With mounting public concerns about the potential of some prescription drugs to cause later damage to the vital organs, many Americans are turning to complementary medicine for the management of pain and stiffness associated with chronic medical conditions and stress. The gentle, non-invasive therapies of acupressure and Shiatsu massage have become the treatment of choice for a growing number of people in search of safe, effective pain relief. Acupressure and Shiatsu are proven therapies based on the principles of ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine that have survived and been passed on through the centuries.

Linda Marrical, a certified acupressurist and Shiatsu practitioner, provides such relief to a wide spectrum of clients ranging from young athletes to “Type-A” executives to senior citizens and terminally ill patients. As a result she has developed ART as a method to provide effective pain relief.

ART approaches the body through pathways of energy associated with and connected to the internal organs. Like the better- known therapy of acupuncture (needling), acupressure substitutes gentle finger pressure for needles to stimulate points found along specific areas on each energetic pathway to address pain and stiffness. Once the acupressurist releases the affected area, Shiatsu massage works gently with the actual pathways to encourage the flow of energy (chi) and blood. According to the tenets of these medical systems, the resulting increase in circulation of energy and blood helps improve the overall health of the entire body. A chief goal of this therapy is to teach the client practices that foster self-management of pain.

No matter what the condition, pain and stiffness that have formed over a long period of time do not heal overnight. These conditions require frequent work until the best possible resolution is achieved. For this reason when clients learn techniques to manage their own pain the need for repeated treatments by a practitioner week after week is eliminated. To help clients continue to grow in knowledge about working with their own bodies, ART also teaches self-acupressure/shiatsu massage and Chi Kung classes.