A memory from a training course where non-Tangier students participated. One of them, more experienced than I, confided in me that he was surprised to hear me talk about “shiatsu massages.” He reminded me that shiatsu is a complex therapeutic treatment and considers the term “massage” to be demeaning. Since he was very kind and considerate, I took note of his remark and watched my language. This is still the case today when we’re among initiates, but not at all in front of a wider audience, like on this blog, for example.
Please don’t see this as hypocrisy. I simply want to be understood by the greatest number of people. “Shiatsu,” as such, remains a somewhat obscure term, sometimes confused with “Tai Chi” or a martial art. “Massage” conveys one thing: my action involves touch and manipulation of the body. The next step is to explain how. I am often required to do so, and therefore to clarify the uniqueness of Shiatsu within the broader family of “massages.”
A Japanese massage
The Japanese origin of Shiatsu is interesting to highlight because it resonates with people and evokes a whole mental universe. It foreshadows, for example, the practice of massaging on the floor and adopting somewhat martial postures: Seiza, kneeling knight, etc. It’s not about pretending to be Japanese but rather about situating one’s work within a specific cultural context.
A massage using acupuncture points
We were in Japan, now welcome to China! This is because the practice of massage in Japan developed from Chinese, specifically Taoist, conceptions of health. This is where several concepts come into play, such as Qi (energy or vital breath), the meridians along which it flows, and the tsubos, those famous acupuncture points. These concepts structure the work of Shiatsu practitioners and lead some to favor terms like “acupressure” or “pressure therapy.” However, in practice, one does not work on a body like on a keyboard. Pressing points is inevitably accompanied by stretches and various manipulations, which keep us within the framework of a massage.
A full-body massage
This is an important point to clarify, especially before a first session. Even if the person exclusively complains of tension in the cervical area, the massage is always “from head to toe.” There are variations, of course, depending on the case. But one never limits oneself to the tense or painful area.
In another instance, I recall a prolonged exchange with a person seeking a foot reflexology session. I informed them that I am not trained in that discipline but that the feet would necessarily be manipulated during the treatment. My interlocutor insisted: in a one-hour session, how much time would I spend on the feet? I replied that I could not imagine spending an hour just manipulating the feet and that beyond 20 minutes, it wouldn’t make any sense to me. He chose to decline.
A floor-based massage
Although Shiatsu can also be practiced on a chair or table, I remain an advocate of the mat in 9 out of 10 cases. I reserve the chair for people who cannot lie down, and I do encounter such cases occasionally. Working on the floor is one of the unique aspects of the practice. I always mention it when describing my work.
A clothed massage
This characteristic contrasts with many other forms of massage. It often surprises, reassures some who prefer not to undress, and discourages others who cannot imagine a massage without oil and direct skin contact. This is a vision very different from mine, and despite some requests, I have never considered expanding my service offering to include such types of massages.
A therapeutic, energetic, holistic massage?
Therapeutic? Yes. I am convinced of the profound benefits of my practice for the people I treat. In this respect, the qualifier “therapeutic” seems justified. I use it without overdoing it because I do not want to usurp any qualities: I am neither a doctor, nor a physiotherapist, nor a psychologist.
Energetic? Yes. I do not doubt for a moment the role of Qi in life in general, and in our practice in particular. In this sense, Shiatsu is indeed an “energetic” treatment and massage. But is this term understood by the general public in this way? I am not certain.
Holistic? Personal confession: I’m put off by this overused adjective. Too many charlatans have seized upon it at the great Flea Market of nonsense. I prefer to steer clear of it.
For all these reasons, and with all due respect to my colleague mentioned at the beginning of the article, yes, I consider Shiatsu to be a massage, even if it is not just any massage. And that does not stop us from continuing our educational work to make Shiatsu known. Who knows, the day may come when, to explain what a “massage” is, one could say: “it’s a bit like Shiatsu.”