Japanese Shiatsu  is a way of relaxation and re-balancing of the body. Shiatsu uses acupressure techniques which is applied with hands, thumbs. The acupressure technique has its roots from the acupuncture therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. The difference between acupuncture and acupressure is that in the first case the practitioner uses very thin needles but in the case of acupressure the therapist uses deep tissue pressure on the twelve body meridians.Oriental shiatsu became very popular in Japan. At least one member of a Japanese family (usually women) practiced shiatsu massage to help their family members.

Shiatsu acupressure uses merely the same points as acupuncture. The basic acupressure healing techniques are applied on the twelve body meridians. Along to these energy meridians are situated the acupressure points. The pressure on the points is made slowly and soft but deep. To apply shiatsu the client has to change his positions lying on the back, on his stomach and on the two sides. This gives to the therapist the possibility to workout each energetic point of the meridians.

Shiatsu therapy is not healing the disease itself. Shiatsu has a direct affect on the meridians which in consequence help to unblock the meridian points where the chi is blocked and causes health problems. The oriental medicine philosophy says that the main cause of diseases is in the unbalanced chi in the body. Shiatsu is used to reach the harmony of chi in the human body.