Shiatsu

In this section I would like to share various Shiatsu techniques and information that, hopefully, will assist you in understanding Shiatsu and how to apply it to yourself and others. I hope this will eventually help to better your life or help you in bettering the lives of others.

Shiatsu is a Japanese word meaning: shi ("figure") and atsu ("pressure"). It is a form of massage which uses acupressure points and their meridians.

These acupressure points and meridians are energy pathways that exist in the body. The energy which courses through these meridians is called vital substance, sometimes written Qi or Chi (Chinese) or Ki (Japanese). It is energy which is on the verge of becoming materialized and matter on the verge of becoming energy. The points which are located along each meridian, act as vessels or cups which collect the energy or Qi as it flows along the meridian. In Japanese, such a point is called Tsubo.

These points can become deficient or depleted of Qi and be the cause or certain maladies of the physical form. This condition is called Kyo in Japanese.

These points can become excessive or too full of Qi and also cause problems in this area or others in the body. This condition is called Jitsu in Japanese.

The goal, then, in Shiatsu, consists of bringing about the condition in the body that is called Harmony. This, then, would be that condition or state in which the Qi present in the body is evenly and freely flowing. In this process we want to "tonify" or "pump up" deficient Qi and disperse or sedate excessive Qi.

The methods involved in accomplishing balance then can include circular motions on the individual points along the meridian or massaging either with the flow or against the meridians flow. Each Meridian flows either toward the head or toward the feet. For circular motions with your figures regarding the points, increasing energy of a point would include a clock-wise movement with your finger or fingers. To tonify a meridian or increase its energy you would massage with the flow it is directed in all along the meridian. Thus the reverse is instituted if you are to sedate an over abundance of energy. Work the full points in a counter-clockwise motion or the meridians against the flow of energy.

Two things you must be aware of in order to do this successfully. One is how to recognize either full or excessive energy or depleted or deficient energy in a point or along a meridian. There are any number of assessment methods, most of which, you learn so that you can palpate or feel with your hands how these conditions feel to the touch. There are portions of the human body that act as collecting areas of the meridian systems. Some of these would include the head, the hands, stomach area, back area or legs and feet. Accessing any of these areas where the meridians collect allows us to ascertain the condition that the individual meridians are in at any given time. Working with all the meridians in a given area of the body has given us more specific forms of hand or foot reflexology, etc.

The other aspect to become familiar with is which points or meridians have contra indications involved with them. For example, in oriental tradition it is usually recognized never to deplete Kidney Energy. It is believed that each person is born with just so much of this form of energy and that it does not get replenished once it is depleted. Certain points are contraindicated, not to be worked under certain conditions. At times it may be harmful or detrimental to the health of the person. It is best to read up on these before you practice. I will attempt to give these contra indications with each section listed if there are any. Know the limits of what to treat and how to treat any condition before you start practicing. Learn how to assess for what excessive or deficient energy feels like and how to identify it. Then learn how to either sedate or tonify the energies present. Don't allow these finer points of information to deter you from practicing or learning how to treat yourself or others.