Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/108504
classroom to client Sample Methods from Shiatsu imbalance results. Disease is the result of a destructive relationship between the five elements. Baby Walking Position your body so you are kneeling next to the client and facing across the client's back. Place your hands on the client's back and allow your weight to drop through your palms. Now, move your hands over the client's back as if you are a baby crawling on all fours. You can walk all over the back and posterior legs, but avoid placing direct downward pressure on areas of caution, like the popliteal fossa. Retreating Cat Position your body at the top of the mat by the client's shoulder and facing toward the client's feet. Glide your hands down either side of the client's spine until your hands reach the client's gluteal muscles. Press down on the gluteal muscles to stretch the back. Now "walk" backward with your hands from the client's gluteal muscles to her shoulders. Repeat this process three or four times. Heel Pulling Position your body so you are standing at the end of the mat by the client's feet. Lift the feet up to your waist by grasping the feet under the heels and lifting them slowly and steadily upward. Hold the feet in this position so that the client experiences a stretch in the low back. The Meridian System This is an energy network composed of channels where qi flows to transmit energy to different areas of the body and to regulate the function of organs and body tissues. Qi flows through channels in a specific pattern and direction. Most often, channels run parallel to major blood vessels and nerves, allowing them to affect each other's function. For example, if qi is blocked in an area, there is usually decreased circulation of blood in that region, which then affects local organs and tissue, including muscles. Acupoints Also known as qi xue (meaning "energy cavities") in Chinese, qi points in tui na massage, or tsubo (meaning "body points") in Japanese, these are places along channels where qi can be accessed and manipulated to improve qi flow. ABT therapists manipulate disordered qi at acupoints for a particular therapeutic effect, and to bring qi back into balance, promote the normal flow of qi, and to encourage general health and wellness. On average, there are approximately 150 points commonly used by acupuncturists. Sample ABT Systems Now that you have a brief overview of some essential ABT concepts, let's explore some sample techniques from tui na, shiatsu, and Thai massage. Tui Na This is a bodywork form practiced as part of TCM for more than 4,000 years. Tui means "push" and na means "grasp" in Chinese, conveying the vigorous and firm quality of this massage system where squeezing, compression, kneading, and joint movements are used to positively manipulate qi. Tui na is applied with the client fully dressed and without the use of a massage lubricant. (See Sample Methods from Tui Na, page 101.) www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 103