Shiatsu
Encyclopedia
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure;" it is a type of alternative medicine
consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression. There are two main Shiatsu schools: one incorporating elements of western anatomical and physiological theory, and the other based on Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM). Shiatsu is traditionally performed on a futon mat, with clients fully clothed.
In 2006 a large scale systematic review
was carried out by the Shiatsu Society UK in association with Thames Valley University
. The review found that studies generally lacked controls or blinding, and concludes that "there was insufficient evidence both in quantity and quality on Shiatsu".
The European Shiatsu Federation funded a report in 2007 which highlighted that the sampled clients viewed their practitioners as being listening and being accepting of the client. The practitioner was also perceived as trustworthy, skillful and warm. Clients also reported feeling relaxed, calm and better able to cope with things. A statistically significant improvement in self-reported symptoms was reported across a large number of participants, with stress levels and muscular/joint problems showing the most improvement.
from shi, meaning finger, and atsu, meaning pressure), as well as Teate (手当て, pronounced te-a-te) originated in Japan. There were many hands-on therapies called Teate before traditional Chinese therapies such as Acupuncture
and Tuina (called Anma
in Japan) were introduced to Japan around 1000AD. The practice of this massage was a semi-mystical activity performed by women and the blind. The term shiatsu may have been first cited in a 1915 book, Tenpaku Tamai's Shiatsu Ryoho.
Tokujiro Namikoshi
founded the Japan Shiatsu College in 1940 and systematised a form of shiatsu therapy based on Western anatomy
and physiology
. In Japan, Namikoshi's system enjoys special legal status, and its adherents often credit him with the development of shiatsu; the story is told that at age seven, Tokujiro Namikoshi developed a technique of pressing with his thumbs and palms as he tried to nurse his mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis
. Shizuto Masunaga, originally a student and then teacher at the school, and professor of psychology at the Tokyo University, opened his own school (Iokai Center of Shiatsu) and taught what has become known as the Zen style of Shiatsu based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Other styles of shiatsu exist; adherents of the Namikoshi school generally contend that these are derived from the work of Namikoshi and refer to them as Derivative Shiatsu. However, Namikoshi's school was (and continues to be) devoted to reconciling the ancient massage arts of Japan with Western medicine in line with the efforts Japan made since the turn of the 20th century to 'westernise' certain elements of its culture, and it ignores traditional Chinese medicine and its systems of channels. Masanuga, on the other hand, was intent on reconciling the massage arts with traditional Chinese medicine, and went back to early texts (such as the Huang-Di Nei Jing - The Yellow Emperor's Essentials of Medicine, a compilation of Taoist theory and a text book of acupuncture) which influence most Shiatsu styles today. Some of the various styles are listed as follows:
Mention should also be made of Tansu, a shiatsu style using Indian Tantric practices, and of those who combine the principles of Feng Shui with the energy field studies of Semyon Kirlian, Robert Beck, John Zimmerman and others in their practice of Shiatsu.
The characteristic of shiatsu as defined by Namikoshi is to apply pressure using only the fingers, palms and especially the thumbs on points that have been related to the central and autonomic nervous systems. Masanuga, who identified reflections of the acupuncture channels in the arms and legs, considered that shiatsu should a) involve the whole body, b) require a focused practitioner sensitive to the energy distributions of the body, and c) provide an extra dimension of connection and support (using both hands where one 'listens' and the other acts). In both styles, however, the essence of shiatsu is "Diagnosis and Therapy combined."
"Diagnosis and Therapy combined" is the claimed ability of the shiatsu "practitioners" to use their sensory organs (palms, fingers, and thumbs) to detect disharmonies in the energetic components of the body, (such as stiffness or slackness at or within its surface), and to perform routines to correct these problems. This blurring of the boundaries between diagnosis and treatment is a defining difference between shiatsu and Kampo medicine (also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM), such as acupuncture
and moxibustion
).
In Zen Shiatsu, the diagnosis proceeds through several stages. The practitioner first looks for signs in the subject's superficial appearance and odor, in the sounds he or she makes and in the sensations felt by touch. The practitioner also examines the principal pulses in the wrists (there are others in the body) and the appearance of the tongue, and interprets how the subject answers questions about his or her health and particular problem. The practitioner will also feel for "energy imbalances" related to the internal organs in and around the abdomen and view signs of these in the back. In TCM, illness is believed to be caused by an invasion of external factors and/or from emotional disharmonies within. External factors may eventually penetrate to the interior of the body and cause serious illness, just as internal factors move to the exterior and cause problems at the surface of the body and in the subject's behavior. Thus similar symptoms may have different causes.
