Tui Na massage in London
Tui Na means ‘pushing’ (Tui fa) and ‘grasping’ (Na fa) and is the term used in Chinese medicine for all types of manual therapy from relaxation massages to Chiropractic style adjustments and physiotherapy in hospitals. Tuina differs from other massages in that it is often applied quite briskly and can have quite an invigorating effect. It has in common with shiatsu the use of channel theory and Chinese medical diagnosis, but employs some techniques not found in other massages
Tui Na massage
Tui Na massage is based on the same system of energy channels and diagnostic process as acupuncture, but uses manual pressure, stretching and a variety of soft tissue techniques to affect the channels and points, relax the tissues and effect healing and rehabilitation.
Tui na can be applied strongly or softly, but tends to be quite brisk in application compared to other massage styles. This makes it a stimulating experience, yet it is also leaves you relaxed and invigorated.
Many Tui Na techniques are actually very similar to neuromuscular techniques, and as more is discovered about how specialised receptors in the connective tissue are stimulated, many of the unique traditional applications of Tui Na are being ‘discovered’ or explained by osteopaths and other manual therapists and researchers.
For example Ya Fa ‘suppressing method’ is virtually identical to ischaemic compression and dou fa ‘shaking method’ probably stimulates pacini corpulscles in the joint capsule which restore balance to the muscles around the joint.
Acupressure
Acupressure refers to the use of pressure applied by the fingers, hands etc to acupoints and the channels used in acupuncture. In this sense it describes both tui na and shiatsu, although they have other features which make them different from each other. Acupressure can be applied to one or two points alone as a self help exercise, whereas tuina or shiatsu will normally work whole channels or a prescription of points.
Acupressure can be considered a technique of tuina, shiatsu or anmo. Another term an mo, is also Chinese massage and comes from the names of two tuina techniques, ‘pressing’ (an fa) and ‘circular kneading’ (mo fa), both tuina techniques. In general anmo is associated with more relaxation massage and tuina with therapy. In Japan, anmo is called anma.
