Song Sisi had seen old TCM practitioners demonstrate this on video. It looked simple, but it was actually extremely difficult.
This was because it wasn't just a matter of the movements, but of the force applied.
The application of force emphasized "smooth force, clever force, and gentle force."
Smooth, but not slippery: the force must follow the direction of the meridians without slipping off the acupoints.
Clever, but not light: the force must be applied skillfully to reach the root of the problem, not just float lightly on the surface of the skin.
Gentle, but not sluggish: the movements must be soft so the child doesn't resist, but they can't be sloppy or messy.
Only by perfectly blending these three types of force could the "qi" of the Massage truly penetrate the child's meridians, calming the stomach qi and stopping the hiccups.
Li Xu's expression was focused, his movements as smooth as flowing water, as if a phoenix were truly dancing gracefully at his fingertips.
