iokai shiatsu
nurture and respect your body for significant and long-lasting change
About Shiatsu
In Japanese SHI means “Fingers” and ATSU “Pressure”. The treatment is rooted in Taoist Philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It aims to release tensions from the body and mind in helping Yin and Yang energies of the body to flow freely. Shiatsu aims to help maintain the free flow of life energy (KI or QI or Prana), creating harmony and flexibility between the body and its environment; a basic belief in oriental therapies, which is considered a base for a healthy life.
In May 1997, Shiatsu was acknowledged by the European Commission as one of the eight complementary Medicines.
Shiatsu is a Japanese practice that comes from TE ATE (Te=hand ate= to place, referring to a “healing quality of compassionate/ intuitive touch”, common to all cultures in human history).
The specifics of Iokai shiatsu
The important point in Iokaï Shiatsu is how to get in touch with the human being. This is why Masunaga Sensei, its founder, used the name “Iokai”, which defines the nature of the person-to-person exchange.
Io is inspired by the Buddhist Sutra, which relates to the person who knows his or her imbalances and determines the appropriate means of permanently overcoming them.
Kai represents association, communication between people under the same roof.
Iokai shiatsu is an art that differs from a simple manual technique in that it involves the psychic-physical (mind-body) wholeness of both the practitioner and the receiver. Sasaki Sensei was deeply moved by these aspects during his collaboration with Masunaga Sensei, the Founder of IOKAI Shiatsu in Japan, and it is the heart of this approach that he teaches in Europe.
The Shiatsu IOKAI is more than a simple “manual technique”. It is based on very profound communication and subtle awareness. Through touch and giving support to life, it fully engages the receiver and the giver (Body -Mind).
Teachers, students, and practitioners of IOKAI SHIATSU all share a deep interest and humility toward the nature of Life itself.
Anne certified in 2009 with the European IOKAI Shiatsu Association, practiced many years in Hong Kong and since 2025 she is accredited ASCA and RME in Switzerland.
The Benefits of Shiatsu
Shiatsu supports the body self-regulation and vitality. Thus receiving regular Shiatsu can lead us to live with and understand, a mind-body-environment inter-connection and be more aware of how to better keep balance, harmony and vitality in our life.
People often compare it to micro-osteopathy and experience it as “relaxing, nurturing, non-invasive and deeply therapeutic”.
How does Shiatsu work?
Shiatsu is practiced on the whole body, fully clothed, on a futon mat. It includes the use of finger pressure (thumbs), but also palms, elbows and occasionally the knees along the meridians or energy channels running through the body. Those are like the meridians used in Acupuncture/TCM.
Anne uses the IOKAI Shiatsu technique of 2 hands working in synchronization to provide a pressure that is deep, stable and slowly moving along the body. Combined with a holistic view of the receiver to awaken his/her body’s innate healing ability.
Anne also encourages you to be proactive in your self-care process between sessions, teaching you simple and adapted mindfulness and breathing exercises.