About Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a modern day therapy but rooted in oriental traditional medicine. It has also been called Japanese Physiotherapy. The treatment, philosophy and approach in Shiatsu are the same as in acupuncture. It uses energy channels otherwise called meridians and pressure points or tsubo together with diagnostic methods. But needles are not used in Shiatsu as in the case of acupuncture. No oils are used for this massage and the patient remains clothed.

The name itself in Japanese is written as two characters – shi standing for finger and atsu for pressure. The fundamental principle of Shiatsu is the application of pressure. Acupressure is another term that could be used to describe it though technically, Shiatsu is considered to be a variation of acupressure and it involves putting pressure on the different acupoints. But this is not the only technique that Shiatsu is based on. The pressure applied is generally spread over an area that is wide and not just on the acupoints. Fingers and the thumb are used to apply pressure on localized points. The palms, knees, feet and elbows are used for applying pressure on a wide area.

Apart from applying pressure, Shiatsu also includes manipulation and gentle stretching techniques. Shiatsu has nothing in common with the western massage technique or theory though today, some techniques may be borrowed.  In Swedish massage, hand movements are long, flowing ones to knead muscles. Shiatsu consists of rhythmic, slow and gradual movements that apply pressure to the tsubos and meridians. The hands are used very gently just like in spiritual healing. Corrective techniques and stretching exercises are common as they make the body flexible and create a balance, increasing energy.

It is the flow of energy that is present in our body that Shiatsu works on. Traditional Oriental Medicine says the human body has ‘life energy’ or ‘life force’ and this is what plays a vital role in maintaining physical, spiritual and mental stability. This force is called Ki in Japanese and chi or qi in Chinese and is what helps in maintaining a homeostatic balance in the human body.

Injury, external or internal trauma, stress or depression can all disturb the qi in the body. This gives rise to aches and pains in the body. Shiatsu feels and detects the flow of qi and corrects imbalances if any.

Touch is the main fundamental element of Shiatsu. Touch is a beautiful means of expressing our feelings of compassion and love for others. Touch can vary in its nature ranging from angry, aggressive, mechanical and abusive to more caring, intuitive and compassionate. Every living being responds to touch and Shiatsu fulfils this need. The touch that is used in Shiatsu helps the healing process.

Modern Shiatsu tends to combine the ancient with the modern. It includes plucking, pressing, patting, hooking, vibrating, sweeping, grasping, shaking, rotating, brushing, lifting, rolling, pinching and also involves walking on the patient’s feet, legs and back.

Today Shiatsu has found acceptance in the modern world and certain hospitals offer it to help treat and prevent common ailments. It is effective as well as safe.