Types of Asian Bodywork
Modalities most commonly practiced at East To West are highlighted.
“Asian Bodywork Therapy,” also called ABT, is a term used to describe a wide range of manual (and sometimes mechanical) treatments to the body. As with most forms of Asian healing, ABT treats not just the body, but a person’s mind and spirit, and helps one achieve optimal health on a variety of levels.
All forms of ABT involve touching to some degree. Some forms are more comprehensive than others. Some therapies involve only light touching on various pressure points or regions of the body; others may involve specific motions along specific parts of the body at specific times, and may include the use of herbs, applications of cold and heat, and stretching.
When performing ABT, a practitioner will first assess a patient’s condition before determining a proper form of care. Most assessments are based on traditional Chinese medicine principles. In addition to bodywork, many ABT practitioners may also recommend acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle changes, and specific exercises designed to promote health and enhance wellness.
There are more than a dozen recognized forms of Asian bodywork therapy currently practiced in the United States, the most popular of which is shiatsu. In fact, there are at least five recognized versions of shiatsu, and many practitioners may incorporate one or more versions while treating patients.
Acupressure: Acupressure attempts to balance the body’s energy levels by applying pressure to specific acupuncture points, thus releasing tension and promoting circulation of blood and qi.
Amma: Amma is a specialized form of touch therapy that combines deep tissue manipulation with pressure, friction massage and touch to specific acupuncture points, along with various muscles, ligaments, joints and tendinomuscular junctions. Translated literally, amma means “push-pull.” As with acupuncture, the goals of amma are to remove blockages, ease stress and promote the circulation of qi, which helps restore and maintain health. Most amma practitioners also receive extensive training in nutrition and dietary advice.
AMMA: Not to be confused with amma, AMMA therapy is an extensive form of ABT that includes not only bodywork, but dietary therapy, supplement use, and applying herbal remedies to the skin. AMMA promotes health by treating the body, along with a person’s biological energy and emotions, which are believed to be intertwined with a person’s neuromuscular system.
Five-Element Shiatsu: Five-element shiatsu’s objective is to identify patterns of disharmony in the body, using the traditional Chinese medical methods of examination (observation, listening, asking and touching). Once a pattern is identified, the five-element shiatsu practitioner then implements a treatment plan to bring the pattern back into balance. Five-element shiatsu practitioners may palpate the back and/or stomach, examine the pulse, and take into account lifestyle, emotional and psychological issues to arrive at the correct diagnosis. In addition to shiatsu, five-element practitioners may also use heat and cold therapies to help bring patterns of disharmony back into balance.
Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu: Integrative eclectic shiatsu is one of the most comprehensive forms of ABT practiced in the United States. In addition to Japanese shiatsu, practitioners may utilize traditional Chinese medical therapies, Western styles of soft-tissue manipulation, herbal remedies and dietary modifications to achieve the desired result.
Japanese Shiatsu: The oldest and most commonly practiced form of shiatsu, Japanese shiatsu consists primarily of pressure (usually delivered with the thumbs or elbows) along acupuncture meridians. Manipulation of soft tissues, and active and passive stretching and exercise routines may also be involved in a Japanese shiatsu session. Occasionally, practitioners may apply pressure to specific acupuncture points instead of entire meridians, although treatment of an entire meridian is usually employed.
Tuina: Tuina is a method of ABT that combines manipulation of soft tissues, applying pressure at acupuncture points and realigning the spine and other structures to treat musculoskeletal and internal conditions.
Does Asian bodywork therapy hurt? Is it safe?
For the most part, ABT does not hurt. In the course of treatment, some Asian bodywork therapists may include therapies such as cupping and moxibustion, which may cause bruising and slight discomfort in especially sensitive individuals. For the most part, however, ABT does not hurt, and because it is an external application that does not involve puncturing the skin or any otherwise invasive procedure, it is considered extremely safe.
