Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/259468
I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 25 position he or she finds most comfortable. Uriarte sees particularly good results in athletes struggling to recover from injuries and in the elderly. Visit www.myokinesthetic.com for more information. 5. OHASHI METHOD Also called Ohashiatu, the Ohashi Method is based on traditional shiatsu massage, in which the client remains clothed and lies on a mat or futon on the floor. "It differs from many forms of shiatsu in that it focuses on stimulating the meridians and stretching muscles at the same time," says Bonnie Harrington, partner at Ohashi International and vice president of Ohashi Institute in Kinderhook, New York (www.ohashi.com). "In our modality, it is important to use cross-patterning and two hands while moving smoothly around the body, not sitting and pressing tsubos (points) as in some forms of shiatsu or acupressure." For the most part, the practitioner's hands never come in contact with a client's bare skin. Harrington says Ohashi Method is especially good for pregnant or overweight clients, assuming they are comfortable getting down onto the floor. 6. ORTHO-BIONOMY For pain-averse clients, Ortho-Bionomy can be a great choice. It's an exceptionally gentle way to release tension and help the body find comfort through gentle positioning. "If there's pain, we do something else," says Rhonda Gerych, president of the Society of Ortho-Bionomy (www.ortho-bionomy.org) and an advanced instructor in Reno, Nevada. "We don't diagnose, and we don't manipulate. We just work with clients where they are and within their comfort range." As a result, Ortho-Bionomy may be particularly useful for clients whose conditions cause them great pain—including the elderly and those suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or sports injuries. 7. THAI MASSAGE Hillary Hilliard, owner and director of the Denver Integrative Massage School, calls Thai massage "the lazy man's yoga." It involves assisted progressive stretching, as well as some reflexology and acupressure. "Elements of sports massage and fascia and trigger point therapy can also be noted in this well-rounded massage," says Sukha Wong, TEN FOR TODAY