Tui Na

The client stays fully clothed. The massage therapist gives an invigorating massage without using lubricants. This technique is also used in Chinese physical therapy.

The two words "tui na" literally mean "push and grasp". The massage therapist uses pushing and grasping to perform this energetic chair massage.

The therapist uses the forearms and elbows, along with the hands, fists, fingers, and knuckles.

The good thing about this type of Chinese massage is that it is therapeutic in nature. It is not used for relaxation as we normally think of American chair massage.

This Chinese technique is great for relieving the pain of carpal tunnel, headaches, tennis elbow, and back and shoulder pain. It is also great for treating stress and fatigue.

Chinese medicine is based on energy and meridian fields. It works on energy fields along with the muscles. The Chinese believe that the yin and yang are balanced during this massage, and the soft tissues get a deep massage.

It takes several years of study and training to become proficient in this mode of massage therapy but massage therapists in the United States and in Canada can learn some of the basic techniques to enhance the chair massages they give.

A chair massage using some of the Chinese medicine techniques of grasping and pulling takes about 35 to 40 minutes. The work will be on the head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, and back, just like in a regular chair massage.

The difference is that while regular chair massage is calming and relaxing, chair massage with this Chinese technique is not. It is meant to energize and invigorate and it can be downright painful to the client.

This technique is actually easier on the massage therapist than regular American chair massage. The fingertips and thumbs are used less. The knuckles, fists, and forearms are used more. This helps to prevent injury to the therapist.

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