The Japanese have their own approach to massage and pressure point therapy. If the Chinese have acupressure, the Japanese have shiatsu. The name shiatsu itself originated from the Japanese words shi and atsu, which means finger and pressure respectively.
In Japan, shiatsu is considered as a hands-on healing method. Shiatsu practitioners in Japan need a license to perform the therapy. There, they are called Shiatsupractors. In looking for a shiatsu practitioner in America, always check if they are certified with the ABTA (the American Bodywork Therapy Association) or the AOBTA (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia).
A regular shiatsu massage will ensure you of good health and protection from common illnesses. It is particularly helpful for people who have problems in dealing with their day-to-day stress, and those with muscle aches and stiffness.
The main body parts used in conducting a shiatsu massage are the fingers, the palms, and the thumbs. Elbows and knees are not used. The essence of shiatsu is to diagnose and to heal. With the use of the palms, thumbs, and fingers, the body’s irregularities are detected. And once diagnosed, they can be attended to accordingly.
The process of diagnosis, is the most difficult aspect of shiatsu, and a major focus of the training. People who want to undergo natural healing through a shiatsu massage do not have to have a previous diagnosis of their pains or illnesses. Shiatsu involves diagnosis and healing at the same time. And to top it all, shiatsu is also capable of preventing diseases. And needless to say, prevention is always better than cure.
A single shiatsu session would last for about an hour. The number of sessions you need to undergo for optimal healing is determined by the severity of your illness. For acute problems, 4 to 8 sessions should be good enough. Acute problems include headaches and stress. Chronic conditions like back pain would require longer treatments.
As with all other treatment procedures, the noting of medical history is always the first step. Practitioners would like to be informed as to what their patient’s lifestyles and diets are, to say the very least. This will help them more with every session.
Shiatsu is not your traditional massage. It also involves a lot of techniques, including finger pressure, holding, rotating, and stretching. Kneading and rubbing are also employed. Other types of shiatsu massage involve the use of the feet as well.
Shiatsu sessions are always done lying down, fully clothed. The practitioner does the massaging and pressing with you on the mat on the floor. The first touch will be on the abdominal area. It is believed that this is where the body tension originates.
Similar to acupressure, the aim is to facilitate the flow of energy through the body. The main objective of the pressing is to facilitate the body’s energy to move freely. And when the energy flows freely, healing is initiated.
The general effect of a shiatsu massage is very relaxing. But patients may feel rather odd due to the body’s reaction to it. You might hear your stomach gurgle or you may suddenly shudder due to tension. Don’t worry. These are all normal.
And people may have varied body reactions after a shiatsu session. Some may feel sleepy while others are invigorated. Feeling exuberant after a session is expected. And that feeling may even last for around a week or two after the treatment.
Although shiatsu is generally good for the body, avoid undergoing treatment if you have any open wounds or rashes. If you are prone to blood clots or have been operated on recently, do not attend a session.
Because of the pressure used on the abdomen during shiatsu treatment, you should not eat for at least two hours prior to your shiatsu session. And it is probably also wiser to also avoid shiatsu if you are pregnant.
Shiatsu is a good alternative for people who want to get rid of stress. If you do not want to take pills and wanted to do it the natural way, try shiatsu. It could be the pressure point therapy you have always been looking for.
Tags: Acupressure, Shiatsu, ki, chi, yinRelated posts: