Therapy Definitions:

Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd. recognizes many modalities and therapies for TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine, Holistic and Complementary & Alternative Healthcare field.

Under our TCMA insurance program not all of these therapies apply but are here for reference purposes and/or explanation. Those listed in RED are covered under our TCMA program.

This list is constantly being updated.

A

Active Release Technique
Active Release Technique applies specific myofascial release methods to rapidly treat musculoskeletal pain, stress, and restrictions, caused by damage, injury, or repeated stress to the myofascia. Extremely efficient and effective, some discomfort may be experienced from this fast-acting deep-tissue myofascial work.

Acupressure
Acupressure is based on the Chinese meridian system. It uses stimulation of a specific point or points to correct the energy flow within the meridians. Release of muscular tension is often part of the treatment. Correction of the energy flows can have general or specific therapeutic effects on any or all systems of the body. Requires min 2000 hours of related training or license.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine methodology originating in ancient China that treats patients by manipulating thin, solid needles that have been inserted into acupuncture points in the skin. According to Traditional Chinese medicine, stimulating these points can correct imbalances in the flow of qi through channels known as meridians. When yin and yang are in harmony, chi flows freely within the body and a person is healthy. When a person is sick, diseased, or injured, there is an obstruction of chi along one of the meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine has identified some 500 specific points where needles are to be inserted for specific effects.

Alexander Technique™
Alexander Technique™ is an educational process that helps the client achieve greater awareness of their body. This results in more effective and efficient use of their body. Combined with hands-on treatment this prevents or helps recovery from tension, pain, postural and structural imbalances, and repetitive use injury.

Allergy Testing
Allergy Testing is a method for medical diagnosis of allergies that attempts to provoke a small, controlled, allergic response.

Amma/Anma Massage
Amma/Anma massage is based on ancient touch principals like acupressure, massage, and reflexology. Balance and harmony in energy flow is sought using pressure to ah shui points and massage techniques to the tissues. It is applied to clothed clients for relaxation through to all conditions caused by improper energy flow.

Applied Kinesiology™
Applied Kinesiology™ uses a variety of assessment and treatment techniques, including muscle testing, meridian therapy, joint mobilization, myofascial techniques, cranialsacral based techniques, nutritional counselling, and reflexology to treat a wide variety of conditions and energy imbalances.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapists can assess and support the treatment of or enhance a variety of physical and mental conditions through careful selection of quality plant essential oils (not flower essences). Some may use lymph drainage or relaxation massage as part of the application.

Aston-Patterning™
Aston Patterning™ is a holistic and integrated system of movement education, soft tissue massage techniques, ergonomic and fitness analysis and adaptation. The goal is to release the lines and spirals of stress or damage in the body, lessening pain and leading to greater ease and performance in movement.

Auriculotherapy
Auriculotherapy is the stimulation of the auricle of the external ear for the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions in other parts of the body. It is also known as ear acupuncture or auricular acupuncture when the stimulation is achieved by the insertion of acupuncture needles, whereas the term auriculotherapy often refers to electrical stimulation of the surface of ear reflex points. Specific points on the ear can also be stimulated by manual pressure, referred to as auricular acupressure or ear reflexology. Acupuncture points on the ear can also be stimulated with lasers, magnets, and ear pellets.
 

Ayurveda
Ayurevda is a system of traditional medicinenative to India . Ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments. In  Sanskrit, words  āyus, meaning "longevity", and  veda, meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the  Vedic period in India.

B

Bio Feedback

Bio Feedback is the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will.^[1][2] Processes that can be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance, heart rate and pain perception.

Body Talk™
Body Talk™ practitioners use a system of muscle testing to coordinate and balance the energetic communication of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components of the body. Based on the answers given by the body through the muscle testing, the practitioner can focus in on specific balances.

Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy™
Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy™ is focused on treatments using the complex system of trigger points used (often in a more superficial manner) in massage therapy. These trigger points are the locus which, when released, cause the release of the muscle in spasm or tension. Treatment includes corrective execises.

