For your first visit you will be asked to fill in a health history form, and then there are five steps a massage therapist follows: interview, assessment, treatment, remedial exercise and charting.​

1) An intake or interview is the first step in the establishment of your relationship with your massage therapist. During this intake and interview process, forms will be completed that collect your complete health history. The interview will allow your massage therapist to establish your short-term and long terms goals for treatment, specific areas on which you would like the therapist to focus and discovery of what factors are contributing to your condition.

2) An Initial Assessment is the first assessment that the massage therapist provides following the intake and interview process. The assessment may include postural (static and dynamic) analysis, palpation and range of motion assessment, standard neurological and orthopaedic tests. Status forms and pain questionnaires may also be used to assess the condition.

3) Treatment – this is the massage therapy session.

4) Remedial Exercise & Home Care – In many cases, a massage therapist will recommend that you undertake remedial exercise programs to enhance your recovery. Typically, these exercises will augment the benefits that the treatment is providing. You may also be given instruction on the use of hydrotherapy, hot and cold packs, baths etc. Following these instructions carefully will speed your recovery and assist the massage therapy in helping you.

5) Charting.  A massage therapist must document your progress in your clinical record. This is a mandatory component of the appointment and is included not only in the fee for the visit but also in the time allocated for the visit. Other components included in this portion of your visit will be referrals to other health professionals and preparing invoices and receipts for payment.

Depending on the issue and how long it’s been there, often one to two treatments may be enough to offer relief. However, for ongoing and issues that have been there long term a longer course of treatments may be necessary. If treating a particular health issue, a series of treatments may be recommended to experience relief and lasting health benefits. For relaxation and stress relief monthly or semi-monthly treatments are an excellent means of keeping renewed health at a peak.
…Registered Massage Therapy Association of Ontario (RMTAO)

SHI= finger ATSU = pressure

“Shiatsu” is a form of Japanese acupressure which, literally translated means, “finger pressure”. The technique uses the thumbs (as well as palm, elbow and feet) to apply holding pressure on selected acupressure points around the body. The treatment also includes rotations and stretches of limbs, joints and meridians. What makes Shiatsu a unique therapy is that it combines diagnosis and treatment.

Shiatsu, like Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes that disease is a result of an imbalance of Ki energy or life force, in the pathways of energy, or meridians. Treatment aims to unblock the flow of Ki energy in order to bring healing and balance to the body, mind and spirit. Shiatsu also incorporates the modern Western sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathology. According to Western medicine, Shiatsu works by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system to calm and relax the body.

“Shiatsu’s great strength is that it is a uniquely flexible therapy, capable of being applied with the depth of Rolfing or the subtlety of Cranial Osteopathy: It embraces the mobilization moves of Thai yoga massage or Chiropractic, the resistance and release techniques of Kinesiology, and the magnetic principles of Polarity therapy.”…Carola Beresford Cooke ‘A Shiatsu Practitioner’s Manual’

Eastern Medical Perspective:  Shiatsu is based on the principles of Chinese medicine which strives to promote healing by correcting energy imbalances in the body. These imbalances are corrected by applying pressure to acupressure points along channels known as “meridians”. When these meridians are unblocked the twelve organ systems they represent are encouraged to heal and attain balance. 

Western Medical Perspective:  Shiatsu is based on modern anatomy and physiology and works by regulating the autonomic nervous system. Shiatsu stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system causing:  muscles to relax, circulation and digestion to improve, boost to the immune system, blood pressure to lower and overall tension to decrease.

Benefits of Shiatsu include relief for: headaches & migraines, insomnia, stress & tension, anxiety & depression, neck & shoulder tension, whiplash, low back pain & sciatica, and pregnancy & childbirth to name a few.

“Generally, massage therapy refers to Swedish massage, a therapy that involves rubbing and kneading the body using oils. Swedish massage acts on the circulatory system of the body to improve circulation. It also affects muscle tissue to relieve muscle tension and pain.

Shiatsu therapy uses stationary, holding pressure to apply pressure to the body to regulate body functioning. No oils are used; you may wear loose clothes during the treatment. Shiatsu treatments help to relieve pain and improve organ function. The whole body benefits.”
…Shiatsu Therapy Association of Ontario (STAO)