Shiatsu is a Japanese treatment technique based on the theory of Chinese medicine combining Western techniques. The word “shiatsu” means “pressure of a finger” (shi = finger, atsu = pressure)

What is Shiatsu?

According to Chinese medicine, the energy of life (qi) flows in fixed channels throughout the body and across it. These channels are called meridians.

A state of health is characterized by the free and released flow of energy in the body. When there is an excess or lack of energy in the meridians, the balance in the body is disturbed and this will be manifested in an inner feeling or illness.

Shiatsu treatment is designed to open the blockages in the meridians, direct the energy and affect the muscular, nervous and internal systems of the body and thus bring about a balance of body and mind and improve the general feeling. Stretching and pressing at certain points in the body can lead to a process of self-healing in which the body releases chemicals with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that alleviate the symptoms and evoke a feeling of relaxation.

One of the most popular treatments in complementary medicine

The treatment is based on moving the joints, stretching and pressing. The pressure is applied using the hands and even applying point pressure of the thumbs to specific points. The goal is to create flow and motivation between the points of excess and scarcity.

Shiatsu treatment is not painful but “enveloping”. The pressing technique creates a feeling of “hug to every limb” and this is also the reason why the Japanese tend to say that “the heart of shiatsu is a mother’s heart”.

What situations Shiatsu can help?

• Headaches and migraines
• Skeletal and muscle problems
• back pain
• legs and foot pain
• Muscle aches
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Tensions and anxieties
• Sleep Disorders
• ADHD

What happens during Shiatsu treatment?

The session begins with the therapist’s diagnosis with the help of questioning and touch testing. The therapist chooses meridians to work according to the questioning, the intensity of the pressure in the treatment varies according to the patient and the problem the patient suffers from, in order to ensure that during the treatment the patient enjoys a feeling of relaxation and general relaxation of muscles – peace for body and mind. The treatment is performed on a wide mattress on the floor or on a treatment bed

The length of treatment and the number of sessions depends on the type of problem and varies depending on the severity of the patient’s condition:
Each treatment lasts up to 45 minutes. Child care will be shorter as children respond better and faster to care. The duration of treatment is determined by the age and physical maturity of the young patient. For example, a baby will need a few minutes of care, while a 12-year-old will need about half an hour of care.

The results of the treatment accompany the patient even after the treatment when the effect accumulates.

It is highly recommended to continue to get Shiatsu treatment also as a preventative medicine, even once a month, when you are at your best, to strengthen the body, clear accumulated toxins, release blockages in the meridians and maintain a good feeling in the body and mind

How to prepare for treatment?

It is important to remember and come in comfortable and long clothes for treatment – it is recommended to wear a T-shirt, tracksuit and socks. It is recommended to avoid a heavy meal near the time of treatment. If this is your first appointment with the therapist, it is important that you give him your medical history – surgeries (including cosmetic), medications you are taking, injuries you have undergone, fractures, accidents, sensitivities, allergies, special reactions to previous treatments you have undergone and the like.

In order for your therapist to know how to treat you – he must know you. If it is a follow-up treatment – it is important to update the therapist on any change in your health.