Everyday Shiatsu

Shiatsu relies on the proper application of pressure on specific points on the surface of the body to eliminate fatigue and stimulate the body’s natural self-curative abilities. Shiatsu is traditionally performed on a mat on the floor. For the practitioner, working on the floor permits maximum versatility, as pressure can be applied with knees and feet as well as elbows and hands. “Thumbing” is one of the most useful and characteristic Shiatsu techniques, suitable for applying strong and focused pressure. – The japanese word shiatsu is composed of a character meaning finger (shi) and another character meaning pressure (atsu).

One of Shiatsu’s great advantages as a therapy is that it is given through clothes. The focus of Shiatsu pressure is not the skin surface, but the deeper body structures and above all the Ki within the body.

The systems of palpatory diagnosis and the extension of classical acupuncture meridians throughout the body mean that the Shiatsu treatment covers the whole body, providing a complete relaxation experience while at the same time focusing minutely on the receivers’s current treatment needs.

Zen Shiatsu in theory and practice treats the receiver as a whole, as did the most ancient versions of Chinese medical theory. Through the meridians, the giver treats the receiver’s mind, spirit and emotions as well as his physical body.