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What is Shiatsu?  

Shiatsu is a Japanese word: "shi" meaning finger, and "atsu" meaning pressure.  But shiatsu is more than just finger pressure.  It is a combination of many different techniques, including pressing, hooking, sweeping, shaking, rotating, grasping, vibrating, patting, plucking, lifting, pinching, rolling, and brushing.  In one school developed by Suzuki Yamamoto, barefoot shiatsu uses the feet on the person's back, legs, and feet.

But these are merely the physical techniques.  With an awareness of psychological and spiritual implications, shiatsu has become, indeed, a kind of dance between giver and receiver.  A unique rapport develops between the practitioner and client, because shiatsu relies on the simple but powerful experience of connection to awaken the client's own self-healing powers.  This "connection" between practitioner and client is foundational to all healing methods.

The practitioner uses gentleness, fluidity, and rhythmical motion to work with the imbalances in the client's Ki/Qi/Chi/Prana/Life Force.  Progressively, over a number of sessions, the client can learn how to assist in the balance of his or her own Qi.

Some shiatsu practitioners use a massage table; others use the floor in order to apply a wider variety of techniques.  If the floor is used, the person lies on a futon especially made for shiatsu. The practitioner then works by kneeling, sitting, crawling, and standing near the client. The client remains fully clothed for shiatsu with loose, comfortable clothing. The body and/or feet may be covered with a sheet or blanket. The room is maintained at a comfortable temperature, and soft background music can help to bring the person to a relaxed state of mind and body.

Ki flows through the meridian pathways in all parts of the body. There are more than 300 acupressure/tsubo points along the way. Acupuncture requires the insertion of a single needle for each acupoint selected. In shiatsu the application to these meridian pathways by the practitioner's fingers, hands, knees, or elbows covers several of these critical points simultaneously.

Continual diagnosis is part of the treatment. It is a supportive system: reciprocal, interdependent, and cooperative between giver and receiver. The healing energy and awareness build in this synergy for both practitioner and client.

Throughout this duet in movement, the use of the practitioner's two hands -- mother hand and messenger hand -- allows continuous motion. The client experiences no pain, but rather a comfortable feeling of partnership in the awakening of powerful self-healing forces. Mutual meditation on the origin of deep breathing clears the mind, allowing fresh oxygen to replenish and rejuvenate the internal organs, so that a deeper sense of self-awareness evolves and healing occurs.

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