Shiatsu is an oriental form of bodywork, which is based on Japanese massage therapy traditions. Shiatsu integrates Chinese medicine theory and Japanese practice with western physiology and anatomy.

Shiatsu was developed in Japan from the techniques of anma, a traditional Japanese massage, which in it’s origins was practised by blind people. Shiatsu merges the western knowledge of anatomy with anma, ampuku (Japanese abdominal massage), acupressure, and Do-In (Japanese breathing and stretching practices).
Shiatsu massage, which deals with alleviating various physical and emotional ailments by working on pressure points, is the counterpart to the Chinese method of acupressure.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) System is based on the concept of ‘Chi’ or in Japanese ‘Ki’, which is energy that flows through the body along various channels, called meridians.

The word ‘Shiatsu’ comes from the Japanese words ‘shi’, which means finger and ‘atsu’, which means pressure. This pressure is created by the practitioners body weight through fingers, thumbs, elbows, forearms, feet and knees in contact with the recipients body.

As a healing therapy it is based upon acupuncture principles, focusing on clearing the meridian system of blockages to improve well-being.
Acupressure points, which are located just under the skin and along the meridians, are tiny energy structures that affect the flow of ki through the body. When out of balance, ki either stagnates and becomes deflected or accumulates in excess along one of these channels. Stimulation to these points, which are sensitive to pressure, can unblock and regulate the ki flow through toning (activating) or sedative (calming) treatment.

Jitsu and Kyo

Shiatsu practitioners have learned to feel excessive (Jitsu) or deficient (Kyo) energy within the meridians as they control the movement of blood and ki in the body.
A point or an area of Kyo energy, which has the qualities of yin, soft, yielding, empty, cold and resistant, asks to be tonified. Whereas an area or point of jitsu, with it’s hard, tense, yang, out-ward, hot, resilient qualities, wants to be dispersed or sedated where it is in abundance. These physical qualities of Kjo and Jitsu show the shiatsu practitioner the amount of energy present at a particular point.

Techniques

Shiatsu combines assisted stretching techniques, joint rotation and manipulation and acupressure to restore ki, or energy balance in the body. Through the application of pressure and stretching techniques shiatsu relieves muscle tension, eases joint stiffness and realigns the structure of the body.
Within a Shiatsu treatment the applied pressure may be deep and sensitive and sustained for periods of time. Stroking, holding, rubbing, heating and stretching techniques are used as well. Mostly the full body, including the front, sides and back, is incorporated into the treatment and position changes within the session are common.

Hara

Shiatsu works on the hara, which refers to the abdomen, belly – the area around and below our navel. Taoists call the hara ‘the sea of energy’. Within the martial arts and in meditational practices hara is better known as ‘dan tien’. The hara is the centre of the ki body, the entrance to our personal ocean of ki or life-force.
A strong and powerful hara should be soft and relaxed above the navel, and full and firm below it. Most people are sensitive around the hara area. It is seen and experienced by most as a personal area which is seldom touched. Our physical or energetic body likes to be touched.
Touch through Shiatsu allows us to feel our selves and to be there for one another, so change may arise naturally.

Shiatsu is centering. It is an act of mindfulness, balancing guidance, physical, emotional and energetic movement with space to listen and to create self awareness.

Shiatsu is an offshoot of anma, a traditional Japanese massage, which was brought to Japan from China about AD 710 to 794. In China it was then known as Tui Na. Anma was to be practised, for some time, solely by the blind and is based on a kneading technique rather then applying pressure as in Shiatsu. Many of the techniques of anma like kneading, rubbing, tapping and shaking were integrated into Shiatsu and western massage.

