Acupressure for Bodyworkers

This two-day course with online learning introduces qualified therapists to the foundations of acupressure and explores practical ways to incorporate selected points into existing bodywork treatments.

You will learn how to locate points accurately, how much pressure to use, how long to work with a point and how to respond to feedback from the person receiving the treatment.

Alongside the practical work, you will explore the Five Element framework within Traditional Chinese Medicine and consider how this can inform your understanding of individual clients and treatment choices.

Case studies and paired practice will help you move from learning individual points to thinking about which points you might choose, why you might choose them and how they could be incorporated naturally into a treatment.

Throughout the course you will explore:

• Foundations and principles of acupressure.
• An introduction to meridians, Qi and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• The Five Elements – Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal.
• How to locate acupressure points accurately using cun measurement.
• Appropriate pressure, duration and sensitivity when working with points.
• Benefits, considerations and contraindications for selected points.
• A practical selection of useful acupressure points associated with each of the Five Elements.
• Selecting points according to the individual client.
• Using case studies to develop treatment choices and clinical thinking.
• Integrating acupressure naturally into massage and other bodywork treatments.
• TCM-informed lifestyle and self-care ideas that may complement your client aftercare.
• Makka Ho stretches and embodied exploration of the meridian pathways.

The emphasis throughout is on practical application, giving you time to locate, experience and work with the points rather than simply learning them theoretically.

This course is designed for qualified massage, bodywork therapists and reflexologists who would like to incorporate acupressure into their existing professional practice.

Students should hold an appropriate professional bodywork qualification together with a recognised Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology qualification.

You do not need any previous knowledge of acupressure or Traditional Chinese Medicine.

This is a blended-learning course, combining pre-course online theory with two practical classroom days.

Your online learning will introduce you to key concepts within Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Five Elements before you attend.

During the practical days, the emphasis moves towards bringing that theory to life through:

• Makka Ho stretching and embodied learning.
• Tutor demonstrations.
• Locating and practising acupressure points.
• Paired practical work.
• Case studies and discussion.
• Exploring Five Element patterns.
• Integrating points into your existing bodywork practice.

You will both give and receive acupressure during the course, allowing you to experience the points from the perspective of both therapist and client.

Learning will be developed and assessed throughout the course through practical work, case studies, discussion and your ability to safely locate and apply the acupressure points taught. There is no formal assessment.

This course is CPD Approved by ThinkTree.

Do I need any previous knowledge of acupressure or Traditional Chinese Medicine?

No. The course will introduce the foundational concepts you need, with pre-course online learning helping you become familiar with the Five Elements and relevant TCM principles before the practical training begins.

Will I learn a complete acupressure treatment?

Rather than teaching you another fixed routine, you will learn a carefully selected range of acupressure points and explore how and when you might integrate them into the treatments you already offer.

Is this only suitable for massage therapists?

The course is intended for qualified massage, bodywork and reflexology practitioners. The practical work can potentially complement different forms of hands-on therapy, rather than being limited to one particular style of massage.

Can I use these techniques within my existing massage treatments?

That is one of the main aims of the course.

You will practise bringing individual acupressure points into your existing bodywork so that they can become part of a treatment rather than something you have to offer separately.

As with any additional professional training, therapists should ensure that the techniques they use are appropriate to their existing qualification, scope of practice and insurance.