Bowen Technique™
Bowen Technique™ addresses the body as a whole unit rather than only presenting symptoms. Bowenwork consists of a series of gentle rolling, connective tissue moves. The Body’s Autonomic Nervous System responds to the work, allowing the body to restore itself to it original blueprint. The technique addresses the musculoskeletal framework, fascia, nerves, and internal organs.

Brain Gym™
Brain Gym™ uses movement to accelerate learning and enhance performance. They are done as sets of exercises that help coordinate and integrate the two hemispheres of the brain, and can be done on their own or integrated with other therapies.

C

Chair Massage
Chair Massage, also known as On-Site massage, is a specific, effective de-stressing massage and acupressure-based treatment done with the client fully clothed in specially-developed massage chairs that can be taken into almost any professional, public, or private setting. Sessions range from 10 minutes to an hour.

Cranial Sacral/CranioSacral Therapy
Cranial Sacral Therapy begins by assessing the effects throughout the body of restrictions to the flow (pulses) of the cerebral spinal fluid. A variety of very gentle treatment techniques applied both directly and indirectly release the body’s connective tissues restrictions, and optimize the cerebral spinal fluid flow. CranioSacral Therapy was further developed and specialized from the osteopathic cranial sacral therapy by the osteopathic doctor, Dr. Upledger.

Cupping
Cupping is a modified version of the common practice of cupping therapy, used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and the results that this simple treatment produces are impressive. Through suction and negative pressure, massage cupping releases rigid soft tissue; drain excess fluids and toxins; loosen adhesions and lift connective tissue; and bring blood flow to stagnant skin and muscles.

The therapeutic applications of cupping have been documented through several thousand years of clinical experience. Cupping is used extensively in TCM and has now been adapted for other health-care modalities, including massage therapy and chiropractic. Massage cupping intensifies the therapeutic aspect of traditional cupping and is an effective addition to any spa, healing facility or private practice. The cups are inexpensive, the therapy is fun and result-oriented, and the client response is remarkable.

D

Dayana Technique (S) - Cat C
Dayana Technique is a specialization for massage therapists. It combines the ideas and techniques of Esalen massage, myofascial release, Lomi Lomi , Qi Gong, and energy work, to produce a blend that encourages massage therapists to get the most out of the therapeutic benefits of a whole-body approach.

Dietietion (S) - Cat B
A dietitian is a health care professional who focuses on proper food and nutrician in order to promote good health. They supervise the preparation and service of food, develop modified diets, participate in research, and educate individuals and groups on good nutritional habits

E

Ear Candling
An ear candle is a hollow cone about 25 centimetres (10 inches ) long made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin or a mixture of the two. Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal auricular therapy, involves placing an ear candle in the outer ear while the patient lies on his or her side and lighting the top of the candle. Some advocates claim that the procedure relieves sinus infection and pain, cures ear infection and relieves earaches, improves hearing, purifies the blood, strengthens the brain, cures cancer, in addition to cleaning the ears.

Edu-K™
Edu-K™ – Educational Kinesiology, (Edu-K) stands for Learning through movement. Edu-K is used to assist clients to unlock their potential by formulating goals and finding out what is internally blocking the client from reaching his/her goals. Specialized techniques are used to diffuse the blocks, creating a bridge for new learning or action.

Energy Work
Energy Work encompasses work that is done by modulating the frequency of the practitioner’s energy (by thought or by “channeling” other sources) which in turn can modulate or entrain the client’s energy. Sometimes used for assessment, it will balance or increase the client’s energy flow, fostering healing and relaxation.

Esalen™
Esalen™ Massage has three interrelated aspects: gentle flowing strokes or kneading to open and release tension; passive joint movement to enhance well-being; and a good client-therapist interaction to encourage conscious awareness. Good for relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief, energy release or balance.

