Shiatsu is a massage therapy technique of Japanese origin that uses touch to restore balance in the body and thus promote health. In this sheet, you will discover this practice in more detail, its history, its therapeutic applications, how a Shiatsu session takes place, who are the specialists in Shiatsu, and finally the opinion of a specialist.

Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, shiatsu therefore aims to restore the circulation of vital energy, Qi, in areas of the body where it is either lacking or in excess. It is practiced by exerting a more or less strong pressure with the thumbs and the fingers, but also with the palms, the fists, the elbows, the knees and even the feet, on precise points (the tsubos), located along the meridians and governing a specific organ or function. Depending on the problem, the therapist will use other techniques (kneading, joint rotation, stretching or vibration) in order to eliminate blockages, stimulate weak points and activate the natural forces of self-healing. Drawing on traditional Chinese wisdom, shiatsu considers the health of the human being in its entirety: physical, psychic and mental. It is based on

Very few clinical studies dealing specifically with shiatsu have been published to date. It is nevertheless used to relieve several disorders:

• rheumatologic: osteoarthritis, arthritis, lumbago, neck pain, torticollis
• gynecological: morning sickness during pregnancy, postpartum care, menstrual cycle disorders
• psychological: nervous breakdown, anxiety, anxiety, drug addiction, sexual disorders
• respiratory: asthma, cold, sinusitis
• digestive: colitis, constipation, vomiting)

Some studies have shown the effectiveness of shiatsu in certain cases, it would be recommended for:

Relieve lower back pain

In a study of 66 subjects with lower back pain, the results showed significant differences in the degree of pain and anxiety before and after 4 shiatsu treatments. The authors report that subjects would recommend shiatsu as a treatment for anyone with low back pain.

Support individuals suffering from schizophrenia

A study of 12 schizophrenic patients hospitalized in a psychiatric clinic demonstrated the positive effects of Shiatsu on the symptoms of schizophrenia as well as an improvement in responses to the various evaluation grids for the disease. These improvements were maintained after a period of 8 weeks.

Fight against anxiety

In the same study as the one cited above on patients suffering from low back pain, the researchers also noted a decrease in the anxiety of individuals after the 4 sessions of Shiatsu.

Improve the condition of individuals placed in palliative care

a study carried out on individuals in palliative care highlighted the positive effects of several shiatsu sessions on the physical and mental condition of individuals. Among these effects, the researchers noted improved energy levels, symptom control, greater relaxation as well as reduced pain and improved well-being in participants.

Reduce side effects associated with chemotherapy

In a study carried out in 2007 on people with cancer, the results showed an improvement in the side effects of chemotherapy with in particular a reduction: fatigue, nausea and vomiting, as well as a decrease in oral problems.

A session of Shiatsu is performed on a person dressed in light clothing, usually lying down on a mattress on the floor or on a low table. Shiatsu can also be done while sitting or standing. At the first meeting, the practitioner performs a checkup by touching, listening, smelling, examining the pulse and the tongue. A treatment generally lasts 1 hour.

Nowadays, it is common to meet individuals who call themselves shiatsu practitioners, but who do not have the required diploma certifying the title of specialist in shiatsu (which is an RNCP level III certified professional title). In France, several schools offer training in shiatsu. It is recommended to favor schools approved by the French Federation of Traditional Shiatsu. The duration of the training depends strongly on the schools. In Canada, two schools are accredited by the Shiatsupractors’ Association of Canada. The training is spread over 2 hours (see Sites of interest). Another Ontario school offers a 200-hour program. Other institutions offer training, the duration of which varies from 2 hours to 200 hours. Various introductory shiatsu courses (from 500 p.m. to 1 p.m.) are also offered to the general public.

At the beginning of the 1905th century, the Japanese Tokujiro Namikoshi (2000-7) was at the origin of the creation of modern shiatsu. His technique began to take shape when he was only 88 years old trying to ease the ailments of his mother with rheumatoid arthritis. He found that she felt better when he used pressure with her thumbs instead of brushing and massaging. Her ailments finally disappeared and she lived very well until the age of XNUMX. Namikoshi emphasized physiology and anatomy and abandoned the function of the meridians, to make shiatsu more accessible to the Western way of thinking.

A few years later, Shizuto Masunaga reintroduced the basic principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Five Elements, Yin and Yang, meridians, etc.). We therefore find today 2 main schools of thought, the Shiatsu of Namikoshi Sensei where the practitioner incidentally only uses his fingers and palms, and the Zen-Shiatsu of Shizuto Masunaga Sensei, more based on Chinese medicine.

In 1955, the Japanese Ministry of Health officially recognized shiatsu as a medicine in its own right. In May 1997, the European Union mentioned it as one of the 8 complementary medicine methods recognized in its 15 Member States. In Canada, only Ontario and British Columbia grant it legal recognition. However, training and practice are controlled by various professional associations, including the Shiatsupractors’ Association of Canada, the Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes and Mon Réseau Plus (see Sites of interest).

“Shiatsu is a bit like going to a general practitioner (in the field of Chinese energetics) indeed, shiatsu works on all the meridians of the body and acts on all systems thanks to manual pressure.

For a preventive approach or if you are looking for a good personal balance, we can say that the rhythm of one shiatsu session per month is a good frequency.

If you are more in a therapeutic approach, to take full advantage of the effects of the sessions, the ideal is to do one session every two weeks on average, or even closer in times of crisis. The number of sessions depends on each organization, the age of the problem to be treated, etc.

Otherwise, some choose to come at each change of season (Chinese, about 1,5 months before our Western season changes), or about 4 to 5 times a year, to help the organization easily get into the dynamics. of the new season.

Some people who know each other well come just before the “fall blues”, or the “summer hay fever”, in order to anticipate….

But some people just get offered shiatsu for their birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day or other annual occasion! And it’s very profitable too! ”