Frequently Asked Questions

A simple Japanese word meaning 'finger pressure', Shiatsu is the name coined earlier last century to describe an increasingly distinguished form of healing. Massage, along with acupuncture and herbalism, had for centuries been an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. As it developed in Japan, however, the practice of massage known by the old name of 'Anma' became gradually divorced from medicine and more associated in people's minds only with relaxation and pleasure. Certain practitioners were concerned to preserve massage and related techniques as an accepted healing art. Shiatsu thus emerged as a form of manual therapy incorporating gentle manipulations and stretches derived from newer disciplines such as physiotherapy and chiropractic, with pressure techniques exerted through the fingers or thumbs. Shiatsu became recognised by the Japanese Government as a therapy in its own right, distinct from Anma and Western Massage, in the middle of the 20th century. Oriental Medicine, and therefore Shiatsu, uses the philosophy of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements and Ki energy.
Shiatsu has a number of different styles, philosophical approaches and theoretical bases. Within the Shiatsu Society we encourage an eclectic outlook so that practitioners and students become familiar with and respect the different forms and styles of Shiatsu. The approaches most commonly found in Britain are Zen Shiatsu, Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Healing Shiatsu, Namikoshi Shiatsu and Hara Shiatsu.
Different schools tend towards particular styles and prospective students should discuss this aspect with teachers before deciding upon which course to join.

What is Ki?

In the oriental tradition the world is described in terms of energy. All things are considered to be manifestations of a vital universal force, called 'Ki' in Japanese or 'Qi' in Chinese. Ki flows throughout the body like a system of rivers and canals. Things may happen to upset the smooth flow of Ki, causing blockages or dams in some areas, and weaknesses or stagnant pools in others. These blockages or weaknesses in turn may lead to physical symptoms, to psychological or emotional disturbances, or simply to a feeling that things are just not quite right.

What are Yin and Yang?

Oriental medicine is based on the philosophy of Yin and Yang. Yin/Yang is a description of the way that Ki/the universe works and it is also a way of thinking. It is cyclical, complementary and opposite; there are no absolutes, everything is part of the whole, objects and phenomena are seen in relation to the universe and to each other. The original meaning of Yang was 'the sunny side of the valley'; Yin was 'the shady side of the valley'. Yin therefore was associated with darkness, coldness, resting, and quietness. Yang was the opposite: light, heat, activity and movement. By the further association of Yang with Heaven and Yin with the Earth, a whole series of qualities were assigned to each category. Yin and Yang mutually create each other; there can be no concept of hot without an idea of what cold is, there is no down without a concept of up, etc.

What are the Five Elements?

The Five Elements represent a further classification of Yin and Yang into different forms of Ki, described by the qualities of Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire. These Elements are descriptions of Ki in different stages and processes of change. Fire is the ultimate Yang; Metal is more solid, more structured, colder; Water is to do with fluidity and flexibility, it is cold and is the ultimate Yin; Wood is more active, creative. The cycle of the Five Elements shows how each element is constantly being transformed from one into another throughout the natural world. Water creates Wood, Wood creates Fire, Fire creates Earth, Earth creates Metal and Metal creates Water. The names of the elements are convenient labels, or images to help us understand their function, but their meaning goes far beyond the label. In humans, for example, Wood energy is responsible for growth, decision-making and creativity, but if it is allowed to get out of balance it can lead to impatience, frustration and anger. Metal represents clarity, precision and incisiveness, but if unchecked it can lead to depression and grief. The five elements are interrelated in a complex way, so that an excess of one type of energy can over-control or deplete another: Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, Fire controls Metal, Metal controls Wood and Wood controls Earth.

What are the Meridians?

Ki moves throughout the whole body but in certain defined pathways it flows in a more concentrated manner. These pathways are known as meridians. The meridians form a continuous circuit of lines that allows the flow of different aspects of Ki all over the body. Each meridian is named after a physical organ, for example, the Heart meridian, Lung meridian, and Bladder meridian. Very often, a Shiatsu practitioner will see that the energy along one or more meridians is blocked, such that there is an excess of energy at some points (manifested as tension, tightness or fullness) and a depletion at others (weakness or emptiness). They will work with the energy in these meridians to try to rebalance it. Most acupuncture points lie on meridians, and Shiatsu practitioners will sometimes work on specific points by pressing or holding them. However, Shiatsu differs from acupuncture (and acupressure) in that it is more usual to work on the meridian as a whole rather than isolated points.

How do Meridians relate to physical organs?

The meridians are named after the physical organs in the body. However, the meridian does not just relate to the physical organ, but encompasses a whole constellation of meanings based around a particular function. The easiest way to define a meridian is in terms of function. Rather than think of the meridian as a pathway attached to an organ, we should look on the meridian as a concentration of a particular functional energetic quality of the body. Where it reaches its most intense point, there it creates a physical organ to carry out that function. The meridians and their actions were known in China long before the precise physical functions of the internal organs were worked out. So while there are some points of commonality (e.g. the Large Intestine meridian relates to elimination, and the Lung meridian to breathing), the functions and associations of a meridian are generally much broader than those of the organ it is named after. So, for example, if your Shiatsu practitioner tells you after a treatment that your Heart meridian needed attention, this does not imply that there is anything wrong with your physical heart organ. In Shiatsu terms, it is much more likely to mean that you need emotional support.

