Healing Humanity

	Healing Humanity
	Insured, Inexpensive,
	Your Space

Jacob Thomas, BA, CMT, CAT(1200 Hours)
Certified Acupressurist and Massage Therapist for Stress and Pain Management, Emotional Balancing, and Women’s Health

San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
healinghumanity@yahoo.com

Currently Practicing:
Holistic Acupressure Bodywork Therapies:
On-site Acupressure, Yogic Acupressure, Sports Acupressure, Energy Acupressure, Oil-Aroma Acupressure, Psychic Acupressure
Integrating:
Acupressure Bodywork:
Acu-Oil, Zen Shiatsu, Table Shiatsu, Ashiatsu, Tui Na, Thai Massage, Acu-Lomi, Jin Shin Acupressure, On-site Chair Massage, Reflexology, Trigger Point and Myofascial Release, Touch For Health
Holistic Therapies:
Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, Chi Gung, Hypnosis Acupressure, Shamanic Journeying, Korean Hand Therapy, Moxa, Cupping, and Magnets

I. Why I Offer First Time and Regular Sessions For Less
II. Availability
III. My Healing Philosophy
IV. What Is Acupressure?
V. Holistic Acupressure Therapies
VI. Acupressure Bodywork Descriptions
VII. Holistic Therapies Descriptions
VIII. About the Practitioner

I. Why I Offer First Time and Regular Sessions For Less
I offer first time sessions for below the going rate because I enjoy introducing people to acupressure bodywork, which I believe is qualatively different than a typical massage. I also offer weekly sessions at this lower rate because clients tend to benefit more from my work the more frequently they come for sessions.

$30-50/hour for a first time session or weekly sessions (with an advanced payment committing to four sessions)

$50-80/hour for occasional follow-up sessions

II. Availibility:
My current schedule in the Bay Area is very open, but will probably not be so for long

III. My Healing Philosophy:
I am currently practicing particular combinations of acupressure bodywork modalities and holistic therapies that over time I have found effective at addressing particular needs. If a client prefers to have a unique combination of bodywork modalities and holistic therapies, I can give a session based upon these also. I welcome those anybody open to learning what styles of healing they like most. Rather than give a general massage, I prefer to individualize the session according to the Eight Principles and Five Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine methods so I can address the physical, mental, emotional or spiritual issue that needs most attention. Please inform me of any major medical problems, accidents, or surgeries you have experienced, and if you are on any major medications, as I take into consideration all these factors in my work.

IV. What is Acupressure?
Acupressure is the ancient Chinese healing art of using the fingers to press key points on the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's self-curing abilities. Pressure on these points releases muscular tension and promotes the circulation of blood and the body's energy. Acupressure uses the same system of points as acupuncture, only with the application of fingers rather than needles, so it is a safe way for people to maintain and improve their health.

V. Holistic Acupressure Therapies

On-site Acupressure:

On-site Acupressure is a convenient and accessible for people in working and business settings and can be received fully clothed in a chair or at a desk in an office. By stimulating points, this approach can relieve common work complaints such as neck and shoulder tension and headaches, increase mental clarity, and increase productivity and efficiency in the workplace by reducing the occurrence of repititive stress injuries and occupational pain. Office Acupressure is an integration of On-Site Chair Massage, Reflexology and Korean Hand Therapy.

Yogic Acupressure:

Yogic Acupressure combines acupressure, stretches, and deep meditative breathing to increase circulation, flexibility, vitality, relaxation, and body awareness. Received in loose clothes, the poses, point pressure, and joint mobilization facilitate the healing of various common complaints such as headaches, shoulder bursitis, rib syndrome, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, sciatica, and more. Yogic Acupressure is an integration of Zen/Table Shiatsu, Ashiatsu, and Thai Massage.

Energy Acupressure:

Energy Acupressure, received with clothes on, is a gentle, relaxing and soothing approach of scanning the energy field, transmitting and channeling energy by holding areas of the body, and lightly touching points to harmonize the energy flow between them. Requiring no massage, stretching, or manipulation of msucles, this approach is excellent in reducing stress, restoring energy flow, rebuilding energy, and opening energy blocks for those who are elderly, ill, or unable to receive more rigorous bodywork. Energy Acupressure is an integration of Jin Shin Acupressure, Medical Chi Gung, and Reiki.

Oil-Aroma Acupressure:

Oil-Aroma Acupressure, sensitizing the recipient to nurturing sensations, encourages the flow of blood, lymph, nutrients, and oxygen; loosens muscles; and stimulates the senses with a combinations of oils scents, and sounds. Received on the skin of a draped recipient, it is a mix of oil massage strokes, aromas, and sounds. Oil-Aroma Acupressure is an integration of Acu-Oil, Acu-Lomi, and Aromatherapy therapy.

