The Shiatsu technique provides a seamless transition from in-person massage to chair massage because it is usually performed fully clothed, can be performed in a chair, and naturally varies in intensity according to the bodily chi of each individual. It should also be performed on a regular basis to prevent harmful buildup of chi. Shiatsu is regulated as a licensed medical therapy in Japan by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and elsewhere by various governing bodies set up by Shiatsu practitioners. Shiatsu is an evolving form, and its various styles incorporate (to differing degrees) aspects of Japanese massage traditions, Chinese Medicine practice, and “Western” anatomy and physiology. The aim of shiatsu is to restore the proper flow of bodily energy by massaging the surface of the skin along the meridian lines. Pressure may also be applied to any of the 600 or so acupoints.