How does Shiatsu diagnosis work?

Diagnosis plays a central role in Shiatsu, but it is framed in terms of oriental medicine (Ki, elements, meridians, etc.) rather than Western physiology and pathology. A Shiatsu practitioner may be able to tell you that you have, say, a Water energy imbalance or an Earth energy imbalance, but not that you have diabetes or high cholesterol. Shiatsu diagnosis is holistic rather than analytical, taking into account a wide range of clues based on what the client says, observation of behaviour patterns and physical appearance, and touch. Many practitioners begin a session with gentle palpation (i.e. diagnostic touch) of the abdominal region. This region, called the Hara in Japanese, is especially important in Shiatsu diagnosis because it is central, soft and relatively unprotected, so that subtle imbalances often reveal themselves more easily here.

How does Shiatsu treatment work?

Based on the initial diagnosis and on physical and visual feedback gained during the session, the practitioner will seek to even out the perceived energy imbalances through pressure on the meridians, probably in conjunction with other techniques such as rocking, stretches and joint rotations. As with diagnosis, Shiatsu treatment is holistic, with the practitioner working on the whole body rather than focusing on the area where symptoms are most obvious. Shiatsu works best if the client is as relaxed and comfortable as possible, so you should close your eyes, relax your muscles (the practitioner will do all the work if movement is required) and refrain from speaking unless it's really necessary. But let the practitioner know the moment you feel any discomfort or your body will start to tense up and the benefit of the session will be lost.

Is Shiatsu massage?

Shiatsu has some features in common with European-style massage and other forms of bodywork in that the use of physical pressure and stretches serves to reduce muscular tension and loosen stiff joints. However, unlike massage, the receiver remains clothed during the treatment and the principal aim of Shiatsu is not to work on localised muscles and joints, but on the overall energy system of the client. This is the big difference between Shiatsu and other physical therapies. A Shiatsu practitioner working on a shoulder joint, for example, will not just be focusing on the joint but on the pattern of energy throughout the client's body.

Is Shiatsu healing?

It is more accurate to say that Shiatsu aids healing than that Shiatsu heals. The aim is to assist the body's natural healing process by encouraging the client's energy to move into a more balanced state. A practitioner's touch can enable each of us to contact our own abilities for self-healing. Shiatsu is different from the Western laying on of hands, where healing energy is believed to pass from the practitioner to the client.

Can Shiatsu do any harm?

By the nature of Shiatsu, it is almost impossible for it to have harmful effects. The aim is to shift energy around the body in such a way as to relieve areas of tension and enliven weak areas. This is effectively a collaboration between the practitioner and the client's body, which will instinctively want to do the same thing, but may need a little help to get started. Occasionally a new patient may have healing reactions after the first few sessions. These occur when toxins have been released during the treatment, and as these work out through the body there may be symptoms such as headache, stiffness, stomach upsets or diarrhoea, desire to urinate frequently, or lethargy. Such symptoms are transitory and soon pass, usually in 12 hours at most. Drinking plenty of spring water and resting will help, as well as asking the practitioner for advice and reassurance.
Emotional releases may take longer to work through, and indeed, over the course of a number of treatments, deep-seated emotional patterns or memories involving past emotions may be uncovered. These can have profound effects on the patient's life. In such cases, extra contact between sessions may be necessary to talk through the reactions to treatment.

Is Shiatsu complementary or alternative?

Shiatsu is complementary to mainstream Western medicine, not an alternative to it. It is worth listing here the most common syndromes which may be amenable to treatment by Shiatsu. These include: headaches, migraine, stiff necks and shoulders, backaches, coughs, colds, menstrual problems, respiratory illnesses including asthma and bronchitis, sinus trouble and catarrh, insomnia, tension, anxiety and depression, fatigue and weakness, digestive disorders and bowel trouble, circulatory problems, rheumatic and arthritic complaints, sciatica and conditions following sprains and injuries. Treatment of all these conditions will be given according to Oriental diagnosis, though it is always important that the modern Western diagnosis is confirmed and considered as well. However, for acute, localised problems such as appendicitis, broken bones or a heart attack, you should call an ambulance, not your Shiatsu practitioner. Both Shiatsu and Western medicine have important roles to play, and if you hear your Shiatsu practitioner disparraging conventional healthcare you should consider finding a different practitioner. Equally, if your GP disparages complementary medicine, look for a new GP.

Will I have to change my lifestyle?

First and foremost, your Shiatsu practitioner should respect your chosen lifestyle, however 'un-oriental' it is. Indeed, Shiatsu is particularly beneficial for people in the high-stress occupations associated with the mainstream of modern life. Your Shiatsu practitioner may discuss ways in which you could 'fine-tune' your life in order to get more out of it - for example a change in diet or more exercise - much as your own GP might.

How can I integrate Shiatsu with self-development?

A unique feature of Shiatsu is that it can be viewed as self-development as well as therapy. Either as a client or a practitioner you learn more about the way your body works, and how intimately your physical health is linked to thoughts and feelings. With time, you will find you become more sensitive to subtle changes in yourself, and instinctively learn to compensate for imbalances as soon as they show themselves. Many people find that Shiatsu combines well with other forms of self-development such as yoga or meditation, and particularly those like Aikido, Qigong and Tai Chi which are aimed at developing awareness of Ki energy.

Shiatsu Society

Shiatsu - a World of Human Touch