Emotional Freedom Technique
A technique derived from the concept of energy meridians in the body, similar to acupuncture used in Eastern medicine and incorporating psychotherapy to reach emotional issues that may have caused a disruption in the energy of the body.
Useful for a very broad range of issues from physical pain, emotional issues, limiting beliefs, dealing with stress and, in some cases, chronic disease.

F

First Aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment.

Feldenkrais™
Feldenkrais™ stimulates the nervous system’s innate self-organizing abilities through sensory motor activities, freeing us from habitual patterns and allowing new patterns of thinking, moving, and feeling to emerge. It opens the exploration of the biological and cultural relationships of learning, thought, and movement.

G

Hellerwork™ Structural Integration
Hellerwork™ Structural Integration focuses on the connective tissue patterns of the body. Either an individually tailored programme or an 11-part series, it uses a three-pronged approach of gentle deep tissue bodywork with associated dialogue and movement education. Good for injury and repetitive strain treatment.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy is form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient.

Holistic Counseling
Holistic counselling is an integrative approach to counselling drawing on a range of theories
and techniques and considerate of all aspects of a person’s being e.g. mental, emotional, physical,
spiritual and social aspects. It is based on a person-centred approach which holds the belief that everyone carries within themthe ability to make decisions and resolve issues in a way most relevant to their unique personal circumstances. The counselling relationship provides support and guidance for exploration and discovery, offering you an opportunity to explore your circumstances and your thoughts, feelings, behaviours, hopes and desires and discover your own resourcefulness for initiating change and healing. The primary focus is on the here and now, that is, what you are experiencing in the present moment in relation to your current challenges.

Hurley/Osborn Technique™
Hurley-Osborn Technique™ is a soothing, non-force, non-invasive form of healing. Its aim is to correct postural distortions and promote vitality and good health. It does so by realigning the body through light touch to key contact points, releasing tension, strain, and fatigue.

I

Iridology
Iridology technique whose proponents claim that patterns, colors, and other characteristics of the iris can be examined to determine information about a patient's systemic health. Practitioners match their observations to iris charts, which divide the iris into zones that correspond to specific parts of the human body. Iridologists see the eyes as "windows" into the body's state of health.

Infant Massage
Infant Massage is not paediatric massage (massage on infants). Rather it is participatory courses in which a parent learns simple massage techniques to do with their own infants to deepen the parent-child connection, learn health giving and relaxing massage and stretches, and manage some childhood discomforts.

J

Jin Shin Do® Acupressure
Jin Shin Do® (“The Way of the Compassionate Spirit”) is a unique synthesis of Japanese acupressure techniques, Chinese acupressure theory, Reichian segmental theory, Taoist philosophy and Qigong exercises. It identifies tension points associated with common physical problems and with distressing emotions. Is also referred to as Body Mind Accupressure®.

Jin Shin Jyutsu®
Jin Shin Jyutsu® is based on a formalization of energy healing traditions in Japan. Jin means “Art”; Shin means “Creator”; and Jyutsu means “man of knowing and compassion”. It is an energy-balancing art that adjusts the flow of energy through the body by focusing on the 26 “safety energy locks” or key regulation points of the body energy flow.

L

LEVA
LEVA is a specific machine recognized by Health Canada that is used in clinics to augment massage therapy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic treatments through carefully-modulated microcurrent stimulation of muscle and connective tissue. The specific pulse waveform is gentle, and stimulates healing in the area.

Lomilomi
Lomilomi is a flowing, vibrant, and deeply relaxing full-body massage. It enhances all areas of one’s health, well-being, and self-awareness by bringing harmony to body, mind, and spirit. The techniques use hands and forearms in long fluid strokes of varying rhythm and intensity up, down and all around the body.

M

Magnetic therapy
Magnetic therapy is a practice involving the use of static magnetic fields. Practitioners claim that subjecting certain parts of the body to magnetostatic fields produced by permanent magnets has beneficial health effects. These claims are both physically and biologically implausible and no effects on health or healing have been established.

