| Shiatsu (Japanese from shi, meaning finger, | | | | Therapy. The Japanese word |
| and atsu, meaning pressure) - is a hands-on | | | | “Shiatsu†is known all around the |
| therapy technique originating in Japan. | | | | world. |
| Shiatsu follows similar principles to | | | | |
| Chiropractic or western massage using the | | | | In the English translation, this unique, |
| principles of anatomy and physiology. The | | | | originally Japanese, hands-on therapy is also |
| thumbs, palms, and fingers (no knees or | | | | called “Shiatsu.†Essence of |
| elbows are used in the foundation form of | | | | Shiatsu The characteristic of Shiatsu is to |
| shiatsu therapy) are used to apply pressure | | | | practice using only the fingers, palms and |
| to designated areas of the body. | | | | especially the thumbs, but the essence of |
| | | | Shiatsu is “Diagnosis and Therapy |
| All Shiatsupractors (Lisenced Shiatsu | | | | combined.†“Diagnosis and Therapy |
| practitioners) in Japan have to go through a | | | | combined†is the ability of the |
| government-regulated program which covers | | | | practitioner to use his sensory organs |
| mostly the traditional form of Shiatsu | | | | (palms, fingers and thumbs) to detect |
| Therapy. This traditional form, now commonly | | | | irregularities, such as stiffness of the |
| practiced in North America, was started by | | | | surface of the body, and to promptly correct |
| Tokujiro Namikoshi, from whose lineage | | | | or heal these problems. To acquire this |
| subsequent Shiatsu practitioners have been | | | | amazing skill takes considerable experience. |
| trained. | | | | The defining difference between Shiatsu |
| | | | therapy and modern and Kampo medicine (also |
| Namikoshi developed his knowledge through | | | | known as Traditional Chinese Medicine, such |
| trial and error, eventually gaining | | | | as acupuncture and moxibustion) is this |
| acceptance in the late 1950s. His Shiatsu is | | | | “Diagnosis and Therapy combinedâ€; |
| described as "Diagnosis and Therapy | | | | the fact that Shiatsu does not always require |
| combined", and relies on an understanding of | | | | previous diagnosis before commencing |
| how the body functions according to western | | | | treatment. |
| principles of anatomy and physiology, as | | | | |
| opposed to the principles in Traditional | | | | In modern medicine, the course of treatment |
| Chinese Medicine/TCM, although derivative | | | | can only be decided after a diagnosis has |
| forms of Shiatsu based on TCM (called | | | | been made. In TCM, it is also necessary to |
| Meridian Shiatsu) have been devised by later | | | | diagnose before treating. In Shiatsu Therapy, |
| practitioners graduated from the Japan | | | | practitioners promote the prevention and |
| Shiatsu College established by Tokujiro | | | | recovery of illnesses by stimulating the |
| Namikoshi in 1940. | | | | immune system and natural healing power that |
| | | | people already possess. Therefore, even |
| History of Shiatsu Shiatsu, as well as Teate, | | | | without a diagnosis or with a language |
| originated in Japan. There were many hands-on | | | | barrier, practitioners can, to quote Toru |
| therapies called “Teate†before | | | | Namikoshi, treat patients with “thumbs |
| traditional Chinese therapies such as | | | | and thin futon†at any time. |
| Acupuncture and Tuina were introduced to | | | | |
| Japan. Conflicting reports exist as to the | | | | Treating the body as a whole helps to restore |
| date of the first use of the word | | | | the physical functions of the nervous system, |
| “Shiatsuâ€. However, there is no | | | | circulatory system, bone structure, muscles, |
| doubt that it was Tokujiro Namikoshi who | | | | and internal secretion and stimulates its |
| founded the Japan Shiatsu College in 1940 and | | | | natural ability to heal illness. That being |
| established and systematized Shiatsu Therapy. | | | | said, skilled practitioners can contribute |
| At the age of seven, Tokujiro Namikoshi | | | | considerably to regional health and medical |
| developed a technique of pressing using his | | | | treatment. |
| thumbs and palms as he tried to nurse his | | | | |
| mother who suffered from Rheumatoid | | | | Shiatsu World Standardized Licenses |
| Arthritis. He called the technique | | | | Shiatsupractor is the name given to the |
| “Pressure Therapy†at first but | | | | recently introduced international |
| later renamed it “Shiatsu | | | | standardized Shiatsu license. This |
| Therapyâ€. He treated many high profile | | | | international standardization will not only |
| persons such as former Japanese Prime | | | | ensure quality by setting guidelines for the |
| Minister Shigeru Yoshida and other successive | | | | practitioners of Shiatsu therapy, but also |
| Prime Ministers, the Prosecutor for the | | | | for the instructors, worldwide. In the past, |
| International Military Tribunal for the Far | | | | in countries where Shiatsu has not been |
| East, Prosecutor Keenan, as well as | | | | regulated by law, instructors often have not |
| celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad | | | | learned the medical basics, such as anatomy, |
| Ali. In this way, Shiatsu became known not | | | | physiology, pathology, which are required |
| only in Japan but also overseas. The Japan | | | | subjects in Japan, and those instructors |
| Shiatsu College has produced many graduates | | | | often focus entirely on their knowledge of |
| who participate actively worldwide and who | | | | Kampo medicine. The name Shiatsupractor was |
| have devised their own Shiatsu styles. These | | | | first used in British Columbia, Canada in |
| styles are derived from the original Shiatsu | | | | 1990’s has since been recognized by |
| of Namikoshi and collectively termed | | | | the International Shiatsu Association as the |
| Derivative Shiatsu. For example, Tadashi | | | | official name for the of the international |
| Izawa established Meridian Shiatsu, | | | | standardized Shiatsu license. Presently, at |
| incorporating Meridian Theory of Traditional | | | | the end of 2003, in the regions of North |
| Chinese Medicine into his Shiatsu therapy. | | | | America (United States and Canada), Europe |
| Shizuto Masunaga’s book, called Zen | | | | (member nations of the EU), and Japan, the |
| Shiatsu in English, popularized Zen (or | | | | use of Shiatsupractor is officially protected |
| Masunaga) Shiatsu in North America and | | | | as a registered trademark. In Japan, the |
| Europe. Ryukyu Endo, a Buddhist priest, | | | | educational standard for Shiatsupractor |
| introduced Tao Shiatsu, which involves | | | | approval corresponds to that of the licenses |
| concentrating the mind and making | | | | for Anma, Massage and Shiatsu Practitioners. |
| supplications to the Buddha. | | | | In other regions, if there are no regulations |
| | | | by public officials in the country or states, |
| Kiyoshi Ikenaga, in his book Tsubo Shiatsu, | | | | the requirements are two years and 2200 hours |
| elucidates from an anatomical and | | | | in North America and two-to-three years and |
| physiological point of view, how meridian | | | | 1600 hours in Europe. |
| points (or Tsubo) are useful in Shiatsu | | | | |