In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), sha is associated with stagnation or blockages in the body’s energy (qi) and blood, which practitioners aim to release. Gua sha involves applying firm, unidirectional strokes to lubricated skin using a blunt, smooth-edged tool.
Gua “to scrape” and Sha refers to the “bruise-like” marks that appear on the skin post-treatment. The technique is often combined with other TCM practices such as cupping.
Gua Sha is widely practiced for pain relief, relaxation, and treating symptoms like colds or fatigue.
These are some of the common conditions that Gua Sha can treat.
I've been seeing Ben for 7 years and in that time, I've struggled with several overuse injuries/pain from long distance running and triathlons. Whether it's hip pain, hamstring pain, knee pain, Achilles/heel pain, shoulder pain, Ben has addressed it all. His ability to pinpoint pain and release it (usually with 1 or 2 visits) is beyond compare.
He takes time to educate me during each session which helps me understand the root cause so I can watch for re-injury. His dedication to his own education and growth keeps him on top of new techniques to try which makes each visit unique and tailored to what I need. Even after 7 years, I leave each visit with insight about my body and another recommendation to try at home. I can't imagine being able to continue to train the amount I do without Ben as a part of my recovery process.
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