Shiatsu Therapy = Preventive Medicine
Touch is a language which communicates with emotions through the body.
What Shiatsu Does For You
Shiatsu relies on the proper application of pressure on specific points on the surface of the body to eliminate fatigue and stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. Shiatsu is traditionally performed on a mat on the floor. For the practitioner, working on the floor permits maximum versatility, as pressure can be applied with knees and feet as well as elbows and hands. “Thumbing” is one of the most useful and characteristic Shiatsu techniques, suitable for applying strong and focussed pressure. – The japanese word shiatsu is composed of a character meaning finger (shi) and another character meaning pressure (atsu).
One of Shiatsu’s great advantages as a therapy is that it is given through clothes. The focus of Shiatsu pressure is not the skin surface, but the deeper body structures and above all the Ki within the body.
The systems of palpatory diagnosis and the extension of classical acupuncture meridians throughout the body mean that the Shiatsu treatment covers the whole body, providing a complete relaxation experience while at the same time focusing minutely on the receivers’s current treatment needs.
Zen Shiatsu in theory and practice treats the receiver as a whole, as did the most ancient versions of Chinese medical theory. Through the meridians, the giver treats the receiver’s mind, spirit and emotions as well as his physical body.
After a shiatsu treatment the recipient may feel lighter, more balanced, and enjoy a sense of calmness.
The body functions more smoothly and the person feels revitalized.
Characteristics of Shiatsu Therapy
As the practitioner presses from place to place over the body, they are immediately able to diagnose the patient’s condition and determine the specific kind of therapy needed. A sense of touch that enables them to spot irregularities in blood circulation, lymph stagnation, abnormal internal secretions, deformities in the skeleton, and undue pressures exerted on the nerves. The practitioner will examine the skin to see whether it is rough or smooth, hot or cold. The information derived from this examination and from an estimation of the conditions of the muscles enables the practitioner to diagnose the cause of the trouble and to know what treatment to use.
No medicines or mechanical devices needed
Shiatsu can be performed anywhere and any time since it employs nothing but human hands.
No unpleasant sensations or side effects
Shiatsu therapy is pleasant and produces no unpleasant sensations or pains even in a patient whose muscles are stiff.
Suitable for all age groups
In young children, Shiatsu helps produce strong bodies and to ward off illness. It helps adults guard against sicknesses and helps ensure longevity and continued health and strength.
Resistance to sickness
The person who undergoes Shiatsu treatment learns to recognize the effects of fatigue and in this way develops a kind of health barometer within himself. Regular, periodic shiatsu therapy keeps the skin and muscles flexible and stimulates the regenerative powers of the cellular structures of the body and its organs.
If Shiatsu were applied only to the part of the body in pain, its effect would be only temporary. Shiatsu itself would then be no more than a treatment of symptoms. But Shiatsu strives to generate strength and health in the entire body, consequently, it is applied to all of the body parts, with emphasis on places manifesting symptoms of pain or discomfort.