Do you want to relieve your pain, boost your mood, and feel your best? If so, massage therapy is right for you!
Unfortunately, picking the proper technique can be confusing if you’re unfamiliar with all the options and their benefits. Massage and bodywork include hundreds of modalities, each with a diverse and rich history.
Don’t worry, though! MassageBook is here to put your mind at ease. This article explores shiatsu massage, the benefits of shiatsu massage, and how to find a highly rated professional massage therapist specializing in shiatsu near you.
What Is Shiatsu Massage?
Shiatsu massage comes from an ancient Japanese healing methodology and traditional Chinese medicine. Shiatsu aligns with qi philosophy, the belief in vital life force energy running along meridian lines. These pathways include the large and small intestine, stomach, lungs, spleen, heart, kidney, and bladder. Therapists will assess your health and then determine which meridians need unblocking.
Shiatsu translates to “finger pressure.” This technique uses stretching, tapping, and pressing techniques to release tense muscles at targeted points. In addition to their hands, therapists often use their elbows and knees to achieve the desired result.
Western massage techniques focus on the body, whereas shiatsu works to bring relief to both mind and body.
The Benefits of Shiatsu Massage
The benefits of shiatsu massage extend beyond just pain relief and relaxing downtime. Here are a handful of them:
- Increased energy levels
- Better bowel function
- Improved mental health
- Better quality sleep
Shiatsu massage can help improve your sleep, and that, in turn, will lead to less fatigue and higher energy levels. In addition, the release of serotonin during shiatsu increases melatonin and makes falling asleep much more manageable. This also works hand in hand with mental health; feeling relaxed after every appointment will decrease your stress levels.
For those who suffer from irregular bowel functions that affect their daily routine, shiatsu can help. With increased blood circulation and an improved lymphatic system, your body will feel less rigid and tense all the time, which has likely harmed your stomach.
To read a more in-depth analysis of the benefits of shiatsu massage, look at this comprehensive article here.
What to Expect During a Shiatsu Massage
With any massage, it’s especially important to feel prepared before your first appointment. This will help you feel more at ease and likely to have a more positive experience than if you go in completely unaware of what to expect.
Shiatsu massage is a very precise technique practiced only by licensed and trained therapists. You will feel them use their thumbs, fingers, elbows, and even knees to relieve pain at different points. You can expect stretching, rotations, and gentle but firm pressing maneuvers.
Massage therapists will account for your current health and physical activity levels and work around this. Depending on your treatment plan, your session may consist of a full-body massage.
You need to be open and honest during your appointment. Be sure to update your therapist about each pressure level and what feels more painful than usual. For example, suppose you feel yourself tensing up before your therapist applies pressure. In that case, it is reducing the effectiveness of the massage and will probably deter you from returning.
This type of massage will result in tenderness and sore muscles for most, but it is not a lingering sensation and will go down in a day or two.
Is Shiatsu Massage for Me?
Shiatsu is an alternative massage to Western treatments, emphasizing holistic healing of the whole body and mind. It examines underlying conditions, not just providing treatment for a quick fix.
Shiatsu can relieve stress, migraines, chronic pain, and digestive problems. In addition, it is supportive in the treatment of depression and anxiety. It’s also helpful for menstrual issues and can reduce the symptoms of morning sickness in pregnancy.
It is a therapy you should consider if you find other treatments have not effectively reduced or alleviated your conditions and symptoms.
Where to Find the Best Shiatsu Massage Therapist Near You
Booking your first session with a shiatsu massage therapist near you can be daunting. It’s a unique technique, and searching for qualified and trained specialists can seem difficult. Especially if you aren’t sure of their experience and have no reviews to reference.
But with our help at MassageBook, you can browse through profiles of licensed professionals and their reviews to find the one most suited for your needs.
Find and book a shiatsu massage on MassageBook
[REFERENCES]
https://www.insider.com/guides/health/treatments/shiatsu-massage
https://www.spine-health.com/glossary/shiatsu-massage
https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/the-benefits-of-giving-and-receiving-shiatsu-massage