Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

22 • Massage Therapy Journal

What sets shiatsu apart from other bodywork therapies is its focus on stimulating specific Tsubos and energy meridians. Shiatsu centers a holistic view of a client’s health and seeks to identify the root cause of their imbalances, Shimizu notes. It can be performed over clothing and without oils while the client is standing, sitting or lying down. “There are variations on how pressure is applied during a shiatsu treatment,” Shimizu says. “Various kinds of pressure can be utilized, depending on the situation, the part of the body being treated and the quality of Ki/Qi present in the body. Variations include standard direct pressure, interrupted pressure, suction pressure, vibrational pressure and fluid pressure.” During a shiatsu massage, fingers and palms are used, but the thumbs most commonly deliver the pressure. According to Shimizu, this is because: • They are more sensitive in detecting temperature, tissue quality and Ki/Qi in different parts of the body. • They are ideal for targeting and applying pressure to specific acupressure points. • They can sustain and leverage the shiatsu therapist’s body weight, which can be channeled through the thumb. The primary benefits of shiatsu include pain relief, improved flexibility, reduced stress and increased overall energy. However, despite reduced stress being a benefit, shiatsu is not a type of relaxation treatment. “It is a therapeutic treatment and more medically and holistically focused. Another misconception is that shiatsu must be very painful to be effective,” Shimizu says. A study 2 conducted on 80 nulliparous pregnant women examined the impact of shiatsu massage on labor pain and anxiety. The study split the women into two groups (control and intervention) of 40. The intervention group received shiatsu massages from certified midwives. Their pain was then assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale, and anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Score. The study found that the intervention group showed significant reduction in labor pain scores

while the control group showed an increase. Anxiety scores in the intervention group also decreased compared to the increase seen in the control group. Researchers concluded that shiatsu massage was effective and safe for relieving pain and reducing anxiety during childbirth, suggesting that shiatsu massage can be used as an effective alternative method to relieve pain and anxiety during labor in low-risk pregnancies. Zen Shiatsu: Integrating Mind and Body Shizuto Masunaga developed Zen shiatsu in the 1970s. Zen shiatsu incorporates Zen Buddhist principles and psychology, and is a direct evolution from shiatsu. “Masunaga graduated with a degree in psychology and also became a professor of psychology,” says Shimizu. “He also studied Zen Buddhism, which influenced his belief in the interconnections between body, mind and spirit.

ksenvitaln / Shutterstock.com Photo courtesy of Stan Shimizu

Zen shiatsu is especially beneficial and effective in helping with conditions where emotional diturbance or stress is an underlying factor.

A client receiving shiatsu massage.

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