Shiatsu (pronounced shee ah' tsoo), literally meaning "finger pressure", is a style of bodywork with its roots in the ancient philosophies of Chinese Medicine, and with modern refinement by way of Japan. In the Eastern tradition, maintaining wellness is related to balancing the body's energy system, called "ki" (or 'qi' or 'chi' in Chinese.. pronounced "chee").

Many centuries ago, the Chinese intuited that energy, or ki, circulates around the body along well-defined passageways, known as meridians or channels. As it moves through the body, the ki feeds the organs, muscles, and senses, and therefore vitalizes all of the body's functions. If the flow of energy is balanced, then the person feels well physically and emotionally. If the energy becomes overactive or deficient, then conditions and symptoms begin to arise (this knowledge become the basis for acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine).

During a shiatsu session, the practitioner will assess the condition of the receiver through questioning, observation, and the treatment itself. The process of giving a shiatsu treatment involves palpation, pressure-both general and specific, rocking, stretching, massaging and holding.. all the while with the practitioner's awareness on the quality of balance within the meridian system, and attention paid to areas of "stuckness" or emptiness. The receiver may be invited to bring an awareness to their breathing, as well as any sensations they may be feeling in response to the practitioner's touch.

Shin Tai is a more recent evolution of bodywork, building on shiatsu, as well as incorporating Western modalities such as craniosacral, fascial, and structural alignment techniques. Specific attention is paid to the energetic and structural components of the spine, as it is the physical manifestation of the Governing Vessel (GV), one of the two primary information channels from which all of the other 12 meridians emanate from. Developed by Saul Goodman, the intention of shin tai (or Life Force Recovery), is to free up the spinal column and its surrounding tissues- muscles and fascia- as Governing Vessel flow is intimately affected by spinal alignment. As coordination of the dense and softer tissues of the spine returns to the body, the self-healing and self-regulatory capacity of the body/mind increases, resulting in higher energy and more productive living.

These are but brief descriptions.. more in-depth discussion of these powerful modalities will be upcoming.

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