Shiatsu is a Japanese "finger - pressure" therapy that has been used to relieve a variety of problems including back pain, neck and shoulder problems, stress, insomnia, digestive problems and fatigue. It is based on Eastern Medical Theory (mostly on Traditional Chinese Medicine) and sometimes it is described as "acupressure" or "acupuncture without needles".

What is Zen Shiatsu?

Zen Shiatsu, established by a Shizuto Masunaga is a style of Shiatsu, different from a Classic Shiatsu. Masunaga brought Shiatsu back to its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and introduced psychological aspects of treatment. Zen Shiatsu is a form of bodywork, a manipulation administered by thumbs, fingers, palms and elbows without the use of any instrument, in which sustained comfortable pressure is applied to all parts of the body on specific acupuncture points, which are situated on the energy (Qi) meridians. Those are the same meridians, which are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for acupuncture - application of the needles to the body. This technique stimulates the natural healing power stored in the body, wherefore symptoms of disease lessen and vitality is regained.

How does Zen Shiatsu work?

When our bodies are healthy through exercise, diet and lifestyle, we say our energy (Qi) is balanced and flowing freely. Qi maintains and nurtures our physical body as well as our mind. When our Qi is unbalanced, we experience pain, discomfort, disease or emotional upheavals. Too much energy may be "stuck" in an area or not enough is getting through, causing discomfort and pain, which can sometimes be felt in other areas of the body.

Your Zen Shiatsu practitioner is trained to feel your Qi by his or her hands and so to find the imbalanced areas in the body. By stimulating the appropriate acupoints on the imbalanced Qi meridians your therapist simply restores the balanced flow of Qi. From the Western point of view, Shiatsu works directly to calm the autonomic nervous system and thereby increase resistance to stress. By helping with blood and lymph circulation in the body, shiatsu helps to maintain and improve muscle and bone functions. Shiatsu can also strengthen the immune system. Regular and consistent shiatsu treatments can become true preventive health care.

How is a treatment given?

The client should receive a session clothed in loose, stretchy, comfortable, preferably cotton, shirt, pants, and socks. This material allows for optimum transference of energy flow and "breathe-ability".as opposed to synthetics. This treatment is given on a soft mat on the floor specifically designed for Shiatsu.

Zen Shiatsu can relieve the symptoms of, and in some cases eliminate:

• Neck and shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Neuralgia
• Headache
• Digestive problems
• Muscle pain
• Respiratory illness
• Circulation illness
• Reproductive diseases
• Depression
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• and much-much more...