Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage therapy (the word shiatsu means "finger pressure" in Japanese). Advocates say the practice promotes health and healing by correcting energy imbalances in the body.Shiatsu practitioners use their fingers, thumbs, palms, elbows, knees, and feet to apply pressure to points along the body's main energy channels, known as meridians. The goal is to release energy where there are blockages and bring energy into areas that are depleted. Shiatsu, which is similar to acupressure, emphasizes the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease rather than treating a specific ailment.
Using massage to enhance well-being is a tradition that dates back to ancient China. The practice of touching specific points on the body was originally called anmo (anma by the Japanese). Over time, anma was dropped as a medical treatment and was used purely for pleasure and relaxation. In the twentieth century, however, a group of practitioners recognized the value of anma in easing muscle tension and soothing various kinds of aches and pains. They began promoting the art as a way to treat illness and changed the name to shiatsu.
Shiatsu is, in fact, used by health professionals to cure illnesses, normally in combination with other oriental therapies. To cure illnesses, however, isolated Shiatsu is a limited technique. It is of bigger utility to raise the level of energy of the patient, to regulate and to fortify the functioning of the organs and to stimulate the natural resistance of the body to the illnesses. It is truth that Shiatsu alleviates body pains and solves small organic riots, but its great potential is for the patient becoming conscientious of its proper "body". And the "body" is not only the physical body, but storing emotions and feelings equally, also reflecting our emotional state.
Shiatsu is effective in treating a wide range of symptoms. The Western diagnosis, such as "whiplash", is not used in this system, except as additional information for the practitioner to keep in mind. Shiatsu theory and treatment are part of the Asian medicine family, and involve principles such as qi or ki (energy), five element theory, yin/yang balance, and sometimes TCM patterns. In addition, Zen shiatsu, as indicated above, has its own theoretical model created by Masunaga and further developed by his students. Shiatsu restores health through balancing the qi to a state of harmony.
Length of Shiatsu session:
Each Shiatsu session usually lasts between 40 minutes and 1 hour. The session usually takes place on a padded mat on the floor.
The session often begins with gentle stretching and manipulation techniques to help stimulate the movement of energy and to relax the muscles. Pressure can be applied to both wide areas as well as precise points and varied according to the body’s needs. Sometimes the pressure can be gentle and calming. Sometimes the pressure can be deeply stimulating. The amount and type of pressure depends on the specific needs of the individual.
Benefits of Shiatsu:
Shiatsu can help alleviate the pain associated with a wide range of conditions. It can also assist an individual with their self development and self healing; balancing the underlying causes of a condition; taking into account the functioning of the physical and psychological; promoting health and strengthening the body’s own healing abilities.
Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience and regular Shiatsu sessions help to prevent the build-up of stress in our daily lives. Following a Shiatsu treatment, the individual may have feelings of increased vitality and relaxation.
Some immediate physical benefits of Shiatsu are:
1.To stimulate the circulatory, lymphatic and hormonal systems.
2.To regulate the activity of the automonic nervous system.
