Fit to be tried: Shiatsu massage

ONE of the first problems Dolores Smith faced when she set up her shiatsu practice was the name.

Most of us have never heard of shiatsu. "Is it a dog parlour?" one Dubliner asked about her first advertisement.

"So to make things simple, now I just advertise it as massage therapy, because that's easier for people to understand," says Ms Smith, who has run her thriving home-based practice for more than 10 years.

So what is shiatsu? "Bless you," is what my Da quipped when I told him I was checking it out. Jokes aside, shiatsu is an ancient Japanese craft that was developed around 530 BC. Literally translated, it means finger pressure.

Shiatsu helps ease all manner of aches and pains, and targets particular problems such as insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome or back strain.

Traditionally, this hands-on therapy is done on a mat or on the floor, but Ms Smith has adjusted her methods to suit herself and her clients, and she uses a specially designed massage bed.

The session starts with a question-and-answer session to find out about clients' lifestyle, stress levels and diet.

The treatment is not abstract but targeted, she says. "I was drawn to shiatsu because it aims to fix particular problems -- more than standard massage, which gives a general sense of well-being but might not help with some complaints," says Ms Smith, who studied her craft for three years before qualifying.

Lying face down as instructed, I find it surprisingly relaxing as Ms Smith uses gentle but firm pressure with her thumbs and palms, pushing up and lifting off instead of the usual continual kneading of a standard massage. The feet aren't overlooked, with the same lifting and pressure applied from heel to toe.

The session takes an hour, and about half-way through the cerebral knots dissolve, along with the physical tension.

"Shiatsu works to relax the nervous system and promote self-healing, and it's very specific," says Dolores.

The session finishes with me on my back as the shiatsu treatment gently rotates my shoulder joints and then moves up to dissolve neck pain with deft, firm strokes.

In general it's a blissful experience, and Ms Smith says she targets acupressure points to help increase energy, blood-flow and improve digestion.

My shoulder pain is lessened after the session, but not gone and Ms Smith says it would take a few treatments to banish the problem.

Shiatsu is widely available in Japan and it's becoming more common in Ireland, but if you're looking for a good shiatsu therapist, check they are qualified and have experience.