. In other areas a two year degree is standard, and still other areas where vocational certification is accepted.
In Japan, anyone who practices shiatsu therapy must be licensed with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Shiatsupractors are required to study at least three years/2200-hour educational programme of shiatsu therapy in the universities or colleges in Japan, which are authorised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and pass the national exam to be licensed.
While shiatsu therapy is recognised in Japan, and where the words "healing" and "illness" are included in its description, it is not readily accepted by other health authorities. In some European countries, it is illegal for ineffective treatments like Shiatsu to use words implying healing, curing or treatment. While Shiatsu was one of the eight disciplines named in the Collins Report adopted by the European Parliament in 1997 (European Parliament 1997) which called for steps to regulate complementary therapy practice, the same report also called for more research into their efficacy.
"Shiatsupractor" is the name given to a recently proposed international standardized shiatsu license. By the end of 2003, some regions of North America (United States
, and Canada), Europe (member nations of the EU), and Japan
, the use of Shiatsupractor was officially protected as a registered trademark. In Japan, the educational standard for Shiatsupractor approval corresponds to that of the licenses for Anma
, Massage
, and shiatsu practitioners.
In Canada
, shiatsu has not been regulated as of yet and the name "Shiatsupractor" is only used to explain the style and hours of training received. Some specific schools in British Columbia
, Canada
teaching the Tokujiro Namikoshi
style of shiatsu have adopted this term as their graduate standard. However, other schools may differ in the styles of training (i.e. Tokujiro Namikoshi
style, Zen Shiatsu
style and Shinso Shiatsu, etc..).
Alternative medicine
Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....
consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression. There are two main Shiatsu schools: one incorporating elements of western anatomical and physiological theory, and the other based on Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
(TCM). Shiatsu is traditionally performed on a futon mat, with clients fully clothed.
Evidence base
There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu is effective at treating any disease.In 2006 a large scale systematic review
Review
A review is an evaluation of a publication, a product or a service, such as a movie , video game, musical composition , book ; a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theater show or dance show...
was carried out by the Shiatsu Society UK in association with Thames Valley University
Thames Valley University
The University of West London is a public university based in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in Ealing and Brentford, London, and Reading, Berkshire....
. The review found that studies generally lacked controls or blinding, and concludes that "there was insufficient evidence both in quantity and quality on Shiatsu".
The European Shiatsu Federation funded a report in 2007 which highlighted that the sampled clients viewed their practitioners as being listening and being accepting of the client. The practitioner was also perceived as trustworthy, skillful and warm. Clients also reported feeling relaxed, calm and better able to cope with things. A statistically significant improvement in self-reported symptoms was reported across a large number of participants, with stress levels and muscular/joint problems showing the most improvement.
History
Shiatsu (指圧 JapaneseJapanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
from shi, meaning finger, and atsu, meaning pressure), as well as Teate (手当て, pronounced te-a-te) originated in Japan. There were many hands-on therapies called Teate before traditional Chinese therapies such as Acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
and Tuina (called Anma
Anma
Anma refers to practitioners of the Japanese massage of the same name, which has its origins in China. Anma was often practiced in communal business groups in feudal Japan. They were made popular by the famous popular culture character known as Zatoichi, quite possibly the best known and most...
in Japan) were introduced to Japan around 1000AD. The practice of this massage was a semi-mystical activity performed by women and the blind. The term shiatsu may have been first cited in a 1915 book, Tenpaku Tamai's Shiatsu Ryoho.
Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
founded the Japan Shiatsu College in 1940 and systematised a form of shiatsu therapy based on Western anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
and physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
. In Japan, Namikoshi's system enjoys special legal status, and its adherents often credit him with the development of shiatsu; the story is told that at age seven, Tokujiro Namikoshi developed a technique of pressing with his thumbs and palms as he tried to nurse his mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
. Shizuto Masunaga, originally a student and then teacher at the school, and professor of psychology at the Tokyo University, opened his own school (Iokai Center of Shiatsu) and taught what has become known as the Zen style of Shiatsu based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Other styles of shiatsu exist; adherents of the Namikoshi school generally contend that these are derived from the work of Namikoshi and refer to them as Derivative Shiatsu. However, Namikoshi's school was (and continues to be) devoted to reconciling the ancient massage arts of Japan with Western medicine in line with the efforts Japan made since the turn of the 20th century to 'westernise' certain elements of its culture, and it ignores traditional Chinese medicine and its systems of channels. Masanuga, on the other hand, was intent on reconciling the massage arts with traditional Chinese medicine, and went back to early texts (such as the Huang-Di Nei Jing - The Yellow Emperor's Essentials of Medicine, a compilation of Taoist theory and a text book of acupuncture) which influence most Shiatsu styles today. Some of the various styles are listed as follows:
- Tadashi IzawaTadashi IzawaTadashi Izawa was a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner who introduced the derivative form Meridian Shiatsu.After graduating from Kobe Second High School in 1916, he went to Korea to study at a school for Instructors...
established Meridian ShiatsuMeridian ShiatsuMeridian Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu. It uses the Meridian theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine that was introduced into Japan from China. Meridian Shiatsu contrasts with Tsubo Shiatsu where the tsubos or acupuncture points are determined from an anatomical and...
, incorporating Meridian Theory of Traditional Chinese MedicineTraditional Chinese medicineTraditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
(TCM) into his shiatsu therapy. - Shizuto MasunagaShizuto Masunagawas a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner and author of books on Shiatsu.He was born in 1925 in Kure, Hiroshima and graduated in Psychology from Kyoto University. In 1959, he graduated from the and went on to teach Psychology at the college. He is the author of Shiatsu which became Zen Shiatsu when...
’s book, called Zen ShiatsuZen ShiatsuZen Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom and United States. It was developed by Shizuto Masunaga, a graduate of the who published a book entitled Shiatsu in 1974. This was translated into English in 1977 and retitled Zen...
in English, popularised Zen (or Masunaga) Shiatsu in North America and Europe. - Kiyoshi IkenagaKiyoshi Ikenagais a Shiatsu Master, Shiatsupractor , Chairperson and CEO of the , Founder/Director of the , Director of the Canada Branch of the Japan Shiatsu Association, Registered Instructor of the International Shiatsu Association.-History:...
, in his book Tsubo Shiatsu, elucidates from an anatomical and physiological point of view, how meridian points (or tsubo) are useful in shiatsu therapy. - Bill Palmer and David Ventura have developed Movement ShiatsuMovement ShiatsuMovement Shiatsu was developed by Bill Palmer during the 1980s as a specialist approach for dealing with difficult chronic conditions and developmental problems through Shiatsu....
, which specialises in working with chronic conditions through specific experiments and exercises. - Yuichi Kawada's Yoseido shiatsu puts much importance on stretching eight imaginary "meridians" through exercise and also on exercising the eight regulating points of these meridians.
- Zen-Touch ShiatsuZen-Touch ShiatsuZen-Touch Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu and is particularly popular in the United States and Europe...
incorporates unique methods that address assessment, recommendations and shiatsu techniques for Body Mind Spirit are included in this form.
Mention should also be made of Tansu, a shiatsu style using Indian Tantric practices, and of those who combine the principles of Feng Shui with the energy field studies of Semyon Kirlian, Robert Beck, John Zimmerman and others in their practice of Shiatsu.
Timeline
- 1912: Tokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
found his own therapy by treating his mother with only his thumbs and palms. He first named this therapy Appaku then later changed it to shiatsu. - 1919: Tenpeki Tamai published his book . This is believed to be the first use of the term shiatsu.
- 1925: Namikoshi opened his first clinic for shiatsu therapy.
- 1940: Namikoshi opened the first school of shiatsu therapy in Tokyo. (Now this school is known as the Japan Shiatsu College.)
- 1940: Namikoshi established first association for shiatsu therapy. (Now this association is known as the Japan Shiatsu Association.)
- 1945: After World War II, traditional Japanese forms of medicine were outlawed by the MacArthur occupation government, after returning POWs told stories about being stuck with needles and burned with moxa when they fell ill. The ban caused much protest. Because there were still many blind shiatsu/Anma practitioners, Helen KellerHelen KellerHelen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
interceded with the American government. The ban was rescinded. - 1950: Toshiko Phipps becomes the first qualified shiatsu therapist to teach in the U.S.
