Continuing education
Tui Na, an ancient form of Chinese manual therapy, has a rich history spanning thousands of years. As one of the four main branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi Gong, Tui Na has evolved into a powerful healing art.
The earliest mentions of Tui Na trace back to the Shang Dynasty (1700 BC- 1100 BC). The Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic), written around 200 BC during the Han Dynasty, provides foundational knowledge of TCM, including Tui Na principles. And the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders), written by Zhang Zhongjing (150-219 AD), details various massage techniques.
This traditional Tui Na course is based on a system of Tui Na developed by generals and martial arts masters, who were focusing on internal cultivation (Qi Gong) and holistic treatment by using a deep understanding of the body’s energy channels. It therefore differs from the modern Tui Na taught in schools today that only focus on musculoskeletal alignment, manual therapy, and injury rehabilitation.
The Power of Traditional Tui Na represents a complete healing system for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic pain, musculoskeletal injury, and internal disorders. The methods taught in this course have a long and rich history and are known for their speed and efficiency in producing dramatic results in resolving musculoskeletal disorders. Its knowledge has been traditionally passed down for centuries through family lines or from master to disciple within the martial arts. Today this art is largely lost in China.
Complete Tui Na Classical Healing System
The complete Tui Na Classical Healing System consists of four levels, each building on the previous.
Level 1 (15-16 March 2025) focuses on a full-body regulatory Tui Na treatment and is designed to supply the practitioner with powerful treatment and diagnostic tools that are immediate and practical. A strong base of internal cultivation in Qi Gong will provide the student with health and well-being and lay the foundation for the internal power that will be critical for some of the intermediate and advanced treatment and diagnostic techniques.
Level 1 teaches the “Full Body Sequence” and is designed around a full-body regulatory tuina treatment, which is divided into three parts: -the back -the lower limbs -the neck, face, and upper limbs
While together these three parts serve as an integrated regulatory treatment for the whole body, they can also be used independently. Performing the full-body sequence enables the student to learn sixteen hand techniques in the context of an actual treatment.
The key element in this sequence is what is referred to as the Back Protocol, which ties together the three parts of the full-body sequence.
Note: In this Level 1 module, the basic hand techniques for this Tuina-System are taught; competency in these techniques is required to progress to further levels.
Level 2 (21-22 June 2025) introduces specific treatments for upper limb conditions. Building on the concepts and techniques introduced in the previous level, additional hand techniques are incorporated into treatments that emphasize a global approach. Students will also learn Dao Yin exercises.
Level 3 (20-21 September 2025) introduces conditions of the back and lower limbs. These treatments are a natural extension of the Back Protocol introduced in Level 1. The back and lower abdomen are, for all intents and purposes, the beginning of the legs. Students will learn a new set of Qi Gong exercises, focusing specifically on the three sections of the spine.
Level 4 (10-11 January 2026) introduces the treatment of internal conditions. More subtle and challenging hand techniques are introduced, which focus on the internal organs and emphasize the organ-regulating aspects of Tui Na to treat conditions like asthma and hypertension. In this level, students will learn Vibrating Qi Gong.
About the teacher
Jonas Brenner stands out as a Tui Na practitioner for his commitment to preserving and teaching traditional Tui Na techniques rarely found in modern practice. Trained under esteemed masters, he emphasizes holistic healing and internal cultivation (Qi Gong), offering a unique approach that combines classical principles with martial arts knowledge. His comprehensive four-level curriculum provides practical, immediately applicable skills while maintaining a strong focus on ancient diagnostic and treatment techniques. By reviving this largely lost art, Jonas empowers practitioners to deliver transformative care rooted in centuries of wisdom.
Conclusion
The Power of Traditional Tui Na offers a unique opportunity to master an ancient, yet profoundly effective healing art. By completing this course, you will gain unparalleled expertise in Traditional Tui Na, unlocking its full potential to bring profound healing to your patients and yourself.
After laying a thorough foundation with a full-body regulatory treatment in the first weekend, Jonas delves deeper into specialized treatments, advanced techniques, and the internal cultivation necessary for mastering Tui Na during the following three weekends. He does so, like generals and martial arts masters have done thousands of years ago, by using a deep understanding of the body’s energy channels.
And that’s precisely what TCM is meant to be all about!