2. Tui Na (pronounced 'twee nar', and sometimes known as
'anmo') is ancient form of Chinese Massage. It forms
one of the main branches of Chinese medicine alongside
acupuncture, herbalism, taiji/qigong and nutrition. It is
still quite uncommon in the West, yet in China it is
considered an important therapy, and can be found in
most Chinese hospitals. It is around 3000 years old,
and many modern massage styles such as Swedish
massage and Shiatsu are derived from it.

3. Tui Na is unlike any other kind of massage both in theory
and practice. Therapists work with both the physical
body and the energetic body; They use what you would
recognise as massage techniques to ease the knots and
tension out of muscles, and at the same time work with
the meridians (channels) and acupoints to regulate and
balance the flow of energy (Qi) in the same way as in
acupuncture. This means that there are a range of
'acupressure' techniques in Tui Na, and sometimes it is
called 'acupressure massage', although that term is
also used for less sophisticated acupressure routines
which lack the underlying theories and understanding of
Tui Na.

4. Tui Na can be broadly divided into Yin and Yang styles.
The Yin Style is a very gentle healing practice using light
touch. It regulates and balances the energy (Qi),
clearing stagnation from the meridians and strengthening
organ function. It is a deeply calming and relaxing
treatment.
The Yang style is a more physical treatment that uses
deep penetrating techniques to break down muscular
knots and tension. It is extremely effective on tight and
stiff muscles, but without being painful as some deep
massages can be.

5. In actual fact, the skilled practitioner will use both Yin and
Yang techniques as required, and most treatments are
somewhere between the 2 extremes. There are no set
routines, and treatments are always tailored to each
person depending on individual needs.
Tui Na includes the same detailed diagnostic methods and
complex understanding of the body and mind as
Acupuncture and other branches of Chinese medicine. This
is what marks it as separate from most other massage.
In Tui Na, the therapy is inseparable from the theory.

6. This makes this kind fo treatment suitable for far more
than just muscular problems, in fact it can be
successfully used for a wide range of 'internal'
conditions including respiratory, circulatory, digestive,
psycho-emotional and hormonal problems to name a
few. It is also of great benefit in maintaining health
and dealing with stress.

7. A Tui Na TreamentA Tui Na Treament
To begin with you will be given a full Chinese Diagnosis before
treatment, just as you would if you were receiving acupuncture.
The practitioner will ask you about your complaint and your general
health, and will look at your tongue and take your pulse.
The treatment itself will be tailored to your individual circumstances,
and is normally performed over clothing. Sometimes you may be
asked to remove some of your clothing if oil is to be used.
Even when strong techniques are used the practitioner uses cues from
your body to determine the correct strength of the techniques -
nothing should be unduly painful. In some cases only very light and
gentle techniques will be used, but these can be just as effective.

8. You can check out my sources:
http://asismassage.com
http://ezinearticles.com/?Tui-Na-(Chinese-Acupressure-
Massage)&id=2057530