Shiatsu Massage Therapy in London

Shiatsu therapy first emerged in Japan over 2,000 years ago as a holistic way of correcting imbalances within the body. Shiatsu comes under the umbrella of Chinese medicine and is based on the belief that all illnesses and imbalances within the body are the results of blocked energy or “Qi”. 

As the vital life force “Qi” is essential to our health and wellbeing. When this force becomes blocked, low, or over-produced, our bodies and minds can become afflicted with a range of issues. Shiatsu is a form of bodywork that helps to revive the Qi of the body to boost physical, mental and emotional balance. 

Shiatsu uses a mix of breathwork, massage and physical exercise, with the fingers, thumbs and palms applying pressure along the energy meridian lines in the body. Deeply relaxing and rebalancing, Shiatsu can also be used to relieve a range of illnesses and ailments. 

Whether you suffer from chronic stress, uncomfortable aches and pains, or are simply looking to rejuvenate your health, browse The Holistic Guide's selection of Shiatsu therapists and discover an ancient power. 

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What Are the Benefits of Shiatsu Therapy?

Do you regularly suffer from low moods, depression and lethargy? Do you feel like you’re constantly catching every cough and cold circulating the office? Do you want to reconnect with yourself, revive your senses and restore a sense of calm and peace in your life? Shiatsu can help. 

Shiatsu therapy utilises a series of stretches, acupressure and massage techniques, to boost your overall health and wellbeing. The list of benefits with Shiatsu therapy are far-reaching and long-lasting, and include: 

Relief from Muscular Tension and Spasms

Shiatsu therapy can relieve muscular pain, by using a series of rubbing and pulling techniques on the skin and muscles, combined with acupressure on points of tension. Shiatsu therapy can also ease menstrual cramps and has been used for thousands of years to help induce labour for late pregnancies. 

Eases Headaches and Migraines

By boosting blood flow and circulation throughout the body, Shiatsu therapy helps to control the widening and narrowing of blood vessels in the brain that can lead to headaches and migraines. 

Reduces the Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Shiatsu uses a range of relaxing and restorative techniques that help to alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety, and delivers you to a profoundly deep state of calm and peace. 

Relieves Constipation and Revives Sluggish Digestions

Shiatsu uses a series of massage techniques across the abdominal area to relax the intestines and colon. These techniques help boost circulation and cellular nutrition and ease the journey of food and energy through the body, so your metabolism is piqued and your digestion smooth. 

Eases Painful Joints and Arthritic Pain

By applying pressure to the hands, feet and joints, Shiatsu therapy helps to limber up the muscles and make the joints more supple. 

What to Expect from Shiatsu Therapy?

Your Shiatsu session will begin with a brief initial consultation. In this time, your therapist will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, medical history, and goals for the session. It’s important to be open and honest as this consultation will structure your personalised therapy. Your therapist may also undertake a physical examination. During this, they will place their hands upon your abdomen to read your body’s energy levels and identify any blockages or stagnant energy levels. 

Once the therapist feels they have a clear image of your health and wellbeing, the treatment will begin. No two Shiatsu therapies are the same — after all, it’s a holistic therapy catering specifically to you and your needs. 

The therapy usually lasts between 40 to 50 minutes. You begin by lying down on a massage table or mattress, dressed in loose and comfortable clothes. 

Then the bodywork therapy begins. The therapist will use their fingers, thumbs and palms to apply pressure to the surface of your body along the energy meridian lines. The treatment shouldn’t be painful, but you may feel slight moments of discomfort or tension as the therapist works out energy blockages. Some people report some side effects after Shiatsu therapy, such as muscle stiffness and headaches. But these should subside after a couple of hours. 

At the end of the session, your therapist may suggest certain activities and exercises to carry out at home. You may also be required to arrange further sessions over the following weeks. 

Boost your circulation, reinvigorate your Qi, and get back into the flow. Book a restorative and reviving Shiatsu massage therapy using our location search feature.