Zen Shiatsu
Shiatsu refers generally to a Japanese pressure therapy used to
relieve a variety of problems including back pain, neck and shoulder
problems, stress, insomnia, digestive problems, and fatigue. It is
based on traditional Chinese medicine techniques, particularly
massage therapy that has been recommended since ancient times.
Zen refers to “here and now” and the treatment of what is out of
balance at this moment in time. By doing so, you will balance the
entire body, mind and spirit and achieve a holistic treatment.
relieve a variety of problems including back pain, neck and shoulder
problems, stress, insomnia, digestive problems, and fatigue. It is
based on traditional Chinese medicine techniques, particularly
massage therapy that has been recommended since ancient times.
Zen refers to “here and now” and the treatment of what is out of
balance at this moment in time. By doing so, you will balance the
entire body, mind and spirit and achieve a holistic treatment.
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Pressure is applied to all parts of the body along specific pathways (meridians). These are essentially the same
meridians that are used in traditional Chinese medicine for acupuncture. It is understood that this technique
stimulates the natural healing powers of the body, wherefore symptoms of disease lessen and vitality is regained.
The professional Zen Shiatsu therapist is trained to feel the body's condition, particularly the circulation, by
his/her hands in order to find the imbalanced areas in the body. By skillfully stimulating the imbalanced meridians,
the therapist attempts to restore the balanced flow. From the Western point of view, shiatsu works directly to
calm the autonomic nervous system, which has the effect of calming nervous distress and increasing resistance to
stress. By helping with blood and lymph circulation in the body, shiatsu helps to maintain and improve muscle
tone and healthy internal organ functions. It is believed that shiatsu can also strengthen the immune system.
Regular and consistent shiatsu treatments can become an important aspect of preventive health care as well as
treatment for existing symptoms.
Zen Shiatsu is ideally performed while the recipient lies on a futon on the floor, allowing the practitioner access
from all sides and the ability to apply pressure using body weight (as opposed to pushing just with finger pressure,
as may be done with other shiatsu techniques. The shiatsu recipient should be dressed comfortably with light
clothing. No massage oils or lotions are used or needed because the practitioner does not slide along the body
surface, but gives a series of presses along the pathways.
BASIC CONCEPTS
Consistent with the basic concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, Zen Shiatsu is grounded in the theory that
health problems are attributed to, or at least involve:
• imbalances in yin and yang;
• disharmonies between the internal organs; and
• blockages to the circulation of ki (in Chinese: qi; in English: chi) through the meridians.
The unique features of Zen Shiatsu, compared to traditional Chinese medicine techniques such as acupuncture or
other shiatsu techniques, are these:
• For diagnosis, abdominal palpation is the primary technique used. Abdominal diagnosis or Hara diagnosis is
an ancient Chinese technique that had been largely abandoned in China, but became important in the practice
Chinese medicine around the beginning of the 18th century. Abdominal diagnosis is used in Japan for herbal
medicine prescribing, acupuncture, and Zen Shiatsu. The diagnosis is primarily aimed at determining whether each
meridian is relatively full or empty.
• Pressure is applied at intervals along the meridians. There are 12 meridians, corresponding to the 12 basic
organ-affiliated meridians of the Chinese system. The meridian pathways run through head, neck, torso, legs to
arms, passing through the associated diagnostic region of the abdomen.
• The treatment involves brief contact with each point, in a somewhat rhythmic pattern as a portion of a
meridian is traced. The contact is with fairly strong pressure that is applied using the movement of the
practitioner’s body, fingers, elbows, and other parts of the body.
• To attain the proper combination of pressure and movement along the meridian, the practitioner may
move frequently around the recipient's body and may even move the recipient (who is instructed to remain
passive), such as lifting the head or arms. The actions may include turning or bending the recipient's body parts
with the purposes of gaining access to essential points, stretching the meridians, and using gravity or leverage to
attain the needed pressure at certain points. The therapy does not focus on one part of the body, even if the
health problem is localized; the whole body becomes involved.
Because of its connection to traditional Chinese medicine, Zen Shiatsu serves as an excellent adjunct to
acupuncture therapy as well as Chinese or Japanese herb prescribing. It also serves as a complementary therapy
for Western methods of manipulation, including chiropractic or standard massage or bodywork, providing an
entirely different stimulus to the body.
meridians that are used in traditional Chinese medicine for acupuncture. It is understood that this technique
stimulates the natural healing powers of the body, wherefore symptoms of disease lessen and vitality is regained.
The professional Zen Shiatsu therapist is trained to feel the body's condition, particularly the circulation, by
his/her hands in order to find the imbalanced areas in the body. By skillfully stimulating the imbalanced meridians,
the therapist attempts to restore the balanced flow. From the Western point of view, shiatsu works directly to
calm the autonomic nervous system, which has the effect of calming nervous distress and increasing resistance to
stress. By helping with blood and lymph circulation in the body, shiatsu helps to maintain and improve muscle
tone and healthy internal organ functions. It is believed that shiatsu can also strengthen the immune system.
Regular and consistent shiatsu treatments can become an important aspect of preventive health care as well as
treatment for existing symptoms.
Zen Shiatsu is ideally performed while the recipient lies on a futon on the floor, allowing the practitioner access
from all sides and the ability to apply pressure using body weight (as opposed to pushing just with finger pressure,
as may be done with other shiatsu techniques. The shiatsu recipient should be dressed comfortably with light
clothing. No massage oils or lotions are used or needed because the practitioner does not slide along the body
surface, but gives a series of presses along the pathways.
BASIC CONCEPTS
Consistent with the basic concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, Zen Shiatsu is grounded in the theory that
health problems are attributed to, or at least involve:
• imbalances in yin and yang;
• disharmonies between the internal organs; and
• blockages to the circulation of ki (in Chinese: qi; in English: chi) through the meridians.
The unique features of Zen Shiatsu, compared to traditional Chinese medicine techniques such as acupuncture or
other shiatsu techniques, are these:
• For diagnosis, abdominal palpation is the primary technique used. Abdominal diagnosis or Hara diagnosis is
an ancient Chinese technique that had been largely abandoned in China, but became important in the practice
Chinese medicine around the beginning of the 18th century. Abdominal diagnosis is used in Japan for herbal
medicine prescribing, acupuncture, and Zen Shiatsu. The diagnosis is primarily aimed at determining whether each
meridian is relatively full or empty.
• Pressure is applied at intervals along the meridians. There are 12 meridians, corresponding to the 12 basic
organ-affiliated meridians of the Chinese system. The meridian pathways run through head, neck, torso, legs to
arms, passing through the associated diagnostic region of the abdomen.
• The treatment involves brief contact with each point, in a somewhat rhythmic pattern as a portion of a
meridian is traced. The contact is with fairly strong pressure that is applied using the movement of the
practitioner’s body, fingers, elbows, and other parts of the body.
• To attain the proper combination of pressure and movement along the meridian, the practitioner may
move frequently around the recipient's body and may even move the recipient (who is instructed to remain
passive), such as lifting the head or arms. The actions may include turning or bending the recipient's body parts
with the purposes of gaining access to essential points, stretching the meridians, and using gravity or leverage to
attain the needed pressure at certain points. The therapy does not focus on one part of the body, even if the
health problem is localized; the whole body becomes involved.
Because of its connection to traditional Chinese medicine, Zen Shiatsu serves as an excellent adjunct to
acupuncture therapy as well as Chinese or Japanese herb prescribing. It also serves as a complementary therapy
for Western methods of manipulation, including chiropractic or standard massage or bodywork, providing an
entirely different stimulus to the body.