Description:
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure," but this book takes this acupressure art beyond the usual to a higher, more rapturous level. Shiatsu expert Shizuko Yamamoto shows how to incorporate foot and toe pressure to give your partner a deeper massage that makes the body's ki, or life force, flow even more freely. The result, says Yamamoto, is "renewed energy combined with relaxation." She explains that by using the feet in addition to the hands, the shiatsu practitioner can maintain better posture and breathe more deeply, allowing for a longer massage before fatigue sets in. Yamamoto covers the ancient philosophy behind shiatsu, the origins of disease, the ways in which a macrobiotic diet enhances health, and the importance of breath work. Then comes instruction in tapping, kneading, shaking, rubbing, and stretching--the basic techniques of shiatsu. With clear illustrations and photos on almost every page, it's simple to get going. The self-diagnosis chapter, with sections on flexibility, symptoms of yin and yang deficiency and excess, and fingernail and foot diagnosis, is truly fascinating. (Who knew, for example, that mustard compresses placed on the arch of the foot can help alleviate tonsil problems and sore throats?) For anyone who's interested in giving or receiving a thorough, mind-blowing massage, this book is not to be missed.
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