Tuina
Tuina is a form of Chinese bodywork, or massage based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. The benefits of Tuina tend to be more effective than other commonly used massage therapies because the practitioner is trained not only in massage therapy but also in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This allows the practitioner to not only work muscles and tendons but also to open the body's energy/qi along the affected meridian, quickly alleviating pain from stagnated blood and energy in muscles and along meridians.
The practitioner will knead, roll, press and rub affected areas to get the energy moving in both the meridians and the muscles. Other techniques the practitioner may use would be stimulation of acupressure points, stretching, traction, and range of motion exercises.
Tuina is useful to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal issues including stress, headaches, insomnia, and more.
Tuina is often used in addition to acupuncture treatments.
Cupping
Cupping is a manual therapy often used in addition to acupuncture or tuina treatments. Plastic or glass cups are placed on the skin, then air is pulled out of the cup so that the cup is suctioned to the body. Cupping is used to help reset muscle fibers that have become tight or bundled due to stress or injury.
Cupping is not a painful technique. Most clients who receive cupping really enjoy the experience and often compare the sensation to deep tissue massage.
