Of the literally dozens of massage styles practiced in the United States and Canada, one that is becoming particularly popular is Shiatsu. Founded in Japan, Shiatsu—also called “acupressure”—is a hands-on therapy that mainly involves the use of fingers, thumbs and palms on specific areas of the body to clear away organic “imbalances” and promote general health. You can find Shiatsu offered in most major spas and other massage salons throughout North America.
History
From the Japanese words “shi” (finger) and “atsu” (pressure), Shiatsu was not even known by that term until it was discussed in the 1915 book Shiatsu Ryoho by Japanese author Tenpaku Tamai. Tracing its origins back to around 1000 A.D., traditional Shiatsu has strong ties to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that imagines rivers of energy (ki, or chi) running through the body through specific channels. When these rivers are “blocked,” illness results. By removing this “blockage” and allowing ki to flow freely, health can be restored. In this respect, ancient Shiatsu is much like Chinese acupuncture, but no needles or punctures are required to achieve desired results.
In 1940, a Japanese healer named Tokujiro Namikoshi, who as a child had treated his mother’s rheumatoid arthritis with hands-on therapy, founded the Japanese Shiatsu College. Namikoshi’s goal was to enhance Shiatsu’s reputation by combining its ancient techniques with Western theories of anatomy and physiology. This modern form of Shiatsu is today recognized in Japan as a legitimate field of medicine. One cannot practice Shiatsu without a specific license.
In 1980, Shiatsu was introduced to North America and Europe by Japanese practitioners. Since that time, numerous variations of Shiatsu have been developed, some more spiritual, others more scientific. Regardless of the form, the objective is the same: To make the patient/client feel healthier, relaxed and energetic.
The Essentials of Shiatsu Massage
As defined by Namikoshi, Shiatsu consists of applying pressure using just the fingers, palms and thumbs on body points associated with the central and autonomic nervous system. As the technique has evolved, the idea of “diagnosis and therapy combined” has become very important to the discipline. Through practice, the therapist learns to detect “disharmonies” in the client’s body through touch alone and then uses Shiatsu pressure techniques to remove these disharmonies and return the body to a purer, healthier state.
The Benefits of Shiatsu Massage
Clinical studies of Shiatsu have found no evidence of any real health benefits. However, there’s little doubt that as a pure massage technique, Shiatsu can be very relaxing, enjoyable and, yes, invigorating. The kneading of muscles is similar to that done in traditional deep tissue massage, and thus often has the same positive short-term effects.
Professional Massage Therapy Training Courses Offered at Everest College
Everest College is one of America’s leading providers of professional massage therapy training.
Because Everest has dozens of urban campuses conveniently located throughout the United States, men and women interested in pursuing this exciting and rewarding career can likely find a campus conveniently close to their home or work. Everest’s courses are designed to prepare students for the licensing exam most states require in less than a year. Everest’s Career Placement teams work to prepare each graduate for their job search and interface directly with major health care employers to help fill new job openings. All Everest campuses also provide financial aid services for those who qualify.
People interested in training in massage therapy should contact Everest today for information on class schedules.
