 |
Shiatsu Courses |
|
Shiatsu Courses |
1) What is Shiatsu ?
2) Characteristics of Shiatsu
3) Three rules governing Shiatsu
4) Rules to bear in mind
5) Recommendation
6) Schedule of Courses
(contents of the courses)
The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare states "Shiatsu therapy is a form of manipulation administered by the thumbs, fingers and palms, without the use of any instrument, mechanical or otherwise, to apply pressure to the human skin, correct internal malfunctioning, promote and maintain health and treat specific diseases."
Shiatsu is not strictly speaking medicine; it is primarily a way to prevent the development of sickness and a therapy ideally suited to human instincts .According to those involved in oriental medicine, Shiatsu is a health care method that
can be used in daily life to prevent as well as to treat diseases.
It emphasizes correction and
maintenance of bone structure, joints, tendons, muscles and meridian lines
whose misalignment distorts the body's energy patterns and the autonomic
nervous system, thus causing disease. The goal of Shiatsu is to restore the body's normal
functioning rather than treat one bodily symptom, but by this means symptoms
of discomfort or illness should be relieved.
Original meaning of Shiatsu is described as "Te-ate" which means giving hands on someone. Practicing Shiatsu is the most useful
way of communication between you and a receiver since you could have deeper
understanding each other. Shiatsu was originally a purely Japanese treatment system, but today it is steadily growing popular in many parts of the world.
(1) Immediate diagnosis:
As he presses from place to place over the body, the shiatsu practitioner is immediately able to diagnose the patients condition and determine the specific kind of therapy needed.
(2) No medicines or mechanical devices needed:
Shiatsu can be performed anywhere and at any time since it employs nothing but the human hands.
(3) No unpleasant sensations or secondary effects:
Shiatsu therapy is pleasant and produces no unpleasant sensations, pains or secondary effects. Its beneficial effects manifest themselves gradually.
(4) Suitable to all age groups:
(5) Resistance to sickness:
Regular, periodic shiatsu therapy ha the effect of creating a self-defense mechanism that increases the body's powers of resistance and thus lowers the likelihood of sickness.
(6) Sense of mutual trust and reliance:
Shiatsu treatment is a relationship in which the patient and the practitioner exchange roles and in this way strengthen the effect of the treatment and stimulate a profound feeling of trust in the treatment and in each other.
(7) Total treatment:
If shiatsu were applied only to the part of the body in pain, its effect would be only temporary. It would be applied to all of the body parts, with emphasis on places manifesting symptoms of pain or discomfort.
3) Three rules governing Shiatsu
1. Vertical Pressure : Firm pressure applied vertically on the body promotes goo health. Though nonvertical presuure promotes good blood circulation, it could damage the natural healing force within the body, particularly in the case of illness.
2. Stationary Pressure : Pressure applied without movement is essential in giving good Shiatsu. The length of time to hold each point varies from 3-6 seconds, but there are cases where 10-30 seconds is needed.Pressure applied in such a way penetrates into the body, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.
3. Supporting Pressure : It is necessary that pressure coming from one direction be supported by something from the opposite direction. When a person lies flat on the floor during a Shiatsu treatment, the floor acts as the supporting force to the pressure being exerted by the practitioner.
In two-hand manipulation, supporting pressure is given because one had sedates while the other tonifies. The patient and practitioner interrelate, supporting and exchanging their energies throughout the treatment.
In practicing shiatsu techniques and in using them on patients, always bear the following points in mind.
1. Keep your hands clean and your mails trimmed so that they do not injure the patient or make them uncomfortable.
2. Before beginning to apply pressure, take several deep breaths to calm yourself and promote your own mental concentration and unification.
3. To prevent the development of bad habits, master the shiatsu techniques through before trying them on a patient.
4. Execute the basic operations in the correct posture. If your posture becomes awkward or irregular, you can not exert pressure.
5. Master the correct basic pressure points. Never apply excess pressure.
6. Apply pressure evenly and rhythmically. This is especially important when you are treating the back.
7. Always observe patient's motions and be careful to keep them as relaxed as possible.
8. Gauge the treatment duration by the patient's condition and never allow even a full bodily treatment to last for more than from fifty to sixty minutes.
9. Throughout the treatment period, concentrate completely on what you are doing.
5) Recommendation： "Tokyo Weekender"
Foreigners who live in Japan often have an interest in oriental culture and medicine.
It was with great pleasure that I recently learned about a Shiatsu class
organized for foreigners and taught by a real professional-Mr.Susumu Kimura.
Kimura-sensei does demonstrate
and explain, however, that by using the weight of the body properly, Shiatsu
technique is not as difficult and strenuous as it might be otherwise.
Simple pushing or grabbing motions are not only incorrect, they take lots
of energy .I was impressed by how his students (even only into the third lesson)
had already acquired that gentle but firm slow, constant pressure. (One
tried her skill on me, so I can speak from actual experience).
Talking with Kimura-sensei is embarking on a path of personal enlightenment. For
this Shiatsu practitioner is not simply a provider of finger pressure or
body massage, but rather a who has studied the meaning of the universe and
whose whole philosophy is to help others.
He hopes that in the process of learning Shiatsu we
can experience bodily purification and move from the materialistic world
to the spiritual one.
The cheerful, good-English-speaking (although he protests he can't communicate half as well as he'd like), and very personable Kimura sensei has as sense of humor and makes his Shiatsu sessions a lot of fun.
|
|
