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What exactly is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is an ancient Japanese Therapeutic Massage Technique in which finger pressure is applied along the body’s Meridians, with the main focus of unblocking energy. Shiatsu is a Japanese word that literally means Shi (finger) Atsu (pressure) and translates directly into English as finger pressure or acupressure. |
What is Shiatsu good for?
Shiatsu works as both a treatment and prevention as well, since the main focus is releasing the ‘energy blockage’. According to Eastern Theory there is no illness or sickness, only energy disturbances, imbalances or blockages. Theses blockages typically cause either general or local pain symptoms as well as various syndromes. This is why, Shiatsu Therapy can be extremely beneficial in an incredibly wide range of symptoms. Most importantly, it serves to balance the energetic level of your body. Shiatsu Treatments will also provide the Patient with: increased flexibility of the muscular and skeletal system; better skin in some cases; improvement in the respiratory system; improvement in blood flow circulation; and it also helps the functions of the digestive system, the endocrine system and nervous system. In summary, not only will help boost the immune systems but it will also enable the body to work in a more efficient manner, therefore providing a better well being! |
Who can benefit from a Shiatsu treatment?
Everyone can benefit from Shiatsu treatments.
Shiatsu works, not only as a Complementary Healing Therapy but also as a Preventive Therapy.
Since its main goal is to provide better well-being (both physical and psychological) everybody can benefit from it.
What are Meridian Lines?
Meridians are energetic pathways that run along the body and that have their names derived from a specific internal organ.
Meridians are defined as either being Yin (negative) or Yang (positive) in nature, in accordance to their location along the body.
Everyone can benefit from Shiatsu treatments.
Shiatsu works, not only as a Complementary Healing Therapy but also as a Preventive Therapy.
Since its main goal is to provide better well-being (both physical and psychological) everybody can benefit from it.
What are Meridian Lines?
Meridians are energetic pathways that run along the body and that have their names derived from a specific internal organ.
Meridians are defined as either being Yin (negative) or Yang (positive) in nature, in accordance to their location along the body.
Yin\Negative |
Yang\Positive |
Lung |
Large Intestine |
Pericardium |
Triple Heater |
Heart |
Small Intestine |
Spleen |
Stomach |
Liver |
Gall Bladder |
Kidney |
Bladder |
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Some Symptoms that benefit from Shiatsu Treatments
Lumbalgia (Lower back pain) PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) Back pain & Sciatica Stress Tension & pain Stressed joints Muscle tension Joint & muscle pain Insomnia Headaches & migraines Allergies Depression Chronic tiredness Digestive problems Emotional trauma Sports injuries |
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How does a treatment start?
The treatment will always start with the therapist completing a thorough ‘needs assessment’ in order to have a record of what symptoms and/or pathologies the patient may have and to better understand the Patient symptoms and to better address the Patient needs. Only after this is completed – to the satisfaction of both patient and therapist – will the therapist start the treatment, which is customized based on the information obtained earlier and the Patient's feedback. |
How is the Shiatsu treatment done?
It depends upon the situation as well as the symptoms/pathologies of each person; generally though, it starts with the person laying down and relaxed, this follows with an assessment done by the Therapist to determine which Meridians are out of balance .
Then the therapist will start to apply the specific and purposeful finger pressure along those Meridians at the same time that addresses the symptoms/pathologies mentioned by the Patient.
How many treatments will I need until I get better?
This is, as you may imagine, very difficult to tell with any real accuracy. Almost everyone starts from a different starting point, not everyone has the same treatment frequency and every human body responds to treatment differently. In some cases, dramatically so. What the therapist will do, however, is let you know at the end of the session exactly what steps to take after.
Despite this, it is actually possible after just the first treatment to experience noticeable benefits from Shiatsu!
And even once you are in optimum physical and emotional condition, it is recommended to receive at least one treatment per month in order to maintain your well being.
Do I need any particular outfit to receive a treatment?
No, but it is more effective if the clothes you wear during the treatment allow the therapist to execute all of the movements/stretches that are needed. So, wearing something comfortable and loose will be more comfortable for you and easier for the Therapist as well.
What to expect after a session?
Since pressure will be applied along the meridians in your body, the muscles, ligaments and even the nervous system will be stimulated all at the same time. Due to an increase of the blood flow through the body, and the fact that it is easier for the blood to flow after each treatment, a light sensation will be felt and an improvement in the function of the internal organs can gradually be felt.
Besides that, at the end of each treatment, one should feel an almost immediate relief from pain and an improvement on the overall well-being.
It depends upon the situation as well as the symptoms/pathologies of each person; generally though, it starts with the person laying down and relaxed, this follows with an assessment done by the Therapist to determine which Meridians are out of balance .
Then the therapist will start to apply the specific and purposeful finger pressure along those Meridians at the same time that addresses the symptoms/pathologies mentioned by the Patient.
How many treatments will I need until I get better?
This is, as you may imagine, very difficult to tell with any real accuracy. Almost everyone starts from a different starting point, not everyone has the same treatment frequency and every human body responds to treatment differently. In some cases, dramatically so. What the therapist will do, however, is let you know at the end of the session exactly what steps to take after.
Despite this, it is actually possible after just the first treatment to experience noticeable benefits from Shiatsu!
And even once you are in optimum physical and emotional condition, it is recommended to receive at least one treatment per month in order to maintain your well being.
Do I need any particular outfit to receive a treatment?
No, but it is more effective if the clothes you wear during the treatment allow the therapist to execute all of the movements/stretches that are needed. So, wearing something comfortable and loose will be more comfortable for you and easier for the Therapist as well.
What to expect after a session?
Since pressure will be applied along the meridians in your body, the muscles, ligaments and even the nervous system will be stimulated all at the same time. Due to an increase of the blood flow through the body, and the fact that it is easier for the blood to flow after each treatment, a light sensation will be felt and an improvement in the function of the internal organs can gradually be felt.
Besides that, at the end of each treatment, one should feel an almost immediate relief from pain and an improvement on the overall well-being.
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What is the history behind Shiatsu?
References to finger pressure applied to specific points can be found in old books dating as far back as 475-221 BC. But, the term Shiatsu will only appear in 1919 with the publication of Tamai Tenpaku’s book "Shiatsu Ho" (Finger Pressure Method). Fast forwarding to 1940, after Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905 – 2000) had already established the Shiatsu Institute of Therapy in Hokkaido, along with others Tokujiro Namikoshi founded the Japan Shiatsu Institute in Tokyo. This school had its name later changed to Japan Shiatsu School, as it is recognized today. Finally, in 1964 Shiatsu attains recognition Japan’s Official by the Minister of Health and Welfare and became separate from all other types of massage techniques. During the 1970s, Shizuto Masunaga (1925 – 1981) combined his understanding of Psychology with TCM and conventional Shiatsu and he created what he called ‘Zen Shiatsu’. This consists of a unique synthesis of modern Western thinking and traditional Eastern healing techniques, which he took to the United States where he continued to develop his theories up to his death in 1981. Since then, his direct students as well as third and fourth generation Shiatsu practitioners have continued the development of Shiatsu, building a vibrant and dynamically growing treatment system. Today, Shiatsu has a multitude of styles and approaches; indeed, each practitioner has their own individual style. Within this though, there is a fundamental core structure underlying each and every treatment – regardless of the individual style – which has been evolving along the years. |