An Introduction to Massage Therapy in Japan

Have you ever wondered the history concerning Japanese massage therapy? Where did this method of healing originate that treats the physical being and emotional stability of an individual? In this article, you are introduced to massage therapy in Japan, including an example of how someone may receive a shiatsu massage.  

An Introduction to Massage Therapy in Japan

The art of Japanese massage started around 1000 BCE, when Japanese monks studying Buddhism in China caught wind of the healing methods of traditional Chinese medicine. Massage therapy especially captured their attention and it wasn’t long before Japan started to import and cultivate the massage techniques of China. In the beginning, the traditional way of Japanese massage was called anma. It served as a foundation that gave way to what we now know as shiatsu.  

The main goal of shiatsu is to increase the energy level of a patient. As a result, this boost of energy helps to regulate and strengthen the function of the organs. Shiatsu also helps to revamp the body’s natural defenses against illness, sickness, and disease. Shiatsu is achieved through the stimulation of pressure points throughout the body, which works towards establishing a rebalance of the energy found in a patient.

The thumbs, fingers and palms are used to administer the massage. There are no needles or other tools that play a role in shiatsu. With this sort of treatment, patients not only balance their physical being, but also tend to their emotional stability.

An Example of Shiatsu Massage

First, allow your mind to view an acupressure point as a pool of energy that flows along a meridian (also known as energy flow). Locate an acupressure point by exploring touch sensitivity and referring to a book that indicates certain highlights of the body. Usually, the points you seek are situated in a groove in the bone or a depression located between the muscle fibers and muscles.

When applying pressure to the points, take the pad of your thumb, index finger or middle finger, making sure that it is not the tips that you are using. Find a hollowed region or a protrusion by sliding your finger along the bone or muscle of your choice. At this time, you will apply various levels of pressure , ranging from light to deep. Some people are worried that they will not be able to feel the pressure point when touch is applied lightly. Don’t worry; you will still be able to detect the touch.

Using light to moderate touch, apply pressure to the point. Keep in mind that your level of intensity will depend on your level of sensitivity. Make sure to apply enough pressure so that you can feel the tension or hardness linked to a tense point. A good indicator that you are applying too much pressure is when pain becomes so great that you literally cannot take in a deep breath.

Continued in the article titled “Massage Therapy in Japan: Chair & Ozakazi Long-Life”