What Is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu therapy is a traditional Japanese therapy offering a path to better health and well-being.
The word Shiatsu means finger pressure. It is based on the theory of acupuncture.
Shiatsu therapy involves applying pressure with fingers, palms, elbows and feet along the pressure points, stimulating the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It is exceptionally effective in reducing stress.
The Shiatsu therapist identifies energy blockages and designs a treatment to restore the flow of Ki and support the body back to its natural balance.
Shiatsu which also utilizes acupressure, or pressure points along with other manual therapy techniques, evolved out of 3,500 years of oriental medical wisdom and is founded upon the same principles as acupuncture, although no needles are used. The traditional theory of acupuncture proposes that energy, known as “Chi” (or “Ki”) moves through the body along well defined passageways called meridians. Balance of these energy flows is considered to be essential for health and well-being and a Shiatsu treatment is typically designed with the balancing of these energy flows in mind. In keeping with the fact that Shiatsu is a living and evolving therapy it also incorporates the modern Western sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathology.
