Anma - Japanese Massage:

Amatsu - Anma massage techniquesAnma means to push and pull, in China this approach was called Amma and is now called Tuina.(1) Until the Meiji period (1800-1802) all doctors were required to be qualified in Anma. However the Meiji Emperors wished to westernise Japan and banned Anma in favour of western medicine. In the early 1900's a group of Anma trained practitioners formed Shiatsu, effectively re-naming this approach and using some of its methods. Anma works by pushing and pulling on specific areas of the body to release tension and tightness, thereby restoring the normal flows of blood and lymph to promote growth, repair and restoration of normal function. Professor Ling - The founder of modern day Physiotherapy studied Anma/Tuina in China prior to establishing his school of Swedish massage and exercise.(2) Therefore Anma (Amma/Tuina) is often termed Japanese/Chinese Physiotherapy/Swedish massage.

Amatsu Anma includes:

1. Massage techniques, Squeezing, Percussion and Effleurage etc.
2. Stretching, unwinding, neuromuscular techniques etc.
3. Positioning, postural ergonomics, alignment methods etc.
4. Muscle energy, resistive, passive, articulations etc.
5. Pressure points, Accupressure/Shiatsu, stroking etc.

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(1) Tina Sohn Anma Therapy (2) SMAE Postgraduate school of Physiotherapy 1990 Lecture