Japanese Shiatsu Massage
Japanese Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu (指圧 Japanese from shi , meaning finger , and atsu , meaning pressure ) is a traditional hands-on therapy originating in Japan. There are two main Shiatsu schools; one based on western anatomical and physiological theory and the other based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shiatsu is regulated as a licensed medical therapy by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), and elsewhere by various governing bodies set up by Shiatsu practitioners. Shiatsu is an evolving form, and its various styles incorporate (to differing degrees) aspects of Japanese massage traditions, Chinese Medicine practice, and "Western" anatomy and physiology.
Evidence base
Currently there is little evidence to support the use of Shiatsu in the treatment of any diseases or disorders. Cancer Research UK makes it clear that they don't believe Shiatsu is beneficial for the treatment of cancer, however they do state that "some studies using massage therapy in general (including shiatsu massage) suggest it might be helpful as a complementary therapy for people with cancer and other illnesses" .
In 2006 a large scale systematic Review was carried out by the Shiatsu Society UK in association with Thames Valley University. The literature search utilised PubMed, OVID, Science Direct, Blackwell Synergy, Ingenta Select and Wiley Interscience, The Index of Theses and ZETOC were also searched. The review details study findings related to symptom control/improvement for various conditions and makes recommendations for future research into the efficacy of Shiatsu as a medical treatment.
Andrew Long of The University of Leeds School of Healthcare (Faculty of Medicine and Health) published a document in 2007 which highlighted that the sampled clients viewed their practitioners as being listening and being accepting of the client. The practitioner was also perceived as trustworthy, skilful and warm. Clients also reported feeling relaxed, calm and better abled to cope with things. A statistically significant improvement in symptoms was reported across a large number of participants with stress levels and muscular/joint problems showing the most improvement.
History
Shiatsu, as well as Teate (手当て medical treatment), pronounced te-a -te originated in Japan. There were many hands-on therapies called Teate before traditional Chinese therapies such as Acupuncture and Tuina (called Anma in Japan) were introduced to Japan around 1000AD. The practice of this massage was a semi-mystical activity performed by women and the blind. The term shiatsu may have been first cited in a 1915 book, Tenpaku Tamai's Shiatsu Ryoho .
Tokujiro Namikoshi founded the Japan Shiatsu College in 1940 and systematised a form of shiatsu therapy based on Western anatomy and physiology. In Japan, Namikoshi's system enjoys special legal status, and its adherents often credit him with the development of shiatsu; the story is told that at age seven, Tokujiro Namikoshi developed a technique of pressing with his thumbs and palms as he tried to nurse his mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Shizuto Masunaga, originally a student and then teacher at the school, and professor of psychology at the Tokyo University, opened his own school (Iokai Center of Shiatsu) and taught what has become known as the Zen style of Shiatsu based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Namikoshi treated many high profile persons such as former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida and other successive prime ministers, the prosecutor for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, Prosecutor Keenan, as well as celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali, though it was Masunaga's book, Zen Shiatsu, published in the 1970s that was instrumental in establishing the techniques outside Japan.
Other styles of shiatsu exist; adherents of the Namikoshi school generally contend that these are derived from the work of Namikoshi and refer to them as Derivative Shiatsu. It is to be noted, however, that Namikoshi's school was (and continues to be) devoted to reconciling the ancient massage arts of Japan with Western medicine in line with the efforts Japan made since the turn of the 20th century to 'westernise' certain elements of its culture, and it ignores traditional Chinese medicine and its systems of channels. Masanuga, on the other hand, was intent on reconciling the massage arts with traditional Chinese medicine, and went back to early texts (such as the Huang-Di Nei Jing - The Yellow Emperor's Essentials of Medicine, a compilation of Taoist theory and a text book of acupuncture) which influence most Shiatsu styles today. Some of the various styles are listed as follows:
- Tadashi Izawa established Meridian Shiatsu, incorporating Meridian Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into his shiatsu therapy.
- Shizuto Masunaga’s book, called Zen Shiatsu in English, popularised Zen (or Masunaga) Shiatsu in North America and Europe.
