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Asian Bodywork: Professional-Grade Shiatsu PDF Print E-mail

by Brian Skow, a graduate of Southwest Institute of Healing Arts' Asian Bodywork program.

What do you know about your shiatsu therapist? Do you believe you are receiving authentic shiatsu or do you suspect you are receiving a watered-down version? To ensure that you are getting the best shiatsu therapy possible, you want to check that the therapist has two certifications, look for a number of important characteristics of the therapy, and understand the experience of the therapist.

There are two national certifications available to shiatsu therapists, offered by independent organizations. One is a membership organization, and the other is a testing organization. The membership organization is the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA, www.aobta.org). To obtain the Certified Practitioner (CP) level of membership in AOBTA, the therapist must have completed, at minimum, at 500-hour program consisting of 160 hours of Asian bodywork technique and practice, 100 hours of Chinese medical theory, 70 hours of observed clinical practice, 100 hours of Western anatomy and physiology, and 70 hours of related subject matter, such as Qigong, Tai Chi Chuan, first aid, CPR, and business, legal and ethical considerations. The testing organization is the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM, www.nccaom.org). This is the same organization that certifies therapists in the two other primary branches of Asian medicine, acupuncture and Chinese herbology. To obtain the Diplomate (Dipl.) in Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) certification from the NCCAOM, the therapist must pass a rigorous exam covering 1) collecting and analyzing information in order to perform a health assessment, 2) developing and applying a therapy based on the assessment, plus educating the client, 3) evaluating the results of the therapy and making appropriate modifications and recommendations, and 4) upholding legal and professional standards. If your shiatsu therapist is a CP, AOBTA and a Dipl. ABT, NCCAOM you can be assured that he or she has the knowledge to perform an authentic shiatsu therapy.

What does such a therapy entail? Authentic shiatsu therapy has three phases: an assessment, the therapy itself, and a reassessment. The assessment is an evaluation of your health, with a focus on energy imbalances. The assessment may include an analysis of information gathered from an intake form and related conversation, and will almost certainly include either a hara (abdominal) or back palpation. The therapy is customized according to the assessment, and often is performed on a futon rather than a table. The primary therapeutic technique of shiatsu is gentle, but deep, pressure on the meridians (energy channels) and acupoints, using the hands or portions thereof. A reassessment is done to discover the results of the therapy, and the focus of the reassessment is on how energy has shifted. If your shiatsu therapist emphasizes stress reduction through a standard protocol, rather than on health improvement through the application of comprehensive knowledge of Asian medicine, you are not receiving authentic shiatsu.

Which brings us to experience. What health conditions has your shiatsu therapist successfully addressed? Shiatsu and other forms of Asian medicine have generally been successful in treating conditions such as insomnia, anxiety and depression, muscular tension, headaches, digestive disturbances, menstrual dysfunction, low resistance to infection, backache, synovitis, sprains and strains, neck and shoulder stiffness, joint pain, sinus congestion, retention of fluid in the tissues, and poor circulation. As an example, in my practice I have successfully worked with clients to help them reduce aches and pains, eliminate migraines, recover quickly from injuries and surgeries, boost immunity and increase vitality during and after conventional cancer treatments, improve depth and length of sleep, enhance breathing, and obtain a greater sense of general well-being and freedom from stress. Your therapist should be able to give you examples, too.

Unfortunately, however, most shiatsu sessions offered in the marketplace are of the spa variety, performed by Western-trained massage therapists who have taken perhaps one course in shiatsu form. While you may feel relaxed after such a session, you will not realize the extraordinary benefits from a therapy performed by a fully qualified ABT. Be an informed consumer, ask questions and receive that which you deserve.

Brian Skow is a CP, AOBTA and Dipl. ABT, NCCAOM with a specialty in shiatsu (Japanese medical bodywork). In addition to shiatsu, Brian offers consumer-grade self-selectable Kampo (Japanese herbal formulas) and BioPharma Scientific NanoGreens10 (phytonutrients). For details on his mobile health service, SHIATSU WORKS LLC, see www.shiatsuworks.info, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call (602) 770-4331.

 
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