Shiatsu acupressure

Shiatsu acupressure is the basic technique of shiatsu massage therapy. Shiatsu massage uses pressure techniques being applied on the acupoints also known as tsubo. Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, the difference between these two techniques is that acupressure uses thumbs, hands, elbows and knees and acupuncture uses needles to stimulate the energetic points.

Why shiatsu acupressure is so effective?

The pressure on the acupressure points is from 3 to 5 seconds. The shiatsu practitioner slowly moves his body towards the patient applying the pressure with the weight of his body. The pressure must be slow and soft. The patient might feel pain but this is ok, he will not want you to stop because it brings pleasure.

How to find a tsubo?

The acupressure points are placed on the meridians of the body. A real shiatsu massage master will easily find the tsubo where the energy is blocked. The acupressure points are not always in the same places as it is shown in the meridian charts or in acupressure points charts. You can feel tsubo if you touch with your hand the patient’s body and under the muscles and skin you will feel a small point of rice. The patient feels pleasure when you stimulate these acupressure points. Ask your patient what he feels. The stimulation of the acupressure points has last until the small point of rice disappears. It might take different amount of time in each case.

The pressure on the acupressure points is from 3 to 5 seconds. The shiatsu practitioner slowly moves his body towards patient’s body applying the pressure with the weight of his body. The pressure must be slow and soft. The patient might feel pain but this is ok, he will not want you to stop because it brings pleasure.

The shiatsu acupressure practitioner will need years trainings and practice to refine his ability to treat energy imbalances. Shiatsu massage therapy is different from other types of massages by the timing it is done. There are no fast techniques here. The shiatsu acupressure practitioner will have to develop a fine sense of touch which is needed to indicate the best treatment to the energy imbalances.

Shiatsu acupressure is a healing therapy. The best way to apply shiatsu acupressure is when the patient lays on a mattress on the floor having a nice a pleasant music playing and a dimmed light in the room. Surely the patient will fully relax and this is necessary to have a better result of a shiatsu acupressure therapy. Don’t forget about yourself. As a therapist you have to keep in mind that your body mechanics is important to forget about tired hands at the end of the therapy.