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Shiatsu

Holistic therapy from ANAGNOSTOU VOULA at Pylaia Thessaloniki

INTRODUCTION

Once upon a time in distant Japan, a seven years old child with only weapon the love for his mother, made a miracle. With pressures and compressions managed to heal her from the unbearable rheumatic pains. This child, the power of Meditation of Taoism, the blind therapists of China and the wisdom of thousand years, gave birth in the early 2nd century to a modern, worldwide recognized, therapeutic method, SHIATSU

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GENERAL:

Shiatsu, although it is a Japanese technique, is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. That’s exactly the reason Shiatsu is considered as Acupuncture without needles. As a therapeutic method was recognized by the Japanese Medical Department of the Ministry of Welfare in December 1957:

"The technique of Shiatsu refers to pressure with the fingers ( Finger = Shi, pressure = atsu) and palms to specific parts of the body surface to correct energy imbalance in the body and maintain health "Shiatsu as a
Holistic Therapy Technique understands man as a whole system. That’s why Shiatsu is trying not only to heal him when he is ill but also to keep man healthy. This could be achieved by maintaining or restoring the balance in three different but interrelated dimensions, mental, spiritual and physical.

The exact translation of word Shiatsu is “finger pressure” but the “spirit” of the word is in the Japanese phrase "Shinda Soku Chyrio"(combination of Therapy and Diagnosis).

In ancient times Chinese Medicine Therapists were blind so they have highly developed touch. Because the senses of touch, vision and smell, have a primary role in TCM Diagnosis. All the information that the therapist collects with his senses, he applies it immediately to the session. Therefore the diagnosis and treatment are simultaneously. Another important difference from other techniques (such as acupuncture) is the intense feeling of deep support experienced by the client through direct and constant physical contact with the therapist. The relationship of trust that develops between them has the power to “pull in the surface” all the symptoms and the cause of any malfunction. Shiatsu is not intended to replace Conventional Medicine just to work together for best results. But in nowadays the drug toxicity (with many side effects), combined with the ineffectiveness of some conventional methods have convinced many west people to turn to Shiatsu.

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SIGNS:

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SESSION

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BENEFITS:

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HISTORY:

The Shiatsu has its roots in ancient Chinese techniques like Anmo and Tuina. In the 6th century Buddhists monksbrought the techniques in Japan. Also Chinese medical students that were sent to study in Japan and developed relationships of two countries also helped in dissemination of Anmo. Thus, in the early 2nd century, it was Shiatsu was developed by Namikoshi Tokujiro.

Namikoshi Tokujiro was born in 1905. At the age of seven he moved with his family from hot Shikoku, in thecold northern island of Hokkaido. Shortly after this change, his mother began to have pains in the knees and slowly the pain became too intense and affected almost all her joints. The kid not able to watch his mother suffered, began pushing and massaging the painful areas to relieve her. After some time the boy trusted more and more his feeling about the quality of the pressure and the reactions that each pressurecaused. He began to focus on the most cold and tight spots. The result was the improvement of his mother health. Finally the child without any scientific knowledge, armed with love and intention, managed to cure a condition now known as Rheumatoid Arthritis (treated with tons of chemicals, mostly ineffective). This was the beginning of Shiatsu.

Some years after, Nomikoshi studded anatomy, medicine and started the first clinic in 1925. In 1940 he created the first school known until today as Japan Shiatsu Association. In 1953 Shiatsu crossed the border. The first presentation of the technique was at Palmers College of Chiropractic. But the reputation of both the teacher and the technique spread all over America when Shiatsu met Hollywood. In 1956 Marilyn Monroe cured by Nomikoshi, after a serious illness, withShiatsu techniques. In 1981 was formed community of Shiatsu in the UK. Finally in 2000, the title of Shiatsupractor defined for Shiatsu therapists. As an educational model was the instruction of 2,200 hours (from Canadian Shiatsu Society). After that its spread across the world was inevitable.

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STUDY CASES: