Acupressure is a safe and non-intrusive healing modality that applies gentle but firm finger pressure to key points along the body called acupoints. Acupoints have a high electrical conductivity that sends signals to the brain to release these highly conductive areas on the body. By releasing specific acupoints, your body’s natural self-curative abilities will be stimulated, as well as help to balance your meridians. When one system of the body is affected, the others will be influenced as well, almost like a domino effect. As a result of this treatment, the body and mind will relax as tension and endorphins are released.

Acupressure is good for pain relief, and nervous system regulation. It is a natural and safe form of healing. Acupressure can address a variety of physical, and emotional conditions such as back, neck, knee, and shoulder pain, headaches, insomnia, tinnitus, immunity, PMS, digestive issues, depression, worry, and anxiety and helps aid an overall sense of vitality and well-being.

An acupressure treatment costs $80.00. An acu-facial is $60.00. Sessions can vary from 1 - 1 1/2 hours long.

Acupressure should never hurt. Specific acupoints may be more sensitive and “tender” for you than others, but the direct finger pressure won’t hurt. Elin will check in regularly to see if you have the correct amount of pressure for your comfort.

The amount of treatments you will need really depends on your physical concerns and symptoms. It is recommended to try acupressure for at least three treatments before deciding if this is the right treatment for you because your body will need time to integrate acupressure. During your first treatment, your body may be more tense and alert since it may not be used to receiving bodywork, so it is important to try acupressure a few times for your body to adapt to the modality.

Your body typically will continue to integrate the benefits from acupressure for up to 72 hours after a treatment. For this reason, it is advised to schedule sessions three days apart. For people with more acute issues, sessions may be booked closer together until signs of improvement are noticed.

Be sure to eat well before coming to treatment. Avoid caffeine in coffee, tea, or sodas during the day of treatment, and please don’t come to your treatment wearing perfume or heavily scented products. Avoid intense physical activity before and after your scheduled treatment. Make sure to dress comfortably and not wear jeans or tight-fitting clothes. Preferably, book your session when you don’t have to rush off to another appointment right after since it will be more beneficial for your body to integrate the acupressure work.

Acupressure does not use any needles. The client will stay fully clothed throughout the entire session, and they will not be left alone. Some acupuncture practitioners may leave their clients with needles in them because they may be treating other clients in separate rooms. Acupressure practitioners will be using their fingers to locate and release acupressure points whereas acupuncturists use needles to do so.

The Five Elements theory is a Chinese philosophy that combines the relationship between all living things on earth through elements. The Five Elements are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood and each carries its own unique set of characteristics. A person may have several qualities of all the elements, yet there is one that remains at the center of each person's life that they have had since birth. This is called a constitutional element.

When there is an imbalance in a particular element, there are specific symptoms that come are correlated with the element. An acupressurist can then take these symptoms into consideration by applying the Five Elements theory.

For example, the Earth element rules the Stomach and Spleen. Both of these organs are correlated with specific characteristics, symptoms, and emotions. If someone has an Earth as their CF, they may have a yellow hue to their temples, speak with more of a singing-like voice, and display the emotion of sympathy and understanding. Earth element wants to be understood. In balance, this person can be very nurturing, grounded, stable and supportive, but out of balance, this element can display a lack of understanding, worry, and digestive issues.

As practitioners, understanding clients from a Five Elemental approach gives us a wider scope of an individual's physical and emotional state. The Five Elements Theory is over 2000 years old but J.R. Worsley brought this technique into the western world in the 1950s.

Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping is considered a type of psychological acupressure. Points mainly on the face and upper torso are tapped in sequence using the fingertips while addressing a certain emotional issue. Studies have shown that EFT has been effective for those experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, PTSD, pain, and cravings. Tapping along the body's energetic systems can improve one's heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol (stress hormone) levels which can result in a sense of calm and happiness.

This really depends on your openness to acupressure and your own comfort with bodywork. Your body is a sensitive system and that can go both ways, either through feeling warmth, tingling sensations, or waves or energy through the meridian systems while acupressure is applied, or you may feel nothing until your body is comfortable with the application of acupressure. If you aren’t comfortable with the idea of this work, then your mind may be closed off to the benefits of it, so it really depends on your own mindset.

Try not to have specific expectations of what acupressure will feel like because it is different for every person, but some common sensations may include body temperature change, tingling of the skin, muscle releases, deep relaxation, emotional releases, recollection of memories, and a feeling of deeper inner peace and that everything will be okay.

You may not feel anything at all while your body is rebalancing itself or in some cases, you may experience a slight irritation of any previous symptoms. This is most likely part of the release of the injury and emotion and there is no need to be alarmed. Please ask Elin about Hering's Law of Cure for more information.

If you experiencing a fever, have a contagious disease, or have a rheumatoid arthritis flare-up, please don’t book a session with Elin until you are symptom-free.

If you have a serious illness, epilepsy/seizures, cancer, diabetes, or kidney and cardiovascular diseases please speak with your physician before booking an appointment. Elin will need a physician’s approval before you work together.

If you are fasting, have broken bones, varicose veins, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, or cervical injuries you will still be able to have acupressure, but Elin will approach these areas with care and ease.

Not at all. Many clients come for regular treatments to achieve increased effectiveness and enjoyment in their lives or at work. Many others come to help deepen their relationships with others. Acupressure is also a powerful preventative measure to keep patients healthy throughout the year and especially during seasonal shifts.

Acupressure isn’t covered as commonly as acupuncture because isn’t considered a high-risk practice. With acupuncture, needles are being inserted near organs and there is a broader concern for safety for that reason. Acupressure is non-intrusive, meaning there isn’t a tool or painful amount of pressure being applied that could potentially hurt the client. It isn’t that acupressure isn’t recognized as a legitimate practice, it is more so that there is very little consequence or risk with acupressure.

Some medical insurance providers can add acupressure to your coverage. You may send them this advocacy letter to see if you can be covered.