Maria Mercati founded Bodyharmonnics in 1993 to provide treatment and training to the highest possible standards. Maria Mercati is the originator of the concept of combining Acupuncture and Tui Na for a unique and powerful therapy for the control of pain and the promotion and maintenance of good health. Maria Mercati is the most authoritative and innovative teacher in this field today and has been teaching and practising acupuncture and Tui Na Chinese Medical Massage and Manipulation in Cheltenham for over 25 years. Students come from all over the world to benefit from her individualized and highly effective training style. She has also treated thousands of patients. She is committed to furthering the educational standards of acupuncturists. In 1996 she was nominated for an award for her teaching of Chinese Medicine by the European Union of Women. Since 1992, she has studied acupuncture in China 14 times at TCM hospitals in Shanghai, Weihai, Beijing, Xian, Jinan and Hangzhou. In 1993, she accompanied the Cheltenham Mayor – Jim Pennington to Weihai, Cheltenham’s twin town, on an official visit.