- 1953: Namikoshi and his son Toru invited to the Palmer College of ChiropracticPalmer College of ChiropracticPalmer College of Chiropractic is a chiropractic school located in Davenport, Iowa. It was established in 1897 by Daniel David Palmer and is considered "The Fountainhead" as it was the first school of chiropractic in the world. For many years, Palmer College of Chiropractic was the world's largest...
to introduce shiatsu to the U.S. - 1955: Shiatsu therapy first recognised by Japanese government but only in conjunction with AnmaAnmaAnma refers to practitioners of the Japanese massage of the same name, which has its origins in China. Anma was often practiced in communal business groups in feudal Japan. They were made popular by the famous popular culture character known as Zatoichi, quite possibly the best known and most...
and massageMassageMassage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
. - 1956: In a famous incident that greatly increased the reputation of shiatsu and of Namikoshi Tokujiro, Namikoshi treated Marilyn Monroe after she fell gravely ill while visiting Japan and failed to respond to conventional treatment.
- 1957: Shiatsu officially recognised by Japan as a separate and distinct therapy.
- 1964: Shiatsu officially defined by the Ministry of Health and WelfareMinistry of Health and Welfare-External links:*...
in Japan. - 1980: Shizuto MasunagaShizuto Masunagawas a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner and author of books on Shiatsu.He was born in 1925 in Kure, Hiroshima and graduated in Psychology from Kyoto University. In 1959, he graduated from the and went on to teach Psychology at the college. He is the author of Shiatsu which became Zen Shiatsu when...
's students teaching in the U.S. and Britain, most notably Pauline Sasaki and Wataru Ohashi. - 2005: The Group Namikoshi Shiatsu Europe was formed with the aim of unify, manage and spread the Namikoshi Shiatsu style in Europe. Since then the Group has organized seminars and congress in some European cities as the one celebrated in Rome on November 2007, in which Namikoshi and Masunaga styles were compared.
- 2009: In the Congreso Internacional de Shiatsu, held in Madrid in May 2009, organized by the Asociación Internacional de Shiatsu with the presence of Matsuko and Takashi Namikoshi Namikoshi, grandson of Tokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
, establishing the European Alliance Shiatsu School for dissemination, education and the creation of unified international qualifications of shiatsu.
Definition
According to the Japanese medical department of the Ministry of Welfare (current Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare):The characteristic of shiatsu as defined by Namikoshi is to apply pressure using only the fingers, palms and especially the thumbs on points that have been related to the central and autonomic nervous systems. Masanuga, who identified reflections of the acupuncture channels in the arms and legs, considered that shiatsu should a) involve the whole body, b) require a focused practitioner sensitive to the energy distributions of the body, and c) provide an extra dimension of connection and support (using both hands where one 'listens' and the other acts). In both styles, however, the essence of shiatsu is "Diagnosis and Therapy combined."
"Diagnosis and Therapy combined" is the claimed ability of the shiatsu "practitioners" to use their sensory organs (palms, fingers, and thumbs) to detect disharmonies in the energetic components of the body, (such as stiffness or slackness at or within its surface), and to perform routines to correct these problems. This blurring of the boundaries between diagnosis and treatment is a defining difference between shiatsu and Kampo medicine (also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
(TCM), such as acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
and moxibustion
Moxibustion
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy using moxa, or mugwort herb. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Tibet, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mugwort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or...
).
In Zen Shiatsu, the diagnosis proceeds through several stages. The practitioner first looks for signs in the subject's superficial appearance and odor, in the sounds he or she makes and in the sensations felt by touch. The practitioner also examines the principal pulses in the wrists (there are others in the body) and the appearance of the tongue, and interprets how the subject answers questions about his or her health and particular problem. The practitioner will also feel for "energy imbalances" related to the internal organs in and around the abdomen and view signs of these in the back. In TCM, illness is believed to be caused by an invasion of external factors and/or from emotional disharmonies within. External factors may eventually penetrate to the interior of the body and cause serious illness, just as internal factors move to the exterior and cause problems at the surface of the body and in the subject's behavior. Thus similar symptoms may have different causes.
Regulation
Shiatsu originated in Japan. Certification in some parts of the world is a basic 3 year course, with clinical practice and both written and live examinations, and which may include elements of evidence-based medicine as well as TCMTraditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
. In other areas a two year degree is standard, and still other areas where vocational certification is accepted.
In Japan, anyone who practices shiatsu therapy must be licensed with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Shiatsupractors are required to study at least three years/2200-hour educational programme of shiatsu therapy in the universities or colleges in Japan, which are authorised by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and pass the national exam to be licensed.
