The Treatment

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Treatment is usually given with the recipient on a Futon – a large mat – on the floor. Treatment is applied through clothing, and it is recommended that you should wear, or bring with you, loose, warm clothing such as a sweat shirt or long sleeved T-shirt, tracksuit trousers or leggings, and socks. Try not to eat or drink in large quantities for approximately an hour prior to treatment, and avoid alcohol.

Treatment is around one hour, although the first treatment will be longer, as time will be taken to build a case history of any conditions to be addressed. Your Shiatsu practitioner will consider your state of health and the symptoms you are experiencing. Any recent surgery, illnesses or medication will need to be discussed prior to treatment taking place.

A variety of methods will be used to consider your needs, including the initial discussion. Assessment is a complex picture, and will continue throughout the first and subsequent treatments. Your practitioner will probably start the treatment with a “hara diagnosis”. This involves gentle palpation of the abdomen in order to make an assessment of various diagnostic areas.

The treatment will then involve a variety of techniques to improve the flow of Qi, including massage, gentle holding, pressing with palms, thumbs, fingers, elbows, knees and feet, and sometimes more dynamic stretches and rotations. Direct pressure may be applied to specific points called acupoints. These points are specific areas along the channel where the energy of that meridian is closest to the surface and can be influenced most easily. For this reason, shiatsu is sometimes referred to as “acupuncture without needles”.

After the treatment, you may feel deeply relaxed and sleepy, and at other times invigorated. As the quality of the Qi changes, the symptoms associated with the lack of flow will improve.

A course of treatments may be recommended, and this can be discussed at the end of the treatment, at which time you will normally have an opportunity to ask any questions or make any comments about your treatment. If a course of treatments is embarked upon, regular reviews of the progress and effectiveness of the treatment will be made.

Some clients use shiatsu as a method of relaxation as and when desired, and many use shiatsu as a “preventative” therapy, taking treatments at regular but well spaced intervals.