Shiatsu massage is a therapeutic technique used to alleviate stress and pain. The person administering the therapy uses their thumbs and hands to apply pressure to specific points in the body. This Asian massage therapy has been present for centuries and has evolved to combine elements of Japan’s traditional therapies and modern medical knowledge. Here is a brief history of Shiatsu massage.
The Beginning: Traditional Chinese Massage
The roots of Shiatsu massage go back to Tui Na, a traditional Chinese massage modality. Ancient Chinese massage experts practiced Tui Na by using their hands and fingers to rub, knead, and press various parts of the body. The rhythmic pressure applied along the body’s meridians and acupressure points, and the manipulation of muscles and joints promoted the flow of qi and relieved pain and ailments. As trade and communication between the Chinese and Japanese opened, the Japanese learned about Tui Na, which they modified into a massage modality they called Anma.
The Evolution of Japanese Anma
Amna incorporated the Chinese Tui Na into Japanese cultural and medical practices. In the 1600s, famous physician and acupuncturist Sugiyama Waichi popularized Anma and it became a well-established form of Asian massage in Japan. Because Sugiyama was blind, the Japanese formed a preference for blind practitioners, who they believed had enhanced healing abilities due to their heightened tactile sensitivity. Eventually, other practitioners took up Anma as the blind fell behind in their knowledge of techniques and were no longer considered the best in the practice.
The Birth of Shiatsu
As practitioners continued to gain knowledge of massage techniques, Anma evolved to become Shiatsu. Tokujiro Namikoshi was a gifted practitioner credited for the development of shiatsu. Tokujiro began experimenting with massage therapy on his mother, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. He developed a massage technique that involved pressing specific points of his mother’s body to relieve her pain. Tokujiro’s methods proved effective in healing his mother, and he went on to formalize his techniques into the modality known as Shiatsu therapy.
After getting formal training in Anma and Western massage techniques Tokujiro founded the Shiatsu Institute of Therapy in Hokkaido. At the institute, he trained others in shiatsu techniques and their applications in combination with Western methods. Tokujiro established another shiatsu school in Tokyo, propagating the technique further in Japan. The Japanese government legally approved Shiatsu as part of Anma in 1957.
The Global Spread and Development of Shiatsu
Tokujiro’s son Toru introduced Shiatsu to European countries and the US. The practice evolved from Tokujiro’s initial technique, which focused on Western medical theory and whole-body treatment to incorporate meridian theory. Towards the end of the twentieth century, Shizuto Masunaga expanded the theoretical framework of shiatsu to include the meridian and five element theories. His work resulted in the concept of Zen shiatsu. Shizuto’s approach to shiatsu emphasized diagnosing and treating energy imbalances in the body through energy pathways, known as meridians.
Katsusuke Serizawa did further research on meridians and was able to prove the existence of effective meridian points called Tsubos by taking electrical measurements of the skin. Katsusuke’s research birthed acupressure shiatsu. Today, shiatsu is a popular massage therapy used to treat a wide range of conditions. This includes stress, anxiety, chronic pain, digestive issues, and musculoskeletal problems.
Enjoy the Benefits of Asian Massage Therapy
Asian massage therapy comprises several modalities that originate from traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine and bodywork. Shiatsu is one of these modalities and has evolved over the centuries to include beneficial theories from Western medicine and physiology, anchored on traditional Asian therapies. The benefits of shiatsu in healing the body and mind make it a widely practiced treatment. Book a shiatsu massage session with your practitioner today.
