By Brian Eckerling, LMP 

While many people are familiar with Western modalities of massage - Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports, etc. – they are less aware of the rich massage traditions of Asia. Shiatsu is a form of massage that evolved in Japan. Like other forms of Eastern massage, it is grounded in the concept of balancing the flow of energy, called ki, in the body. Pain, illness, and disease are thought to result from blockages and imbalances of ki. The massage practitioner seeks to restore balance by tonifying the areas where there is a deficiency of energy and dispersing areas of excess.

Some people think of Shiatsu as acupuncture without needles. Both are grounded in the same map of energy pathways (called meridians) and fundamental concepts used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Along these meridians are points where the ki is especially strong or accessible, much like an eddy in a river where deep pools form. While an acupuncturist will insert needles into these points, the Shiatsu practitioner uses his or her thumb, hand, knee or elbow to influence the ki. Like removing a dam in a river, relieving blockages in one part of the meridian can often have a profound affect along that same line. Thus, a headache may be treated by holding points in the arm and hand, for example.

A Shiatsu session looks very different from a Western-style massage. The receiver remains clothed, wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothing similar to what is worn for yoga or exercise (though pants are preferable to shorts). While a table is sometimes used, most often the massage is done on a large mat or futon that allows more room for the stretches that are incorporated into the session. Each meridian line is worked in different positions, giving the massage a very three-dimensional feel. No oil or lotion is used. Instead of long, gliding strokes, the Shiatsu practitioner relies on a combination of stretching, broad pressure, and more focused pressure on specific points. The amount of pressure used is adjusted to the needs of the client; while it can be firm and penetrating, it should never be painful or more than the client wants.

Generally, a Shiatsu session begins with a hands-on assessment of the abdomen, called the hara. All of the 12 main meridian lines refer into this center, allowing the practitioner to feel where the ki is both the most in excess and the most deficient. He or she will then develop a treatment plan to address the imbalance. Since all of the meridians influence each other, and the goal is overall harmony among them, Shiatsu sessions will treat the entire body. Often symptoms are felt in areas with excess energy: the neck, shoulders, and head, for example. But if there is too much energy in one area, there is too little somewhere else. While not as readily felt by the client, it is these areas of deficient energy that often are at the root cause of the client’s symptoms. Building up energy in these areas often yields more lasting results than dispersing energy from where it is in excess. It is similar to a hyper, but actually over-tired child: underlying the outburst is a lack of sleep. He or she doesn’t need harsh discipline but simply a nap.

People receive Shiatsu for all the same reasons they may get other forms of massage or even acupuncture. As in other forms of massage, Shiatsu can be used to relieve the aches and pains that go along with muscular tension. While it can be used to address existing conditions, it is especially great in helping to maintain good health, by catching energetic imbalances before they become physical problems. As an ancient Chinese text puts it, “Treating disease after it has manifested is like waiting to dig a well until after one is thirsty.” So, if you are interested in trying a different, very holistic, penetrating form of Asian massage, come try a Shiatsu session for yourself at Dreamclinic.