Modern shiatsu evolved from anma, which was popularized in the 17th century by the acupuncturist Sugiyama Waichi, at the same time the first books on the subject appeared, including Anma Tebiki ("Anma Handbook") by Fujibayashi Ryohaku, on these lines.
Shiatsu is the art based on the religious, philosophical and traditional currents of acupuncture, acupressure and reflexology. We know that the eastern countries have a long history in the development and practice of these disciplines, and our Thai culture is the best example of this. If you want to know more about the subject, we invite you to read more about the discipline that unites the vast majority of massage styles in Asia, reflexology.
In previous posts we have talked about Thai massage, but this time we want to go a little further to the east of the world map, to talk about Japan and shiatsu. The origin of its name, "Shiatsu", comes from the Japanese kanji, 指 [shi], "finger", and 圧 [atsu], "pressure". At the beginning of its expansion outside of Chinese territory, it was known by its native name, anma, and identified as a discipline that was systematically passed from generation to generation, from parents to descendants. It was during the development of this stage in the history of the country of the rising sun, when this discipline began to be taught in schools for blind students. It was believed that people who could not see exercised the massage with an extra sensitive component that made them ideal for this work. In addition to being practiced by blind people, shiatsu was also practiced by those mysterious women with faces the color of chalk, lips like poppies and gathered up in vertigo. These women, the geishas, were trained in multiple artistic disciplines that were hired to liven up the luxurious evenings and keep merchants, samurai or feudal lords company in important meetings and ceremonies.
Example of the application of pressure for short periods of time on the meridians present in the hands, to improve the flow of qi and thus health.
It is in the 1920s that shiatsu began to be used as a clinical tool studied and developed by chiropractors, and for this, modern and scientifically proven techniques were added to this discipline. From this new development in the Taisho period - while in the West the Charleston and Bob-type cuts were in style - a large number of new styles emerged in the Japanese country, among which are Zen Shiatsu - a discipline that separates actions from two hands, one that listens and the other that acts—, Koho Shiatsu —which is part of the first European schools of shiatsu—, or Yin Shiatsu —which prepares practitioners in a moral discipline similar to that of samurai—.
The theory behind the practice of shiatsu
El estudio de los puntos Sen en el Nuad Boran Thai se remonta siglos atrás.
The philosophical basis of shiatsu is the same that we can find in other massage styles derived from Chinese anma and Buddhism, such as the Nuad Boran that we practice here at Thai Spa Massage. In this philosophy, the human body is separated into meridians, in which there are channels through which energy passes to our entire body. This energy, known as qi, is the one whose mission is to distribute vitality in a balanced way for a healthy body. However, for reasons such as stress or anxiety, there may be a stagnation of qi in some of these channels. The objective of shiatsu is that by means of the pressure exerted at various points, these retentions —which can also cause multiple diseases— can be released to return to balance.
One futon to ensure comfort
Typical Japanese room, equipped with a futon.
But how do you practice it? Is there something that makes it special? Shiatsu is traditionally practiced on a mat on the floor. This mat, typical of Japan, is known as a futon. It is about 2 inches tall and sits directly on the floor, unlike western mattresses. The futon is to the Japanese what an invigorating midday nap is to the Spanish: something cultural. It is so common that the vast majority of the inhabitants of the land of the rising sun do not sleep in a bed, they sleep on a futon spread directly on the floor.
Also, the futon is fully foldable. Its storage is very simple, and after spending the night sleeping in it, it is folded and stored until the next night. This ensures having a freed space to use it in other ways, ideal for when the space we have is limited. In shiatsu, the benefits of the futon assure us relaxation and comfort during the acupressure massage, but also assures us a feeling of grounding much more invigorating than doing it on a stretcher, or derivatives.
Digitopuncture as the basis of everything
In shiatsu the practitioner uses only the palms of the hands, wooden tools, and thumbs to apply pressure.
In shiatsu massage, as in other traditional Asian ways of doing massage, acupressure is your Rosetta Stone, the beginning of everything, its most primitive bases, but while other types of acupressure for stress can be applied, and are applied locally , shiatsu is done on the whole body. Although acupressure is not directly a form of reflexology itself - reflexology is the type of therapy that ensures that there are parts of the body that are reflected in sensitive points of the hands, face and feet, being able to relax any ailment by massaging these areas, indirectly. ,the technique of acupressure is used to carry out reflexological treatments. Nuad Boran or Thai massage is a great example of a type of massage that also uses acupressure as a base, but unlike shiatsu, the interaction between the masseur and the person receiving the massage is closer.
At Thai Spa Massage we are delighted to be able to open a small door to the complex world of massages, explaining everything you need to know about some of the most practiced ancient disciplines on the Asian continent. And of course, if you are in the surroundings of Barcelona, we invite you to take a look at our massage offer, select the one you like the most and visit our Spa, located on Passeig de Gracia 100 or in Alura, in Joan Güell 236, we are waiting for you!
