Massages are heavenly. Rejuvenating and just lovely to have. I have had many wellness-massages, but a Tui-Na massage is a little different. It’s not just wellness; it’s supposed to be healing. The Jing-An wellness centre on Kloof Street in Cape Town offers it as well as other traditional Chinese medicine (the simply call it 'TCM').

"Based on Chinese medical therapy, it’s not just working on tissues; we are using acupuncture points and channels on energy. We improve your blood flow. A Tui-Na massage comes with a flow; it’s a massage while guiding and working with energy." says Dr Lan. This massage is active indeed. I get massaged with flower oil, a mixture of eucalyptus (calming) and cinnamon (active). A good combination, but this is also a good explanation of what it does to me: it calms me as well as revitalises my senses. 

The goal is to bring the body to balance. Therapist, Lee Shane brushes, kneads, rolls, presses and rubs the areas between each of the joints to open the body's defensive chi (energy) and get the energy moving in the meridians as well as the muscles, with the stimulation of acupressure points. The Tui-Na massage involves the hand and arm techniques to massage the soft and deep tissue in the body, while at the same time stimulating specific acupuncture points as to directly affect the flow of chi. "It’s all about understanding the chi, the energy", says Dr Lan.

I ask my therapist Lee Shane how it feels to massage a couple of people a day, since this is hard work. "Each time I massage someone it’s like a spiritual act for me." The Tui-Na massage is an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine and good for fatigued people, and those with repetitive headaches et al.

Dr Michael Lan has become the leader in South Africa for the ancient wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine (an ancient healing system dating back more than 5000 years). It is based on the theory and philosophy of chi (energy), and is today commonly accepted within the world of Western medicine as a safe and natural healing modality. With over 20 years of experience in traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi, Qi Gong training, the internationally renowned Dr Lan is an expert in his field. Jing-An specialises in treatments such as acupuncture, Tui-Na massage, bone-stetting, moxibustion, and also offers life coaching, studio training, one-on-one training, and practitioners courses. The treatments are all medical aid approved and most treatments can be claimed.

by Antonia Heil


Unit 5 | Buitenkloof Studios | 8 Kloof Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 422 5608

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm

P.S. It’s advised to book 2-3 weeks in advance

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