Seated Acupressure Training

Choosing a career in seated acupressure involves some legwork regarding training options, legalities and career path. Acupressure involves stimulating or releasing specific acupoints along the 12 meridians used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, according to the Complementary Medical Association. Practitioners can have a background in massage therapy, nursing, athletic training or acupuncture. Some states require a license to practice.

What is Seated Acupressure?

Seated acupressure is finger-pressure massage work, sometimes referred to as shiatsu, that is performed on a clothed person in a specially designed massage chair, according to Andrew Parfitt, author of "Seated Acupressure Bodywork: A Practical Handbook for Therapists." Recipients lean forward into the base of the chair, using supports for their head, torso and arms while the therapist massages their head, neck, back, hips and arms. Many acupressure practitioners find the positioning of seated work to be less stressful on their bodies, allowing them to work longer hours.

Legalities

Acupressure is considered a form of massage and most states require a license to practice this profession, according to the website NaturalHealers.com. Each state, and sometimes each municipality, has its own requirements for licensing. Check with your state massage board for specific requirements in your area. Seven states --- including Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont and Wyoming --- do not require a license.

Where To Train

Parfitt recommends acquiring your seated acupressure skills through a hands-on program, although DVDs and online programs do exist. For those lacking a massage license in a state that requires one, students can choose an acupressure, shiatsu or Traditional Chinese Medicine specialty as part of their initial massage training. Larger schools offer more course options, check with the school you are considering for coursework in seated massage therapy. Community colleges and vocational schools sometimes provide this option as well.

Length of Training

Of the states requiring a massage license, Texas requires the least, with 300 hours of training, while Nebraska and New York require the most, with 1000 hours of training, according to the Natural Healer website. At least 100 of these training hours are allocated for elective classes, which can be designated for seated acupressure. Massage therapists can also choose from acupressure-specific continuing education programs ranging from a weekend to a 200-hour course.

Finding Clients

Seated acupressure is popular in workplaces, shopping malls, airports and fitness centers, because it does not involve disrobing, according to Parfitt. Prospects can watch a massage in action before receiving one, and clients who are complete simply get up and walk away. Marketing your training in this modality may be easier for this reason. Send flyers out to large businesses in your area, highlighting the stress reduction, muscle release and energy enhancement benefits of seated acupressure, he explains.