Look
back in time - Shiatsu, Literally
translated as "finger pressure," was
introduced into Japan about 1,500
years ago. It has its roots in
traditional Chinese medicine and,
like Chinese massage, is based on
the theory that energy flows through
meridians in the body.
Shiatsu is actually a subset of a
larger range of Japanese massage
techniques known as Nihon Kaifuku
Anma. This form of massage came to
Japan over 1300 years ago, and had
already been practiced in China for
years prior to this
The
theory behind Anma massage is that
the body's energy flows along
particular pathways, and stimulating
certain areas will influence the
workings of the body's organs,
leading to greater overall health.
These concepts are similar to those
used in acupuncture and other
Eastern medicines. The purpose of
Japanese massage is to help improve
the way the body functions before
problems show up, not after. This is
a common feature in Japanese
massage, whether the techniques
originated thousands of years ago or
merely one hundred years ago. If you
want to try preventative medicine
with a long history of success and
many devotees, give Japanese massage
a try.