Acupressure shares the same understanding of the energetic body as does acupuncture. The observable difference is that acupressure does not use needles. There are several methods of acupressure. Shiatsu, translates from Japanese as finger pressing, but also includes other soft tissue manipulation. Tui Na, a traditional Chinese massage, also combines various soft tissue manipulation. The Jin Shin Jyutsu technique is focused on engaging points on the meridians of the body and has a similar history as Reiki. Both originated in Japan and benefitted from a Japanese American who taught the method in the United States. Insight Acupressure was developed in the United States by Amina Raheem based on Classical Chinese Medicine, as brought to the Western World by J.R. Worsley. It goes beyond points along meridians to observe the 5-Element Theory.
5-Element Theory is a central concept in Classical Chinese Medicine, which defines a prescriptive course of action based upon individual characteristics of a person, rather than the presenting symptoms of an illness. The English translations of the elements are: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Each element holds a collection of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual attributes. There is also interplay among the elements, as well as places of residency on the body.
J.R. Worsley was a physiologist and osteopath practicing in England after WWII. Beginning in 1950 Worsley began his acupuncture studies in Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan where classical concepts, such as 5-Element theory could be practiced and taught legally, unlike China in the 1950s.
During the Chinese Cultural Revolution key aspects of Classical Chinese Medicine were suppressed. The sanitized version of Chinese medicine was called Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM.
The modern practice of qigong was also manufactured during the Cultural Revolution. The book, Qigong Fever: Body, Science, and Utopia in China by David Palmer tells and engaging story of this time China, as the government sought to systematize and sanitize varied health and healing practices.
Today the divide between Classical Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine is becoming indistinct as TCM adopts the theories and approach of Classical Chinese Medicine, such as the 5-Element Theory.
In 1956 Worsley founded the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in the United States. With his school, books, and travelling seminars, Worsley trained many of the first acupuncturists in America, Europe, and Africa.
Aminah Raheem began her professional career as a Transpersonal Psychologist. In the 1970s and 1980s she was one of a handful trailblazers developing modalities which conjoined Eastern and Western health and medical practices. The Process Acupuncture technique is a combination of classical acupressure and guided query.
Following Raheem’s death in 2023, Soul Lightening Acupressure was restructured and a new name given to the training and enrichment effort—Insight Acupressure. Insight Acupressure remains seated within Classical Chinese Medicine and Raheem’s intent to provide a gentle approach for the return of physical and emotional wellbeing. In Raheem’s words, Acupressure provides a deeply nourishing state…in the most fundamental parts of us, namely, the mind, and the nervous, muscular, and energetic systems. (The Way of Soul Lightening, Aminah Raheem, p60)
As a Reiki practitioner of many years, when I completed my therapeutic massage training and passed the state exam, I sought an energetic modality with more structure. Insight Acupressure’s alignment with Classical Chinese Medicine provided that. Beyond memorizing the point numbers and locations, reflecting on the names of the points adds a rich dimension.
It is my habit to reserve a few minutes at the end of session to inquire whether something needs more attention. In a session a couple of weeks ago, a client asked me to go back to where my thumbs had been behind her shoulders. I shared that these pair of points are called Excess Baggage. The client softly guffawed, as the point was relevant to information shared at the beginning of the session.
Treatment in the clinic is minimally invasive, and clients remain in their street clothes.
Insight Acupressure is also useful during remote coaching sessions, because I can walk a client through a short series of points for self-treatment.