Gach, Michael Reed 1952-

views updated

GACH, Michael Reed 1952-

PERSONAL: Born August 19, 1952, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Theodore Irving (in furniture sales) and Muriel Lee (a program director) Gach. Education: Immaculate Heart College, B.A., 1975; University of California, Berkeley, graduate study, 1976-77.

ADDRESSES: Offıce—Acupressure Institute, 1533 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709. E-mail—info@ acupressure.com.

CAREER: Holistic therapist, educator, and author. Acupressure Workshop and Institute (now Acupressure Institute), Berkeley, CA, founder and director, 1976—. Founder of vocational training school in acupressure; gives stress management, back pain, and weight loss seminars.

WRITINGS:

(With Carolyn Marco) Acu-Yoga: Self-Help Techniques to Relieve Tension, Kodansha/Harper (New York, NY), 1981.

The Bum Back Book: Acupressure Back Care forRelieving Tension and Pain, Acu Press (Berkeley, CA), 1983.

Greater Energy at Your Fingertips: How to EasilyIncrease Your Vitality in Ten Minutes, Celestial Arts (Berkeley, CA), 1987.

Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips: The Complete Self-Care Guide to Easing Aches and Pains without Drugs, Warner (New York, NY), 1989.

Acupressure's Potent Points: A Guide to Self-Care forCommon Ailments, Bantam (New York, NY), 1990.

Acupressure for Lovers: Secrets of Touch for Increasing Intimacy, Bantam (New York, NY), 1997.

Author of audiotapes, including Arthritis: Acupressure Points, Arthritis: Hand Pain, Arthritis: AM-PM Daily Routines, Chakra Acu-Yoga, and Greater Energy.

ADAPTATIONS: The Bum Back Video is based on Gach's book of the same title.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Potent Points; Headaches and Eyestrain Relief at Your Fingertips; The Complete Acupressure Training Book.

SIDELIGHTS: Michael Reed Gach is the founder and director of the Acupressure Institute, a Berkeley, California-based teaching facility for acupressure and other stress-relieving techniques. Gach's books explore yoga and acupressure practices for alleviating the pain of arthritis, increasing energy, and restoring sexual vitality. The emphasis is upon self-help and education, so that readers can take care of themselves and others without resort to specialist care. In addition to his writing, audio tapes, and videos, Gach gives workshops of various lengths on Eastern healing and its relevance to over-stressed Americans.

Gach once told CA: "In college while studying humanistic psychology, sociology, organizational development, and gestalt therapy, I got the idea of connecting the mind and body in my work. I thought there must be a way to physically work with people as well as psychologically with a touch therapy that serves as an adjunct to counseling. When I first heard about acupressure I had no idea what it was and therefore felt rather skeptical. I received an acupressure treatment to find out what it was all about. It was tremendously relaxing. Simply by holding a series of points it released my tension far more deeply than anything I had ever experienced.

"My first book, Acu-Yoga: Self-Help Techniques, is an integration of acupressure and yoga designed to relieve tension. Yoga postures naturally stress or press certain acupuncture points. This self-help stress management manual, filled with over 250 photos and drawings, illustrates practical techniques for dealing with many common complaints, from headaches to insomnia. The Bum Back Book shows you how to help yourself and others to relieve sciatica, backaches, and neck pains. I introduced many alternative therapies in the book, including Reflexology, Shiatsu, Jin Shin back releases, acupressure massage for the lower back, easy breathing exercises, compresses, and instructions on how to design your own custom back roller.

"My greatest interest in using acupressure is to empower people with greater awareness and trust in themselves that they may lead more pain-free and healthy lives. . . . lsqb;Inrsqb; my professional practice, I have seen acupressure work wonders, time and time again. Hence, I dedicated my life to teaching people how to apply this ancient art of healing to the common stress-related problems we all face today."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

periodicals

Library Journal, February 15, 1989, Carol Spielman, review of Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips: The Complete Self-Care Guide to Easing Aches and Pains without Drugs, p. 171; October 15, 1990, Natalie Kupferberg, review of Acupressure's Potent Points, p. 99.

New York Times Book Review, April 5, 1987, Roy Blount, Jr., review of Greater Energy at Your Fingertips: How to Easily Increase Your Vitality in Ten Minutes, p. 27.

Publishers Weekly, January 20, 1989, review of Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips, p. 146.

Whole Earth, summer, 1997, Patrizia DiLucchio, review of Acupressure for Lovers: Secrets of Touch for Increasing Intimacy, p. 97.