The healing touch of Shiatsu

February 19, 2001

This traditional art of body massage allows you to keep your clothes on.

By Angelene Wong

(Click on pictures for larger image)

Putting Ourselves To The Test

Together with fellow colleague Elisa, I got a taste of what Shiatsu Therapy is all about.

Curious but apprehensive at the same time, I prayed silently that it would not be a repetition of the agonising cellulite massage that I received recently.

But my fears were unfounded. Lying face-down, I felt as though 'knots' were being untied through Terry's firm and insistent kneading into my shoulders and back, which he termed 'tense'.

About 5 to 10 minutes were spent on each area - from our backs right down to our stomachs, calves, feet and then toes.

Unlike other massages such as the Swedish massage, which uses mainly the fingers and palms, Shiatsu utilises the arms and elbows to apply the strokes as well.

It was easy to understand why Shiatsu's calling card is its technique, not aromatic oils nor beauty cremes.

Even without direct skin contact, I could feel the pressure of the strokes administered though the layers of my clothes and towel.

The massage was so relaxing that it lulled Elisa to sleep halfway through.

We also tried the school's unique Japanese Facial Massage, which combines the 3-step cleansing, toning and moisturising in normal facials with precise finger movements based on percussive and deep-kneading techniques.

Easy, you'd think, but Shiatsu techniques are meant for the ambidextrous as some movements require the left and right hand to apply strokes simultaneously.

The aim is to stimulate muscles, tissues and oil glands just under the skin. The result: blood flow to the skin's surface is improved.

Usually the Japanese facial massage starts with a neck masasge to help release tension in the neck and increase bloodflow to the surface of the face to help repair damaged tissues, flush out toxins and oxygenate the skin. That was why the Shiatsu body massage is carried out before the facial.

We highly recommend this facial as it is not only energising, it also made our skin baby-smooth by the end of the treatment!

According to Terry, Shiatsu facial massage helps to relieve tension and complicated conditions like headaches and temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ disorders) such as locked or loose jaws. That explained why Terry massaged my chin during the facial after sensing that it was tight and rigid.

Even without painful extraction, Shiatsu does the job of making our complexion clearer, just like having a facelift!

What do I make of Shiatsu as a therapy? Though my body ached for 1 day after the massage (which is common in a Shiatsu therapy), I felt refreshed and I am now less prone to shoulder aches after spending long hours in front of the computer.

A 50-minute head-to-toe Shiatsu massage and a Japanese Facial Massage (also 50 minutes) will set you back by $80.

If you desire additional pampering in the form of a mask, go for their Japanese Facial Deluxe, where you can choose from clay, gel, modelling and collagen masks.

The school also offers an Abdominal Slimming Package which targets the cellulite and 'wind' in your stomach by helping to break down cellulite, fix digestion problems and firm up the skin. A 10-session package costs $800.

Shiatsu is essentially a therapy that has health, not beauty as its basis, says Terry.

As a rule, the school always advises from a health perspective.

"Even if beauty sells, we always advise our clients to work on the urgent or pressing health problems first. As Shiatsu therapists, we are more concerned with what the body needs rather than beauty."

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