Acupressure

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Examines clients with pain, stress, or tension, determines acupressure techniques required to relieve problems, and demonstrates techniques to client, according to knowledge of acupressure methods and techniques.

2) Directs client to lie on couch and positions client's arms and legs in relaxed position to facilitate examination and demonstration techniques.

3) Questions clients, examines client's muscular system visually, and feels tissue around muscles, nerves, and blood vessels to locate knots and other blockages which indicate excessive accumulations of blood, fluids, and other substances in tissue.

4) Determines cause of accumulations and acupressure techniques needed to increase circulation, according to knowledge of Asian acupuncture and pressure points and Western medical trigger points, bodywork techniques, such as Jin Shin, Do-In, Shiatsu, Swedish, and Esalen, and experience.

5) Feels tissue around muscles, nerves, and blood vessels to locate points and applies specified pressure at specified pressure points or muscles, using thumbs, fingers, palms, or elbows, to redirect accumulated body fluids into normal channels, according to acupressure knowledge, techniques, and experience.

6) Discusses findings with client and explains diet and methods to prevent recurrence of problem.

Salary: Around $35,000+

Education:

Certificate and associate's degree programs provide classroom instruction, as well as hands-on workshops where students apply their acupressure knowledge. Two of the leading, nationally accredited agencies for training in acupressure include the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) and the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Accredited formal education programs prepare students for state licensing exam

Offered through massage schools or independent establishments, certificate programs require students to take 600-800 hours of classes. Students learn how the theories of chi and energy meridians pertain to massage. Typical coursework included in a certificate program for acupressure includes anatomy and physiology, business and ethics, aromatherapy, nutrition and kinesiology.

Associate's degree programs in massage therapy typically allow students to specialize in a specific area of massage, including acupressure. Students complete 800-900 hours of instruction, with an additional 200-300 hours in supervised clinical practice. Courses include medical terminology, small business management, pathology and a modality specialty, such as acupressure. Graduates of a 2-year associate's degree program can transfer into other healthcare fields, including physical therapy, athletic training, sports medicine or medical massage.

Many businesses expect that applicants have 2-4 years of experience in the massage therapy and acupressure industry. For those seeking acupressure careers in the spa or resort industry, most businesses require applicants to possess at least one year of experience in that environment. They also need to have liability insurance and state certification in massage therapy, if the state has massage therapy regulations. Additionally, certain businesses require applicants have at least 500 hours of training.

Reflection:

I would not like to be one because I feel like I would not be good with my hands and I don’t feel comfortable touching people daily. Another reason would be that I don’t see much interest in the acupressure world. I would like to take full force in the psychology world because im more interested in that world than the acupressure world.