So, what is Shiatsu therapy?
If you have been asking yourself what is Shiatsu therapy, you are in the right place. Many people arrive at Chelsea Natural Health Clinic having only a vague sense of what they are about to experience — and often they leave wondering why they waited so long to try it. The name gives a clue: “shi” means finger in Japanese, and “atsu” means pressure. But what is Shiatsu in practice? It is far more than the sum of those two words.
Shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It works with the body’s energy channels — called meridians — applying sustained pressure and gentle stretching to encourage balance and support the body’s natural healing processes. The result is something that clients often describe as deeply restoring: a treatment that addresses not just their physical tension, but the tiredness and overwhelm that sit underneath it.
It is practised fully clothed, on a massage table, in a calm and unhurried environment. If that already sounds different from a standard massage appointment, that is because it is — in the best possible way.
The Principles Behind Shiatsu Therapy
To truly understand what is Shiatsu therapy, it helps to understand Qi — pronounced “chee” or Ki. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Japanese bodywork traditions, Qi is the vital energy that circulates through all living things. When it flows freely, we tend to feel healthy, energised, and emotionally balanced. When it becomes blocked, stagnant, or depleted, symptoms begin to surface: pain, fatigue, anxiety, digestive difficulties, and more.
During a Shiatsu session, your practitioner assesses the quality and flow of your Qi through careful observation, listening, and touch. A central tool in this assessment is the hara — the abdomen — which in Shiatsu diagnosis reveals a great deal about the state of the whole system. Through gentle palpation, the practitioner builds a picture of where energy is excessive and where it may be deficient, and works accordingly.
This is a systematic and considered approach. It treats you as a whole person — not simply as a set of presenting complaints.
What to Expect at Your First Shiatsu Session
Before You Arrive
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing — tracksuit bottoms, leggings, or similar. Avoid a large meal in the two hours beforehand, and try to arrive a few minutes early. That brief settling time before we begin makes a real difference to how you receive the treatment.
During the Session
We start with a conversation. Your current concerns, medical history, sleep patterns, energy levels, digestion, and emotional wellbeing are all relevant. Shiatsu therapy treats the person, not the condition, and this initial dialogue helps me understand what your body most needs that day.
You will then lie on a massage table. A typical session lasts between sixty and ninety minutes, with the initial appointment often running a little longer to allow time for a thorough consultation. I work methodically through the body, holding and pressing points along the meridians, rotating and stretching the limbs, and giving sustained attention to areas of tension or imbalance. Some points may feel tender or sensitive — this is entirely normal and usually passes within moments. Most clients find the experience profoundly relaxing, and many drift into a light sleep.
After Your Session
In the day or two following Shiatsu bodywork, it is quite normal to feel tired, a little emotional, or particularly thirsty. These are healthy signs that the body is responding and integrating the work. Drink plenty of water, rest where you can, and avoid anything strenuous or demanding in those first twenty-four hours.
What Can Shiatsu Therapy Help With?
At Chelsea Natural Health Clinic, 208 Fulham Road, London SW10 9PJ, clients come to Jan Murphy with a wide range of concerns: chronic back pain, stress and anxiety, migraines, hormonal imbalance, sleep difficulties, digestive problems, and a general sense of being depleted or disconnected from themselves. Some arrive with a specific diagnosis. Others simply want to feel more like themselves again.
Shiatsu does not claim to cure anything. What it does — consistently, in our experience at the clinic — is help the body find its way back to balance. For many people, that shift is quiet but profound. You can read more about how shiatsu can support your health and wellbeing across a range of conditions.
Is Shiatsu Therapy Right for You?
Shiatsu suits most people well. It is gentle enough for older clients, adaptable for those with limited mobility, and — in experienced hands — appropriate to receive during pregnancy. It works comfortably alongside conventional medical treatment without any conflict, and many clients use it as a regular part of their broader approach to health.
There are some situations where Shiatsu is not appropriate: during the first trimester of pregnancy, directly over broken skin or an acute injury, or during certain acute infections. Your practitioner will always take a thorough case history before beginning and will adapt the session accordingly.
Shiatsu Therapy in Chelsea, London
Jan Murphy (MRSS)(MTBCCT) has been practising Shiatsu Therapy in Chelsea, London for many years. She is a registered member of the Shiatsu Society UK, which requires ongoing professional development and strict adherence to a code of ethics. Sessions are offered at Chelsea Natural Health Clinic on Fulham Road, SW10 — a calm, professional environment in the heart of Chelsea that has served the local community for over a decade.
Whether you are entirely new to Shiatsu therapy, returning after a break, or looking to make it part of your regular self-care, each session is tailored to where you are right now. That responsiveness — that meeting you where you are — is what makes Shiatsu so quietly and consistently effective.
Ready to Book?
Jan Murphy (MRSS)(MTBCCT) is a registered Shiatsu Practitioner and holistic therapist at Chelsea Natural Health Clinic, 208 Fulham Road, London SW10 9PJ. Jan offers Therapeutic Shiatsu, Auricular Acupuncture, Facial Acupuncture and Cosmetic Facial Shiatsu and Facial Rejuvenation Therapy. To book a session call 0207 352 3087, visit chelseanaturalhealth.co.uk, or book online at chelseanaturalhealth.fullslate.com/employees/91
