Shiatsu is a popular form of massage therapy born in Japan. People who seek relief from exhaustion, stiffness, muscle cramps, insomnia, anxiety, and stress often turn to experienced practitioners for treatment. If you’ve never undergone shiatsu before, or if you’ve experienced uncomfortable therapeutic massages in the past, you might be concerned that it will cause you pain. Here’s what you need to know before you head to your first appointment.

What You Should Know About Shiatsu & Pain

What Happens During a Treatment?

During your body treatment, your practitioner will apply strategic pressure with the palms, fingers, and thumbs to acupressure points and select energy pathways on your fully clothed body. Your body is gently stretched, and your limbs manipulated, to help you find relief based on your symptoms.  

Does This Cause Any Pain?

People often visit practitioners specifically because they’re in pain. For that reason, they may experience some minor discomfort when those areas are manipulated. This typically occurs because the fascia, or muscle tissues, become tight and strained due to overuse or injury. During shiatsu, those tissues relax, which can cause a productive sort of pain that contributes to enhanced physical well-being.

Are There Different Kinds of Shiatsu?

There are varying forms of shiatsu, and they can affect the level of pain that you experience, too. Zen shiatsu, for example, is a more functional and therapeutic type that involves applying deep pressure to the acupressure points. It can be intense and, for some people, may produce minimal discomfort.

Ashiatsu is another form during which the masseuse uses her feet to apply pressure to the body, usually the back. Although the pressure is strong, it is not typically painful. Ohashiatsu is more energy-focused and can include moments of meditation. This calming option does not produce pain.

What About After the Treatment?

You should generally feel relaxed and calm after your treatment. Your practitioner will encourage you to drink plenty of water to assist your body’s recovery, help it detoxify properly, and give your body the hydration that it needs. It’s not unusual to feel a little sore for a day or so after, but that will subside. Continue to drink water frequently.

Aisen Chiryo Doin is the leading provider of shiatsu therapy in Honolulu, HI. If you’re seeking a natural remedy to your aches and pains, you can trust in the experienced masseuses at this facility. For more than 40 years, they’ve provided treatments designed to encourage healing, relieve physical and emotional pain, and restore well-being. Visit their website to browse their services or call them at (808) 596-7354.