History of Shiatsu
How it Began
For centuries massage and acupuncture along with herbalism have been used as an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. During the 6th century this was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks. The Japanese soon developed and refined many of these techniques to form a unique body therapy by creating a diagnostic healing system to help maintain and facilitate physiological and psychological well-being.
How it Developed
Tamai Tempak
The modern development of Shiatsu in which Shiatsu is renowned for today began in the early part of the 20th century. The word ‘Shiatsu’ was introduced by ‘Tamai Tempaku’ in an attempt to give this unique form of body work therapy (now called ‘Shiatsu’) some scientific credibility from other types of Oriental body work therapies.
Tokujiro Namikoshi
A student of Tamai Tempaku called ‘Tokujiro Namikoshi’ had studied Western medicine and began to Westernise Shiatsu by incorporating Western terminologies by removing Oriental references. Namikoshi founded the ‘Clinic of Pressure Therapy’ in 1925 and began to teach Shiatsu in a Western style approach. This enabled Shiatsu to continue in the clinical setting which eventually became officially recognised by the Japanese Government in 1964.
Shizuto Masanaga
Shizuto Masanaga a professor in psychology at Tokyo University and teacher at the Namikoshi school of Shiatsu developed ‘Zen Shiatsu’. This combined modern Western thinking and traditional Eastern healing techniques, incorporating psychology with Traditional Chinese Medicine to form a conventional Shiatsu treatment. Masanaga eventually took his work to the United States where he continued to develop and teach his theories until his death in 1981.
Today Shiatsu has a multitude of styles and approaches, each practitioner has their own unique style based on Tempaku and Masanaga teachings to form a continual vibrant and dynamic healing system.
The No.1 Pain Relief Clinic
The No.1 Pain Relief Clinic uses Shiatsu to help relieve pain which may be caused by a variety of physiological or psychological conditions. This is then supplemented by other forms of treatment alongside current evidence based research to support its use for pain relief to provide a more enhanced comprehensive holistic approach.
Three visits to Nick in 3 weeks and to my amazement not only did I make the start line but I ran the 26 miles, non-stop in under 4 hours, without any problems with my calf muscle..
For those of you wanting to learn more...
History
| Acupuncture | Electro-acupuncture | Aromatherapy | Refelxology | Massage | Bamboo Massage | Swedish Body Massage |
| Stone Therapy Massage | Cranio-Sacral Therapy | Shiatsu | Traditional Thai Massage (Nuad bo-rarn) | Reiki | Facial Rejuvination |