What is Shiatsu? |

The word Shiatsu means “finger pressure”. The therapy is famous in Japan and is popularly known as oriental massage. Shiatsu associates two techniques: the Japanese manuals, of pressure on the body’s meridians through the fingers, and the theory of these meridians, from Chinese medicine, according to which longitudinal lines throughout the body connect touch-sensitive acupuncture points. These points, when stimulated, provide a feeling of comfort and tranquility, both internally and externally. The goal is to work on a person’s well-being, the so-called “inner happiness”.

Origin

This therapeutic method, created in 1868, considers that it is possible to treat and cure physical and psychosomatic illnesses. The idea is that each one’s vital energy – known by the Chinese as Chi and by the Japanese as Ki – can flow harmoniously in the human body.

How it works?

According to Chinese medicine, we all have an energy body. This organism contains energy channels that resemble the human circulatory system. In an energetic body, instead of blood circulating through veins and arteries, what we find in these channels is vital energy, being distributed to different points of the body and to specific segments called meridians.

The objective of Shiatsu is to verify in which points of the patient’s body there is an accumulation of energy, which therapists define as Jitsu. Through the technique, it is possible to identify the points that are lacking in energy, called Kyo, in order to balance this flow and restore the patient’s health.

applications

Shiatsu uses pressure with the fingers, thumbs and palms of the hands, without the use of any mechanical or other type of device, to manipulate the points along the energy channels (meridians).

This pressure applied to the skin corrects the body’s malfunction, in addition to promoting and maintaining health. But it is always worth emphasizing the importance of a correct evaluation.

Benefits

The benefits of Shiatsu range from maintaining health to prevention, integrating body and mind, thus having a holistic action. Among the diseases it is effective against are kidney disease, intestinal imbalances and stomach burns, as well as depression, stress and even self-esteem. The focus of the technique – as well as that of complementary and integrative health practices – is precisely to try to restore the body’s state of balance and not just to eliminate symptoms. Already in the first session, a decrease in anxiety, improvement in sleep and a general sense of well-being can be noticed. In general, the initial frequency is one session per week, which changes according to the assessment made by the professional.

Contraindications

In pregnant women, this technique must be applied with great care. Up to 3 months of gestation, the fetus is still forming, which discourages any type of massage. Other general contraindications are people with cancer, open wounds, varicose veins (varicose veins), osteoporosis and in the post-surgical period.