Home * Meet The Staff * Philosophy * Wholistic Therapies * Clinical Experience * FAQ
Appointments & Fees * Directions * Lectures & Seminars * Articles By Michael Gaeta
Press Room * Lessons For Life * Links * Upcoming Events

Shiatsu: The Complete Guide

This article appeared in Massage Magazine

Shiatsu: The Complete Guide
By Chris Jarmey and Gabriel Mojay Thorsons
London 1999
304 pages
Softcover Revised Edition (First Publication 1991)

Reviewed by Michael Gaeta, LAc

The subtitle of this text, “New Edition of the Definitive Guide for Every Student of Shiatsu,” is ambitious, considering the scope of the subject. What I found on first reading was a concise and well-organized attempt to fill that order, covering all the broad areas of knowledge that a beginning student needs.

After a brief Introduction, summarizing the history and six major styles of Shiatsu, the book is organized into four parts. In Part One, “The Basics of Shiatsu,” the authors offer a lucid presentation of the basic concepts of Ki (“the power which unifies and animates”), Channels, Tsubos (points), Kyo (empty) and Jitsu (full). They follow with “The Essentials of Competent Shiatsu,” which details the qualities of a skilled practitioner—such as right motivation, steadiness of breath and continuity. The text continues with an illustrated tutorial in basic Shiatsu techniques and stretching. This is a refreshing departure from many Oriental bodywork texts, which often cover theory and diagnosis before technique.

Part Two, “Shiatsu Therapy and Oriental Medicine,” is an exposition of the fundamental concepts and principles of Oriental medicine: Tao, Yin/Yang, Five Vital Substances (which includes illustrations inspired by Maciocia’s Foundations of Chinese Medicine), Causes of Disease, Organ systems and their pathologies, and the Five Elements.

In Part Three, “Shiatsu Diagnosis,” we discover a wide range of assessment tools centered in the Four Pillars of Oriental medicine diagnosis—visual assessment (including body type, face and tongue) palpation (pulse, channels, hara and tsubos), listening and smelling (voice and odor), and listening (questioning). The section ends with a useful case history format.

The fourth and final part of the text, “Acupressure & Glossary of Tsubos,” written by Iliara Bouratinos, is somewhat of an appendix of tsubos—their location, application and method of technique. The information presented here, and the “this point for this symptom” style, is somewhat typical of most Oriental medicine texts, though the notes on how to treat each point and combine points are most useful, and seem to be derived from clinical experience.

Shiatsu: The Complete Guide is a well-written, thorough and eminently useful text for the early student, or instructors seeking a good reference or student textbook. The writing, though somewhat dry, is easy to read and understand. The emphasis on practitioner development and practical application is welcome, as is the inclusion of copious illustrations. Jarmey and Mojay have made a significant contribution to the field with this fine revision of their text.

Michael Gaeta, former Editor of the Pulse newsletter of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia, is a faculty member of the New York College for Wholistic Health Education and Research, practices Amma therapy, acupuncture and clinical nutrition in New York, and writes and presents seminars nationally on wholistic health and Oriental medicine.