Shiatsu massage: Japanese acupressure therapy
Shiatsu is the secret of oriental women to combat stress, insomnia, depression, contractures, and more.
From Japan to the world, Shiatsu is born, a millenary technique that seeks homeostasis, which is the body's natural physiological balance. It eliminates toxins and helps in different treatments to promote health and relaxation. From the Japanese words, "Shi" (finger) and "atsu" (pressure) is a therapy that is done throughout the body, using only the pressure of the fingers and palms of the hands, which opens the door to a fascinating and surprising world to discover: health. Energy flows from the earth through our bodies. For oriental medicine, this energy is called Ki and passes through the meridians of the body as blood does through the arteries and veins.
What's it all about?
This Japanese therapy uses acupressure that helps to keep the body balanced and that gradually makes the body regain the power of self-healing that we all have and thus can function optimally at any time. The Shiatsu contemplates the treatment in a holistic way, in which the global treatment solves the local problems, so it does not contemplate the attitude of seeing only the trees, but it has a vision of the whole forest. The idea can be summed up in one sentence: the search for balance between mind and body; in this way the person is healthy. If that balance can be maintained until the end of his life, this person's life will have been very healthy. But life is not so simple, life is not easy. However, it may be more bearable with some preventive measures. What Shiatsu tries to do is to try to be the means for the pursuit of such a longed-for end.
Imbalances
When our blood does not flow freely there are problems of high or low blood pressure, clots, arterial blockages, and cardiovascular accidents, among others. In the same way, according to the oriental teachings, if we have an imbalance and a bad circulation of our energy the disorders in our body begin. In Western societies the most common cause of this imbalance is stress. Oriental medicine developed over hundreds of years different methods to release the stagnant energy in the body through dance, martial arts, and massage. Shiatsu is a technique that has its roots in the millenary knowledge of Chinese acupuncture, but instead of using needles to stimulate the different points on the map of the human body, fingers are used, thus becoming much less invasive and more pleasant.
600 treatment points
Work is done on all the muscle chains and also on all the acupuncture meridians in a single session. This is done through points called VAN (vein, artery, nerve). Each point belongs to a current line through which energy also passes to the internal organs. At the physiological level, it produces a positive alteration of neurochemicals and neurotransmitters. When the path between these points of the body and the brain is obstructed by weakness or excess tension, it must be harmonized and to achieve this.
In a Shiatsu practice, there are more than 600 anatomically located points for which Namikoshi's Shiatsu has a special body map. The benefits of shiatsu massage include combating stress, chronic pain, sinusitis, headaches, digestive problems, depression, insomnia, and spinal problems. For rehabilitation treatments and also for after surgery, among many other pathologies. It is of great help to alleviate symptoms and often avoid acute clinical cases or surgeries. It helps us in contractures, hernias, sprains, tears, cramps, and disorders in the blood circulation.
Shiatsu also stimulates the peripheral areas of the body and also creates a lymphatic drainage effect, which can improve irrigation problems such as varicose veins. It works in obesity problems because it lowers the level of anxiety, puts the user of Shiatsu in contact with his body in a pleasant way, and encourages blood flow, which helps metabolize food. Muscle tension also implies tension in the organs and creates an imbalance in them. Organs contract and do not perform properly. In these circumstances, when the organs and body function slowly, the Shiatsu relaxes and unblocks the internal organs by applying pressure at different points throughout the body.
Who can benefit from shiatsu?
There is no age restriction, and it can even be used during pregnancy as it helps prevent lordosis by making the spine more flexible. A similar beneficial state has in women with menstrual cramps. However, care must be taken in illnesses that are medical emergencies such as peritonitis, pancreatitis, etc. When there is a fever it is also not advisable to apply Shiatsu. Shiatsu can be administered to babies, children, adults, and older adults. It does not have secondary effects, it is very safe and that is one of the reasons why it is endorsed by the Ministry of Health of Japan.
