WHAT IS SHIATSU?

‘Healing is the return of the memory of wholeness’

Deepak Chopra

What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a healing art, originating in Japan, which uses the power of touch and pressure, through the practitioner’s thumbs, fingers, palms, and knees, elbows and feet, as well as stretches and rotations of the receiver’s body, sometimes dynamic, sometimes seemingly quite static, to enable the positive movement of Ki (energy) throughout the body and to stimulate the clients own natural self-healing qualities.

To receive, Shiatsu is deeply relaxing and yet invigorating, leaving a feeling of tranquillity and a sense of being in touch with every part of one’s body. Giving Shiatsu is like performing a moving meditation and often leaves the giver feeling as balanced and energized as the receiver. Shiatsu always takes place fully clothed.

Shiatsu was developed in Japan, and in common with acupuncture and other East Asian therapies, it works on the body’s energetic system, using the network of meridians, or energy pathways, which connect to the internal organs, working in a holistic way relating to our emotional, psychological, mental and spiritual wellbeing.

The concept of the body as an ‘energetic’ organism has through centuries of experience and study evolved into a system of medical theory and practice which is rich, poetic and life changing! This concept is now increasingly being acknowledged and explored in the West, it is a deep and nuanced subject but on a very basic level, energy, (Ki, Qi, Prana), flows through the body, rather like a system of rivers. Things may happen to upset the smooth flow of Ki causing blockages in some areas, weaknesses or stagnant pools in others. Such imbalances in Ki may lead to a whole range of symptoms, physical, psychological, mental and emotional.

Shiatsu uses physical pressure and meridian stretches to unblock the ‘dams’-which show up as tight muscles and areas of stiffness, and revitalize the empty areas, which may feel cold, weak or just needing to be held. East Asian medical theory provides a framework by which the Shiatsu practitioner can assess the body’s energetic state and needs and can explain why the body holds tension in certain areas or points and feels weak in others.

History of Shiatsu

Massage, along with acupuncture and herbalism, was for centuries an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine, which was introduced to Japan by a Buddhist monk in the 6^th century. The Japanese developed and refined many of its methods to suit their own physiology, temperament and climate. In particular they developed the manual healing and diagnostic arts, evolving special techniques of abdominal diagnosis, treatment and massage, which are used in Shiatsu today.

However, the practice of massage known by the old name of anma (anmo or tuina in China) became gradually divorced from medicine and more associated with relaxation and pleasure. Certain practitioners were concerned to preserve massage and related techniques as an accepted healing art.

In the early part of the 20th century, one such practitioner, Tamai Tempaku, incorporated the newer Western sciences of anatomy and physiology and disciplines such as physiotherapy and chiropractic care into several older methods of treatment. Originally he used the term Shiatsu Ryoho or finger pressure way of healing, then Shiatsu Ho or finger pressure method. Now known simply as Shiatsu, it was officially recognized as a therapy by the Japanese Government in 1964, so distinguishing it from anma and Western massage.

Styles of Shiatsu

Today, Shiatsu has a number of different styles, philosophical approaches and theoretical bases. Practitioners around the world are still evolving new approaches to treatment. Some concentrate on acupressure points, while others emphasise more general work on the body or along the pathways of energy to influence the Ki that flows in them. Other styles highlight systems, such as the Five Element system or the macrobiotic approach,

The approaches most commonly found in Britain are Zen Shiatsu, Five Element Shiatsu, Movement Shiatsu, Shintai Shiatsu, Barefoot Shiatsu and Namikoshi Shiatsu.

Pathways of the Shiatsu meridians/channels according to Shizuto Masanaga

The Science and Research Behind Shiatsu

The body of research into the effectiveness of Shiatsu is continuing to grow. Gathered from empirical research studies, review articles, client-practitioner observational studies and reflective commentaries that have been published in professional, peer reviewed journals during the past forty years.

