The object of most massages is to relax and let stress melt away. In alternative medicine, shiatsu massage is used to align and balance the different meridians of the body, through specific pressure points. This practice of balancing the meridians is like acupuncture, but without the needles. shiatsu is actually older than acupuncture.
A shiatsu massage differs from other types of massage in several ways. This type of massage originates from Japan. Shiatsu actually means “finger pressure” in Japanese. The meridians that the shiatsu massage therapist focuses on are the pathways that bring energy or “chi” into the body.
The massage is performed on the floor, with the client lying on a mat or futon. It is done fully clothed. The therapist does not use oil or lotions, so it is not necessary to remove your clothes to receive a shiatsu massage.
Unlike a traditional massage, the shiatsu massage therapist will ask the client to begin the massage lying on their back. They will then check the organs by pressing them individually inside the abdomen. While pressing, they check the health and flexibility of the organs. The information they get from this analysis will tell them how to proceed with the massage.
After completing this assessment, the client will lie on their stomach while the shiatsu bodywork is performed on the back of the body. The massage will usually end on your back with a new revision of the organs. This will tell the therapist if progress has been made and indicate what to work on in the next session.
Although shiatsu means “finger pressure,” there are actually a variety of techniques that are used during a massage session. You may experience rocking of the body, rotation of the limbs, and stretching of the limbs and muscles.
So the shiatsu massage therapist is working to help you to be relaxed, yes. But, the main goal of massage is to work within your body’s meridians for balance and healing. Before beginning a career in shiatsu massage, the therapist will consult and memorize a meridian chart, which shows which body systems and organs are affected by which meridians.
The main reason this massage is done on the floor is that the shiatsu massage therapist will use their entire body during the massage. This is in contrast to the average massage therapist, who uses a table and the pressure of his hands to give the massage. It is common for the therapist to use elbows, feet, and full body pressure to treat the client.
This traditional form of massage has been considered “medicine” for many years by different cultures. It is not covered by health insurance and has not been shown to have healing qualities by current definitions in modern medicine. Therefore, it has no scientific proof, but it has stood the test of time. Many people swear by it today and will continue to use it to balance their chi.
