Learning Much More About Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of Japanese therapeutic massage formulated in Japan, which has spread worldwide. The 1915 Japanese book, Shiatsu Ryoho written by Tenpaku Tamai is possibly the first written reference to modern Shiatsu. But, Tokujiro Namikoshi's (1905-2000) followers consider him to be the founder of Shiatsu. Joy Taylor is a Practitioner of Shiatsu in Sheffield England.

Shiatsu controls your nervous system and promotes natural healing by stimulating chemical responses within your body. The therapeutic result comes from the fact that Shiatsu triggers the release of hormones and body chemicals important to recover, to soothe, and to make your mind and body perform optimally.

Shiatsu has been given official recognition by the EU Parliament also. It is one of eight non-conventional, complementary medicine disciplines listed in the Collins Report, which was adopted by the European Parliament in May 1997 (see references).

There are actually 838 fundamental shiatsu pressure points, called Atten in Japanese. These points is found on the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels, bones, and endocrine glands. As the therapy progresses, the therapist feels the condition of the body, and applies appropriate types of pressure. The basis rule is, the tighter the muscles are, the lighter the pressure should be applied. As the muscles relax, the pressure becomes deeper but it is always firm and steady. Knuckles, fists, elbows, and knees are not used during a Namikoshi Shiatsu Treatment as they lack the required sensitivity.

Is Shiatsu any different from massage?

To learn Shiatsu better, we could compare it to Western massage. They are both based on anatomy and physiology. However, there are differences in the philosophy and the process used by the therapist. Shiatsu technique uses finger and palm pressure but no rubbing, while western massage uses a rubbing motion. No oil or cream is ever used during a Shiatsu treatment, as there is zero rubbing in Shiatsu.

The major difference between Shiatsu and other modern Western forms of bodywork, known as massage, is in the manner of applying pressure. In Shiatsu it is deep delicate pressure, using hands, thumbs, and fingers. Western Massage, on the other hand, uses movements along the body surface also using herbs and oil as a lubricant.

Taking part in Shiatsu treatment is really easy for everybody. In Shiatsu taking off your clothes is not required. In traditional Western Massage, that is definitely performed on bare skin with oils or lotions, you need to partially or fully disrobe.

The therapeutic benefits and ease of Shiatsu have made it so famous all over the world.

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