What is Equine Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a form of Japanese physiotherapy which can be used to treat a wide variety of issues. The majority of the work covers soft tissue injuries and movement dysfunction, such as tight muscles and stiff joints. Shiatsu addresses specific physical concerns, and helps to manage stress, mental and emotional health problems.
Equine Shiatsu is purely a manual therapy and uses finger and thumb pressure on acupuncture points along the meridians in order to free restrictions in the body which allow and maintain good health – the same points as used in Veterinary Acupuncture.
This pressure along the meridians, together with assisted stretching, joint mobilisation and massage, allows the body to release pain and tension gently adjusting both posture and attitude.
Based in the principles of Oriental Medicine, a particular strength of Shiatsu is that it looks to find and treat the underlying causes of dysfunction and not just the symptoms. Oriental theory, in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, together with a well developed sensitivity of touch makes Equine Shiatsu an effective therapeutic aid to good horse health.
About Meridians
The meridians are named after the organs of the body, and centuries of experience in China and Japan have shown that stimulation on certain points can affect a certain organ or body system. Thus the Heart meridian and its acupoints can be used to affect the heart or circulation, and the Stomach meridian can be used to help digestive upset or sluggish metabolism. If “Ki” flow in a particular meridian is disturbed or interrupted, then symptoms of illness or discomfort will begin to manifest.
