Michael Reed Gach, PhD, is author of several books on acupressure and healing and founder of the Acupressure Institute, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister. Looking for a career in healing? Inquire about free monthly open houses.

After working 15 years in the corporate world, Janet was burnt-out and decided to explore bodywork to help relieve her backaches and occasional headaches. Within two months of taking classes at the Acupressure Institute, she almost completely resolved the severe back problems as well as joint aches. Janet's personal healing led to a whole new life—a hands-on health care career. Her training at the Institute offered her rewarding opportunities to help people. She now participates in various women's retreats where she gives bodywork and leads stretching and beginning movement classes that she learned from taking the Acu-Yoga Teacher Training, which combines yoga with healing touch and acupressure.

Janet serves many women, including older women who suffer from menopause and osteoporosis. She gives individual acupressure sessions to several people who are in various recovery situations: one woman has cancer, another is in an alcohol recovery program, and the other is her 28 year-old daughter, a soccer player, who had a serious knee replacement five years ago. Janet said, "I think the Acupressure Institute's program offers so much more than massage therapy—not that massage therapy training is not wonderful, it is—but not as comprehensive or holistic as acupressure and shiatsu."

Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago. Using the power and sensitivity of the hand instead of needles, acupressure is effective in relieving stress-related ailments, in self-treatment and in preventive health care. The healing touch of acupressure reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness. Acupressure uses the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's natural self-curative abilities. When these points are pressed, they release muscular tension and promote the circulation of blood and the body's life force to aid healing. Learning acupressure can tremendously benefit yourself and others in rewarding ways. You will be able to relieve common ailments such as headaches, backache, pain, insomnia, nausea, carpel tunnel and more.

Several different kinds of acupressure are currently practiced, although the same ancient trigger points are used in all of them. Varying rhythms, pressures, and techniques create different styles of bodywork taught at the Acupressure Institute such as Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Chinese Massage, Hawaiian Massage, Reflexology, and Reiki. Here is what a recent graduate said:

"I first learned about acupressure while studying biology at UC Berkeley. A friend who was taking classes at the Acupressure Institute gave me a series of acupressure sessions that changed my whole perception of my body and deeply relaxed me. Although I have traversed a path to become an allopathic physician for my entire life, it was not until I took classes at the Acupressure Institute that I began to feel like a healer."

Over the last 20 years alternative medicine and complementary health care have flourished in the U.S. Along with this growth in public awareness, national certification for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology has established the professional stature of these healing arts. Wider public acceptance of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology has also contributed to the greater recognition of Acupressure & Shiatsu Therapy.

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the organization that created the national certifications for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology, now offers national certification for Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT). The Acupressure Institute provides training to prepare students to take the ABT Exam. This exam establishes national recognition of a practitioner's training and competency via testing and certifies those who pass the test. This makes ABT Certification the most powerful credential in the field of Asian Bodywork.

For massage therapists, Acupressure is the next step and can enable you to use the principles and techniques of these ancient healing arts in your bodywork. When acupressure points are stimulated in massage, greater effectiveness results. Thus, Acupressure Therapy can further your professional growth. Massage Therapists can receive CEUs at the Acupressure Institute, which is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.