If you’re looking for a treatment to relieve tension in your body, lift your mood and achieve better health and wellbeing a shiatsu massage might be the right option for you. But what is shiatsu massage, and what are its benefits? Let’s take a look.
What is shiatsu massage?
‘Shiatsu’ directly translates to ‘finger pressure’, and is a type of therapeutic bodywork with origins in Japan. Shiatsu massage involves the use of pressing, stretching, tapping, soothing and kneading techniques using the fingers, thumbs, knees and elbows, and is usually performed over light and comfortable clothing, without the use of massage oils.
Shiatsu is intended to improve the flexibility of the joints, but it can also be used to relax the body and mind. There are several key benefits of shiatsu massage, including:
Improved circulation and digestion
Regular shiatsu treatment can improve blood flow throughout the body, and can relieve muscle tension as a result. Shiatsu massage can also improve the functioning of the digestive system by aiding in waste elimination and improving fat metabolism and removal.
Reduced Stress
Shiatsu massage has also been proven to boost the body’s serotonin levels (a hormone that makes you feel more calm and focused). It has also been proven to increase the body’s dopamine levels, which can reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Better Sleep
For people who suffer from insomnia and chronic pain, shiatsu massage could be the solution, as it can relax the muscles and reduce symptoms of anxiety, helping you to fall asleep faster and for a prolonged period.
Acupuncture and Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage uses the same pressure points and meridians as acupuncture to relieve emotional and physical stress and tension in the body, but there are a few distinct differences between the two treatments.
Shiatsu is defined as a holistic practice, which takes the whole body into consideration, whereas acupuncture treats a few specific points in the body only. An acupuncture practitioner will apply thin needles to certain areas of the body during treatment, whereas a shiatsu massage therapist will only use parts of their own body.
Book an appointment
If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of shiatsu massage and acupuncture treatment London-based, or you have a complex condition and would like to see a specialist, get in touch with Inbal Sivan our resident shiatsu expert at Acubody today. Her treatments include a combination of acupuncture and Shiatsu massage, and if necessary, are supplemented by herbal medicine. If required, she also offers Shiatsu as a stand-alone treatment. Give us a call on +44 020 3823 6888 or book an appointment by filling in our online contact https://www.acubody.net/contact-us/
