What is Shiatsu Massage?
Originally from Japan, Shiatsu massage is a massage technique used to correct imbalances in one’s body by applying pressure to the body’s surface using only the fingers, palms, and thumbs on points are related to the central nervous system. Based on the holistic system of traditional eastern medicine, Shiatsu massage , also referred to as acupressure, is thought to result from the uneven flow of energy (Qi) throughout the body. The technique’s Founder, Tokujiro Namikoshi first discovered the beneficial properties of Shiatsu massage at a young age when he was able to reduce his mother’s arthritic pain simply by applying pressure to her joints and rubbing them.
Since then Shiatsu massage has become widely supported by the Japanese government, and has been exported to various regions of the world. The Shiatsu massage technique also gained notoriety when Namikoshi himself treated important and/or famous people such as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, and champion boxer Muhammed Ali.
Each Shiatsu massage session usually lasts anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, and takes place on a padded surface. Shiatsu massages often begin with gentle stretching and manipulation of the skin to allow the stimulation of energy and relax the muscles. Depending on the need of the person receiving the Shiatsu massage, it can be very gentle and calming or used with high pressure, but should never be painful. Massages are usually given using a circular motion with medium pressure to insure the recipient achieves maximum benefits from the treatment.
Shiatsu massages have been known to help stimulate circulation in the capillaries of the skin’s soft tissue, keeping skin moist and smooth with improved blood circulation. Shiatsu can also help alleviate symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, improve the overall health of muscles throughout the body, aid migraines by relaxing the body and increasing blood flow, relieve menstrual cramps, induce labor in women who are overdue, ease morning sickness and swelling often caused by pregnancy, allow food to digest easier, increase stamina by storing energy reserves, and aid in fat metabolism and removal.
Because Shiatsu massage is “Diagnosis and Therapy combined” practitioners at the Ido Holistic Center use their sensory organs (palms, fingers, and thumbs) to detect disharmonies in the energetic components of the body (ie. stiffness) and perform empirically established routines to correct these problems. In order to do this our practitioners must first examine the person’s appearance, odor, and sounds. The Shiatsu massage practitioner then asks a series of personal health questions and deciphers his or her answers in search of a possible psychological catalyst in the person’s ailments. The reasoning behind all this diagnostic testing is to correctly identify the source of disharmony and eliminate it.
Understanding the plight of New York City’s bustling workforce, we here at the Ido Holistic Center pride ourselves on improving the quality of life for people in our local community. Conveniently located near Grand Central station our goal is not only to help you relieve stress and pain, but to make sure you never have to experience it again. Treat yourself to a Shiatsu massage at the Ido Holistic Center. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you for it.
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