmo is an ancient form of Chinese massage that has spread quite a distance from its beginnings. Made up of two separate words Anmo literally translates as press (An) rub (Ma). This type of massage is performed by pressing and rubbing the hands across the body. The idea is to work calm and peace into the body through the use of the hands.

Anmo is over 5000 years old making it one of the oldest known massage forms. Anmo migrated from China to Japan by way of Korea around 1500 years ago. Since this time Anmo has influenced the development of various types of massage therapies including Tuina, Shiatsu and Swedish.

Zhi Ya massage is a massage technique based around the tenets of acupressure. Similar in many ways to Tuina it focuses heavily on pressing and pinching directly on the various acupressure points. Zhi Ya focuses on relieving fatigue, healing the body and etc. rather than focusing on prevention.

Shiatsu, which developed from Anmo and Zhi Ya, also focuses on the various pressure points of the body; however, it was developed as a means of prevention rather than focusing so heavily on healing.

Even though these many forms of Chinese massage vary in many of their techniques their overall goal is the same. They all are meant to target both the body and the spirit so that both may be thoroughly healed.

Tuina massage has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. When a patient or client is treated for a disorder a massage technique such as Tuina will be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. This sort of whole being treatment is widely used throughout Eastern medicine. There are many advantages to Tuina massage.  Three of these stand out clearly from the rest however.

Tuina massage is much safer. When medicines are used or surgeries are performed there is always the chance of the patient suffering from dangerous side effects. Medicines always carry the risk of interacting with the body’s chemistry in a harmful way. Surgery can allow harmful foreign substances to enter the body. Tuina massage does not alter the body chemistry and is non-invasive. It has actually been shown that regular Tuina massages can help to increase the body’s natural defenses. Always make sure that the massage provider chosen is well versed in proper Tuina techniques so that there is no chance of injury due to poor training.

Tuina massage is extremely efficient at correcting many infirmities and diseases. While medicines can take a great deal of time to show any results you may see results within minutes after completion of the massage. Also, it may take several surgeries to correct certain issues that can be corrected with just one massage session. There are many different diseases that can be treated through the use of Tuina as well.

Tuina massage is a great deal cheaper than the alternatives. By having to continually treat a condition through the use of medicine it will cost a great deal of money. If surgery is resorted to then the cost can go even higher. Tuina is a much more economical alternative as well as being much more effective. Many insurance carriers are beginning to approve massage treatments as an alternative to hospitalization and surgeries.

Tuina, a Chinese massage therapy, may be used alongside many different methods of holistic medicine. Some of these methods used in conjunction with Tuina include Qi Gong, Tai chi, fire cupping, Acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism just to name a few.

Tuina includes different schools in which the aspects of the varying therapeutic principles are emphasized. The rolling method school, the Nei Gung method school, and the one finger pushing method school are all examples of the different schools encompassed under Tuina.

The Nei Gung method school makes use of massage methods which are meant to rebuild depleted energies. It teaches the use of exercises that regenerate energy through Nei Gong Qi. The practice of Nei Gong Qi is thought to help realign the meridians of the body.

Nei Gong, or neigong (known as ‘Zhen Fa’) as it is also written, involves a combination of different deep breathing and meditation techniques. Qi, or chi as it is sometimes referred to in western culture, is the Chinese representation of spirit. Nei Gong Qi is meant to align the spiritual meridians of the body through the use of deep breathing and meditation and is used in combination with massage.

The rolling method school of Tuina makes use of various soft tissue techniques. By rolling the muscles by hand the Tuina Therapist manipulates muscles into releasing tension and returning to their natural position. This is an excellent school when applied to those who are suffering from muscle sprains or joint injuries.

This type of school is called ‘Gun Fa’ and utilizes the techniques that take years to perfect.

The one finger pushing method school of Tuina (or ‘Yi Zhi Chan’) is typically used for the treatment of various internal diseases. It also emphasizes many techniques utilized in acupressure. This school teaches the manipulation of various pressure points on the body in order to restore proper muscle placement and function.

Practitioners of Tuina may vary on which of the aforementioned schools of massage they adhere. Many will use various combinations of the different schools dependent upon the needs of their clients. Whether it is Nei Gung and the one finger school or the rolling method as well as the previous two the massage practitioner will make sure that the clients’ needs are properly met. One important thing to ask a practitioner is what school of Tuina he or she will involve in the massage session. If it is not one with which you are comfortable then you can let them know so that they may adjust accordingly.    

 


The rolling method school of Tuina makes use of various soft tissue techniques. By rolling the muscles by hand the Tuina Therapist manipulates muscles into releasing tension and returning to their natural position. This is an excellent school when applied to those who are suffering from muscle sprains or joint injuries.

This type of school is called ‘Gun Fa’ and utilizes the techniques that take years to perfect.

The one finger pushing method school of Tuina (or ‘Yi Zhi Chan’) is typically used for the treatment of various internal diseases. It also emphasizes many techniques utilized in acupressure. This school teaches the manipulation of various pressure points on the body in order to restore proper muscle placement and function.

Practitioners of Tuina may vary on which of the aforementioned schools of massage they adhere. Many will use various combinations of the different schools dependent upon the needs of their clients. Whether it is Nei Gung and the one finger school or the rolling method as well as the previous two the massage practitioner will make sure that the clients’ needs are properly met. One important thing to ask a practitioner is what school of Tuina he or she will involve in the massage session. If it is not one with which you are comfortable then you can let them know so that they may adjust accordingly.   

 

 

Though acupuncture can be an excellent method of treatment for many adult ailments it is, however, not easily practiced on children. Pediatric tuina is a much more efficient method to help correct a child’s energies. Rather than using acupuncture needles it utilizes tuina massage techniques to help promote strong brain development. It can also help to strengthen their immune systems.

