The meridians run in various directions throughout the body and correspond to our internal organs. Each meridian is paired with its counterpart to form a yin/yang relationship. The lung and large intestine meridians are an example of this pairing. The lung meridian is yin in nature and runs along the inside part of the arm and the large intestine meridian is yang in nature and runs along the outside part of the arm. Together they create a polarity that helps conduct Ki through that area of the body. If blockages occur, the balance is thrown off. Meridians have been shown to exhibit a lower electrical resistance than their surrounding tissues. Along these meridians are a number of energetic points known as ‘tsubos,’ where the Ki is most accessible. In acupuncture, these are the points along which needles are inserted. In Shiatsu, thumbing is used in place if needles to stimulate these acupressure points.

To understand which meridians might need attention, the Shiatsu practitioner will often make contact with the hara at the start of the session. The hara or abdomen is considered the center of the body and the seat of intuition (think of your gut feelings). In Japanese & Chinese cultures the hara represents strength and power. The practice of Tai Chi and martial arts for example place a great deal of emphasis on moving from your hara. In Shiatsu all the meridians and their corresponding organs are represented in the hara, which makes gentle palpation of the hara a great way of assessing the overall state of the meridians. The Shiatsu practitioner will use their own hara as a means of delivering pressure in a relaxed and effective way.  Another way of opening the meridians is through gentle stretching and range of motion movements. As mentioned already the objective is not so much on stretching muscles and tendons but on opening the meridians and stimulating the Ki that runs through them.

Shiatsu combines the powerful effects of meridian work and physical touch. The therapeutic effects of acupuncture and massage therapy have been established now for quite some time. The practice of Shiatsu has been around for thousands of years under various names and forms and predates many of the other types of bodywork that are currently popular. Despite its relative obscurity in the west, Shiatsu remains one of the most well-known and highly regarded forms of bodywork in Japan & China and is currently seeing a resurgence here in the US.