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The Japanese word Shiatsu (meaning "finger-pressure") was coined in the
20th century. The term covers a variety of styles of therapy, the most common
in the UK being Zen Shiatsu. This style was developed by Shizuto Masunaga (1925 - 1981),
based on a combination of traditional Japanese and Chinese techniques, modern Western
ideas on anatomy and psychology, and a few new discoveries (or re-discoveries) of his own.
Shiatsu is founded on the same basic theory as acupuncture and other forms of traditional
Chinese medicine, involving ideas such as ki (or chi or qi) energy, Yin
and Yang, and the five elements. These ideas have been common currency in China for
thousands of years.
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The Japanese word ki (chi or qi in Chinese) translates as
"energy". It is comparable in meaning to the Western concept of energy in that
it is present throughout the animate and inanimate world, and is constantly being
transformed from one form into another. As far as human beings are concerned, ki
can manifest as movement, warmth, protection and containment, and can be taken in as food
or air (as well as the original ki that we are born with). In a healthy state, ki
is constantly flowing through the body. However, for various reasons (physical, psychological
or emotional) this flow can become blocked or out of balance, causing excesses or deficiencies
of ki to develop in certain parts of the body. This leads to the various symptoms which
manifest as "ill-health".
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In the West, we like to compare things in numerical terms - we measure energy in Calories,
temperature in degrees and weight in kilograms, and we rate our favourite things on a
"scale of 1 to 10"! In ancient China, they compared things using Yin and Yang.
If one thing was lower down the scale than another, it was more Yin, if it was higher up,
it was more Yang. Yin and Yang are relative terms - Yang means "more energy" or
"more active", while Yin means "less". A cup of freshly made coffee
is more Yang than an ice cream, but both are more Yin than a red hot fire (that’s speaking
in terms of temperature - in terms of brightness, vanilla ice cream is more Yang than black
coffee!).
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The 5 traditional Chinese elements are Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal. These are the
five basic forms of energy, which are constantly being transformed from one into another
throughout the natural world. Water creates Wood, Wood creates Fire, and so on. The names of
the elements are convenient labels, or images to help us understand their function, but
their meaning goes far beyond the label. In humans, for example, Wood energy is responsible
for growth, decision-making and creativity, but if it is allowed to get out of balance it
can lead to impatience, frustration and anger. Metal represents clarity, precision and
incisiveness, but if unchecked it can lead to depression and grief. The five elements are
interrelated in a complex way, so that an excess of one type of energy can over-control or
deplete another (e.g. Earth controls Water, and Water controls Fire). Five element theory
can seem confusing and arbitrary when first encountered, but it will start to make more
sense as you see it operating in your daily life, and in the world around you. The five
elements are central to the way most Shiatsu practitioners diagnose and treat their clients.
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Meridians are channels beneath the surface of the body through which energy flows.
Most meridians are named after organs of the body, and are related to the five elements
(for example the Bladder and Kidney meridians are associated with Water energy). Very
often a Shiatsu practitioner will see that the energy along one or more meridians is
blocked, such that there is an excess of energy at some points (manifested as tension,
tightness or fullness) and a depletion at others (weakness or emptiness). They will work
with the energy in these meridians to try to rebalance it. Most acupuncture points lie
on meridians, and Shiatsu practitioners will sometimes work on specific points by pressing
or holding them. However, Shiatsu differs from acupuncture (and acupressure) in that it
is more usual to work on the meridian as a whole rather than isolated points.
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Not very closely! As with the Chinese elements, the names of the meridians are
nothing more than convenient labels. The meridians and their actions were known in China
long before the precise physical functions of the internal organs were worked out. So while
there are some points of commonality (e.g. the Large Intestine meridian relates to
elimination, and the Lung meridian to breathing), the functions and associations of a
meridian are generally much broader than those of the organ it is named after. So, for
example, if your Shiatsu practitioner tells you after a treatment that your Heart meridian
needed attention, this does not imply that there is anything wrong with your
physical heart organ. In Shiatsu terms, it is much more likely to mean that you need
emotional support!
