Acupressure and reflexology are both bodywork techniques which involve applying pressure to specific points on the body for the purpose of addressing health complaints, but these techniques are radically different. Acupressure involves the whole body, and it has thousands of years of tradition in Asia behind it, while reflexology involves primarily the feet, and it was developed in the 20th century.

Acupressure relies on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). While practitioners in the West may offer acupressure independently as a form of therapeutic bodywork, traditionally in Asia it is offered as part of an array of options, combined with prescriptions for herbs and consultations about diet and lifestyle. Practitioners of acupressure believe that by targeting specific points on the body, they are encouraging the flow of chi, or life force; since health conditions are supposed to be caused by an imbalance of chi, acupressure is used to correct that imbalance to make the patient feel better.

Reflexology, developed in 1913 by Drs William Fitzgerald and Edwin Bowers, involves manipulation of the feet, and to a lesser degree, the hands and ears. Specific zones on the feet are said to correspond with various organs, glands, and body parts. When a practitioner uses reflexology, he or she hits the specific area of the foot which corresponds with the patient's problem.

From the point of view of the client, these techniques are very similar. Both are minimally invasive, making them suitable for people at all levels of health, although pregnant women should be careful about techniques which involve pressure on the feet. Typically, clients remain fully clothed, although the shoes are usually removed for comfort, and, in the case of reflexology, so that the feet can be accessed.

However, from the point of view of the practitioner, the techniques are quite different. While both are rooted in Asian tradition, with reflexology practitioners believe that they are tapping into the flow of chi by manipulating the feet, reflexology is a much more recent development, and practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine do not offer reflexology treatments. The pressure points in reflexology are also different from those used in acupressure.

For clients who are interested in exploring non-invasive forms of bodywork, reflexology can sometimes be a good way to start. It is very relaxing, and it doesn't involve contact in any areas of the body which might feel awkward, such as the stomach. If clients like reflexology, they can also experiment with acupressure, which covers the whole body; if acupressure is performed by a TCM practitioner, the client will also receive a clinical consultation along with recommendations for herbs and other treatments to address underlying health problems.