You have likely seen them at airports, at health shows and in malls--chair massage practitioners--and it is very possible that they went to the Canadian Acupressure College.
Relaxfast! Chair Massage is one of two main programs offered by the college, which is located in Victoria, BC, but has students across Canada and as far away as Iceland.
Acupressure is, in basic terms, acupuncture without needles. It is also, as college director Kathy de Bucy explains by phone, a way to improve physical, emotional and spiritual health by rebalancing the body.
Over the years, she has seen some rewarding results with acupressure--a man bedridden with pain able to walk after one home treatment; a client who was emotionally numb after the loss of a parent finally able to grieve; a client unsure of what direction to go in her life being able to find purpose again.
"No two clients or sessions are ever the same," she points out. "We never know what the body has stored in its cells that acupressure helps to release as part of rebalancing."
The college's other main course is the Five Elements Acupressure Program, and it is unique to the college. The five elements theory combines nature, humanity and acupressure in a way that people can easily relate to, says de Bucy.
Summer, for example, is the "fire" season, which represents a time of playfulness, connecting with others, passion and joy--a full maturation of growth after a spring of reawakening. Imbalances in people can occur, however, if the body isn't ready to enter a place of joy or play, resulting in symptoms of, say, insomnia, where the spirit is not able to settle down and sleep. De Bucy explains that there are specific acupressure points that relate to seasonal imbalances and the elements so they would be incorporated into a session in this case to help with rebalancing.
Designed for out-of-town students, the college is registered with the Private Careers Training Agency (PCTIA) of BC. Its courses combine distance learning, classroom training, externship practice hours in a student's hometown, and--another important element--de Bucy's passion.
"I want everybody in the world to know about acupressure because it is such an invaluable part of everyone's health care."
Kathy de Bucy, Canadian Acupressure College www.acupressureshiatsuschool.com (877) 909-2244