What Is Asian Bodywork Therapy

The principles and practice of Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) originated in Ancient China in approximately 3,000 B.C. It is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which includes Acupuncture, Herbology and Massage Therapy. Asian Bodywork incorporates a range of breath and energy work in addition to manipulative therapies. The therapist’s objective is to take into consideration the patient’s physical, emotional and mental state when developing a treatment plan. As a result, the therapist is able to treat the patient as a whole. Due to the growing demand for knowledgeable therapists by many patients, schools such as New York College of Health Professions have been leaders in providing quality Asian Bodywork Therapy education.

Unlike western practitioners, Asian Bodywork therapists do not solely focus on the physical health. Asian Bodywork principles instruct therapists to address the patient’s mind and body as one. Therefore, ABT therapists diagnose patients by discovering the physical, mental and environmental causes for their symptoms. For instance, if a patient is in an unhealthy environment, it may adversely affect their mental state and furthermore, the patient may exhibit physical symptoms. 

An example is when an individual is stressed or unhappy with their employment, it adversely affects their mental state, often causing anxiety and insomnia. If the stress persists, the body is weakened and physical symptoms including colds, indigestion, migraines and back pains can appear. A patient is likely to think that the cause of their illness is purely physical if they are not consciously aware of the root cause. Asian Bodywork therapists are trained to discover and treat the underlying cause of the health problem as well as relieve its physical symptoms. 

Upon uncovering the patient’s core issue, an Asian Bodywork therapist will develop a treatment plan which may include a change in nutrition, a massage therapy regiment, yoga and acupressure. The combination of Asian Bodywork Therapy modalities used to treat the patient are geared towards relieving tension, teaching the patient how to deal with the adverse environmental factors and enhancing the patient’s health as a whole.

With its main campus in Syosset, Long Island, NY and 3 locations in New York City, New York College of Health Professions offers a Bachelors of Professional Studies in Advanced Asian Bodywork. During the 10-trimester, 120-credit program, students complete their Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) degree in Massage Therapy and skills and in-depth assessment and practical study in Advanced Asian Bodywork Techniques such as Tui Na and Shiatsu. Graduates of this program are able to sit for New York State Massage Therapy Licensing Exam as well as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) certification exam. To find out more about Asian Bodywork Therapy or to become a practitioner, please visit www.nycollege.edu/academics/asian-bodywork-therapy.