What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a style of bodywork developed in Japan. Its goal is to restore the healthy flow of energy throughout the body.

Shiatsu is similar to acupuncture, but uses finger pressure instead of needles. Its name comes from two Japanese words -- "shi" or finger and "atsu" or pressure.

What Happens During a Shiatsu Massage?

For shiatsu, you wear loose clothing. It is usually performed on a mat on the floor. The practitioner will use their fingers and thumbs to apply pressure to specific points on the body's energy pathways, known as meridiens. They often use other techniques such as rocking, stretches and joint rotations.

Shiatsu treatment is holistic, addressing the whole body rather than focusing on the one area where symptoms are most obvious.

A shiatsu session usually lasts between 45 minutes and an hour.