About shiatsu
In general
You can read a brief overview of what shiatsu is on the main page Shiatsu .
The Shiatsu practitioner tries to help the client figure out the reason why the given difficulty arose, and subsequently resolve it together, rather than treating the resulting symptoms that tend to return.
This technique focuses on our life force flowing through the body (chi, ki). Emphasis is placed on working with ki because the imbalance caused by various causes (stress, unhealthy lifestyle, difficult life situation, etc.) manifests itself first at the level of the most subtle, i.e. our ki energy. If the cause is not addressed, problems on the physical and mental level appear later. Difficulties are becoming visible. Therefore, when it is possible to straighten the flow of life force and remove the cause of its imbalance, the body returns to its nature - health.
Shiatsu does not belong in the category of wellness and relaxation. It should help us heal, return to balance, to our nature.
Nowadays, almost all of us encounter stress on a daily basis. We have busy diaries, deadlines, responsibilities, exams and so on. And it is stress that is behind most health complications. Shiatsu is a very effective method that helps us become aware of our body, our situation and gives us the strength to take our health back into our own hands.
Effects
Shiatsu helps in all kinds of cases, sometimes even where western medicine can't help. In many situations, however, there is a need to change something, to get rid of the tension that creates unwanted imbalances in the body. Therefore, treatment is usually not a one-time thing. However, it always depends on the individual condition and approach of the client.
Shiatsu is used, for example, in:
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insomnia
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painful, irregular or heavy menstruation, PMS
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digestive problems (constipation, diarrhea, pain, nausea, chronic and acute diseases)
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psychological problems (depression, anxiety, trauma, etc.)
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infertility
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pain (head, back, joints, etc.)
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skin problems
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restlessness, irritability
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fatigue, lack of energy
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urinary tract infections
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accepting a difficult life situation or change
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breathing difficulties
This technique is also suitable as a very effective prevention of various mental and physical issues.
History
The roots of manual (touch) therapy go back to the period of origin and influence of Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. This therapy was originally developed in China, then reached Japan. There it is called Anma and becomes a full-fledged part of traditional Japanese medicine. Later, with the arrival of influence from the West, the meaning of touch is lost and various techniques, such as Anma, acupuncture, etc., are regulated by the state. In 1911, a new name appears - shiatsu, which is not regulated. Later, there are many scientific studies that try to prove the effectiveness of shiatsu, since this technique is still not an officially recognized therapy. In 1940, the only officially recognized shiatsu school, Japan Shiatsu College, was established in Japan. And finally, in 1964, shiatsu is recognized in Japan as a separate therapeutic direction belonging to the Japanese health system. Shiatsu gradually spread to Europe and the USA, and new types of shiatsu began to appear. Nowadays, in Japan, shiatsu does not have the same importance as in the past - the influence of Western medicine prevails. In 1997, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognized shiatsu as a full-fledged alternative health care.