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Shiatsu - The Massage To Bring Balance In Your Body

The Chinese had many forms of medicine and massage several millennia ago. When the Japanese interacted with them, they learned these techniques, and then improved upon them to develop the newer shiatsu massage therapy.

You may have heard of the shiatsu massage chair which is becoming popular, and now you can learn a little more about this growing method of massage.

What is Shiatsu? The word Shiatsu actually describes the method. Interpreted, it simply means finger (shi) pressure (atsu). This form is similar to the more familiar western styles of massage. According to the history of Shiatsu, Tokujiro Namikoshi developed the original form of Shiatsu, around 1912, from a trial and error basis. He had no actual traditional Chinese medical training, although some forms of it have since been brought in.

Shiatsu has a definite Zen basis, at least in the oriental versions. The Orientals look at medicine differently than the Western world, and from it we learn that doctors, over there, had more of a preventive practice, than a remedial one. Their job was to ensure the health of their practitioners, for which they paid, but when they got sick - they were treated for free.

What Is the Purpose of Shiatsu

The oriental goal of any traditional Chinese medicine (and its Japanese counterparts) is basically to bring about a balance of forces (yin and yang) in the body, and thus to help the body to heal itself. This is accomplished by reestablishing the flow of Qi (Chi). In more modern English, we are more inclined to say that Shiatsu is used to create a general sense of well being and relaxation. It is useful in bringing relief caused by certain conditions that range from generally poor health, or stress, to specific injuries.

While Shiatsu can be used to bring relief to many different things, there are a few things in which it is often used. Here are some of the more common:

back pain
many kinds of headaches, including migraine
asthmatic problems
hypertension
limited mobility
menstrual pain
various digestive problems
sports injuries
sciatica

In order to learn whether or not your particular situation can be helped, contact your local Shiatsu practitioner. They will be able to consider your case more fully.

What Happens In A Shiatsu Session?

The techniques of the Shiatsu giver vary - depending on how close they are to the original Shiatsu techniques. If they are a strict adherent to the original, then you can be sure that they will only use their fingertips - to press, hook, pinch, roll, rotate, vibrate, pat, and other things. They simply apply pressure in various ways to the common meridian points (also referred to as acupuncture points), as many as 300 of them. The average session will last from 40 minutes to an hour.

aRemain Fully Clothed

This is a strict quality among the traditionalists. A looser fit of clothes is best.

Diagnosis and Application of Pressure

For the Shiatsu practitioner, the diagnosis occurs simultaneously with the application of pressure. As you tell him or her more about your specific problems, they change their approach to suit the need - as they learn it.

Lie On A Mat, Table, or Floor

As you are being treated with your Shiatsu massage therapy expert, you will either be lying on a Shiatsu massage mat, on the floor, or on a Shiatsu massaging cushion. You could also lie on a table, too.

Pressure is Applied

The Shiatsu expert will apply various types of pressure at various nerve centers. This may be done in a variety of ways including the use of elbows, knees, fingertips, feet, or any other joints they may have. Some Shiatsu practitioners may also walk on your back. Besides this, there are also various stretching exercises that you may learn, as well as some that they will help you with. At the end, you will be left in a relaxing mode that affects the total body.