inside of the leg, over the abdomen to the lower end of the chest near the side. Kidney- From the ball of the foot up the inside of the leg, abdomen and chest to the knob on the collar bone. Lungs- From the chest, down the outside of the front of the arm to the thumb. Bladder- From the corner of the eye, over the head and down the back along the inside to the buttocks. Skip back to the shoulder, down the outer line down the back of the leg to the end of the little toe. Gall Bladder- From below the eye, around the cheek to the forehead, over the eye, down the jaw and the front of the neck, across the collar bone, down the chest and abdomen, across the front of the hip down the outside of the front of the leg to the end of the second toe. 5 Figure 1 In administering shiatsu massage it is very important to note which meridian is ying and which is yang. While massaging up the ying meridians in the body may feel very relaxing, massaging up the yang meridians in the body will be very uncomfortable. Since there is more than one mode when giving Shiatsu massage, it is crucial to realize that the massage focuses around what are known as a tsubo, or pressure point, in the body at specific locations. Tension and blockages can be released by applying pressure to different locations in the body (Lundberg, 1992). In these tsubos around the body many people “carry” their stress. A common 6 place for individuals to have these “blockages” would be the shoulders at the base of the neck, and in the back. It is incredible that although shiatsu massage is considered to be a form of “ancient medicine,” it is still used very often today for medical treatment. In some parts of Asia, there are no modern doctors that people can go see whenever they need medical attention, so these ancient forms of medicine are used as a primary form of treatment. This is not to say that Asia does not have well trained doctors, but that there is such a dense population and so few doctors, that there is no way that these doctors can be expected to treat everyone. Nei Ching is over two millennia old, and was the first medical text to be used in “ancient medicine.” The idea behind Nei Ching was that age, lifestyle, diet, and environment affect the health of people. These ideas of a holistic approach to health are still very prevalent in today’s culture. In the document, acupressure (Shiatsu massage) is said to heal the body and aid in overall well-being. The Nei Ching Su Wen has still remained the most dominating medicinal theory and practice in present day indigenous Chinese medicine (Veith, 1949). Shiatsu massage is very unique in that it enables the body to “heal” itself through the techniques used. Shiatsu can be received from someone else, or it can even be selfadministered, depending on the area of the body that needs relief. Modern technology and medicine has come a long way and can significantly benefit those in need of serious medical attention, but even technology has not been able to defeat the menacing, chronic debilitating diseases that affect nearly everyone as they age. Shiatsu is a way to make one’s quality of life better overall (Endo, 2004). 7 Within the past twenty years the effects of shiatsu massage has been studied on a physiological level. There is research that shows Shiatsu massage is effective in dramatically reducing heart rate and slowing breathing. Shiatsu can reduce high blood pressure, diminish chronic pain, or even reduce nausea (Barrett, 1993). These positive health benefits have even been seen and tested in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Shiatsu massage can rejuvenate a person’s body, mind, and spirit, and this can positively effect and reduce stress in individuals. In parts of Europe, Shiatsu is allowed to be practiced on patients, but it has yet to be integrated into the healthcare system; however, since 1952, in Japan, Shiatsu massage is recognized as a paramedical practice (Long, 2008). Since the increase in the price of health care, medical treatment, and pharmaceuticals, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become more popular. In 2003, almost six million adults began using CAM as a substitute for conventional health treatment. Colleges across the United States have been hiring masseuses as a way to assist students in de-stressing either before finals, or as an option throughout the entirety of the school year (Schlossberg, 2005). Zen is a large part of the study and performance of Shiatsu. Zen can be translated into “meditative state,” but many use the word as a substitution for the word “peace” or “peaceful.” Shiatsu massage is meant to relax the body, mind, and spirit, and Zen requires a calm mind and relaxed body. Shiatsu massage is a physical manipulation that was developed in Japan and is one of the oldest forms of medicinal treatment in western civilization (Masunaga, 1977). While it is considered a medicinal substitute in America, it was not until recently that 8 Shiatsu massage became used solely for medical purposes. Some therapists even suggest that the pressing used in Shiatsu can cure all diseases. Most Shiatsu instructors today mainly teach Shiatsu as a home remedy rather than an actual treatment. Stress Shiatsu massage is important to research and apply to students because it is a method of massage that has multi-dimensional advantages: it can be used in a way that students can enjoy the benefits of a more calm body,