Zen Shiatsu
Encyclopedia
Zen Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese
therapy Shiatsu
, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom
and United States
. It was developed by Shizuto Masunaga
, a graduate of the Japan Shiatsu College who published a book entitled Shiatsu in 1974. This was translated into English
in 1977 and retitled Zen Shiatsu. The name "Zen Shiatsu" was not coined by Masunaga himself but by Wataru Ohashi, the co-author of the English version.
Zen Shiatsu, also known as Masunaga Therapy, is a form of Meridian Shiatsu
. A difference between Masunaga's Zen Shiatsu and earlier forms of Shiatsu is that Zen Shiatsu uses not only thumbs and palms but also fists, elbows, and knees.
Zen Shiatsu represents a return of the values of Traditional Chinese medicine
, in comparison with anatomically
or physiologically
based Shiatsu (cf. Tsubo Shiatsu). While the Namikoshi school emphasizes Westernization at the expense of Chinese medical understanding, Masunaga advocated a return to Chinese Taoist
practices such as Do-In and Ankyo within the context of Japanese Shiatsu.
The meridian
system represents the "crosstalk" between tsubos or acupoints
of the human body. It also represents divisions of the complete function of the human organism into discrete spheres of influence. Masunaga advocated treating the whole meridian system through pressure and stretching to achieve systemic change for the entire body. However, there is no scientific evidence proving that any form of shiatsu can treat any disease.
Shizuto Masunaga founded a Japanese institute called the Iokai Center. "Io" means king/master of medicine, and "kai" means group/association. This center continues to the present day, propagating Masunaga's methods. Zen Shiatsu has proven to be widely influential throughout the US and UK. Students of Masunaga include Wataru Ohashi, Pauline Sasaki, Ryokyu Endo and Stephen Brown.
The primary precept of Zen Shiatsu is the importance of remaining in a Zen
-like, present state when practicing shiatsu; nourishing weak kyo areas and dispersing excess jitsu areas; using two-handed technique to better feel the flow of qi
(life force); working from the hara (belly), which is the body's energy center; and using perpendicular pressure to access the qi. Masunaga moreover expanded the meridian system, discovering extensions of the classical Chinese meridians, and developed an effective new system of hara diagnosis predicated on his experience as a Western-trained psychologist.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
therapy Shiatsu
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure;" it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people...
, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was developed by Shizuto Masunaga
Shizuto Masunaga
was a Japanese Shiatsu practitioner and author of books on Shiatsu.He was born in 1925 in Kure, Hiroshima and graduated in Psychology from Kyoto University. In 1959, he graduated from the and went on to teach Psychology at the college. He is the author of Shiatsu which became Zen Shiatsu when...
, a graduate of the Japan Shiatsu College who published a book entitled Shiatsu in 1974. This was translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1977 and retitled Zen Shiatsu. The name "Zen Shiatsu" was not coined by Masunaga himself but by Wataru Ohashi, the co-author of the English version.
Zen Shiatsu, also known as Masunaga Therapy, is a form of Meridian Shiatsu
Meridian Shiatsu
Meridian Shiatsu is a derivative form of the Japanese therapy Shiatsu. It uses the Meridian theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine that was introduced into Japan from China. Meridian Shiatsu contrasts with Tsubo Shiatsu where the tsubos or acupuncture points are determined from an anatomical and...
. A difference between Masunaga's Zen Shiatsu and earlier forms of Shiatsu is that Zen Shiatsu uses not only thumbs and palms but also fists, elbows, and knees.
Zen Shiatsu represents a return of the values of Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
, in comparison with anatomically
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
or physiologically
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
based Shiatsu (cf. Tsubo Shiatsu). While the Namikoshi school emphasizes Westernization at the expense of Chinese medical understanding, Masunaga advocated a return to Chinese Taoist
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
practices such as Do-In and Ankyo within the context of Japanese Shiatsu.
The meridian
Meridian (Chinese medicine)
The meridian is a path through which the life-energy known as "qi" is believed to flow, in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no physically verifiable anatomical or histological basis for the existence of acupuncture points or meridians.- Main concepts :...
system represents the "crosstalk" between tsubos or acupoints
Acupuncture point
Acupuncture points are locations on the body that are the focus of acupuncture, acupressure, sonopuncture and laser acupuncture treatment. Several hundred acupuncture points are considered to be located along meridians...
of the human body. It also represents divisions of the complete function of the human organism into discrete spheres of influence. Masunaga advocated treating the whole meridian system through pressure and stretching to achieve systemic change for the entire body. However, there is no scientific evidence proving that any form of shiatsu can treat any disease.
Shizuto Masunaga founded a Japanese institute called the Iokai Center. "Io" means king/master of medicine, and "kai" means group/association. This center continues to the present day, propagating Masunaga's methods. Zen Shiatsu has proven to be widely influential throughout the US and UK. Students of Masunaga include Wataru Ohashi, Pauline Sasaki, Ryokyu Endo and Stephen Brown.
The primary precept of Zen Shiatsu is the importance of remaining in a Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
-like, present state when practicing shiatsu; nourishing weak kyo areas and dispersing excess jitsu areas; using two-handed technique to better feel the flow of qi
Qi
In traditional Chinese culture, qì is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as life energy, lifeforce, or energy flow. Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts...
(life force); working from the hara (belly), which is the body's energy center; and using perpendicular pressure to access the qi. Masunaga moreover expanded the meridian system, discovering extensions of the classical Chinese meridians, and developed an effective new system of hara diagnosis predicated on his experience as a Western-trained psychologist.