Manual Lymph Drainage (D/S) - Cat B
Manual Lymph Drainage improves health and manages certain pathologies by improving the flow of the lymphatic system through light touch massage. It can reduce swelling and have analgesic effects. Some therapists are trained to help manage lymphedema (congenital / acquired), wounds and other skin pathologies.

Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is the manipulation of the soft tissues (primarily muscle and connective tissue) of the body. It strives to achieve balance and health in the body by affecting the body’s systems. Massage can significantly accelerate the healing process by having a positive affect on the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

Maternal Massage
Maternal Massage is a specialized focus of massage therapy, sometimes with other added techniques, applied to treat the discomforts and stress of pregnancy, and maintain optimum health and muscle-tone throughout the pregnancy, birth, postpartum and nursing period.

Mitzvah (D)
Mitzvah is described by its founder as “involving the head, spine, and pelvis in a dynamic relationship, which with every movement of the pelvis, activates a neural defence mechanism enabling a body to completely exercise itself while realigning and rebalancing with gravity”.

Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China (including Tibet), Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a cigar-shaped stick. They can use it indirectly, with acupuncture needles, or burn it on the patient's skin.

Myofascial Release
Myofascial Release uses gentle stretching to focus on pain or restrictions in the connective tissue that exists three-dimensionally continuously through the entire body. It relies on sensory feedback of, and subsequent response to, the restrictions in the connective tissue perceived by the therapist.

Myomassology
Myomassology is a wholistic branch of massage therapy, that teaches the integration of massage, chair massage, lymphatic drainage, reflexology, acupressure, and energy work. Practitioners also have the choice of several other elective therapies of interest to better support the client wholistically.

N

Nathuropathy
Naturopathy is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, which posits that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holisitc approach, and, like conventional medicine seeks to find the least invasive measures necessary for symptom improvement or resolution, thus encouraging minimal use of surgery and unnecessary drugs. The scope of practice varies widely between jurisdictions, and naturopaths in unregulated jurisdictions may use the Naturopathic Doctor designation or other titles regardless of level of education. For Ontario ND's this program covers Diagnostic & Therapeutic procedures only as defined by BDDT-N. Special Certification coverage is available under another program with Holman Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Neuromuscular Integration
Neuromuscular Integration is based on the work of Ida Rolf. While practitioners learn classical Rolfing techniques, they also learn lighter touch, and are taught more flexibility in approach. Neuromuscular Integration also includes emotional/psychological integration techniques to aid in the reintegration of body, mind, and spirit.

Neuro-Linguisitic Programming NLP
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) is an approach to psychotherapy and organizational change based on "a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences (esp. patterns of thought) underlying them" and "a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour".

Nutritional Therapy
Nutritional Therapy is a therapeutic approach to treating medical conditions and their associated symptoms via the use of a specifically tailored diet devised and monitored by a registered dietician. The diet is based upon the patient's medical and psychosocial history, physical examination and dietary history. The role of therapist is to reduce the risk of developing complications in pre-existing conditions such as diabetes as well as ameliorate the effects any existing conditions such as high cholesterol.

O

Onsen™
Onsen™ is a combination of three treatment techniques based on fundamental myofascial treatment philosophies. The three components, muscle energy technique, post isometric relaxation, and transverse friction massage, are used together to balance the myofascial system, releasing stress and pain in the body.

Orthobionomy
Orthobionomy is an osteopathically-based form of body therapy. By gently exaggerating the body’s preferred postures using movement and body positions the practitioner facilitates the change of stress and pain patterns and engages the body’s self-correcting balance, healing and alignment process.

Orthotherapy
Orthotherapy uses massage therapy, stretching, joint mobilization, exercise therapy, postural assessment and basic nutritional counselling to ease muscular pain or stiff joints caused by tension and stress, imbalance in connective tissues, muscles or joints, tissue damage, or systemic problems.