*Some definitions taken from the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source, Acupuncture Today; an MPA media publication
Modalities most commonly practiced at East To West are highlighted.
“Asian Bodywork Therapy,” also called ABT, is a term used to describe a wide range of manual (and sometimes mechanical) treatments to the body. As with most forms of Asian healing, ABT treats not just the body, but a person’s mind and spirit, and helps one achieve optimal health on a variety of levels.
All forms of ABT involve touching to some degree. Some forms are more comprehensive than others. Some therapies involve only light touching on various pressure points or regions of the body; others may involve specific motions along specific parts of the body at specific times, and may include the use of herbs, applications of cold and heat, and stretching.
When performing ABT, a practitioner will first assess a patient’s condition before determining a proper form of care. Most assessments are based on traditional Chinese medicine principles. In addition to bodywork, many ABT practitioners may also recommend acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle changes, and specific exercises designed to promote health and enhance wellness.
There are more than a dozen recognized forms of Asian bodywork therapy currently practiced in the United States, the most popular of which is shiatsu. In fact, there are at least five recognized versions of shiatsu, and many practitioners may incorporate one or more versions while treating patients.
Acupressure: Acupressure attempts to balance the body’s energy levels by applying pressure to specific acupuncture points, thus releasing tension and promoting circulation of blood and qi.
Amma: Amma is a specialized form of touch therapy that combines deep tissue manipulation with pressure, friction massage and touch to specific acupuncture points, along with various muscles, ligaments, joints and tendinomuscular junctions. Translated literally, amma means “push-pull.” As with acupuncture, the goals of amma are to remove blockages, ease stress and promote the circulation of qi, which helps restore and maintain health. Most amma practitioners also receive extensive training in nutrition and dietary advice.
AMMA: Not to be confused with amma, AMMA therapy is an extensive form of ABT that includes not only bodywork, but dietary therapy, supplement use, and applying herbal remedies to the skin. AMMA promotes health by treating the body, along with a person’s biological energy and emotions, which are believed to be intertwined with a person’s neuromuscular system.
Five-Element Shiatsu: Five-element shiatsu’s objective is to identify patterns of disharmony in the body, using the traditional Chinese medical methods of examination (observation, listening, asking and touching). Once a pattern is identified, the five-element shiatsu practitioner then implements a treatment plan to bring the pattern back into balance. Five-element shiatsu practitioners may palpate the back and/or stomach, examine the pulse, and take into account lifestyle, emotional and psychological issues to arrive at the correct diagnosis. In addition to shiatsu, five-element practitioners may also use heat and cold therapies to help bring patterns of disharmony back into balance.
Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu: Integrative eclectic shiatsu is one of the most comprehensive forms of ABT practiced in the United States. In addition to Japanese shiatsu, practitioners may utilize traditional Chinese medical therapies, Western styles of soft-tissue manipulation, herbal remedies and dietary modifications to achieve the desired result.
Japanese Shiatsu: The oldest and most commonly practiced form of shiatsu, Japanese shiatsu consists primarily of pressure (usually delivered with the thumbs or elbows) along acupuncture meridians. Manipulation of soft tissues, and active and passive stretching and exercise routines may also be involved in a Japanese shiatsu session. Occasionally, practitioners may apply pressure to specific acupuncture points instead of entire meridians, although treatment of an entire meridian is usually employed.
Tuina: Tuina is a method of ABT that combines manipulation of soft tissues, applying pressure at acupuncture points and realigning the spine and other structures to treat musculoskeletal and internal conditions.
Does Asian bodywork therapy hurt? Is it safe?
For the most part, ABT does not hurt. In the course of treatment, some Asian bodywork therapists may include therapies such as cupping and moxibustion, which may cause bruising and slight discomfort in especially sensitive individuals. For the most part, however, ABT does not hurt, and because it is an external application that does not involve puncturing the skin or any otherwise invasive procedure, it is considered extremely safe.
*Some definitions taken from the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source, Acupuncture Today; an MPA media publication