Shiatsu Massage

What is it All About

The art of shiatsu massage is an old Eastern modality, and like the traditional Chinese medicine of acupuncture, it traces the lines of natural energy flow through your body.

If these passageways are blocked or in some other way unhealthy, the belief is that your entire body will suffer.

When pressure is applied to these energy paths or meridians, the flow of energy, or qi, is modulated and normalized.

It can also be said that the use of shiatsu massage can help calm down a nervous system that is overly excited.

It will improve circulation and stiffness, and in doing so, create a holistic and powerful effect that will alleviate stress.

“Shiatsu” can roughly be translated to finger pressure, and this makes sense given the fact that your massage therapist will be applying pressure to your back and your muscles primarily with the thumbs or the fingertips, though the palms are also frequently used.

This small amount of pressure is exerted in a continuous rhythmic sequence, and you'll find that the rhythm is one that is very easy to fall into.

The cyclical nature of the this massage is supposed to be similar to the biological rhythm of your body.

Who Should Have Shiatsu Massage

When people are looking into massage therapy, there may be a few different motivations behind it.

Perhaps they are simply looking to relax, or perhaps they are looking to relieve a specific ache in their back in a certain muscle group.

For many people, the Japanese massage therapy known as shiatsu has made their body and their spirit feel whole and healthy after a session.

How its Done

You'll find that Shiatsu massage, unlike Swedish massage, is applied primarily through the fingertips, and because the pressure can be a little bit intense, there can be feeling that verges on pain.

One way to describe this feeling might be to say that though the sensation is a little painful, it is not exactly pain; some people refer to it as “good pain” while others simply state that it is simply a very intense good feeling.

It is typically performed on the floor or on a low massage table, and it is especially popular for people who have body issues, or simply don't like to remove their clothes; it can be performed completely clothed as no massage oil is used.

If you are interested in this treatment, you'll find that it can help alleviate the pain, stress, and symptoms from a variety of different conditions.

As with many types of massage, it targets back pain, but it can also be used quite effectively to treat issues that are related to relaxation, low energy, and anxiety.

Many people find that it is an excellent solution for headaches and premenstrual pain, while other people feel that it can help with digestive problems as well.

Proper application of this treatment can also help deal with some of the chemical effects of depression and insomnia due to the release of endorphins that is created.

For many people, the use of shiatsu is intimately connected with restoring good circulation to the body.

If you are interested in making sure that your body stays in tiptop shape, this type of massage can be easily integrated into your routine.

Another very interesting and appealing therapy gaining more and more acceptance among spa goers that implements shiatsu and water at the same time is watsu, make time to read more about it.

Who Shouldn't Do it

As with any type of massage, this treatment should be avoided if you have any sort of contagious skin disease, open wound or raw rash.

It can also be a problem for people who suffer from blood clots, who are often cautioned away from massage therapies unless they are specifically recommended by their doctors.

Women who are pregnant also receive this warning and instead consider a pregnancy massage.

You'll find that shiatsu should not be performed over inflamed skin, tumors, recent fractures or bruises, due to the firm nature of the pressure.

Take some time to find out what massage your local spa or health resort has to offer you.

If you feel that you can benefit from a shiatsu massage session, there is no better time to try one out than the present!