Tuina / Acupressure soft tissue manipulation and bodywork are believed to be the oldest system of bodywork. It originated in ancient China and along with acupuncture, qi-gong, and Chinese herbal medicine is one of the four main branches of traditional Chinese medicine. 

Based on the theory that imbalances of qi, the body’s vital force, can lead to pain and illness, tuina can help achieve balance and harmony by removing blockages to the flow of qi.

Tuina is similar to acupuncture but instead of needles, practitioners use their fingertips to apply gentle pressure to stimulate the energetic meridians and acupoints. Along with acupressure, tuina often includes acupuncture and applies a variety of other bodywork techniques such as myofascial release, reflexology, stretching, and joint mobilization.