Tuina or Tui-Na (pronounced twee-nah) massage originated in ancient China and is believed to be the oldest system of bodywork.
Tuina is one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine, along with acupuncture, qi gong, and Chinese herbal medicine. This technique is based on the theory that imbalances of qi, which is your body’s vital life force or energy, can cause blockages or imbalances that lead to symptoms such as pain and illness.
How it works
So, when you book in to see Ann @ Chinley Massage, you can be assured that prior to having any form of treatment, Ann will go through a thorough clinical consultation, where she will check with you that it is safe to perform this modality.
When you receive a Tuina massage, it stimulates the flow of qi to promote balance and harmony within your body. Using many of the same principles of acupuncture. It’s like acupuncture in the way it targets specific acupoints, but Ann @Chinleymassage will use fingers instead of needles to apply pressure to stimulate these points within your body. Tuina massage can be used in combination with Western dry needling, Tendon healing and hot cupping.
The philosophy and principles of Tuina massage
Are based on traditional Chinese medicine, which focuses on emotional and physical components of a person’s well-being. Also taking into consideration other aspects such as climate, relationships, and diet.
So, the underlying philosophy of Tuina massage is that true health is achieved when one has found harmony and balance inside your own self and environment.
The goal of Tuina massage is to create harmony in the yin and yang of the body by getting rid of blockages and disturbances that manifest as illness, disease, and emotional issues.
Like acupuncture, Tuina massage uses the same energetic meridians and acupoints to balance the qi and blood in your body, leading to better health. Qi that’s flowing incorrectly can cause blockages, such as poor blood circulation in the affected area.
The main therapeutic goal of Tuina massage is to remove the energetic blocks that are causing qi stagnation.
A Tuina Session
During a session, Ann @ChinleyMassage will use oscillating and pressure techniques that differ in force and speed. Tuina massage can be done as a stronger deep-tissue massage or a more gentle, energetic treatment.
Some techniques are more yin, which is more gentle, passive, and meditative. The yang approach is more active, dynamic, and physical, creating more intense sensations by stimulating deep blockages and knots.
Ann’s focus is to massage the muscles and tendons and may use manipulation techniques to realign the body. She may use passive joint movements to restore function to muscles and joints.
Ann has spent several years developing these techniques and regularly uses her skills as taught by Total Therapy Training – Total Therapy Training as she has trained with them since 2017.
Throughout your Tuina massage, Ann will consider your specific needs and use various techniques to ensure you receive the best possible outcome for each session. To enhance the effects of the treatment lotions, serums and salves may be used.
Tuina massage uses techniques such as acupressure and retraining of the muscle memory, which allows your muscles to move more freely.
Occasionally techniques that are common to osteopathy and chiropractic, such as stretching and joint mobilizations, are also used.
Other techniques include
Rolling – Is used for injuries such as sprains and strains.
One-finger technique – Is one-finger stimulation of acupressure points.
Nei gung. – A full-body manipulation technique.
Tuina massage can help to treat your pain and illness, or to maintain your 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 muscular (musculoskeletal) and nervous systems.
Here are some conditions Tuina massage can treat
- neck and back pain
- musculoskeletal disorders
- premenstrual syndrome
- fatigue and insomnia
- carpal tunnel
- headaches
- arthritis
- osteoporosis
- stress
- digestive conditions
- respiratory conditions
Possible Side effects
Tuina massage is a safe treatment and is generally well tolerated. However, remember that it’s not a gentle or relaxing massage and you may feel some discomfort during or after a session. Slight bruising is possible.
If you have fractures, vein inflammation or any type of open wound it is not recommended for you. Similarly, it is not recommended for you if you have chronic back issues – such as ankylosing spondylitis.
Post Treatment self-care
- Keep the treated area warm and covered.
- Keep the area moving and stretch regularly.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid tea, coffee and drinks with caffein as well as alcohol.
- Eat nourishing foods to help your body heal and clean out toxins.
- Do not do heavy exercise after a treatment although some light exercise is beneficial. Try to get some sleep early, so the body can repair during the night. Preferably before 11pm.
You may find that you urinate more or have bowel movements. Also, symptoms of a cold such as runny nose, sore throat or generally feeling under the weather van appear and these are normal signs of the body clearing toxins in the system and will usually go fairly quickly.
After treatments such as Gua Sha & Massage you may feel sore due to the strong techniques. If necessary, you can take (if you’re not allergic to Ibuprofen) to reduce inflammation.
