Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

20 • Massage Therapy Journal

Shiatsu: Restoring Balance to the Body Shiatsu is a form of traditional

Common Shiatsu Assessment Tools

Japanese bodywork that is based on restoring balance to the body. Directly translated, shiatsu means “finger pressure.” Despite being a Japanese technique, shiatsu’s roots are tied to ancient Chinese intellectual and philosophical ideas, which were introduced to Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries. “Illness and disease are thought to result from imbalances in the natural internal flow of energy, known as Ki in Japanese or Qi in Chinese, through the body,” explains Stan Shimizu, owner of Shiatsu Sennin-so. “Shiatsu uses finger and palm pressure to restore and improve the continuity of this flow, thereby harmonizing the body, mind and spirit.” Harmonizing this Ki or Qi is at the core of shiatsu work. A shiatsu practitioner will push, rub and stimulate specific acupressure points (called Tsubos) and energy meridians to influence the flow of Ki.

ksenvitaln / Shutterstock.com Photo courtesy of Stan Shimizu

Assessment helps massage therapists better understand their clients, and with shiatsu, assessment is often approached from a more holistic perspective. Some common assessment tools used by practitioners of shiatsu include: Bo Shin (Seeing or Observing): The process of examining a client’s inner being and opening up the practitioner to the client’s Ki/Qi. Mon Shin (Questioning/Obtaining Information): Involves paying attention to body language, facial expressions and other nonverbal gestures. Setsu Shin (Touching): A shiatsu therapist’s hands and fingers act as their eyes to help better understand their clients, not just on a physical level, but on an emotional and spiritual level, as well.

adapting themselves to the environment, they become weaker. Seitai focuses on restoring the body’s natural ability to rebalance and self-regulate. This restoration of balance and self-regulation is accomplished via pressure points, gentle manipulation and Japanese taiso stretches. Seitai can help relieve pain, reduce stress and promote relaxation, improve mobility and enhance body posture. As is the case with virtually all types of massage, Seitai begins with a thorough intake where massage therapists talk to clients about their specific concerns, areas of discomfort and goals. The massage session integrates Seitai pressure points, gentle manipulations, and Japanese taiso stretches meant to address areas of tension, misalignment or stagnation while also inducing relaxation. All versions of Seitai include some version of these elements, but some slight differences between practitioners may exist, depending on how they’re trained. The Seitai stretches can be performed by clients on their own between sessions to enhance the treatment’s benefits.

What sets shiatsu apart from other bodywork therapies is its focus on stimulating specific Tsubos and energy meridians.

Shiatsu massage being performed on a client.

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