Sports Acupressure:

Sports Acupressure restores balance by encouraging energy and blood flow in the muscles with refershing and invigorating Chinese tui na massage, releases tight muscles wtih deep trigger point pressure and myofascial release, and utilizes acupressure to strengthen and energize weak muscles. Received with clothes off only in those areas of tightness, it can quickly loosen tight muscles, eliminate muscular dysfunction that ordinary massage and medication often temporarily reduce or aggravates, and strengthen those muscles that are weak. Sports Acupressure is an integration of Tui Na Chinese Massage, Trigger Point and Myofascial Release, and Touch For Health.

Psychic Acupressure:

Psychic Acupressure focuses on alleviating and releasing deep and chronic tension, pain or trauma stored physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually in the body with acupressure and powerful psychic practices. Often combining touch and verbal guidance through active visualizations, dreams, and memories, it can awaken parts of the body before shut down, work through subconscious blocks to further personal growth, assist in overcoming past trauma, abuse and addictions, and empower individuals spiritually through the discovery of inner wisdom. Psychic Acupressure is an integration of Craniosacral Therapy, Hypnosis Acupressure and Shamanic Journeying

V. Acupressure Bodywork:

Acupressure Oil Massage
Acu-oil a relaxing combination of acupressure and the Swedish massage techniques of effleurage, petrissage, friction, and tapotement. Received on a draped recipient with sesame, almond, or olive oil, lotion, or gel upon the skin, it increases the flow of blood, lymph, nutrients,and oxygen, relieves pain, and facililtates muscle activity.

Zen Shiatsu
Zen Shiatsu is a gentle, rhythmic, and meditative style of Japanese bodywork greatly enhanced with the application of acupressure. Received with clothes on, it reduces muscular tension and stress, brings energy flow back into balance in the body, and helps heal various ailments such as headaches, shoulder bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, stomachaches, and sciatica, among others.

Ashiatsu
More energetic, deep, and rigorous than Zen Shiatsu, Ashiatsu achieves similar effects by using the feet and instead of the hands. This is often more effective in stimulating acupressure points and releasing muscular tension on larger and more muscular recipients.

Table Shiatsu
Table Shiatsu is an innovative style of Zen Shiatsu and Ashiatsu received on a table. Offering the same benefits as both but working from a more horizontal than vertical direction and utilizing thumbs, knuckles, elbows,forearms, feet, and even knees, it is an innovative shiatsu development for those who feel more comfortable on a table than a mat.

Thai Massage
Thai Massage is a form of bodywork that balances "Sen Lines," thousands of invisible energy pathways that run through the body, by placing the recipient in Yoga-like postures on a mat and pressing rhythmically along the channels with hands, thumbs, forearms, elbows, knees, and feet. It can result in increased energy flow, flexibility, vitality, body awareness, circulation, relaxation, and resistance to disease.

Tui Na
Tui Na ("brush grasp") is an energetic, playful, and refreshing 2000 year old Chinese bodywork style based upon the meditative practice of Tai Chi that can increase the flow of energy through the merdians of the body by massaging the muscles and tendons, applying acupressure to stimulate the flow of energy, and manipulation to realign the muscular and skeletal system. Received with the clothes on upon a table, it is particularly therapeutic for muscular and skeletal disorders and helping with organ imbalances that result from chronic stress.

Acu-Lomi
Acu-Lomi, a swaying, gentle, and profound combination of acupressure and sacred Lomi-Lomi Hawaiian Massage, involves deep kneading, joint mobilization techniques, oil surfing on the skin, and diving into acupressure points. It opens joints, loosens muscles,and stimulates the cardiovascular, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive,and muskuloskeletal system to the soothing rhythm of the ocean.

On-Site Chair Massage
On-Site Chair Massage is convenient for people in working and business settings , and accessible for those who are elderly, overweight, busy, or have no experience with acupressure. While resting in a chair the recipient can have shoulder and neck tension released, chakras balanced, and breathing deepened.

Touch For Health
Touch For Health, a system of applied kinesiology developed from nutrition studies, chiropractic work and acupressure, uses muscle testing techniques to determine the need for and effectiveness of treatment. By systemically testing for specific muscle weaknesses and treating them, Touch For Health can holistically restore muscle balance, improve flow through lymph vessels and energy meridians, and help with common complaints.

Sports Bodywork (Trigger Point and Myofascial Release)
Sports bodywork eliminates myofascial pain and biomechanical dysfunction in muscles through myofascial release and pressure on trigger points that intersect with many acupressure points. Though medication often only reduces the pain in the muscles temporarily and may increases long term muscle pain and dysfunction, through trigger point pressure and myofascial release a client can eliminate both chronic muscle pain and dysfunction.

