Acupressure Institute

Acupressure Institute career trainings offer Reiki, Shiatsu, Tuina, Qigong Massage and Acu-Yoga based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Click Here to get our free Acupressure Schools Training catalog. We also produce educational materials. Learn healing massage therapy techniques and pressure points through our acupressure books, instructional self-acupressure videos, self-healing books, and acupressure charts -- all available at our Online Store.

Acupressure Certified Training Programs: Our Acupressure school offers various levels of bodywork trainings. Students begin with the undergraduate 150hour Basic Program, receive a certificate and can continue with a 200hour Specialized Program or the 850hour Advanced Acupressure Therapy Program.

What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is an ancient healing art developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, using 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 energy to aid healing. Acupuncture and acupressure use the same points and meridians, but acupuncture employs needles, while acupressure uses gentle but firm pressure and integrates bodywork therapies, therapeutic touch, somatic work, healing imagery, energy psychology, and massage therapy techniques.

Advantages of Using Acupressure include relieving pain, balancing the body, and maintaining good health. Acupressure's healing touch reduces tension, increases circulation, and enables the body to relax deeply. By relieving stress, acupressure therapy strengthens resistance to disease and promotes wellness.

Energy Work: The most potent form of energy work uses acupressure points. Energy (know as Chi or Qi) flows most freely when you touch, press, or hold the acupressure points in bodywork. These healing pressure points are the gateways to the body's life energy force, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This universal energy source is also the basis of traditional Martial Arts self-defense techniques and traditional healing art practices. The flow of this vital healing energy governs blood circulation and the function and balance of the human body. Studying the location and how to touch these acupuncture points is key to transformational energy work, therapeutic touch, and massage therapy.

Reiki channels universal life energy. The Acupressure Institute teaches how to send Reiki through acupressure points for healing the body. Channeling Reiki energy into the acupressure points enables a practitioner to tap into Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) tremendous wealth of ancient healing knowledge – information that’s point specific. Learn to integrate Reiki healing with self-acupressure point formulas for various energy imbalances and healing applications.

Many Pressure Point Massage Methods are taught at the Acupressure Institute, all using the same ancient trigger points. Varying rhythms, pressures, and techniques create different styles of acupressure. Shiatsu, for instance, the most well-known style of acupressure, can be quite vigorous, with firm pressure applied to each point for three to five seconds, while the Jin Shin style of acupressure gently holds at least two points at once for a minute or more. We teach a variety of Tuina (Tui Na) Chinese bodywork along with western Swedish Massage on tables and floor mats. Our graduates are encouraged to integrate these hands-on techniques and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assessment skills for enhancing and individualizing their healing work.

Our School
Since 1976, the Acupressure Institute has offered comprehensive acupressure trainings in traditional Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) such as Thai Massage and Shiatsu massage to students from around the world. In comparing other Acupressure schools, our trainings provide high-quality education to support each student's professional and personal goals, in a setting that encourages communication, respect, confidentiality and safety for everyone. Students are encouraged to visit our school facilities and meet with a counselor to tailor our acupressure training programs, based on your needs and interests.

We welcome you to attend our free Open Houses, the first Thursday of every month, 6 to 8:30 pm and consider the excellent opportunities that await you. Our flexible scheduling allows out-of-town students to attend classes intensively, and daytime working students to take a longer-term evening and/or weekend schedule.

California State Approval for Acupressure Schools: Acupressure Institute was granted full institutional approval from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary & Vocational Education pursuant to California Education Code Section 94311 for the following course trainings: Acupressure Practitioner (150 hours); Shiatsu Practitioner (150 hours); Acupressure Specialist (200 hours); and Acupressure Therapist (850 hours).

AOBTA Council of Acupressure Schools & Programs: Acupressure Institute has met the professional training standards of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA). Our graduates are automatically granted AOBTA membership upon receipt of their application for admission.

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