SHIATSU

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of
bodywork. The word shiatsu
means “finger pressure”, and
Shiatsu can be described as a
finger pressure massage.
How does shiatsu work? Like
acupuncture, Shiatsu is based on
the holistic system of traditional
Chinese medicine, where illness
is thought to result from
imbalances in the natural flow
of energy, or qi (pronounced
“chee”) through the body. Your
therapist uses finger and palm
pressure to energetic pathways,
called meridians to improve the
flow of qi. A scientific
explanation is that Shiatsu calms
an overactive sympathetic
nervous system, which improves
circulation, relieves stiff
muscles, and alleviates stress.
What does shiatsu feel like? The
Shiatsu therapist applies
pressure using her fingers,
thumbs, and/or palms in a
continuous rhythmic sequence.
The pressure feels more
localized, because unlike other
types of massage, the finger
pads are used to apply pressure
for most of the treatment
instead of the entire palm.
Certain pressure points may feel
wonderful, while others may
feel tender.