MASSAGE
Tui Na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese Daoist principles in an effort to bring the eight principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into balance.
The practitioner may brush, knead, roll, press, and rub the areas between each of the joints, known as the eight gates. To open the body's defensive chi (Wei Qi) and get the energy moving in the meridians and the muscles. Techniques may be gentle or quite firm.
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The name comes from two of the actions: tui means "to push" and na means "to lift and squeeze." Other strokes include shaking and tapotement.
The practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, with the stimulation of acupressure points.
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These techniques are claimed to aid in the treatment of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions.
As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are different schools which vary in their approach to the discipline.
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In ancient China, medical therapy was often classified as either "external" or "internal" treatment. Tui Na was one of the external methods, thought to be especially suitable for use on the elderly population and on infants.
In modern China, many hospitals include Tui Na as a standard aspect of treatment, with specialization for infants, adults, orthopedics, traumatology, cosmetology, rehabilitation, and sports medicine.
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TESTIMONIALS
"I have received several massages from Alexander Litvinoff during 2019. First of all, I have to mention that I have been receiving massages from different people for years as I have moved from one city to another, and Alex has a gift for feeling muscles and treating them as needed. I have a permanent injury to my left trapezium that requires different treatment than any temporary muscle pain (bad sleeping position, muscle fatigue...). The pressure during the massage depending on the area he is working on, the length of the movements when he is following the muscle, the moment when he stops working an area to avoid mashing it too much...Alex definitely knows how to synchronise with your muscles and flow with them during the massage, to heal or improve them as much as possible. I highly recommend him, either to be healed or to be relaxed."
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- Fabiola Perez Castan.
"Excellent technique through pressure at different key points in the body where there is tension. It was great for relaxing. I highly recommend it."
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- Gabriela Rosenthal.
"Alex is very professional and also a nice person. I had back pains and after some sessions I could feel a relief without taking any medication, just with his massage. I highly recommend his services."
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- Ilana Wainberg.
"Extraordinary as human and professional. In all the massage sessions I felt relaxed and welcomed. The best massage in Vancouver!"
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- Carol Gandra.
"I came to Alex for a deep tissue massage when I had just finished 4 weeks of hard labour in -10° and was feeling very stiff. By the end of the session I was feeling light on my feet, and the tension in my shoulders and forearms had felt like it had resided for the time being. After a couple days of stretching and reminding my body to relax again, I felt more flexible and confident than I have in months!"
- Dan Howard.
“I sometimes struggle with chronic tension and find massages in general to be too superficial. Alex was able to work with the muscles and tensions in a deeper way than I have regularly had in the past, it was a complete full-body reset. I highly recommend his massages!”
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- Nicolas Gonzalez Thomas.
"Why choose Alex as your massage Therapist? Alex will make you feel comfortable from the first seconds you meet him. He is not just professional, he also uses a client centred approach... Every time I get a massage from him I feel a sense of well-being and full relaxation. Alex has a way to help ground emotions which in turn helps the whole body to relax. He uses many different massage techniques as well as his knowledge of Chinese medicine and accupuncture. If you want a holistic approach, he is the perfect Therapist!!!"
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- Florence Pardis Laroche.
"I feel very taken care of receiving a massage from Alex. His calm demeanor and mindful presence allow me to drop in and fully relax into his massage. As my nervous system unwinds, I feel as if he is taking me on a journey as he gently flows with the subtle lines of energy in my body. With his extensive knowledge of acupuncture points and meridians in the body, he applies both skill and precision to connect with and release the tension points in my body. After receiving his massage not only do I feel light, open and expansive, I also feel grounded, present and integrated in my body."
- Amelia Marchi.