Relax with simple Japanese Shiatsu Techniques
This article will introduce you to the famous medical system Shiatsu, and help you relieve, renew and relax with simple Japanese Shiatsu techniques.
Contents
I. What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu (指圧 – しあつ) – literally meaning “finger pressure”, usually referred to as “Japanese acupressure” – is a system of massage and bodywork techniques that affect human’s psychobiology and activate dormant energy within the body. Japanese experts believe Shiatsu has three main effects: to relieve tiredness and pain, to activate inner energy, and to cure some particular symptoms.
What would you do when you get hurt? When your leg hurts, your natural reaction would be rubbing and pressing the cruise, and it does feel better, right? Sometimes the pain at one body part can be alleviated when another, seemingly unrelated part is stimulated. For example, when you hit your toes, you pucker, contract and distort your face, don’t you? Some even bite their fingers to mitigate the pain in their toes. Aware that there must be a relationship between pain and pressure, and links between parts of the body, Japanese constructed a special medical system called Shiatsu. In fact, in the 1930s, an institution of Shiatsu was established in Japan.
In Shiatsu, fingers and palms are used to press and massage specified areas and points in the body. The pressure points lie on “meridians” – lines running along the body. Shiatsu is simpler than Chinese acupuncture in that it does not require exact locating of pressure points: you just need to find the area surrounding a point and massage that area with your fingers and palm.
II. Relax with simple Japanese Shiatsu techniques:
How can you relieve pain, renew energy and relax with simple Japanese Shiatsu techniques? Indeed, Shiatsu helps:
– enhance blood supply and excretion
– stimulate neurons along meridians
– strengthen subdermal and muscular capillaries
– create “waves” that force contraction in a body part away from, but related to, the stimulated part.
When practicing Shiatsu, strictly observe these principles:
1. Only use the soft part of your fingers and palms.
2. When pressing, it is necessary not to hurt the affected area. Once you feel pain, stop the practice immediately. The appropriate pressure is 3 to 5 kg/cm2.
3. Press each point no longer than 10 seconds.
Below are some handy simple Shiatsu techniques with illustrations. Note: The figures
only show one side of the face. Symmetrically, there are similar points on the other side.
Therefore, use both hands to simultaneously stimulate symmetrical pairs of points.
1. Shiatsu for Toothache:
You can cure the annoying toothache by pressing 5 points in figure 1.
If the pain occurs at your upper jaw, press point number 1. Then, press on point 2 with the soft inside of your thumb. Move on to point 3.
If you feel pain at your lower jaw, press point 4 then move on to point 5.
2. Shiatsu for Headache:
When you have a headache, massage your head for 2-3 minutes. Ideally, have someone do it for you, but you can do it yourself. Use your middle finger; cross your index over your middle for support. Follow these steps:
Step 1: (see figure 2) Press on the points along the middle line of the head. First, press the point in the middle of the forehead, where hair starts to grow, for 3-4 seconds. Then move up to the next point, 2.5 cm from the former point, all the way through 10 points along the middle line (the last point – Fengfu – lying right at the hollow where the skull meets the nape) 3-4 seconds each.
Step 2: Press 4 points lying 2.5 cm to one another from the vertex down to the temple.
Step 3: (figure 3) Press the points behind the nape, along the line connecting two ears , from two sides to the center of the nape. Then press the center point – Fengfu – the base of the skull.
Step 4: press 4 pairs of points alongside the neck vertebra, in the direction of the arrows (figure 3).
Final step: take a break. If the pain does not wear off, retake the steps. However, the procedure should only repeat at most 3 times.
Be careful not to hurt yourself pressing too hard (see principles, rule number 2)
3. Shiatsu for Perfect Skin
Shiatsu is one of the most effective ways of preventing wrinkles. Shiatsu can even rejuvenate your skin.
See figure 4.
If wrinkles appear around the eyes, press and knead point 1, 2, 3, 4. Then press point 5 and knead therefrom in divergent directions, from eyes to ears (as shown by the arrows).
To prevent wrinkles on the forehead:
– First, press point 6, then knead therefrom vertically.
– Second, press point 7, then knead therefrom in wave movements over the ears.
– Third, press point 8 and rub forehead skin horizontally outward.
To reduce wrinkles at the mouth and neck, press 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and massage in movements specified by the arrows in figure 4.
After you have done the skin care, look at the mirror and review the massaged areas. If you have done it right, you may see the effects right away.
Shiatsu skin care should be taken regularly. Most Japanese women use Shiatsu techniques to strengthen their skin and prolong their beauty.
Now that you have learned some handy healthy techniques, we hope you can relieve, renew and relax with simple Japanese Shiatsu techniques and enjoy a new life with new energy.
For more interesting fact about Japan, visit: Japanese Culture
Johann Stillmann
