I have also become more gentle with my needling. I remember learning TCM acupuncture from Chinese doctors who were very vigorous with their tonifying and reducing techniques. I try to make mine more Japanese. I put the needles in, leave to settle, then return to obtain De Qi if I haven't already got it. The only time I work points lot is if I am trying to travel Qi for musculoskeletal problems, but that usually feels pleasant for the client. Sometimes the needles hurt going in (the ear in particular can be tricky) and some points are more 'electric' than others (LI4, LV3, SP6, SP9, HT7, ST38, KD7 anybody have any others?) so I keep my fiddling to a minimum on those points as you don't have to work to elicit sensation. I use fine needles : Seirin & Tewa. I used to use Sharp but recently tried them again and I can FEEL the stickiness of those needles: much more uncomfortable