Shiatsu is a form of bodywork that utilizes the vocabulary of the Chinese meridian system; it is usually done clothed, on a padded floor. We like to consider the “whole person” approach to bodywork, where we consider the influences of your lifestyle and circumstances (weather, sleep, diet, activity level, energy level, etc.) along with the immediate manifestations in the body (“my shoulders are killing me!”). Because of the use of assisted stretches and the parasympathetic nervous response (AKA “relaxation”), many liken shiatsu as “having yoga done to you.”
The meridians run throughout the body, with discrete points where energy and tension tend to accumulate. Many people are surprised by the intensity of these points, and amazed by the whole-body reaction to having them “worked.” The meridians have all kinds of associations in Chinese Medicine, and are considered to be tightly connected to the physical, organic, spiritual and emotional bodies. We use these associations to help guide our work, but I like to think that irrespective of the scientific validity of the associations, the physical work brings benefits, much as massage does.
The most common technique in shiatsu is to simply apply the hands to the body in a crawling position, and to work along the meridian. Forearms, elbow, and occasionally knees are utilized as well, depending on the particular application. Because we work on the floor, it is fairly easy to control the pressure, from a light touch from a pinkie finger to the strong application of a knee. All of our weight is on the floor, but we can control how much of it passes through you to get there. Compare this to table massage technique, where most of the weight is “wasted” through the feet.
Though the roots of shiatsu run deep, the method we use is fairly modern, coming to light in the past 50 years. Many credit Shizuto Masunaga with codifying the technique, and his student Waturo Ohashi for further developing the methods and working as chief ambassador to the world. Many of their student have added tools from other body art disciplines (massage, Thai massage, yoga, tai chi, Feldenkrais, Alexander Method, etc.) to the vocabulary of the method, which is an always evolving art form.
I’ve been studying yoga for 12 years, so I cannot help but to reach into that discipline to help guide my shiatsu. When giving a session, I try to put myself in the state of body-mind I achieve in yoga -- soft, deep breath; quiet, focused attention; dynamic, living relaxation. Likewise, I try to work in a way that can bring the same response to my receiver. I often feel my clientele can benefit from using even just a few of the techniques of yoga in their daily lives. To that end, I believe that shiatsu is an excellent complement to holistic approaches to well-being.
