Barefoot Shiatsu, Ashiatsu, or Ashtanga?

Meaning literally"foot stress (as) style," ashiatsu stems from the principles of Ashtanga Yoga, an Indian discipline. Ashtanga, or"eight limbs" yoga, has been introduced to the west by a team of instructors led by David Banks, who later coached the famed circus performer, Kym Johnson. So as to train her students in Ashtanga style yoga, Banks had to introduce them to the principles of yoga through Ashtanga and the deep bodywork, which he taught. That's where the Ashiatsu origin story comes in.

Ashiatsu originates from Japan, but contrary to what many assume, it's not an ancient art. Ashiatsu is really a derivative of yoga and several other spiritual practices which have been around for centuries. As an example, the Japanese Soka schools, who teach Ashiatsu, really trace their lineage all the way back to the seventh century. The exact source of Ashiatsu has actually been lost in the mists of time.

But many believe that Ashiatsu was affected heavily by the Japanese Sahara school of Buddhism, and also by Taoist philosophies and even Chinese acupuncture techniques. Ashiatsu has been known to use such processes as finger tapping and eye movements, in addition to the application of cold and hot temperatures on different parts of the body. Interestingly enough, the origin of Ashiatsu actually took place in India, in the region now called Kerala in India.

Today, lots of people around the world are practicing Ashiatsu as a healing art of Buddhist monks. In fact, there are lots of Ashiatsu massage parlors located all around the planet. But, what's Ashiatsu exactly? How should you get started getting into this terrific massage therapy? And where can you discover the best types of Ashiatsu therapy in the largest regions?

A fantastic place to start the journey towards understanding Ashiatsu is to start to learn about it's meaning. One of the most commonly known and widely practiced methods of Ashiatsu is foot massage. This can be done while the patient lies on a massage table, or while a client lies on the floor with their feet placed flat on the ground. A proficient Ashiatsu massage therapist will use their hands to apply pressure to certain points on the feet. This is done in order to help relieve the pressure on the joints, and relieve the tightness and stress on the muscles of the feet and legs.

A more recent version of Ashiatsu uses the elbows and knees. Again, a professional massage therapist applies pressure to specific points on the elbows and knees in order to help loosen up the joints and muscles of the body. A popular method used for treating stiff muscles of the spine is the so called"hardoe" massage, which is named after the type of tree the Ashiatsu massage therapist uses. Examples of hardy trees include the fir, ebony, ashwagandha, thuja, and boxwood.

A less popular type of therapy utilized as part of the healing practice of Ashiatsu is the use of"moisturizing lotion". This sort of lotion is applied directly to the skin and may be combined with massage therapy to be able to reduce swelling and relieve pain from cuts, scrapes, and bruises. Many people who have chosen to receive a foot massage or a deep tissue massage from a qualified Ashiatsu therapist and who have obtained a Barefoot Massage state that they don't observe any difference in their appearance between the two types of treatments, but that the Barefoot massage was more enjoyable for them. Many folks agree that the deep tissue massage had an extremely positive effect on their lives.

While Ashiatsu may seem to be a Western innovation, many of the classic Asian techniques for treating the body have been in existence for many years. Barefoot shiatsu, although it is occasionally referred to as Japanese shiatsu, has actually existed all over Asia for centuries. In Japan itself, the technique originated as a tool for healing and relieving stress for several decades before becoming popular as a fitness and wellness technique from the West. Whatever you call it, the truth is that the roots of barefoot shiatsu have been in traditional Japanese medicine.