Tuina (tui na) pronounced 'too-way-nah' is one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine; its sister therapies are herbal medicine, acupuncture and qigong.
Tuina is relatively new to the West but its roots in China are ancient. Archaeological studies have dated it back to around 2700 BC, making it the forefather of all forms of massage and body work that exit today from shiatsu to osteopathy.
Throughout its history, tuina has been developed, refined and systematized by doctors in the colleges and hospitals of traditional Chinese medicine all over China. Tuina is a very popular form of treatment with the people in China and it is not at all unusual to see people queuing up in long lines outside the hospitals waiting for the tuina department to open. It is also the first choice of treatment for infants and children"
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure"; it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. Some shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression.
Thai massage is a type of massage in Thai style that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage.
Foot massage is one of the most unbelievably relaxing treats that you can give yourself or others. The ultimate study of foot massage is reflexology.
Foot reflexology is "pressure therapy" and involves applying focused pressure to certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way. A trained reflexologist can put pressure on different meridiens or energy lines on the sole and side of the feet to determine the cause of illness.
