Introduction
The history of massage is important in the performance of the treatment and how it helps the profession to identify its strengths and weaknesses. Most of the concepts used today were written years ago. The history of massage is supportive and validating to the profession, and has stood the test of time to prove itself as a vital health enhancing and rehabilitative approach.
Origins and Evolution of Shiatsu
Shiatsu goes back to the 7th century AD, when a delegation of students was sent from Japan to China to study Chinese medicine and culture. Martial arts students, who frequently need to treat injuries or to revive an unconscious sparring partner, especially valued the knowledge they brought back.
Although Shiatsu traces its origins back to this earlier time, it acquired its unique characteristics only in the last century. It was during this time that Japan was more open to Western ideas than China, and there were two historical events in particular that shaped the development of Shiatsu.
The Japanese had been practicing their own style of Anma massage (similar to Tui Na) since the Edo Period (1602-1868). Around 1900, the government established licensing laws for practicing Anma. In part, this was a response to the increasing influence of scientifically based Western medicine, which the government hoped to encourage by these laws. There may also have been a desire to control Anma practitioners who had strayed into providing questionable forms of relaxation rather than therapeutic massage. In response to the new licensing laws, legitimate Anma practitioners began to call their work Shiatsu (which means “finger pressure”) and to emphasize the therapeutic benefits.
Following WWII, General Douglas MacArthur banned the practice of all traditional therapies in Japan, including acupuncture, moxibustion (burning mugwort on acupoints), and Shiatsu. Massage — including Shiatsu — was traditionally practiced by the blind in Japan, since it provided them with a livelihood, and their touch was considered especially sensitive. Shiatsu was eventually saved from the ban against traditional therapies when the Japanese Blind Association contacted Helen Keller. She petitioned President Truman, who overturned MacArther’s ban.
The threat to their livelihood motivated Shiatsu practitioners to downplay the origins of their work in traditional Chinese medicine. They increasingly described their work in Western medical terms and incorporated chiropractic and physical therapy techniques. These developments have led to the distinctive Shiatsu style we know today and also account for the variety of styles currently available.
There are three main styles or theoretical schools, each identified with an individual who provided the original distinctive focus: Namikoshi (Nippon style), Masunaga (Zen Shiatsu), and Serizawa (Acupressure Shiatsu).
Namikoshi’s style of Shiatsu is the one most often found in Japan. It places more emphasis on points than on energy channels, works the whole body (including stretches), and can be quite vigorous. Tokujiro Namikoshi established the Shiatsu Institute of Therapy in Hokkaido as early as 1925. He also founded the Japan Shiatsu Institute in 1940. He was concerned with the legal recognition of Shiatsu in Japan, which may account for his emphasis on Western medical theories. In addition to points, the emphasis of Nippon style Shiatsu is on the anatomical structure of the body — the muscles and bones — and the nervous system.
Shizuto Masunaga reintroduced the more traditional roots of Shiatsu, including energy meridians and Five Element theory. Masunaga, who was born into a family of Shiatsu practitioners, was interested in western psychology. He became a professor of psychology at Tokyo University and also taught psychology at Namikoshi’s Shiatsu school. In addition to valuing Chinese medicine, he was very interested in emotional, psychological, and spiritual development. This led to his creation of Zen Shiatsu.
Practitioners of Zen Shiatsu strive to maintain a meditative, intuitive state, allowing them to connect deeply with their clients and to detect changes in the body during the session. Zen Shiatsu practitioners see Shiatsu as a means of personal development, giving meaning and purpose to life, both for the client and the practitioner.
Katsusuke Serizawa, a student of physical therapy, Shiatsu, and Chinese medicine, was especially interested in a scientific explanation of the energy meridians. The focus of his studies was on acupoints or (as they’re called in Japanese) Tsubos. His research and extensive publications emphasize the change in electrical resistance of the skin over a tsubo point. He was especially interested in demonstrating the therapeutic benefits of Shiatsu in terms that were acceptable to modern scientific thinking. The western form of Serizawa’s Tsubo Therapy is called Acupressure Shiatsu and is not as widely known as Nippon and Zen styles.
Shiatsu first began to attract Western interest in the 1970’s, following President Nixon’s visit to China. Shiatsu is probably the most well-known style of Asian bodywork and is popular with all ages. One other difference between Shiatsu in Japan and in the West is that it’s become traditional in the West to practice Shiatsu on the floor, whereas this is rarely the case in Japan.
Shi and Ki
In Japanese, "shi" means finger and "atsu" means pressure. Shiatsu massage involves pressure application, gentle body manipulation and assisted stretching. Ki is the Japanese term for energy flow throughout the body. For thousands of years, Ki has represented the essence of life in Japanese culture (nourishment for the body, mind and spirit). Energy flows to organs through specific pathways or meridians. Shiatsu practice strives to eliminate energy imbalances within the organ systems, clearing the path for energy flow. Different pressure points, or tsubos, relate to different organs throughout the body. The practice focuses on these pressure points.
