T'ui Na - Celestial Contact
Getting in touch with the ancient Chinese healing art of t'ui na.
By Debra Bokur Reprinted from Spa Magazine
Everything old is new again, or so the saying goes. Such seems to be the case with t'ui na, an ancient form of Chinese bodywork that's gaining exposure in spas and wellness centers across the United States. Spelled variously as tui na and tuina, it's pronounced TWEE-NAH, and was first alluded to around 2700 B.C. in The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic, considered the oldest written medical text in existence.
Loosely translated, t'ui na means "push and grasp." A combination of pressure point work and physical manipulation, the experience is often likened to a cross between shiatsu, Thai massage, and acupressure.
One distinction is its focus on the abdominal area, and important energy center in Chinese practices. Unusual in Western massage, this pressure may seem odd at first, but the end result will convert even the most squeamish.
The person receiving treatment is often fully - though loosely - clothed because of the physical manipulations, and though it is most often performed on a table, depending upon the preference of the therapist and the specific needs of the client, t'ui na may also be administered on floor mats.
As with all traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies, its goal is to facilitate the healthy flow of energy, or chi, throughout the body via routes known as meridian paths. By opening blocked pathways, the body's respiratory, circulatory, muscular-skeletal, and nervous systems function at optimum levels.
"T'ui na is a very old method of bodywork, and most likely the longest continuously practiced technique," says Greg Hagin, spa directory at the Spa at Silverado in Napa, California. "It originated as a bona fide school of medicine in ancient China." Today, its popularity as an invigorating massage treatment is flourishing.
Spa-goers may want to try t'ui na for its ability to enhance energy and boost the immune system, but it is also recommended for treating a variety of ailments, including headache, insomnia, sciatica, arthritis, sports-related injuries, back pain, circulation problems, stress, anxiety, and depression.
At the Lodge at Skylonda in Woodside, California, practitioner Nadezhda Wein emphasizes that t'ui na is one method in a branch of Chinese massage therapies. It has five different types of pressure and manipulation techniques that correspond to the five organ systems and elements recognized in TCM. These techniques are known as circle twisting, compression and release, thrusting, grasping and shaking, and tapping.
"Circle twisting," says Wein, "corresponds with the spleen and earth element, and helps enhance circulation, specifically in the muscles. Compression and release, linked to the kidneys and water element, affects the bones and regulates the different layers of the body and its fluid levels. Next is thrusting, which interacts with the heart and fire element, and affects circulation and pulse, helping to regulate and activate chi. The fourth technique, grasping and shaking, has to do with the tendons, ligaments, and muscles, as well as the wood element. This stretches the tendons, promotes chi flow, and balances yin and yang. The last technique is known as tapping, which corresponds with the lungs and the element of metal and affects the skin.
Roy nee, owner, president, and co-founder of Tea Garden Springs, a day spa in Mill Valley, California, believes t'ui na is a profound form of massage. "The percussive movements and rhythmic rolling action of the hand and wrist can help alleviate pain and also help to clear energy paths. T'ui na is about generating and circulating energy."
During t'ui na, the therapist may use his or her thumbs to push against bony areas, while applying fingertip pressure to soft tissue, or knuckle pressure to areas such as the lower back or the back of the knee. A pulling or dragging motion of the fingertips and knuckles may be used along various meridian lines. Kneading, especially of the belly and lower back, is performed with the fingers or with the palm of the hand. Direct pressure from the thumb and index finger, called nipping, may be applied to tendons and specific acupuncture points. The therapist may also use techniques including rubbing, pinching, and tapping to help release and distribute energy throughout the body.
"This is an extensive type of massage that involves lots of kneading, rocking, and stretching," says Hagin, "motions that are unfamiliar within Western massage tradition. While I wouldn't necessarily characterize it as deep tissue, it is an energizing therapy that can incorporate deep work, making it especially beneficial for sore joints and muscles."
A pre-massage pampering and warm-up is included in Silverado's t'ui na package. The two-part Essential Energy treatment begins with a body wrap using ginger, ginseng, cinnamon, and tangerine, ingredients that possess energizing properties and reflect the five-element theory. While wrapped, clients enjoy a jasmine oil forehead massage. A full-body t'ui na massage completes the package.
The intricacies of this massage do, however, require special training. "you're looking at a modality where there are fewer available masters than in, say, shiatsu," says Hagin, who suggests clients seek out therapists who have spent additional hours training in its various complexities.
Luckily, spas are beginning to include t'ui na on their menus. When booking your next appointment, ask if there is anyone on the spa staff who has training in this type of massage.
Once you do, put on some loose, comfortable clothing, lay back, and relax. You're in for a new, ancient treat. |
