Sea of Qi Therapeutic Bodywork Newsletter :: August 2011

:: Sea of Qi Newsletter ::
AUGUST 2011

        Perhaps you've been receiving Shiatsu for some time and recognize the benefits, but still don't really understand what it is, where it comes from or how it works. Maybe you've just begun Shiatsu treatments and are curious to know more about its underlying philosophy. Or possibly Shiatsu is a complete mystery and you would like more information and understanding before trying it out. Regardless of where you are coming from, I would like to provide some of the back story so that you can get to know Shiatsu better. 

Over the course of the next few newsletters I'd like to give more information on Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. I'll begin with a few basic facts about Shiatsu and my practice. Please also feel free to read the information on my website.

Where does Shiatsu come from?

• In short, Shiatsu is born from the ancient Chinese system of health (Taoism) which is over 5000 years old.
• Shiatsu as we know it today developed in Japan over the last 100 years, but stems from a combination of ancient Chinese massage and modern anatomy and physiology.

What styles do I practice?

     I practice two of the three main styles of Shiatsu: Namikoshi and Shiatsu-Anma. However, I would say that I mainly focus my practice around Shiatsu-Anma, while incorporating techniques from Namikoshi. The third form is called Zen Shiatsu. 

• Namikoshi Shiatsu is completely based in Western anatomy and physiology and aims to both prevent and cure illness by stimulating the body's natural powers of restoration through the application of pressure to a series of points on the body.
• Shiatsu-Anma is based in the very old system of health called Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is based in the Taoist theory of Yin and Yang.  The techniques directly descend from an ancient Chinese medical massage called Anma therapy.

Other facts:

• Shiatsu falls under the broader category of Acupressure massage. 
• Acupressure refers to the stimulation of Acupuncture points via pressure rather than needles.
• Massage is just one branch of the holistic system of health known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. The other branches include: diet and nutrition, exercise, acupuncture, herbal medicine and meditation. 

More information to come in the next newsletter! Enjoy August and I'll see you soon.

-Susie