While shiatsu therapy is recognised in Japan, and where the words "healing" and "illness" are included in its description, it is not readily accepted by other health authorities. In some European countries, it is illegal for ineffective treatments like Shiatsu to use words implying healing, curing or treatment. While Shiatsu was one of the eight disciplines named in the Collins Report adopted by the European Parliament in 1997 (European Parliament 1997) which called for steps to regulate complementary therapy practice, the same report also called for more research into their efficacy.
"Shiatsupractor" is the name given to a recently proposed international standardized shiatsu license. By the end of 2003, some regions of North America (United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Canada), Europe (member nations of the EU), and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the use of Shiatsupractor was officially protected as a registered trademark. In Japan, the educational standard for Shiatsupractor approval corresponds to that of the licenses for Anma
Anma
Anma refers to practitioners of the Japanese massage of the same name, which has its origins in China. Anma was often practiced in communal business groups in feudal Japan. They were made popular by the famous popular culture character known as Zatoichi, quite possibly the best known and most...
, Massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
, and shiatsu practitioners.
In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, shiatsu has not been regulated as of yet and the name "Shiatsupractor" is only used to explain the style and hours of training received. Some specific schools in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
teaching the Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
style of shiatsu have adopted this term as their graduate standard. However, other schools may differ in the styles of training (i.e. Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi
Tokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
style, Zen Shiatsu
Zen Shiatsu
Zen Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom and United States. It was developed by Shizuto Masunaga, a graduate of the who published a book entitled Shiatsu in 1974. This was translated into English in 1977 and retitled Zen...
style and Shinso Shiatsu, etc..).
See also
- Acupressure
- AcupunctureAcupunctureAcupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
- AnmaAnmaAnma refers to practitioners of the Japanese massage of the same name, which has its origins in China. Anma was often practiced in communal business groups in feudal Japan. They were made popular by the famous popular culture character known as Zatoichi, quite possibly the best known and most...
- Equine ShiatsuEquine ShiatsuEquine Shiatsu is a "bodywork therapy" for horses derived from the human form of Shiatsu.Although Shiatsu was invented in the early 20th century, transference of the technique to horses is relatively recent...
- Kiyoshi IkenagaKiyoshi Ikenagais a Shiatsu Master, Shiatsupractor , Chairperson and CEO of the , Founder/Director of the , Director of the Canada Branch of the Japan Shiatsu Association, Registered Instructor of the International Shiatsu Association.-History:...
- Meridian ShiatsuMeridian ShiatsuMeridian Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu. It uses the Meridian theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine that was introduced into Japan from China. Meridian Shiatsu contrasts with Tsubo Shiatsu where the tsubos or acupuncture points are determined from an anatomical and...
- Movement ShiatsuMovement ShiatsuMovement Shiatsu was developed by Bill Palmer during the 1980s as a specialist approach for dealing with difficult chronic conditions and developmental problems through Shiatsu....
- Nihon Kaifuku AnmaNihon Kaifuku AnmaNihon Kaifuku Anma is a type of Japanese restoration massage. It is used in some Japanese martial arts.Anma Massage originated in China 3000 years ago and was introduced to Japan about 1300 years ago. Shiatsu grew out of this tradition. Anma is deep tissue work using no oils and is based on...
- OnsenOnsenAn is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
- ReflexologyReflexologyReflexology, or zone therapy, is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion...
- Shizuto MasunagaShizuto Masunagawas a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner and author of books on Shiatsu.He was born in 1925 in Kure, Hiroshima and graduated in Psychology from Kyoto University. In 1959, he graduated from the and went on to teach Psychology at the college. He is the author of Shiatsu which became Zen Shiatsu when...
- Tadashi IzawaTadashi IzawaTadashi Izawa was a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner who introduced the derivative form Meridian Shiatsu.After graduating from Kobe Second High School in 1916, he went to Korea to study at a school for Instructors...
- Tokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro NamikoshiTokujiro Namikoshi is the founder of Shiatsu therapy.He was born on the island of Shikoku. As a young boy of seven, he discovered his hands-on therapy pressure method while treating his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis. He named this method “Shiatsu”....
- Tui NaTui naTui na , is a form of Chinese manipulative therapy often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, t'ai chi, and qigong....
- Zen ShiatsuZen ShiatsuZen Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom and United States. It was developed by Shizuto Masunaga, a graduate of the who published a book entitled Shiatsu in 1974. This was translated into English in 1977 and retitled Zen...