Originating in the East, the history of A-Shiatsu spans several continents and more than 3,000 years. Many different styles of barefoot massage are still found in India, Japan, Thailand, China, and the Philippines.

In traditional A-Shiatsu as taught at the Bali International Spa Academy and Massage School, the practitioner follows the flow of the yin meridians coming up from the earth and then the yang meridians coming down from the heavens. The practitioner uses overhead bars to vary the pressure and weight on the client’s back. It is becoming a more main-stream therapeutic practice around the world due to the benefits derived from its ability to dive deeply into the muscles.

It’s so therapeutic that many clients pronounce it as Ahhhhh-shiatsu!