Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork. The word shiatsu means "finger pressure", and shiatsu is sometimes described as a finger pressure massage. The primary emphasis of Shiatsu is to identify a pattern of disharmony through use of the four pillars of examinations and to harmonize that pattern with an appropriate treatment plan. Assessment methods and hands-on techniques vary with the practitioner, depending on his / her individual background and training. The radial pulse and tongue observations usually provide detailed health information. Palpation of the abdomen and back, as well as a detailed verbal history, serves to confirm the assessment. Considerations of the client's lifestyle, emotional, and psychological factors are all considered important. Like Acupuncture and Tuina, Shiatsu is based on the holistic system of Oriental and Chinese medicine, where illness is thought to result from imbalances of the natural flow of Qi throughout the body and from the balance between the Yin and Yang energies.
