qi gong
These are movement exercises prescribed to the patient to do at home for health maintenance and recovery from the condition they are being treated for. People commonly use Qi Gong exercises for preventative care and to promote longevity. It is similar to Tai Ji but everyone is able to do Qi Gong because there are both seated and standing exercises. The focus is on the breath and in connecting it to the body.
Hara massage/chi nei tsang
Hara massage is a therapeutic massage which focuses on the abdomen, pelvic area, and internal organs. Hara is a japanese word meaning “belly”. But its cultural meaning extends beyond the anatomical location. Hara is our center or our core. It implies strength, purpose, groundedness, and presence. In Japanese medicine, balancing the hara region is essential to health. Hara massage has been practiced by many traditional cultures since ancient times.
Hara may be used therapeutically the following ways:
-general restorative massage to maintain health
-specific treatment protocol for a wide range of health issues including respiratory, digestive, gynecological, urogenital, regional pain, post surgical, scarring, and adhesions -as a deep, holistic energy treatment
tui na
This is a form of medical massage. In China, a whole ward of the hospital is dedicated to treatment rooms for Tui Na. Facilitated stretching and movement of injured areas is incorporated into the treatment. It is similar to Physical Therapy in that it is a recovery program and treatment used for pain, both chronic and acute. Arthritis or injuries are commonly treated.