This includes:

RCTs: randomised controlled trials in the UK, Europe and Japan. (1)
Pre-post outcome studies for a wide range of health issues including, but not limited to, chronic stress, hypertension, angina, back, shoulder and neck pain, schizophrenia (2)
Large-scale surveys of Shiatsu clients and Shiatsu practitioners (Switzerland, UK, Spain, Austria) (8)
Quasi-experimental and observational studies with before and after comparisons within case series treatments (e.g. 156 Shiatsu sessions with 10 GP-referred patients with chronic digestive problems, muscle pain, and depression) (4)
A study in 2019 into Shiatsu at St Lukes University in Tokyo, Japan for chronic lower back pain found that combining Shiatsu with standard treatment for low back pain improves symptoms and quality of life. Effects of it were studied over a period of 6 months. (9)

The evidence base for Shiatsu continues to grow – in quantity and quality (methodological rigour)

Meta-analysis published in 2018 links Shiatsu to improved physiological, psychosocial, psychological and emotional health. (1)
Shiatsu’s effect on relaxation, pain relief, and improvement in breathing and physical activity over a three-year period in a before-and-after-study of 948 clients (8)
Japan Shiatsu College, Tokyo: Shiatsu Therapy Research Lab Reports (1998-2012) on the effect of autonomic nervous function applying Shiatsu pressure whilst using measurement electrodes to stimulate the skin and muscles of the cervical region finds reductions in blood pressure and heart rate (6)

Several research studies have found that Shiatsu correlates with health improvements for:

Back and muscle pain
Menopausal symptoms
Fibromyalgia
Digestive problems
High blood pressure
Anxiety
Depression
Stress

(1,3,5,6)

Here is more good news:

Results of large-scale surveys in Switzerland, the UK, Austria and Spain show that Shiatsu positively reinforces other nonpharmacological therapies such as physiotherapy, psychotherapy and occupational therapy. (8)
An independent evaluation of Shiatsu was commissioned by the European Shiatsu Foundation and led by a team of researchers at the University of Leeds, UK. Longitudinal research with 948 Shiatsu clients in the UK, Spain and Austria following pre-post outcomes finds that general well-being, health maintenance, health promotion and patient self-awareness are demonstrable benefits of receiving Shiatsu. The research also suggests there is added value and potential economic benefit arising from Shiatsu treatment with reduced uptake of drugs, fewer GP visits and less employee sick leave. (8)
Comprehensive review of Shiatsu and Acupressure by Thames Valley University finds ‘promising’ evidence for Shiatsu studies treating musculoskeletal and psychological problems; strong evidence for a range of specific symptoms treated using acupressure. (2)
Existing evidence suggests that Shiatsu treatments can contribute to significantly fewer doctors’ visits and drug prescriptions. Based on research following Shiatsu treatments for those living with a range of chronic symptoms. (4)

References –

Kleinau, A. et al. 2016. A Review of Shiatsu and an Endpoint Analysis (Meta-Analysis) of Controlled Studies on the Efficacy of Shiatsu Research.
Robinson, N. et al. 2011. The evidence for Shiatsu: A Systematic Review of Shiatsu and Acupressure. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,
Brady, H. et al. 2001.The Effects of Shiatsu on Lower Back Pain. In: Journal of Holistic Nursing. Official journal of the American Holistic Nurses Association
Pirie, Z. 2003. The Impact of Delivering Shiatsu in General Practice. PhD thesis. University of Sheffield
de Albuquerque, A.C. et al. 2008. Effects of five weeks of a Shiatsu Therapy Programme on the Stress Phase and Blood Pressure of Hypertension Adults.
Yuan, S.L. et al. 2013. Effects of Shiatsu in the Management of Fibromyalgia Symptoms: A Controlled Pilot Study.
Browne, N. et al. 2018. Relieving pressure – an evaluation of Shiatsu treatments for cancer and palliative care patients in an NHS setting.
Long, A.F. 2007. The Effects and Experience of Shiatsu: A Cross-European Study. Final Report. School of Healthcare, University of Leeds.
Daiki Kobayashi et al 2019 Shiatsu for chronic lower back pain: Randomized controlled study- St Lukes University, Tokyo

To find out more about Shiatsu, to find a registered practitioner who has completed a three-year training programme please contact the Shiatsu Society, established in 1981, the UK’s leading professional association for Shiatsu practitioners.

Professional Members (MrSS, SrSS, FwSS) on the Register of Practitioners have completed an approved level of Training, follow our Code of Conduct and Ethics and are fully insured. In choosing a Shiatsu Society registered practitioner you can be assured of their high standards of professional practice.

For more details https://www.shiatsusociety.org/about-us