Shiatsu is a manual therapy that was developped in Japan for the most part by Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905 - 2000) over a lifetime. Shiatsu (Shi= finger; Atsu= pressure) uses manual and digital compression and gentle manipulations to address musculo-skeletal and metabolic dysfuntions. Because Shiatsu acts on every system of the body, it is known as a very efficient therapy that can be not only a great system for prevention of illness and maintenance of the body performances, but also a great therapy to relieve pain and discomfort and bring the body back to homeostasis.
The Namikoshi system developped by Tokujiro and his older son Toru uses basic Shiatsu points that correspond to muscle and nerve points, trigger points, and points that have a great impact on the different bodily systems (endocrine system, digestive system...)
To find out more about the Namikoshi system you can refer to:
Shiatsu: Japanese finger pressure therapy - Tokujiro Namikoshi
The complete book of Shiatsu Therapy - Toru Namikoshi
Shiatsu+Stretching - Toru Namikoshi
Other Shiatsu systems have been developped by several students of the Namikoshi Shiatsu School:
Ashiatsu or barefoot Shiatsu by Shizuko Yamamoto, using hand, finger and foot pressure. Shizuko added also the concept Macrobiotic from George Ohsawa to make her technique a complete healing system.
Zen Shiatsu by Shizuto Masunaga. After studying and teaching for 10 years at the Namikoshi School of Shiatsu, Shizuto integrated TCM and Zen concept to his Shiatsu. His technique focuses more on balancing meridians than stimulating points
Another finger pressure therapy system was developped in the 50's in Argentina and Florida by Tomezo Hoshino. The Hoshino Therapy system uses 250 points and exercises to stimulate the body.
Today several other forms of Shiatsu more or less close to the Namikoshi or Masunaga systems exist around the world.
"Proper breathing, diet and exercise develop Ki and Ketsu"
