28/06/2009 by Maria.

I am a fitness instructor and pilates teacher of over 25 years standing, and right now I am on an anatomy & physiology course. Why? I already hold qualifications in A&P. There are two answers. Firstly, I believe you should constantly strive to update or refresh your knowledge, complacency is the start of your decline. Secondly, this particular course is being run by Maria Mercati’s BodyHarmonics centre in Cheltenham. As someone with a passing interest in Tui Na Massage, this was the place for me.

What I did’nt know before I came here, was that Maria is one of the leading authorities in acupuncture, not just in the UK, but worldwide. “Needling”, to use her affectionate term, is her passion. Maria offered to “needle” any students who wanted it, and the rest of us could watch. When you have an opportunity to watch a master at their craft, I believe you should seize it.  I also have a long standing neck injury, and I secretly hoped that Maria may have time to “needle” me, to see if it would help.

Approx 20 minutes later and my curiosity had changed to horror. I was opting out, and fast! I had never witnessed acupuncture before, and what I saw scared the life out of me. Deep needles, very deep. Although not one of my fellow students experiencing treatment complained, quite the contrary, I convinced myself it had to hurt, alot! I was grateful I had had the opportunity to watch Maria, she is passionate about her craft. The needles are almost like a natural extension of her, so fluid and natural is she with them, but I was out of there.

I had reckoned without Maria’s 6th sense. She had worked out that I was about to scarper, and my name was called next. Angie, she said, you mentioned your neck, and with me gibbering futilely that I did’nt think acupuncture was for me, I was led like a lamb to the slaughter to a chair, with Maria saying, “lets just have a look”. 

Thank God for Maria’s 6th sense. Thank God for Maria’s passion, and thank God for Maria’s unique ability. Why? Because today, for the first time in 3 years, I have something close to normal range of movement in my neck. Maria’s skill is such that she has an incredible ability, an intuitive ability, to know how to “needle” someone who is nervous about the treatment. As each needle went in with nothing more than a slight tap, the more relaxed I became. I had stopped worrying long before the last one went in. However, for acupuncture to be truly effective, it has to be deep. So Maria adjusted the needles, twice. On both occasions telling me what she was about to do, and asking me with each needle adjustment if I was OK, giving me the impression throughout that I was in charge of my body, when really she was! Such is her amazing skill.

 I have just 2 days left, and my utter turnaround in my attitude to Maria’s acupuncture is such that I am wondering whether  I can fit another session in before I leave, and whether I should mention my low back pain, sustained in a car accident 12 years ago. Can acupuncture, specifically, Maria’s acupuncture, have an effect on an injury so old? Watch this space!

Posted in Oriental Medicine | 1 Comment »

14/03/2008 by Maria.

Cultural and clinical acupuncture experience in China

I have just returned from taking a group of my acupuncture students to China.

We all travelled to the hospital in Jinan where really serious acupuncture and Tui Na can be seen in action. This is the teaching hospital of the Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine – (TCM ) I am delighted that they have entered into a formal association with us.
Believe me, their new campus is quite fabulous - really state of the art.

Can you imagine 11,000 students plugging into their heritage and learning TCM. These people study acupuncture, Tui Na, Herbs, martial arts, qigong and diet.

My students revelled in the clinical experience. They were amazed at the variety of conditions being treated and the sheer numbers of patients passing through. Here in England, patients often expect one or two treatments to cure their problems. Not so in Jinan. The patients have a serious commitment to getting better and are happy to have 20, 30 or more sessions of treatment to get better. And they pay for it as well!

I long ago came to the conclusion that acupuncture is the only real alternative to drug therapy. It works well and the Chinese certainly know it. They use it as frequently as we in the West take pain killers !!!! I have been having acupuncture for my hip problem and energies almost as often as they do.

Posted in Oriental Medicine | 1 Comment »