Tui na is a form of Chinese massage therapy that incorporates hands-on techniques to balance yin and yang by massaging the different acupuncture points across the body. Its main techniques are deep rubbing, joint manipulation, compression, vibration and pinching. It is especially helpful for treating muscular injuries, as the flow of yang can improve flexibility, blood circulation, and can even soften hard parts of the body, such as scar tissue.
Like acupuncture, it is also good for providing pain relief, which makes it popular with athletes. Additionally, it is very useful for relieving stress and can be used to help manage anxiety disorders.
The practitioner uses a variety of pressures and strokes along the meridians (energy pathways) of your body to both relax your muscles and also stimulate the flow of energy throughout your body. By treating both the physical (musculature) and energetic (Qi) levels of your body at the same time, a Tui Na practitioner can achieve results far beyond what you’d receive from a conventional massage therapy session.
Dr. Evan F.J. Murao 