Oriental Bodywork

Oriental Bodywork: a group of methods, including acupressure massage and Jin Shin Acupressure, used to stimulate natural self-curative abilities. Its theory posits a spirit and bodily pathways of energy.

(See also: Oriental Bodywork , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork (Ki-Shiatsu, Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork Therapy, shiatsu oriental bodywork): Healing art encompassing manual and breathing techniques that balance-nurture the whole person.

(See also: Ki-Shiatsu/Oriental Bodywork , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is an ancient oriental healing technique based on the Taoist philosophy of balancing energy meridians within the body, thus allowing the body to heal itself.

Fine needles are painlessly inserted at key points corresponding to body organs to relieve pain and cure disease and dysfunction. Related techniques include the use of low voltage, electric current (electro acupuncture) or massage at key points (acupressure).

(See also: ACUPUNCTURE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MACROBIOTIC SHIATSU

This is a combination of macrobiotic diet, philosophy, and shiatsu. Macrobiotic shiatsu makes use of the classical Oriental meridians. The feet are utilized considerably in the application of this method.

(See also: MACROBIOTIC SHIATSU , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Chinese (Oriental) Medicine: Traditional Chinese medicine encompasses a vast range of therapies including acupuncuture, herbs, bodywork, exercise and diet. From ancient art of Tai Chi to the modern practice of Zero Balancing, the Chinese view of the body as an interrelated system of energy and physical matter permeates many different forms of alternative medicine.

(See also: Chinese Medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AMMA THERAPY: system of bodywork therapy that uses traditional oriental medical principles for assessing and evaluating imbalances in the energetic system.

It aims to restore, promote and maintain optimum health through the treatment of the physical body, bio-energy and emotions. Used for a wide range of conditions.

(See also: Amma therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

SHIATSU

Developed in Japan, shiatsu is a finger-pressure technique utilizing the traditional acupuncture points of Oriental healing.

Similar to acupressure, shiatsu concentrates on unblocking the flow of life energy and restoring balance in the meridians and organs in order to promote self-healing. With the client reclining, the practitioner applies pressure with the finger, thumb, palm, elbow, or knee to specific zones on the skin located along the energy meridians.

The treatment brings about a sense of relaxation while stimulating blood and lymphatic flow. The benefits of this treatment may include pain relief and a strengthening of the body’s resistance to disease and disorder.

(See also: SHIATSU , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ESALEN MASSAGE

Developed in the 1960s, this style originated at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Calif., and is based on a combination of Oriental and Swedish massage techniques.

Esalen is light and gentle in nature, emphasizing nurturing and empathy. The strokes are soft, easy, and slow, prompting deep relaxation. It is used to reduce stress, relieve pain, improve sleep, aid digestion, and promote healing.

(See also: ESALEN MASSAGE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

Naturopathy integrates a wide range of natural therapeutics emphasizing the healing power of nature to treat the causes of disease, rather than suppressing the symptoms.

As part of a holistic medical healthcare system with an emphasis on education and prevention, the naturopathic physician seeks to motivate the individual toward a healthy and balanced diet, lifestyle, and mental attitude.

Treatments such as homeopathic medicines, clinical nutrition, traditional Oriental medicine, and acupuncture are used to enhance the body’s natural healing process.

(See also: NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY

Lymph Drainage Therapy is unique in that healthcare professionals learn how to palpate the lymphatic flow. As they develop their skills, they can then identify the rhythm, direction, and quality of the lymphatic flow.

Advanced practitioners will be able to precisely map the lymphatic flow to find alternate pathways for drainage. Developed by Bruno Chikly, M.D., Lymph Drainage Therapy evolved from years of training in traditional medicine, Oriental medicine practices, and manual therapies. (Definition provided by The Upledger Institute.)

(See also: LYMPH DRAINAGE THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

OHASHIATSU

Ohashiatsu is a method of bodywork offering both giver and receiver a complete experience of self-development and healing.

Combining Oriental healing philosophy and techniques with psychological and spiritual components, Ohashiatsu expands awareness of self and others through movement, meditation, and touch.

As a holistic method, Ohashiatsu emphasizes sensing and working with the overall energy flow throughout the body to create balance and relieve aches, tension, stress, and fatigue.

Studying and practicing Ohashiatsu helps to develop a balanced condition of health and well-being encompassing body, mind, and spirit.

(See also: OHASHIATSU , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY

Robert Petteway developed the Myopractic system after 30 years in the healing arts. His experience in structural integration, biomechanics, acupuncture, Oriental medicine, and a wide variety of muscle therapies contribute to the system. He worked with physicians, surgeons, and chiropractors for more than 20 years to develop this therapeutic model.

Myopractic muscle therapy combines three basic techniques: compression stretching, which achieves deep relaxation and relieves tension, spasms, and holding patterns; clearing methods, which use the myopractic covered thumb and framing techniques to clean obstructions from soft tissue (e.g., trigger points, scar tissue, muscle bundles, and old bruise); and separating techniques to release myofascial adhesions, separate fascial planes, and rebalance muscles.

Myopractic muscle therapy integrates its own unique style of energetic work, Swedish, sports, trigger point, myofascial, and even structural integration techniques into one easy-to-learn system.

Myopractic teaches user-friendly, pain-free therapy for both client and practitioner. This is accomplished using the therapist’s body weight and leverage, rather than relying on size and strength. Myopractic posture balancing evaluation identifies the source of chronic pain misalignments in the body’s structure and realigns them.

Myopractic treatments focus especially on misalignments in the lower body, particularly in the feet, ankles, and the hips. Addressing lower-body misalignments often relieves tension injuries in the upper body. Myopractic espouses a therapist can clear their clients only to the degree they themselves are clear. Therefore the seminars focus on clearing the therapist, as well as learning new techniques.

(See also: MYOPRACTIC MUSCLE THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Zen Tantra: Combination of shiatsu and other oriental techniques, developed by Shizuto Masunaga, the originator of Zen Shiatsu. Zen Tantra is an antecedent variation of Bodywork Tantra.

(See also: Zen Tantra , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY

Developed by Ruthie Hardee in 1995, Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy combines elements of traditional Thai massage, Barefoot shiatsu and Keralite foot massage (Chavutti Thirummal).

Incorporating overhead wooden bar supports, the therapist uses body weight and gliding foot compression on strategic points along the muscles. When performed near the spine, this form of effleurage creates a “push, pull, pumping” effect on the intervertebral disc space and relieves irritations on the spinal nerve caused by inflammation and swelling.

Note: The application of this technique is not to be done on a floor mat or through clothing. This technique was designed for smaller, petite therapists who wish to specialize in deep work.

(See also: ASHIATSU ORIENTAL BAR THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

ORIENTAL BODYWORK

Monitoring the flow of the vital life energy (known as chi, ki, or prana) is at the heart of Oriental bodywork. Using physical pressure and manipulation, the healer evaluates and modulates this energy flow to attain a state of balance.

Popular modalities include shiatsu, based on Chinese medicine; amma, a combination of East and West healing traditions; Jin Shin Do, utilizing oriental acupuncture and acupressure along with Taoist principles; Thai massage, blending Hindu and Chinese energy systems theory with techniques similar to shiatsu; and tui na, based on Chinese medicine and the traditional Japanese massage of amma (as distinct from the more recently developed amma therapy).

(See also: ORIENTAL BODYWORK , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)