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Diagnosis plays a central role in Shiatsu, but it is framed in terms of oriental medicine
(ki, elements, meridians, etc) rather than Western physiology and pathology. A Shiatsu
practitioner may be able to tell you that you have, say, a Water energy imbalance or an Earth
energy imbalance, but not that you have diabetes or high cholesterol. Shiatsu diagnosis is
holistic rather than analytical, taking into account a wide range of clues based on what the
client says, observation of behaviour patterns and physical appearance, and touch. Many
practitioners begin a session with gentle palpation (i.e. diagnostic touch)
of the abdominal region. This region, called the hara in Japanese, is especially
important in Shiatsu diagnosis because it is central, soft and relatively unprotected,
so that subtle imbalances often reveal themselves more easily here.
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Based on the initial diagnosis (and on physical and visual feedback gained during the
session), the practitioner will seek to even out the perceived energy imbalances through
gentle pressure on the meridians, probably in conjunction with other techniques such as
rocking, stretches and joint rotations. As with diagnosis, Shiatsu treatment is holistic,
with the practitioner working on the whole body rather than focusing on the area where
symptoms are most obvious. Shiatsu works best if the client is as relaxed and comfortable
as possible, so you should close your eyes, relax your muscles (the practitioner will do
all the work if movement is required!) and refrain from speaking unless it’s really
necessary. But let the practitioner know the moment you feel any discomfort - otherwise
your body will start to tense up and the benefit of the session will be lost.
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Shiatsu has some features in common with European-style massage and other forms of
bodywork, in that the use of physical pressure and stretches serves to reduce muscular
tension and loosen stiff joints. However, the principal aim of Shiatsu is not to work on
localised muscles and joints, but on the overall energy system of the client. This is the
big difference between Shiatsu and other physical therapies. A Shiatsu practitioner
working on a shoulder joint, for example, will not just be focusing on the joint but on
the pattern of energy throughout the client’s body.
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It is more accurate to say that "Shiatsu aids healing" than that "Shiatsu
heals". The aim is to assist the body’s natural healing process by encouraging the
client’s energy to move into a more balanced state. Although the practitioner is in
physical contact with the client, they are manipulating the client’s energy rather than
their own. In this sense, Shiatsu is different from the Western "laying on of
hands", where healing energy is believed to pass from the practitioner to the
client.
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By the nature of Shiatsu, it is almost impossible for it to have harmful effects. The
aim is to shift energy around the body in such a way as to relieve areas of tension and
enliven weak areas. This is effectively a collaboration between the practitioner and the
client’s body, which will instinctively "want" to do the same thing, but may
need a little help to get started. It is very difficult to move energy the wrong way
(like trying to roll a heavy stone uphill). Once the energy starts to shift, it will
generally feel pleasant to the client, although in rare cases there may be a short-lived
"healing reaction" with, for example, flu-like symptoms for a few hours after
the treatment. This is a consequence of unblocking stuck energy, and when the reaction
has passed the client should feel much better than they did before the treatment.
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Shiatsu is complementary to mainstream Western medicine, not an alternative to it.
Shiatsu is particularly effective for the common, minor complaints that your GP is
unlikely to have much patience with - headaches, stiff necks and shoulders, backaches,
coughs, colds, stomach upsets, insomnia, fatigue, menstrual problems, anxiety and so
forth. But for acute, localised problems such as appendicitis, broken bones or a heart
attack, you should call an ambulance, not your Shiatsu practitioner! Both Shiatsu (and
other complementary therapies) and Western medicine have important roles to play,
and if you hear your Shiatsu practitioner "putting down" conventional healthcare
you should consider finding a different practitioner (equally, if your GP puts down
complementary medicine, look for a new GP!).
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First and foremost, your Shiatsu practitioner should respect your chosen lifestyle,
however "un-oriental" it is. Indeed, Shiatsu is particularly beneficial for
people in the high-stress occupations associated with the mainstream of modern life.
While your Shiatsu practitioner may lead a much more "alternative" lifestyle,
they will not try to tell you how to lead yours. However, they may discuss ways in
which you could "fine-tune" your life in order to get more out of it -
for example a change in diet or more exercise - much as your own GP might.
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A unique feature of Shiatsu is that it can be viewed as self-development as well
as therapy. Either as a client or a practitioner, Shiatsu helps you learn more about
the way your body works, and how intimately your physical health is linked to thoughts
and feelings. With time, you will find you become more sensitive to subtle changes in
yourself, and instinctively learn to compensate for imbalances as soon as they show
themselves. Many people find that Shiatsu combines well with other forms of self-development
such as yoga or meditation, and particularly those like aikido, qi gong and tai chi
which are aimed at developing awareness of ki energy.
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Copyright © 2000 Andrew May