Other benefits of pediatric tuina include:

·         Improved sleep habits

·         Better eating habits

·         Improved coordination

·         Impart a sense of calm and happiness

Interestingly, the pathways that are used for adults do not all correspond with those of children. Pediatric tuina makes use of these points to help treat a wide variety of childhood infirmities. Some of the ailments that it can be used to treat include asthma, diarrhea, fever, earaches, colic and stomachaches just to name a few. The results of such treatments usually show up rather quickly. 

Practitioners of pediatric tuina will often teach parents some techniques that may be used at home to help restore the child’s health. Pediatric tuina is a very healthy alternative to the many medicines that doctors today try to push on children. Whereas medicines may have many different unintended side effects tuina has absolutely no side effects at all.

Tuina, a form of Chinese medical massage, continues to be extremely popular in the East. It is taught in both clinics and medical schools and is also used in conjunction with other forms of treatments for various ailments. One thing that has changed with Tuina is the fact that it has continued to spread in popularity from the Far East to the West. Now, Tuina is both taught and practiced in a wide variety of areas around the world.

Originally taught in its pure form, tuina in Western culture has seen a few changes in which methods of massage are used. It has continued to make use of traditional Chinese teaching but has also begun to include other massage techniques such as Swedish methods of tapotement, and effleurage just to name a couple. Massage practitioners around the world each tend to add their own twist to the Tuina massage session.

Whether it includes cupping, soft tissue massage, or even acupuncture Tuina will continue to grow in popularity worldwide as more people learn the benefits to health that it can offer.

 

If you have made the decision to see a massage provider for a Tuina treatment then you have made a decision to experience full body and spirit healing. Before you go for your first Tuina treatment there are a few preparations you will want to make.

One of the first things you should know is that if you have any conditions such as tuberculosis, malignant tumors, pregnancy, and menstrual periods or have any open sores, fractures or external wounds you should consult your massage provider before the day of the massage. Tuina is not used to treat such conditions and could possibly put you or your provider at risk.

The next thing you will need to do is to plan on what you will wear on the day of the Tuina treatment. Many Tuina practitioners will perform the massage with you wearing loose clothes and lying flat on the floor on a massage mat or while on a massage table. Make sure you dress appropriately so that you are prepared for any eventuality. Before the massage you will be asked questions about your current health as well as a basic outline of your past health which will include any allergies you might have or any pre-existing conditions.

The practitioner will then base the Tuina treatment around the specific areas where you need the most help including various pressure points, joints and muscles. This means that you may have to move or reposition your clothing in order for the Tuina practitioner to have direct skin contact. You should always be informed of this before the practitioner does this so that you are treated professionally and courteously. Tuina treatment sessions can last anywhere from ten minutes to an hour or more. It is also possible that more than one session will be required for conditions that are considered chronic.

Tuina, a form of Chinese medical massage, has been in practice for a very long time. Historians have identified its having been practiced as far back as 3,000 years ago. There have been oracle bones found at an archeological dig site that made reference to Bi, a female shaman, who was using massage to heal people of various infirmities. Around 600 B.C. Tuina was added to the Imperial Medical College. It was decided that it should be set up as its own department for further development and to teach it to medical providers.

Today Tuina is still taught in medical schools around China as well as at various clinics and other places throughout the country. Even though some of the more minor details may change from one place to another the basics that are taught continue to be the same. Most schools of Tuina teach the many different manipulations and how they are used; they also teach the various pressure points and effects may be achieved through their manipulation, and the theory of Yin and Yang as well as the five elements and channeling theory.

Tuina is an encompassing system of massage that is very useful for both passive and active joint restoration. When attending a school specializing in Tuina there will be several different schools of massage taught. These may be in any number of combinations depending on the school itself. The schools of massage being taught include reflexology, tendon manipulation, deep tissue manipulation, moxibustion, and acupressure as well as many others.

Another aspect of learning Tuina in China includes learning various non-massage methods of treatment including the use of liniments, salves, poultices and compresses that are meant to work alongside the use of the Tuina massage techniques. Traveling to China to learn Tuina can be a very rewarding experience for anyone interested in massage.top bar.

Tuina by far is the most powerful massage therapy in the world. It has such a spread of application that increasingly sports people in Ireland are favouring it over the conventional sports injury massage.

Primarily the reason for this is that Tuina is a much deeper treatment, it is flexible and require no oils or fancy lotions. It utilises over 2,000 years of observed human conditions. Incorporated within Tuina is the Chinese Medicine model combined with traditional manipulation, bone setting and stretching techniques.

Balancing both the tissues and the energy channels of the body. It yields much faster results than conventional massage, because it is so much more than just massage.

In China it requires at least 6 years of practice to be considered a junior doctor of Tuina. In the west it is far less; so as a sports person it is essential that you find a truely qualified practitioner.

One of the most qualified practitioners in Ireland is Anthony Monteith - he is based in Dublin and is a direct student of several masters.

You can see his profile at www.combined-chinese-therapy.com

 

Tuina is now being popularized in this country as a powerful therapeutic extension of traditional western massage methods. Tuina’s simplicity and focus on specific problems, rather than a more generalized treatment, make it both an excellent alternative and/or extension of the usual ‘western’ massage. By utilizing treatments of shorter duration, it can be used in a variety of settings, including home, office, clinic or hospital. It is well suited for both the professional massage therapist or the active, health conscious individual. However it is important to have a full understanding of the TCM, and the full repertoire of correct hand and finger techniques to ensure the therapist can facilitate correct healing.