MODULE 5

• Shiatsu massage

  • Draping is not necessary as the clients/customers will be wearing a massage robe or loose clothing throughout the massage session
• Client/customer's clothing for Shiatsu massage

  • Massage robe
  • Loose clothing
• Shiatsu massage client positions

  • Supine position
  • Prone position
  • Side-lying position
  • Sitting position
• Positioning the client for Shiatsu massage

  1. Make sure the person is lying horizontally on his/her back

  2. Place bolster under the client's ankles

  3. Cover the eyes using clean linen

  4. Be sure the neck is not flexed
• Positioning the client in prone position for Shiatsu massage


  1. Assist him/her to the massage bed/mat

  2. Tell the client/customer to lie face down in a horizontal position

  3. The most supported areas in this position are anterior ankles and the face

  4. Use a face rest frame and cushion to keep your client/customer's neck straight while lying
• Positioning the client in side-lying position for Shiatsu massage


  1. Let your client/customer lie on one side

  2. Put a pillow in between the knees for support
• Positioning the client in sitting position for Shiatsu massage


  Let his/her legs straight and parallel to the floor or with his/her legs crossed
• Don'ts of abdominal massage

  • If the client/customer had his/her meal 2-3 hours prior to the massage
  • On client/customer with a full bladder
  • When the client/customer has problems in the stomach, brain, or lungs
  • In pregnant women or women with menstruation
  • If the client/customer has inflammation of the uterus, bladder, ovaries, or fallopian tubes
  • If the client/customer has a case of a hernia
  • On client/customer with stomach ulcer
  • On client/customer with high blood pressure
• Performing Shiatsu massage from lumbar to shoulder


  1. Part 1: The therapist on kneeling position on the side of the client/customer, apply bilateral thumb pressure, single thumb pressure, double thumb pressure, alternate palm compression

  2. Part 2: The therapist on kneeling position on one knee on the side of the client/customer, apply bilateral thumb pressure, unilateral thumb pressure, bilateral thumb pressure, alternate palm compression
• Performing Shiatsu massage in prone position - shoulder, nape, and head


  Apply alternate thumb pressure to the shoulder, apply double thumb pressure to the medial side of the spine, apply palm pressing to the whole back, apply thumb pressure to the center of the nape, apply thumb pressure to the crown of the head, apply Scalp Massage
• Performing Shiatsu massage in supine position - head


  Apply thumb pressure to the center of the head, apply thumb pressure to the lateral side of the head, apply thumb pressure to the temporal side of the head, apply thumb kneading to the temporal side of the head
• Massage in Supine Position- Head


  1. Apply thumb pressure to the center of the head (3 points) and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  2. Apply thumb pressure to the lateral side of the head (left and right) (3 points) and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this for two (2) repetitions.

  3. Apply thumb pressure to the temporal side of the head (3 points) and hold for three (3) seconds for two (2) repetitions. Then apply thumb kneading to the temporal side of the head (3 points) for two (2) repetitions.

  4. Repeat (Step 3) to the other side.
• To perform Shiatsu massage at client/customer's head, the client/customer should be in supine position
• Performing Shiatsu Massage in Supine Position - Face


  1. Apply thumb pressure to the forehead and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions, and then knead.

  2. Apply finger pressure to the lateral side of the nose and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  3. Apply finger pressure on the inner pooch of the eye and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  4. Apply finger pressure to the hollow of the cheeks and hold for (three) 3 seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  5. Simultaneously pinch the eyebrows using folded forefinger and thumb, hold for five (5) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  6. Warm the hand then touch the forehead and hold for five (5) seconds.

  7. Apply palm gliding to the forehead with closed fingers for three (3) repetitions.

  8. Apply fulling to the forehead with kneading to the temple of the head for three (3) repetitions.

  9. Apply palm gliding to the forehead. Do this step for three (3) repetitions.
• Performing Shiatsu Massage in Supine Position-Arm and Head


  1. Perform arm stretching by applying 90-degree angle shoulder flexion then 180-degree angle shoulder flexion and hold for five (5) seconds. Do this step for three (3) repetitions. Then position the arm at 90 degrees angle followed by horizontal abduction of 90 degrees angle. Pull the arm downwards and hold for five (5) seconds for three (3) repetitions.

  2. Apply wringing to the whole arm for three (3) repetitions.

  3. Position the arm at 90-degree angle and apply thumb pressure to the medial and lateral side of the arm and forearm for three (3) seconds.

  4. Apply palm squeezing to the whole arm with back and forth motion for two (2) repetitions.

  5. Apply thumb pressure to the palm and hold for three (3) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  6. Insert the smallest finger between the client's ring finger and smallest finger then apply thumb pressure while gliding to the palm of the hand for two (2) repetitions.

  7. Apply finger pressure by squeezing each finger using forefinger and thumb for 2 repetitions and then knead and pull.

  8. Apply wringing, rolling and cupping to the whole arm for two (2) repetitions.

  9. Repeat to the other side.
• Performing the Shiatsu Massage in Supine Position - Chest and Abdomen


  1. Apply palm pressure to the abdomen and hold for five (5) seconds. Do this step for two (2) repetitions.

  2. Apply ascending stroke beginning from the right abdomen. Transverse descending to the left side of the abdomen using light pressure for three (3) repetitions.
• To perform Shiatsu massage at client/customer's chest and abdomen, the client/customer should be in supine position