NTRODUCTION TO SHIATSU

Whilst building up your practical experience of Shiatsu as you work through Part One, you may wish to learn some self-treatment; various self-help routines are set out in Part Two. These can be used as exercises in their own right, or to provide a valuable warm-up before giving treatment.
Once you have practised the sequence a number of times and feel confident about giving Shiatsu treatment, give us a call and let us train you some more.

There you will find a variety of additional techniques and background information that will improve your style of Shiatsu and enable you to give more versatile treatments. Incorporating these skills, you can continue to follow the Part One sequence until you no longer need to refer to the text.

If you find that Shiatsu strikes a chord with you, that you enjoy it and adapt well to it, I recommend that you attend classes. This is essential if you wish to qualify as a Shiatsu practitioner. The Resources give further information, including contact addresses, for those who wish to pursue study of Shiatsu further.

What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a form of natural bodywork that uses touch to affect the body's internal vital energy flow, and so benefit health. The word 'Shiatsu' literally means 'finger pressure', but thumbs, hands and other parts of the body, such as elbows and feet, are also used.

This human quality of touch is combined with an awareness of 'meridians', or channels of energy flow -the same as those used in acupuncture.

This treatment has various effects: promoting circulation and flow of lymphatic fluid, working on the nervous system, releasing deep-seated tension from the muscles and toxins from the body tissue, stimulating the hormonal system, and generally mobilizing the body's own healing abilities.

Thus Shiatsu can benefit almost any ailment, including many emotional conditions. After practice at the introductory level presented in this book, treatment given to family and friends can confidently be expected to relieve tension and promote relaxation, generate energy, ease aches and pains, and help create a general feeling of well-being in body, mind and spirit.

Read more on:

• Yin and Yang
• THE ABDOMEN TREATMENT
• Leg Pressure Points
• Preparing for a Shiatsu Session
• The Five Elements
• Forehead Massage