- Ryokyu Endo, a Buddhist priest, introduced Tao Shiatsu, which involves concentrating the mind and making supplications to the Buddha.Endo sensei was astudent of Masunaga sensei and continued the development of and systemized the teaching of the expanded meridian network and treatment.
- Kiyoshi Ikenaga, in his book Tsubo Shiatsu, elucidates from an anatomical and physiological point of view, how meridian points (or tsubo) are useful in shiatsu therapy.
- Wataru Ohashi has developed a style called Ohashiatsu.
- Pauline Sasaki and Cliff Andrews have developed a form, derived from Zen Shiatsu, called Quantum Shiatsu, which aims to work with different levels of a person's energy: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
- Bill Palmer and David Ventura have developed Movement Shiatsu, which specialises in working with chronic conditions through specific experiments and exercises.
- Yuichi Kawada's Yoseido shiatsu puts much importance on stretching the eight extraordinary vessels regularly through exercise and also on exercising the eight regulating points of these extraordinary vessels. Yoseido shiatsu deals with learning these eight vessels as well as learning the twelve principal meridians and all the basic knowledge of shiatsu such as: correct posture, breathing, attitude of the practitionner and above all the importance of oriental philosophy and the basis of all oriental medicine, the understanding of I-Ching (the book of changes). In advanced learning, the relationship between I-Ching and oriental medicine is thoroughly studied.
- Shigeru Onoda, the founder of Spanish Shiatsu School in Madrid, has developed a style called Aze Shiatsu.
- Ted Saito has practised shiatsu in Toronto since 1971 and developed a style called Shinso Shiatsu.
- Seymour Koblin developed a form of Shiatsu derived from Zen, Ohashi and Macrobiotic Shiatsu called Zen-Touch Shiatsu. *Zen-Touch Shiatsu incorporates unique methods that address assessment, recommendations and shiatsu techniques for Body Mind Spirit are included in this form.
- Carl Dubitsky one of the founding members of the AOBTA, developed Bodywork Shiatsu derived from blending Namikoshi and Structural Integration (Rolfing).
- RJ Nikola who expanded Namikoshi shiatsu involving more detailed meridian work based on the teachings of Dubitsky sensei and who elucidated the concept of working from a mental hara in addition to a physical hara, in his book Japanese Full-Body Shiatsu.
Mention should also be made of Tansu, a shiatsu style using Indian Tantric practices, and of those who combine the principles of Feng Shui with the energy field studies of Semyon Kirlian, Robert Beck, John Zimmerman and others in their practice of Shiatsu.
Since 1980 the evolution and development of shiatsu has largely taken place in Europe and North America.
Timeline
- 1912: Tokujiro Namikoshi found his own therapy by treating his mother with only his thumbs and palms. He first named this therapy Appaku then later changed it to shiatsu .
- 1919: Tenpeki Tamai published his book The Shiatsu Method ( ??? , Shiatsu-ho ? ) . This is believed to be the first use of the term shiatsu.
- 1925: Namikoshi opened his first clinic for shiatsu therapy.
- 1940: Namikoshi opened the first school of shiatsu therapy in Tokyo. (Now this school is known as the Japan Shiatsu College.)
- 1940: Namikoshi established first association for shiatsu therapy. (Now this association is known as the Japan Shiatsu Association.)
- 1945: After World War II, traditional Japanese forms of medicine were outlawed by the MacArthur occupation government, after returning POWs told stories about being stuck with needles and burned with moxa when they fell ill. The ban caused much protest. Because there were still many blind shiatsu/Anma practitioners, Helen Keller interceded with the American government. The ban was rescinded.
- 1950: Toshiko Phipps becomes the first qualified shiatsu therapist to teach in the U.S.
- 1953: Namikoshi and his son Toru invited to the Palmer College of Chiropractic to introduce shiatsu to the U.S.
- 1955: Shiatsu therapy first recognised by Japanese government but only in conjunction with Anma and massage.
- 1956: In a famous incident that greatly increased the reputation of shiatsu and of Namikoshi Tokujiro, Namikoshi treated Marilyn Monroe after she fell gravely ill while visiting Japan and failed to respond to conventional treatment.
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1957:
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