There is common ground between Shiatsu and Western massage. Both systems have a wonderful way of relieving stress and promoting health and focus on the body of the person being treated. Moreover, neither the diagnosis and implementation of a sophisticated system for all electronic or mechanical equipment management. The third common ground is that both Shiatsu massage and list most of the Western world to remain outside the bastion of Western medicine, which is based on the current mainstream Western scientific tradition. outside Japan both Shiatsu and Western massage outfields share of non-conventional treatment or alternative medicine healer, Reiki, hypnosis or Crystal Healing.
Shiatsu practitioners tend to distance themselves from the bandwagon of alternative treatment methods like Reiki or faith healing demonstrating their usage of anatomy, physiology and pathology in the same vein as the Western medicine. This may be one explanation for the high popularity of Shiatsu west bridge between the West and the East.
When discovering the differences between Shiatsu and Western massage, we notice four main differences.
- The history of the development of treatments.
- method is used, and treatment components.
- approach to the philosophy and the essence of what every doctor is trying to capture.
- The nature of derivative systems have evolved.
Body massage may be one of the oldest forms of medical care known to man. Although you might not know what the ancient Egyptian practitioners actually believed in Egyptian tomb paintings show people massaged. A Chinese book in 2700 BC, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine recommends massage of skin and flesh as the appropriate treatment of many diseases. Ayurveda, the 5,000 year-old traditional Indian system of medicine, greatly emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of massage with aromatic oils and spices. Writing in the 8th century BC, Homer of Greece mentions massage is commonly used for Olympic athletes as well as in use today.
1. The history and development of shiatsu
Although the earliest modern reference to the term Shiatsu is a Japanese publication of the 1915 book, Shiatsu Ryoho wrote Tenpaku Tamai, the Namikoshi Tokujiro (1905-2000) followers takes him to the founder of shiatsu. His approach was completely different to the Chinese meridians and qi-based therapies. Namikoshi in 1912 at the age of seven independently developed a technique of pressing with your thumb and palms as he tried to nurse his mother who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Namikoshi Shiatsu influence can be compared to the role of Picasso's art, it is not only important to create a genre, but has inspired many other artists derived therapies.
Tokujiro Namikoshi opened his first clinic perfected using Shiatsu Therapy in 1925 from Hokkaido in the system. In addition to founding in 1940, the first school of shiatsu therapy in Tokyo (now known as Japan Shiatsu College), Namikoshi attended the legalization of Shiatsu in Japan which accounts for the emphasis on Western medical theories. Namikoshi achieved fame and many high-ranking persons successfully treated, such as the former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in Japan. As the reputation of foreign celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali sought treatment. Currently in Japan, Namikoshi system enjoys special status. After eight years of clinical testing dates ranging from 1947 to determine which of 300 treatments can be legalized, the Ministry of Health of Japan acknowledged Shiatsu Therapy, as they have proved effective. Shiatsu Anma has been the same category in 1955 and Western massage
1964 self-acknowledged Shiatsu Therapy alone in Japan. Everyone shiatsu practitioner must obtain permission from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare. Licensing also requires that Shiatsu practitioners study the 2500-hour training program on the Shiatsu therapy, which is permitted by about three years of university or college of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and pass the national exam.
second and techniques used in the treatment of the components
The second difference between Shiatsu and Western massage techniques and the use of ingredients such as oil and spices. Shiatsu technique relies on finger and palm pressure, while in the western massage rubbing motion. Since Shiatsu does not involve rubbing, no oil or lotion once during treatment.
3. Philosophy of Western Massage and Shiatsu
The third and most important difference comes from the philosophy of western massage and shiatsu.
The main difference between Shiatsu and other modern Western forms of bodywork, such as the Swedish massage, the Shiatsu is a form of holistic healing while modern Western massage is based on the traditional Western view of wellness and healing. Western massage generally believes the human body is the domain of the masseur, while the mind is the domain of psychology and psychiatry. Adapting a holistic approach, Shiatsu regulates the nervous system and promotes natural healing stimulates chemical reactions in the body.
Western massage is based on the idea that muscle tension and improper settings can cause or aggravate physical, mental and internal imbalances. Massage techniques to try to reduce tension in the body to facilitate the free flow of blood and energy. This in turn makes the major systems of the body (immune, circulatory, nervous, etc.) to improve its ability to naturally heal diseases and the health and well-being.
Shiatsu, there are 838 basic shiatsu pressure points or attention in Japan is located in the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, bones and endocrine glands. Depending on your condition, your body, the therapist the right kind of pressure. The tighter the muscles, the lighter the pressure. As the muscles relax, the pressure will be greater, but still strong and steady. This causes the release of hormones and chemicals necessary for the body to heal, to soothe and make you mind and body optimally. This method of triggering their own healing system of the body does not produce side effects or toxins, so it's a perfectly healthy way to relief diseases.
looked casually from a distance Shiatsu whole-body diagrams, graphs confused Qi or meridians used in Chinese medicine. But Namikoshi shiatsu practitioner quick to point out that Namikoshi style of Shiatsu focuses only on regions and physiology, but the energy channels / paths / meridians of the anatomy. Shiatsu works the entire body (including doing stretches).
4. Derivative treatments
The difference between the final area Shiatsu and Western massage to the derived products. Derivative Shiatsu refers generally to other current styles of shiatsu, Namikoshi shiatsu, after which developed as the Meridian Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu, Tao shiatsu, Tsubo Shiatsu, Quantum Ohashiatsu and shiatsu. Japanese Ministry recognized by one of these derivative styles of Health and Welfare.
a Western massage in many styles and techniques, which focus on specific areas of the body (eg, deep tissue massage, Tendo-muscular massage, head massage, etc.). However, the Western massage broadly grouped into three camps, sports massages, well-being massage and erotic massage. Sports massage is designed to the athlete in training, and provide excellent performance. With a certain type of mood candles, colors, incense and music is very important to the prosperity and erotic massage, but almost completely absent in sports massage. The camp of well-being massage displays the widest divergence of different forms of derivatives, such as reflexology and aromatherapy deep tissue massage.
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Sensual massage or erotic massage is a derivative of traditional massage for centuries in all parts of the world, but it is not sensuous and erotic shiatsu therapy to date.
Shiatsu and Western massage have common ground, but much theory, philosophy and practice. However, despite the differences, the purpose of both systems is the same – a balanced, happy and healthy individuals.
References:
- Tokujiro Namikoshi Japanese Shiatsu Finger pressure therapy . Japanese edition – (1974)
- Tokujiro Namikoshi SHIATSU; Health and vitality hand Japanese edition – (1971)
- The Canadian College of Shiatsu Therapy
- The Shiatsupractor Association of Canada