Shiatsu is a kind of Japanese therapeutic massage created in Japan, which has spread internationally. The 1915 Japanese book, Shiatsu Ryoho written by Tenpaku Tamai is probably the first written reference to modern Shiatsu. Yet somehow, Tokujiro Namikoshi's (1905-2000) followers consider him to be the inventor of Shiatsu. Joy Taylor is a Practitioner of Shiatsu in Sheffield England.

Shiatsu regulates your nervous system and promotes natural healing by stimulating chemical responses inside your body. The therapeutic result comes from the fact that Shiatsu causes the release of hormones and body chemicals necessary to cure, to soothe, and to make your mind and body function optimally.

Shiatsu has been given official recognition by the EU Parliament also. It is among the eight non-conventional, complementary medicine disciplines stated in the Collins Report, which was used by the European Parliament in May 1997 (see references).

There are 838 fundamental shiatsu pressure points, called Atten in Japanese. These points can be found on the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels, bones, and endocrine glands. As the therapy goes, the therapist feels the condition of the body, and uses suitable types of pressure. The basis rule is, the tighter the muscles are, the lighter the pressure should be used. As the muscles relax, the pressure becomes deeper but it is certainly firm and steady. Knuckles, fists, elbows, and knees are not used throughout a Namikoshi Shiatsu Treatment as they lack the required sensitivity.

Is Shiatsu any different from massage?

To understand Shiatsu better, we could compare it to Western massage. Both of them are based on anatomy and physiology. Nevertheless, there are differences in the philosophy and the technique used by the therapist. Shiatsu technique uses finger and palm pressure but without rubbing, while western massage uses a rubbing motion. No oil or cream is ever applied during a Shiatsu treatment, as there is no rubbing in Shiatsu.

The major difference between Shiatsu and other modern Western styles of bodywork, known as massage, is in the way of applying pressure. In Shiatsu it is deep delicate pressure, using hands, thumbs, and fingers. Western Massage, on the other side, uses movements along the body surface also using herbs and oil as a lubricant.

Taking part in Shiatsu treatment is quite easy for everybody. In Shiatsu removing your clothes is not necessary. In typical Western Massage, that is generally performed on bare skin with oils or lotions, you have to partially or fully disrobe.

The therapeutic benefits and ease of Shiatsu have made it so popular all over the world.

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