The development of Shiatsu Styles

During the 20th century Shiatsu distinguished itself from Anma through it’s merging with the western knowledge of anatomy, ampuku (Japanese abdominal massage), acupressure, and Do-In techniques. Do-In exercises are techniques to stretch the meridians as well as breathing techniques, which can be practised independently.
Tamai Tempaku first used the term Shiatsu with the attempt to provide some scientific relevance and to distinguish Shiatsu from other oriental therapies.
One of his students was Tokujiro Namikoshi who was also trained in western medicine and who developed his own style of Shiatsu. 1925 Namikoshi founded the first Shiatsu school in Japan. Today the Namikoshi style is Japan’s most widely practised shiatsu style. Namikoshi Shiatsu has more of a scientific approach than other Shiatsu styles and is more focused on the stimulation of acupressure points as opposed to stretching and joint manipulation.
Due to Namikoshi’s influence, Shiatsu was officially recognised as a therapy by the Japanese Government in 1964.
Shizuto Masunaga, the son of a teacher at Namikoshi’s School for Shiatsu, developed what is now known as Zen Shiatsu. Masunaga was a professor of psychology at Tokyo University. In the 1970’s he combined his understanding of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and psychology with conventional Shiatsu (Namikoshi style) and brought Zen Shiatsu to the United States.
Since Masunaga brought Shiatsu to the west, several different Shiatsu styles have developed and are being practised around the world.
Some of the Shiatsu styles today are barefoot (macrobiotic) Shiatsu, Namikoshi Shiatsu (or Nippon Shiatsu), Zen Shiatsu, Ohashiatsu, Quantum Shiatsu, Tao Shiatsu, Tsubo Therapy and Watsu (Shiatsu in the water).

Namikoshi Shiatsu (or Nippon Shiatsu)

Emphasis more on points than on energy channels, includes stretches and can be quite vigorous. Additional focus is on the anatomical structure of the body, the muscles and bones and the nervous system.

Zen Shiatsu (by Masunaga)

Reintroduces more traditional roots of Shiatsu, includes energy channels (meridians) and the Five Element Theory (each of the five Chinese elements – water, wood, fire, metal, air – has a correlating season, organ and energy meridians).  The meridians can be worked on strongly or gently. It strives to maintain a meditative, intuitive state, that allows to connect deeply.
Client and practitioner can use Zen Shiatsu for growth of their own personal development, mentally and physically. Master Masunaga modified and extended the traditional meridian system and those extended meridians are called Zen extensions. He also developed the Makko-Ho stretching exercises to help to correct imbalances in the qi-flow and to strengthen the internal organs.

Ohashiatsu (by master Ohashi)

It is a method of healing touch, meditation and self-development, for giver and receiver. It was originally developed to keep the ‘givers body’ healthy, more relaxed and therefore it could be more comfortable for the receiver.
Ohashiatsu is like an energetic dance between Shiatsu practitioner and recipient. It combines hands-on touch techniques, limb rotations and stretches.

Tsubo Shiatsu

Tsubo Shiatsu was developed by Katsusuke Serizawa, who focused his studies more on acupoints (in Japanese called Tsubos) and their scientific physical relevance. Today Tsubo Shiatsu is better known as Acupressure.

Barefoot (macrobiotic) Shiatsu

Barefoot Shiatsu is a style of shiatsu that incorporates barefoot techniques to apply pressure or to stretch the body with the help of the feet. It combines those techniques with the macrobiotic (means ‘long-life’) diet. It is a mostly plant based diet with seasonal, locally grown and organic vegetables. The macrobiotic diet is a low-fat, high fiber diet which emphasizes eating whole grains and vegetables and is rich in phyto-estrogens from soy products. Diet practices are eating slowly and chewing thoroughly. Foods are prepared on their sour, sharp, salty, sweet or bitter characteristics.

Tao Shiatsu

Tao Shiatsu founded by Ryokyu Endo takes traditional Shiatsu principles and adds new methodology and modern beliefs to integrate Shiatsu practice into 21st century lifestyle.

Quantum Shiatsu

Is based on the work of Pauline Sasaki who was trained by Masunaga and Akinobu Kishi. Her approach in Shiatsu is on the energetic body, though the physical body forms its core. Quantum Shiatsu goes a step further than Chinese Medicine, and incorporates concepts from Quantum physics. Our physical body can work as ‘ an expanding and contracting field of energetic vibrations’. And the energy around us can be infused back into our physical body. It incorporates meridians, pressure points and chakras.

Watsu (Shiatsu in the water)

Named by Harold Dull 1980 who studied Shiatsu in Japan. The weightlessness of water and a body being moved in it, allows the spine to loosen up and to be moved differently. The muscles of the body can be stretched more easily and flexibility can be improved.

Before and during a Shiatsu treatment the ki flow is diagnosed through the pulse, tongue and examination of hara or the back. Questions about specific ailments or diet choices may be addressed before and after the treatment.

A Shiatsu treatment takes place on a futon (Japanese mattress) on the floor. During a Shiatsu treatment you are fully clothed and the Shiatsu room is warm, which allows you to deepen your experience. You are massaged through your clothes and without the use of oils.

Within the Shiatsu treatment bolsters, blankets or scarves might be used to prop your body up, keep you warm, cover your eyes or to hold your body.