 The homeland of Shiatsu is Japan. It is a form of physical therapy in which pressure is applied on acupuncture points to achieve balanced body energy and improve health. Although the name simply means "finger pressure", shiatsu is applied by other parts of the hand, as well as elbows and knees.
This art has received its name at the beginning of the century, although it has its origin in ancient times. It is a unique combination of classical Oriental Medicine, the story of which begins with acupuncture 4000 years ago, and the rich, still living tradition of people’s medicine.
Shiatsu was name for various types of massage techniques, but those who practice them are united by a principle - they believe in the existence of a vital energy called "Ki " which transcends through interconnected channels (or meridians) and the body. Each meridian is associated with a particular organ or psycho- physical function and contact its energy " Qi " can be found at certain points along its route: these acupuncture points in Japanese are called "tsubo ". In a healthy body there is a balance and "Ki " flows freely along the meridians similar to the fuel line, and feeds the body parts. But when the body is weakened due to incorrect lifestyle, emotional stress or injury, " Qi " cannot circulate freely and in some parts of the body there is a shortage of energy and other accumulated surplus and then the body has a disease.
Most of us fall into the category "almost healthy" people - in other words, our physical condition is not fully balanced. In such cases, we are prone to colds and stomach disorders and we often fall into gloom and depression. Shiatsu is the perfect home remedy for treating such "almost healthy" individuals or it can simply be applied just as a preventive measure. There is no drastic intervention in the processes of the body as massage restores energy balance and thus helps the body to cope with the disease . |
