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Massage TherapyWhat is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of acupressure developed in the early 20th century, it's translation is finger (shi) pressure (atsu).
Shiatsu recognizes two key fundamental principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
1. Vital energy flows throughout the body in energy channels (also known as meridians). This vital energy is known as "ki" in Japan, "chi" in China, and "prana" in India. When the flow of this energy is disrupted, blocked, sluggish, or uneven, imbalance and disease result.
2. Yin and yang represent the balance of opposing qualities such as male and female, hot and cold, and hard and soft. When these qualities fall out of balance, the vital energy flow within the body is, in turn, affected.
There are 20 energy meridians throughout the body: 12 main pathways and 8 secondary pathways which form a network of channels. The 8 secondary channels supply energy to the main 12 channels of the body. Each meridian is related to an organ or function, the main 12 of which are:
1. Lung2. Heart
3. Pericardum (heart protector)
4. Liver
5. Kidney
6. Spleen
7. Small intestine
8. Triple heater
9. Large intestine
10. Urinary bladder
11. Stomach
12. Gall bladder
Shiatsu uses pressure, stretching and holding techniques to stimulate specific points along the energy meridians (also known as acupoints). It often incorporates a larger variety of application techniques including palm pressure, stretching, massage, and other manual massage-like techniques.
What Should I Expect?
A typical Shiatsu treatments lasts approximately one hour. Although Shiatsu is often performed while wearing loose, comfortable clothing (as oils and creams are not used), if other massage techniques are incorpated, then clothing will be removed.
Recent Massage Therapy Submissions
| 1. |  case study:Undiagnosed quadraparesis (paresis of all four limbs) Near normal recovery. Running and playing. Urinary and fecal continent. more | by: topsvet  date: 10/14/2008 |
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| 2. | case study: Immune-mediated vasculitis with secondary spinal cord hem... Near normal recovery. Izaak is running, jumping and playing, and is both urinary and fecally contine... more | by: topsvet date: 10/13/2008 |
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| 3. | case study: Immune mediated polyarthritis During his treatment, Baron was also diagnosed with kidney failure and systemic lupus, which he succ... more | by: topsvet date: 10/13/2008 |
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| 4. | case study: Wobblers Disease. Von Willebrands was subsequently diagnosed. She currently has near normal movement and function in a... more | by: topsvet date: 10/7/2008 |
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| The information in this website is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice, nor used to replace, diagnose, prescribe, or treat any ailment, nor does it replace consultation with your medical doctor and practitioner. It is intended only to enhance your knowledge in healing therapies. Please use it wisely. We care about your well-being. |