Osteopathy (with restrictions)
Osteopathy applies the knowledge of the structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) of the body, to all diseases, disorders and dysfunctions. Osteopathic manual practitioners use their hands and provide a gentle “manual” approach, consistent with the osteopathic philosophy, to identify the causative factor of the problem and restore order to all of the systems: musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive, or nervous system.

P

Pilates
Pilates method exercise involves a series of exercises and breathing patterns that place intense concentration on the internal core muscles with the goals of improving balance, coordination, muscle length and tone, reducing pain and the chance of injury. It strives to create harmony and balance in people’s lives.

Polarity Therapy™
Polarity Therapy™ is a comprehensive system involving energy-based physical bodywork, diet, exercise and self-awareness, focused on the client’s mental, emotional and physical experience. It seeks to find and release energy to normal flow patterns, and to maintain the energy field in an open, flexible condition.

Postural Integration™
Postural Integration™ is a physical bodywork technique providing for the integration of an individual’s physical, emotional and mental (cognitive) aspects. This technique uses tissue manipulation to explore and release postural patterns leading to the subsequent release of negative emotional and psychological patterns or behaviors.

Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or personal counseling with a psychotherapist, is an intentional interpersonal relationshiop used by trained psychotherapists to aid a client in problems of living. It aims to increase the individual's sense of their own well being. Psychotherapists employ a range of techniques based on experiential relationship building,dialogue, communication and behaviour change that are designed to improve the mental of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family).

PSYCH-K® (D)
Your life is a reflection of your beliefs. These beliefs – usually subconscious – are the cumulative effect of life-long "programming." As a result of past negative programming, we sometimes think and behave in self-defeating ways. PSYCH-K® provides a user-friendly way to rewrite the "software" of your mind by changing beliefs that limit you into beliefs that support you... quickly and easily.

Q

Qigong
Qigong (chi kung) teachers teach and refine a practitioners application of the relaxation, strengthening, and inward training exercises. A combination of moving, stationary, and breathing exercises, qigong modulates the body energy (Qi), for increased strength, resiliency, vitality, and resistance to illness and stress.

R

Rebalancing
Rebalancing – Rebalancing is wholistic bodywork which aims to release the energy held in the body/mind as a result of physical and emotional injury and the inevitable conditioning of the world.

Reflexology
Reflexology is based on the ability to cause a healing stimulation of one body part or organ (a reflex response) by stimulation of a specific point or points on distant parts of the body. Most common is foot reflexology, where points on the foot are worked to reflex non-foot body organs. You may find hand and ear reflexologists.

Reiki
Reiki means Universal Life Force energy. The receiver lies clothed while the giver gently places their Reiki-emitting hands in various positions on the head and body with the intention of enhancing and restoring both balance and healing to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms. It is very relaxing.

Rolfing®
Rolfing® is done either as an individually tailored programme or as a 10-part series, using deep tissue bodywork to release the whole-body connective-tissue stress patterns that prevent optimal functioning in gravity. Good for injury and repetitive strain treatment. Rolfing technique application has become more gentle.

Rosen Method™
Rosen Method™ bodywork encourages physical and emotional awareness through working with muscle tension. The practitioner facilitates the relaxation process through awareness, touch, and words, In moments of deep relaxation, long held feelings and memories from the past may surface and be released from the body.

Reconnective Healing®
This is an entirely new, more comprehensive spectrum of energy healing than has ever been attainable up to now. It reconnects us with the fullness of the universe as it reconnects us to the fullness of our beings and who we are. Healing is a return to balance. Every health challenge is a combination of physical, mental, spiritual and emotional issues. Although healings may not always be what we initially want or expect, they are always what we need in the moment and are often dramatic and instantaneous.

S

Shiatsu
Shiatsu Therapy is a manual therapy developed in Japan in which the therapist primarily uses the thumbs and palms of the hands as the means of effecting therapeutic changes to the energy systems of the body. Shiatsu Therapy is based on the Eastern Medical model in which Ki, or life energy, is believed to flow through pathways or meridians in the body. The flow of Ki regulates our physical, mental, and emotional well-being and plays an important role in human physiology and pathology, as well as the prevention and treatment of illness. Shiatsu therapy is used to bring into balance all systems of the body and to promote health and healing.