Five Elements
Chinese writings, dating back to the first century, name five elements that are active throughout the body (fire, earth, metal, water and wood). The elements represent the types of energy forces within the body. Fire imbalances create bitterness, earth imbalances create jealousy, and metal imbalances contribute to depression, according to certain Chinese beliefs. An imbalance in water creates fear, while wood imbalances create impatience. The five elements were introduced into Japanese culture during the sixth century and influenced the development and practice of shiatsu massage. Historical and traditional practices focus on finding elemental imbalances and returning energy to a stable state.
Lesson 2: Definition of Shiatsu
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to:
Define what is Shiatsu
Apply the basic rules when practicing Shiatsu
Identify the benefits of Shiatsu
Identify the contraindications of Shiatsu
Perform the basic strokes of Shiatsu
Introduction
The success in the application of shiatsu relies on the therapist awareness and skills. The therapist must know the benefits of shiatsu to address particular client’s needs. There are instances wherein shiatsu should not be performed, thus the therapist awareness to contraindications is crucial.
Definition of Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork. The word shiatsu means "finger pressure", and shiatsu is sometimes described as a finger pressure massage. Like acupuncture, shiatsu is based on the holistic system of traditional Chinese medicine, where illness is thought to result from imbalances in the natural flow of energy, or qi (pronounced "chee") through the body.
Shiatsu therapists use finger and palm pressure to energetic pathways, called meridians to improve the flow of qi.
Basic Rules
The following are some of the basic rules that should be followed before the practice of shiatsu:
Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes made of natural fibers. This will help with the flow of energy or qi.
The room should be warm, quiet, have adequate space and should be neat and clean. If not, this can have an adverse effect on the flow of qi.
The person receiving the therapy should ideally lie on a futon (a quilted Japanese mattress) or a similar floor mat. Pillows or cushions may be used to make the person comfortable.
Shiatsu should not be given or received by someone who has just eaten a large meal. Wait several hours before giving or receiving shiatsu.
No pressure should be exerted on varicose veins or injuries such as cuts or breaks in bones.
Although shiatsu can be of benefit to women while pregnant, there are four areas that should be avoided and these are the stomach, any part of the legs from the knees downwards, the fleshy web of skin between the forefinger and thumb, and an area on the shoulders at each side of the neck.
Ensure that the person is calm and relaxed.
It is generally not advisable to practice shiatsu on people who have serious illnesses such as heart disorders, multiple sclerosis or cancer. An experienced practitioner may be able to help, but a detailed and accurate diagnosis and course of treatment is essential.
Benefits of Shiatsu
Calming, grounding and deeply relaxing for body and mind
Helps to restore and rebalance energy levels
Creates a sense of well-being
Relieves stiffness and tension, improves posture
Helps clear toxins from the body
Improves immunity
Helps to prevent and relieve many conditions such as:
Headaches and migraines
Stress and anxiety
Backache
Neck and shoulder tension
Digestive problems
Menstrual problems
Joint pain and reduced mobility
Fatigue and insomnia
Contraindications
Shiatsu is often not recommended for those who have the following conditions:
Infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
Immediately after surgery
Immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor.
People with osteoporosis should consult their doctor before having shiatsu.
Prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having shiatsu.
Pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting any type of massage or bodywork. Shiatsu in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage.
Shiatsu should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.
Apply thumb pressure to the center of the thigh, then to the lateral and medial side of leg and foot. Do this step for two (2) repetitions. Knead and squeeze with back and forth motion.
Position the thigh in tree position, then apply palm pressing to the medial side of the thigh with back and forth motion for two (2) repetitions. Then apply thumb pressure for two (2) repetitions.
Position the thigh in reverse tree position, and then apply palm pressing to the lateral side of the thigh with back and forth motion for two (2) repetitions. Apply thumb pressure to the lateral side of the thigh for two (2) repetitions.
Back to the original position
Apply thumb pressure to the superior, medial, lateral and inferior sides of the knee and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions. Knead and glide with back and forth motion for two (2) repetitions.
Apply thumb pressure to the dorsal part of the foot and hold for three (3) seconds for two (2) repetitions. Then knead for two (2) repetitions.
Apply thumb pressure to the plantar side of the foot and hold for three (3) seconds for two (2) repetitions. Then knead for two (2) repetitions.
Apply flicking to the individual finger.
Apply ankle rotation clockwise and counterclockwise and stretched into plantar flexion and dorsiflexion. Hold for five (5) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.
Apply knee to chest stretching and hold for five (5) seconds for two (2) repetitions, and then pull and hold for five (5) seconds.
Apply cupping and quacking to the whole leg.
Repeat to the other side
Apply bilateral knee to chest stretching and hold for five (5) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.
Apply bilateral palm squeezing to the whole leg with back and forth motion. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.
Apply cupping and quacking. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.
Apply pulling for two (2) repetitions.