Breaking Down Massage Differences: Shiatsu vs Regular Massage
At Wellness on Whyte, we help clients nourish their body, mind, and soul with holistic wellness. As part of our services, we offer Shiatsu and regular Western massages to release tension and offer stress relief. Although similar, there are some key differences between the two massage types.
What is Shiatsu massage?
Shiatsu is a comprehensive treatment that aims to improve general well-being, provide stress relief, and restore harmony to the body, instead of focusing on applying pressure to isolated muscles.
The practice is rooted in traditional Japanese bodywork, and it also draws from traditional Chinese Medicine to create a unique massage style. It focuses on the body’s Qi, a vital energy that runs along pathways in the body called meridians, and aims to balance this energy. Stress, fatigue, injury, or emotional tension can all cause the body’s energy flow to become blocked or depleted. When energy flow is disrupted, it can manifest as discomfort, stiffness, and emotional balance, and even cause sleep difficulties and anxiety. The goal of a Shiatsu massage is to balance the body’s internal energy flow and improve overall health.
How does a regular massage differ from a Shiatsu massage?
A regular massage has similar soothing benefits that a Shiatsu massage has, but the primary goal is to relieve tension in muscles, tendons, and soft tissues to promote relaxation. Our massage practitioners use lotion on bare skin to knead muscle knots, create muscle relaxation, and promote circulation.
This massage technique is recommended for clients with tension, sore muscles, muscle strain, chronic pain, and sports injuries. It can involve more intense muscle manipulation compared to Shiatsu, and it focuses on physical tension in the body rather than tension in the mind or energy.
What to expect during a Shiatsu Massage
This style of massage does not use rubbing or kneading techniques. Instead, it uses sustained and rhythmic body-weight pressure to release stress and restore harmony to the body’s natural flow of energy. It can also involve joint rotations and stretching.
Shiatsu massage is performed without oils and over comfortable clothing. Our Shiatsu massage practitioners will use their thumbs, fingers, palms and occasionally knees and elbows to apply
pressure to specific acupressure points along energy pathways (meridians). This practice takes emotional imbalances, physical tension, and mental well-being into account and works to improve those elements together.
This style of massage is recommended for clients who are interested in exploring the connection between mind, body, and energy, and who would like to work on internal harmony as well as releasing physical tension in the body.
Benefits of Shiatsu and regular massage
Both Shiatsu and regular massage are effective at releasing muscle tension, improving circulation, and creating a relaxing, enjoyable experience. They can be used preventatively to improve your long-term health, in addition to relieving physical symptoms of pain in the moment.
To book a Shiatsu massage or regular massage, contact our team at Wellness on Whyte. We are happy to answer questions and find an appointment time that works for you!