Skin Scraping (Gua Sha)
Skin Scarping also known as Gua Sha is a Traditional Chinese medical treatment in which the skin is scapred to produce light bruising. Practitioners believe Gua shareleases unhealthy elements from injured areas and stimulates blood flow and healing

Spa/Body Wraps
Spa/Body Wraps are gentle mixtures (often a paste) of a various types of clays, muds, salts, herbs, essential oils, milks, or other organic compounds. Once applied, the client is warmly wrapped, and allowed to relax. Depending on the mixture, the wrap can have cleansing, detoxify, relaxing, or stimulating effects.

Spiritual Therapy / Spiritual Direction
Spirituality is having meaning & direction in life. It involves development of positive morals, ethics & values. Being healthy spiritually helps us to demonstrate love, hope & a sense of caring for yourself and others.

Specialized Kinesiology
Specialized Kinesiology uses muscle resistance as an indicator of the nervous system/energy response to a variety of specific stimulations. These can be the presence of materials, response to questions, or reaction to thought or energy. Treatment may use further muscle resistance, energy work, or other therapies.

Sports Massage
Sports Massage therapists have a special interest in the needs of professional athletes, and people that regularly participate in sports. The two main aspects are conditioning and injury prevention work, and rehabilitation should injury occur. Usually approached through massage, exercise and stretching programs.

Stone Therapy
Stone Therapy is a type of massage that uses either heated or chilled round, smooth stones that are placed on key points on the body. The stones are also used by the therapist to massage the body and transfer the heat or cold to the client. Stone Therapy recognition requires discipline-level training in a pre-requisite modality. Please contact the NHPC Credentials Department for a list of qualifying pre-requisite modalities.

Structural Integration™
Structural Integration, a close relative of Rolfing, is done either as an individually tailored program or as a 10-part series, using deep tissue bodywork to release the whole-body connective-tissue stress patterns that prevent optimal functioning in gravity. Good for injury and repetitive strain treatment.

T

Tai Chi Instructor
Tai Chi instructors help practitioners polish the Tai Chi forms which are based on 4000 years of Confucianism and Taoism philosophy. Tai Chi work on many levels: physical conditioning of strength, flexibility, and resilience; mental focus and clarity; and creating proper flow and balance of the Chi throughout the body.

Tapas Acupressure
Tapas Acupressure Technique (or TAT) is a therapy promoted to clear negative emotions and past traumas. Though the full technique was invented in 1993 by Tapas Fleming, a licensed acupuncturist in California, TAT incorporates elements of and builds on other acupressure techniques. Like other energy therapies, TAT relies on a putative energy for which no scientific basis has been found and no biophysical means of action determined.

Thai Massage
Thai Massage developed over 2500 years ago from meridian theory and Ayurvedic medicine which was brought to Thailand. The stretches and strokes, done to clothed clients on floor mats or low tables, open the joints and stimulate blood flow. At least 104 postures, from yogic origins, are used.

Therapeutic Touch™
Therapeutic Touch™ is a simple system of energy healing developed by the nurses Delores Krieger and Dora Kunz. The practitioners centre their own energy, then proceed to assess and smooth out, balance, and energize the recipient’s energy field. One of the first energy therapies openly used in medical settings.

Touch for Health™
Touch for Health™ uses muscle testing to determine imbalance in the muscles and organs. Practitioners then use muscle manipulation techniques, acupressure-like treatments, lymphatic massage, some basic cranial sacral therapy moves, and perhaps nutritional or herbal counselling (if so trained) for treatment.

Traditional Chinese Medicine
This covers a broad range of traditional practices spread thoroughout Asian including various forsm of herbal medicine, accupunture, massage therapy and dietary therapy. The common thread among these diverse practices is a system for balancing the various functions of the body, based in Daoist principles of yinyang and otehr metaphysical belief systems. These practices are a common part of medical care throughout East Asia but are considered alternative health care in western care or Canada.