Jin Shin Acupressure
Jin Shin Acupressure, a blend of acupressure and Jin Shin Jyutsu ("the art of the Creator through compassionate man" in Japanese) is a very gentle, relaxing, and powerful techniques of healing by simply holding acupressure points on a clothed recepient resting upon a table. A pure Jin Shin Acupressure session involves no massage, stretching or manipulation of muscles, and is excellent in reducing stress, restoring energy flow,and healing for those unable to receive more rigorous bodywork.

Chi Gung Bodywork
Chi Gung Bodywork is the application of energy (chi or qi) work ordinarily practiced for the self to another person, scanning and transmitting energy and reducing energy imbalances within and around that client’s body. Chi Gung Bodywork involves reading the energy field of a client and opening energy portals, then breaking up, loosening, cutting, pumping, and extracting stagnant chi, and lastly feeding, collecting and nourishing the body with fresh chi in a similar manner that chi gung practitioners do to their own body.

VI. Holistic Therapies:

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a method of using particular essential oil fragrances through inhalation and application to skin to restore physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional balance. An effective holistic compliment to oil bodywork, it can assist in dealing with not only many physical ailments but by bringing tranquility to the restless mind, reducing frustration, worry, and depression, and boosting confidence and enthusiasm for life.

Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy is a very focused, subtle, and intense reflection of the rhythm created by the flow of cerebreal spinal fluid within the dura mater between the cranium and sacrum. By mirroring this movement in the tissues, membranes, and cranial bones,craniosacral therapy can release tension from emotional injuries, chronic stress, and many physical problems in the head.

Reiki
Reiki, or Divine Energy in Japanese, is a simple healing technique of holding the hands to areas of the body the body and channeling energy into them. Often experienced as heat, vibration, or a tingling sensation, this energy flow is an excellent complementary holistic therapy that heals the body on the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical level.

Hypnosis Acupressure
Hypnosis, often misunderstood as a technique of hypnotizing a person to do things against their will, actually is only capable of augmenting an individual's wish to do something they already want to do consciously but are unable due to subconscious resistance. Combined with acupressure, body-mind hypnosis can assist the subconscious mind in deciding to do something which the conscious mind often soon follows, such as helping to reduce and eliminate a source of stress and pain, all illnesses which result in a lowered immune system response, and mental states such as worry, anxiety, chronic negative thinking, low self-esteem, and addictions.

Reflexology
Reflexology is a therapeutic method of working upon the whole body from foot and hand massage through the neurological pathways. Enhanced by stimulating of acupressure points and meridians, work upon specific areas on the hands and feet breaks up crystallized calcium and acid deposits that accumulate over the nerve endings corresponding to various parts of the body and brings the body back into balance.

Shamanic Journeying
Shamanic Journeying is a psychic practice of working with archetypes in the subconscious for spiritual deepening and transformation. Based upon the belief that physical reality is merely a reflection of non-physical reality, Shamanic Journeying transports the recipient into a safe place where they may become find guidance from and be empowered by animals, plants, crystals and other aspects of the natural world symbolizing qualities they have lost.

Korean Hand Therapy (KHT)
Korean Hand Therapy (KHT), similar but different from the system of hand reflexology, is the Korean method of applying pressure to points on the hand. Based upon the Correspondence Therapy theory that every pain and dysfunction in the body registers as a more sensitive point at the corresponding point on the hand, while KHT often is applied with acupuncture, stimulation of the points without penetrating the skin is also possible with acupressure, metal tape-on pellets, and minature moxa. KHT can be highly effective in reducing arthritis, asthma, menstrual cramps, and increasing low energy, among other ailments.

Moxa, Cupping, & Magnets
Moxa, Cupping, and Magnets are all effective adjuncts to acupressure. Moxa (Moxabustion) is the application of heat to acupressure points by burning small moxa sticks near to skin covered with burn cream. When done properly it does not scar or hurt,and restores heat to bodies that feel cold. Cupping involves placing glass cups over a small area and pulling the skin up into the cup through suction. Repeating suction and removal of the skin from the cup, sliding the cup, and applying many at once can help strengthen those who are elderly, constitutionally weak, or numb in an area. Application of magnets can work as light and artificial pressure to acupressure points for a long period of time. If applies with correct polarity, this can be excellent for those who prefer continuous light pressure on tender points.

VIII. About the Practitioner
Jacob Thomas, after graduating with high honors from interdisciplinary studies of globalization in the departments of cultural anthropology, economics, and political science at University of California at Berkeley, had a calling while traveling for a year through over 40 countries in Europe serve in the healing of humanity. With a fascination in the massage branch of Chinese medicine, he returned to Berkeley for a year for a 1200 hours of study and training to become internationally certified to teach and practice acupressure therapy. He has since revisited parts of Europe and travelled through much of Africa, practicing and teaching in countries as diverse as Turkey, Gambia, Malawi and Madgascar. He has now returned to the Bay Area of California to continue his healing work.