London Bridge Massage Works

“According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are pathways of energy in our bodies called meridians. When the energy (Qi) is flowing freely, we are healthy; when there is a disruption to the normal flow of energy, we manifest physical symptoms.  Tradidtional Chinese Medicine practitioners focus on the causes of disease/dysfunction in the body rather than only working to alleviate symptoms.  This energy-based way of thinking encourages a holistic approach to health and well being.  Using finger pressure to stimulate specific points along meridians, we can affect the flow of energy in the body.  When the energy flow is improved, physical symptoms also improve.”

Acupressure dates back to before 206B.C.

“Sugar Ray Leonard received daily massage and acupressure treatments while training for the World Middleweight Boxing Championship in 1987.”

I use what I have learned from Traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance the health and wellness of my clients, by incorporating it into the sessions when it is appropriate.

STORIES:

I was doing chair massage at a function. A gentleman around 40 years old sat in the chair and told me that his shoulder and arm had been bothering him, and he had no idea why it was happening or what had caused it.  He pointed to the areas that he felt the pain travel.  It was all along the Lung Meridian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC). I began to work the muscles in the area, and as I was working that I mentioned to him what I noticed about his pain, the lung meridian in TCM, and explained that the emotion connected to the Lung is “grief”. I hesitated shyly, but continued, hoping to genuinely help this man. When I paused, he said, “I am going through a divorce.” We talked about grief, about feeling those feelings, that it would not last forever, and that his arm would indeed feel better again, as he healed emotionally and physically. The man walked away looking relieved, brighter, and grateful. It made my day.

There is an acupressure point on the bridge of the nose between the eyes called Yin Tang (also called the 3rd eye in other belief systems) that helps to calm a busy mind. I worked on a man who came in wanting help with low back pain. He had a gift certificate and lived quite far from my office, so I figured I probably wouldn’t see him again, and really wanted to send him away with something helpful that he could take with him. I could sense his worried mind. Toward the end of the session, I put a small warm stone on Yin Tang (his 3rd eye), told him what it was for as I continued to work on him. After a brief moment he said, “Do you know that I JUST noticed that thing on the ceiling? I have been laying here for 20 minutes and my mind was so busy that I didn’t even see what I was looking at!” He was so excited. His eyes were bright with that “AHA!” look from something amazing that we have just discovered.  I gave him the stone to take with him. We never know what little moment will be life changing for ourselves.  For this man, it was a little stone on Yin Tang. Perhaps calming his mind will ease the worry that settled in his low back.  I hope so.

I had a client who had Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was 90 years of age when I met her, and I worked on her until her passing when she was 92. She was a lovely and amazing woman.  When I first met her, she was in the late stages of the disease, and was moved from wheel chair, to reclining chair, and to bed at night. I was going to need to work on her in her reclining chair. Her husband had heard of me from his daughter (a regular client), and was wanting something to help his wife with her anxiety and  her difficulty in the night. I began using acupressure points for anxiety, and working with the stomach and spleen meridians. As I continued being one of her health care givers, I added in Cranial Sacral Therapy, and Reflexology. All of us who worked with her were completely surprised to see just how much she improved.  When she passed away at 92 years old, she had begun to stand again and was learning to take a couple of steps. I think it was a combination of the body work and the love and support she received from her family and her care givers that enabled her be so strong.  It was a beautiful experience and one that I will never forget.

I have a client who is 96 years old, and she swears by the acupressure in her treatments. She learns specific points to rub and uses them faithfully when I am not there, and reports happily how much they help.