Indeed, even the American Cancer Society,
on its Web site ( www.cancer.org
), notes that yoga—which it describes as a "complementary
therapy...not a treatment for any disease"—can "reduce
levels of stress and bring about feelings of relaxation and
well-being...[and] enhance quality of life for some patients
with cancer."
Shiatsu
Massage and Its Benefits
Shiatsu
is a Japanese word: "shi" meaning finger, and "atsu" meaning
pressure. But shiatsu is more than acupressure. It is a
combination of many different techniques, including pressing,
hooking, sweeping, shaking, rotating, grasping, vibrating,
patting, plucking, lifting, pinching, rolling, brushing,
and, in one school developed by Suzuki Yamamoto, barefoot
shiatsu, which includes walking on the person's back, legs,
and feet.
In
the practice of shiatsu, each person is primarily responsible
for his or her own health and well-being.
This contrasts with the Western belief that the medical
practitioner is principally responsible for our health.
In Western medicine an awareness of the unique significance
of touch, the essential form of communication between two
human beings in the fight to subdue pain, has all but disappeared;
certainly it has become minimal. Ironically, in all times
and all cultures, the importance of touch, just touch itself,
has been acknowledged as a primary means to mitigate pain.
In the hurried rounds of the Western clinical physician
checking hospital charts at the end of the day, alas, it
has nearly completely disappeared.
Shiatsu
strengthens
the immune system and, if practiced consistently, truly
becomes preventive health care. Who can benefit from shiatsu?
Early on, George Balanchine, Ivan Nagy, Martha Graham, and
many other dancers took regular shiatsu sessions to relieve
their pains and restore and maintain their vitality. It
is well known that Liza Minnelli and Henry Kissinger have
received shiatsu treatments to promote and maintain good
health.
Massage
and your Health & Well Being
The
nervous system controls and coordinates all organs and structures
of the human body. Irritation on any nerve will affect one
or more of the body's functions. The most critical part
of the nervous system is the spine. Any type of stress,
mental or physical, caused by injury, strains, sprains,
muscle spasms, or disease will affect one or more of the
body's functions, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
Once
the nerves in our bodies leave the spinal column, they travel
through canals in the tissue. If there is any pressure on
these canals, whether created by inflammation, swelling
or misalignment of vertebra, the nerves will send out a
signal in the form of pain to alert the body of a malfunction.
If you suffer from virtually any form of pain or stress,
massage "may"
be benefical to you
home
