Tuesday 7 May 2013

The Increasing Popularity of Asian Bodywork Therapy

Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) is a modality of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that consists of a wide variety of manual treatments to the body, including shiatsu or Tui Na massage and Acupressure. ABT practitioners utilize TCM principles to treat the body as a whole, taking into consideration the mental, spiritual and emotional factors. By doing so, practitioners are able to find the root cause of the problem, whether it is mental, physical or emotional, and are therefore able to treat their ailment effectively.


Complementary therapies such as Asian Bodywork Therapy, is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. In fact, according to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the U.S. public spent an estimated $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on CAM therapies in 2007 and the amount has been increasing steadily since. Although ABT has been practiced and taught for over 5,000 years in various Eastern cultures, it was not until recently that it became recognized as an effective complementary therapy in the United States. In the late 1980’s, the U.S. government began to regulate the practice and education of complementary therapies.  New York College of Health Professions, founded in 1981, has been a leader in this field and was the first school approved to offer a college degree in Massage Therapy in New York State.

New York College of Health Professions offers an accredited Bachelors of Professional Studies degree in Advanced Asian Bodywork. During the 10-trimester, 120-credit program, students cover the curriculum for massage therapy including the western and oriental health sciences, Swedish, Asian and medical massage, as well as learn the skills and in-depth assessment and practical study in Advanced Asian Bodywork Techniques such as Tui Na and Shiatsu.

Graduates of this program are able to sit for New York State Massage Therapy Licensing Exam as well as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification exam in Asian Bodywork. With its main campus in Syosset, Long Island, NY and 3 locations in New York City, New York College is convenient for any student in the tri-state area.

An Asian Bodywork Therapy session is unlike visiting a Western physician. While Western practitioners seek the ailment within the physical body, ABT therapists consider the physical factors as well as the emotional and mental state of the patient to diagnose them. ABT practitioners are taught to observe, listen, ask and touch in order to determine the source of the patient’s issues. Upon determining it, ABT practitioners may use a variety of techniques and therapies to restore the patient’s health, including Tui Na, Acupressure and Five-Element Shiatsu. In conjunction with such ABT therapies, practitioners may also suggest some lifestyle changes.

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