Macrobiotic Shiatsu

Shizuko Yamamoto founded the International Macrobiotic Shiatsu Society. She was stimulated by illness to investigate new ways of adjusting to the challenges of life. When she was young, she developed leukemia and went blind in one eye. She became depressed and discouraged about her future. She wanted meaningful change, and her desire led her to masters of the healing arts in Japan including George and Lima Oshawa, the pioneers of macrobiotics, Morihei Ueshiba, the Aikido master, and Masahiro Oki, a yogi.

She studied and began to recover her health and will to live. Through this process she developed compassion and the desire to help others. She became passionate about sharing the natural, healing techniques that had helped her to recover her health. At teacher Sensei’ Oshawa’s request, she moved to the US. Her unique blend of traditional shiatsu and a whole food organic diet helped her create a comprehensive set of treatment methods designed to address the fundamental causes of imbalance. For over 50 years, she has shared her creative approach with the world.

It is a common aspect of human nature that we use various styles of touch to soothe and heal each other. Most scholars agree that massage originated in China, but almost certainly it developed independently everywhere in the world. IN fact, many cultures passed their methods down in written form, as the writings of Ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, and Asian countries, among others, attest.

It’s instinct. We rub, pat, press or otherwise touch whatever aches and pains we have. We intuitively try to self-treat through touch to achieve a more balanced state. Just about anyone can help himself or herself, and with a little effort, help others too. Humans are equipped to heal themselves. The simple understanding that we can do this, and indeed help others, is the founding principle of shiatsu.

Shiatsu practitioners have long been considered to be effective at treating minor illness in Japan. Generally, the Japanese public favors shiatsu treatment and has relied on shiatsu practitioners to play a role in healthcare for many years.

Eating large quantities of animal food has resulted in human bodies that are very tight and rigid. In order to deal with this hardness and stiffness, shiatsu technique evolved naturally. Macrobiotic Shiatsu basically developed as a response to the Western condition. It deals with common problems shared by westerners such as tightness and stress-related problems.

Over time, working on a skill improves it. Time and experience hone it through trial and error. The Macrobiotic style of Shiatsu is like that. It developed slowly over many years and although it has become quite sophisticated, it is still evolving.

The most important underlying principle of macrobiotic shiatsu is that everyone can heal themselves. Everyone has that power. It comes as standard equipment as every human being is born. IN a very practical way, shiatsu sessions are lifestyle education sessions. Macrobiotic shiatsu developed to include finger and hand skills learned in Japan, and an intuitive foot technique as well.

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