Trager®
The Trager® Approach is a system of movement re-education and bodywork promoting health and freedom of movement. Treatment facilitates deep relaxation, increased physical mobility, and mental clarity; it is used for health maintenance, rehabilitation, and pain management and relief.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger Point Therapy utilizes compression, stretch, and hydrotherapy to release active, tightened, or referred trigger points that that create pain in muscle tissue. The area of pain could extend from or be some distance from the active trigger point or points.

Tuina
Tuina combines soft-tissue massage, acupressure, and other manipulation techniques that realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships. The focus is to help the body heal itself through the harmonious Qi flow that results from the work on muscles, pain sites, acupressure points, and energy meridians.

V

Visceral Manipulation™
Visceral Manipulation™ is a manual therapy that focuses on improving the function of the internal organs and their associated environment and influence. It uses specific placement of soft manual forces to encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the viscera and their connection tissues.

W

Watsu
Watsu is derived from shiatsu in its theory and general approach. However, it has been developed specifically for application in a water environment, and uses a number of flowing, rocking, extension and cradling motions and patterns to relieve stress, return joint mobility, and movement fluidity.

Whole Brain Integration™
Whole Brain Integration™ helps integrate communication of the brain’s right and left hemispheres through cross-body exercises. Proper integration enhances cognitive, physical, and mental abilities, while reducing stress and difficulties (e.g. learning or hearing) arising from dis-coordination of the brain hemispheres.

Wu Head Massage
Wu's Head Massage is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine's basic theories of Yin/Yang, Five Elements, and the Meridian System. The basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine is to activate and supplement the body's innate healing capacity to restore biological balance and harmony. All medicine arises out of the need to avoid pain and keep illness and disability at bay, and to lead a healthy and full life.

With the progress of technology and widespread of computers, we have seen an increasing number of people confined to the office. These so-called "office groups" constitute a large part of modern society. Computer programmers, secretaries, managers, accountants, doctors, lawyers, are just some of the typical white-collar professionals. Ironically, these "office groups" come to be the most susceptible victims of modern civilization.

For instance, the fast-paced stressful city life is related to irregularities of bowl movement, insomnia, and many more disorders. Instead of walking, we now use driving as a means of transportation. At work, we sit in front of the computer, and at home, we sit in front of the TV. Yes, modern inventions serve us well, but at the same time, a train of civilization-related illnesses, such as vertigo, irritability, headache, visual fatigue, heavy shoulders, and insomnia, flares up alongside the computer, the car, and the Internet.

The decreased physical exertion and increased neck, eye and brain activities reflect the dramatic revolution of the modern society from, say, a hundred years ago. A challenging question confronts us in the face of the rapidly changing society: Is there a natural approach to address the illness that are rooted in the modern civilization? The development of the Wu's Head Massage is the response to the call of the above problem.

Y

Yoga Instructor
Yoga instructors teach an ancient form of Vedic philosophy and exercise for body, mind, and spiritual balance and growth. Almost 5000 years old, the poses and breathing/meditation combine to relax, stretch, and tone the body, while calming the mind and nervous system. A number of different forms exist.

Z

Zen Therapy
Zen therapy or Zen Shiatsu, also known as Masunaga Therapy, is a form of Meridian Shiatsu that aims at achieving systemic change for the entire body, using the body's innate healing mechanisms. A Zen Shiatsu therapist is trained to diagnose by feeling the body's condition, particularly the circulation, by his/her hands in order to find the imbalanced areas in the body.This form ofbodywork technique is administered by thumbs, fingers, palms and elbows, feet and knees. During the treatment, the whole body is stimulated with stretches and pressure applied along specific pathways (meridians). These are essentially the same meridians that are used in traditional Chinese medicine for acupuncture, though modified and extended by Masunaga. The meridian system can be pictured as like the arteries of our physically embodied energetic system.