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South of Boston |
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GOOD ALTERNATIVES RELAXING UNDER PRESSURE Acupressure treatments provide physical, mental relief Feeling stressed? Hoping to relieve those chronic headaches without having to pop pills all the time? You might try a few acupressure treatments. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, minus the needles. It is intended to provide relief by balancing the body's energy on a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level. This is done by applying gentle but firm pressure to key points on the body, by hand primarily, but in some cases by elbows, knees and even bare feet. Acupressure works the same pressure points on the body as acupuncture. When I went to the Acupressure Therapy Institute in North Quincy to try acupressure, I have to say, I wasn't all that excited about getting a treatment. For one thing, the thought of a professional massage --kind of creeps me out. My back is sensitive to the touch and I'm But I have to admit, the acupressure treatment I received felt darn good. So good that I was a little sorry I had asked for an abbreviated treatment. While fully clothed, I was asked to get in a kneeling position in a special cushy chair and rest my face inside what looked like the hole of a big padded donut. Then all I had to do was relax as Keith Buckley, a student at the institute, worked his magic. He began by using his hands to work on my back. When he sensed the pressure was too much for me, he quickly eased -up. He then went on to hit pressure points on my head, hands, arms and even ankles. It was soothing, and I felt my body completely relax. Isabel Balmaseda, an instructor at the Institute, said acupressure has been found to relieve many ailments, including strains, sprains, headaches, tension, lower back pain, stiff neck and shoulder pain. But it can also help alleviate depression, anxiety and digestive problems, she said. "It affects the whole system," she said. "People come in for one complaint, like shoulder pain, and come back and say, 'My digestion got better, my mood got better.'" Many people seem to prefer acupressure, she said, and not just because they're squeamish about needles. "There's something very satisfying about the touch," Balmaseda said. Buckley, who hopes to receive his certification in January, said he has seen acupressure work on his own body. "I've had shoulder and knee operations. When my body gets tight or I injure myself, I use acupressure for health maintenance," said Buckley, 48, who lives in Milton. Students at the Acupressure Therapy Institute must complete 730 hours of training before they are certified. The institute is holding a student clinic at which students provide acupressure treatments every Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. through June 27 by appointment. The treatments are $25 for a 30-minute treatment or $90 for four treatments. The Acupressure Therapy Institute is at 1 Billings Road, North Quincy. To make an appointment, call 617-697-1477. Dina Gerdeman may be reached at dgerdeman@ledger.com. - DINA GERDEMAN |
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South of Boston Media Group, 400 Crown Colony Drive | ||||||