Brian O'Dea spent many years teaching and studying around the world including Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Changmai, and Bangkok, learning Tui Na, Acupressure, and Thai massage and Aikido. In this country, he studied with Tai Qi masters, Sifu Tsuei, Cheng Man Ching, as well as Kiko Matsumoto from Boston, who teaches a hands-on style of working with Chinese medicine. His current teacher in San Francisco is 98 years old, "and that's where the heart of my Tui Na teachings come from. My teacher, Simu Ou Yang Min continuously works me over; it's an integral part of my life.

Interests in Asian Bodywork
     Brian's path in Asian martial and healing arts started in high school, where he met Korean judo champions. He was impressed by how they could throw him around. Eventually, Brian was put in charge of his local Judo club, and learned different types of martial arts with many good teachers. From the age of 15, he also worked as a volunteer in the local hospital emergency department on Saturday nights, and gained experience dealing with injuries and moving bodies. He also worked with the elderly, learning how to move, hold, and massage them. Brain found the movements used to release tension in people's backs were the same movements he learned in martial arts. This connection gave Brian the feeling that bodywork has always been part of his life.

     Brian graduated from the Acupressure Institute in 1987 and got his Acupuncture license in 1988. He took the classes at the Institute several times to prepare for teaching, starting with Shiatsu, Acu-Yoga, Acupressure, and Traditional Chinese Medicine classes. He kept on taking classes - easily 1000 hours - as part of the Continuing Education he needed as a licensed Acupuncturist. He learned Traditional Asian Theory including tongue and pulse, magnets, moxa and cupping from Alex Feng, whose orientation comes out of Taoism, which touched him the most.

Successful Practice & Impact
     While Brian was finishing Acupuncture school, he got a job at a computer company, where he massaged people's tense shoulders. "Chinese massage and therapeutic bodywork was always with me, even there in the computer store". Brian's fellow-workers became his first clients. As he worked on others, Brian noticed how it helped his body also heal from old injuries.

     The primary methods Brian uses are Tui Na, Jin Shin, Acupressure, and Medical Chi Gung. His active, physical style of bodywork is based on the meridians, the eight parameters, yin and yang, and the five elements. He practices a series of movement stretches and holds points on his clients before doing acupuncture.

     Brian sees 20 - 30 clients a week, teaches 2 to 3 weekends a month at the Acupressure Institute, plus Tai Chi on Tuesdays and practice sessions on Wednesdays and some Thursdays. Brian also does volunteer work with two national organizations, the AOBTA and the NCCA. To build the energy to maintain such a busy life, he recommends regular sessions of Tui Na, Jin Shin, and daily Tai Chi exercise, especially in-between clients.

     Brian works on many healthcare practitioners with stress-related injuries in their arms, shoulders and backs. His clients may come for regular sessions with a long-term problem or have a recent injury or distress. He also sees children from four years and up, including a few with Downs Syndrome. Parents bring in teenagers having trouble with drugs or attention deficit disorder. His private practice clientele has varied greatly over 20 years.

     A client came to see Brian with stiff legs and a painful right hip. Using meridian massage and paying attention to the five command points and the source points, he could feel the client's leg get softer, right away. After two more sessions, he was up walking. "I could feel the difference in his whole body, by following the meridians. I felt the tissue changing, right under my hands. His breathing got deeper and he had been having respiratory problems for months!"

     Brian has continuing success with healing injuries through acupressure. He wrenched his own back recently doing some martial arts throws, and all the muscles tightened up through the middle of his back, down to his legs - the pain was so intense that he couldn't get to the emergency room. An acupressure session brought the energy flow through his legs and helped stabilize him. The spasm in his back completely cleared, and he was able to walk again.

Brian's Advice
     For practitioners, Brian recommends giving sessions only in comfortable places, especially when doing outcalls in other people's settings. Establish the mood, so you are offering a safe environment wherever the site. He suggests getting people onto the table right away. Although he liked doing Shiatsu and other floor-based bodywork styles, he found the table was easier for the client. During the session," he says, "don't let clients tell you what to do and how to do the session. After a while, it wears you out and the client cannot fully receive the entire benefits of the session. I encourage them to be a partner in relaxation rather than a trouble-shooter looking for resolution"

     "Acupressure," Brian said, "allows me to see the lights, to enjoy a sense of radiance. I wouldn't want to do anything else, it's so much fun and always challenges me. It's precious - and so unique to be in people's lives and feel changes happen."