Dragon & Phoenix Shiatsu School/About Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a bodywork approach that originates in Japan. It has been practised in North America for about 40 years and in Japan for about 50 years, being derived from even more ancient Anma and Asian meridian based massages.

The word Shiatsu literally means finger pressure. As the name suggests, Shiatsu is done by applying pressure with the fingers, thumbs, palms, knees, and feet to energy lines called "meridians".

Shiatsu also includes stretches to parts of the body that contract with stress and inactivity (back, neck, lumbars, shoulder blades) and assisted movements of the joints that allows the energy to flow freely through these parts thus functioning better.

There are several different styles of Shiatsu being practiced in Japan, locally in Montreal and other parts of the world. At Dragon & Phoenix Shiatsu School, students learn techniques and approaches in the style of the Masters Ohashi and Masunaga.

Shiatsu is normally practised on a mat or futon at floor level. This allows the Shiatsu practitioner to apply pressure using body leverage as opposed to force or physical strength. By this means, both giver and receiver remain relaxed and attentive.

Shiatsu, as is taught at Dragon & Phoenix, has its goal to increase the client's awareness of their body and to correct energetic imbalances so that the body can heal itself. As such, Shiatsu is a therapeutic approach that not only allows the receiver to relax and clear their mind, but also may relieve long-standing discomforts and symptoms and prevents new ones.

As always, please feel free to call us with any questions you may have regarding the curriculum, admission to the school, or even to book an appointment for Shiatsu and see what it feels like first-hand.

For more information or to register, please call Jeanne Cronin at (514) 939-0773 or send us an e-mail at jeannecronin@dragonphoenixshiatsu.com