Shiatsu is Japanese for “finger pressure”; it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. It is a way of helping people to relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression. Shiatsu is performed on a futon mat, with clients fully clothed. Shiatsu will involve deep breathing, rotating and stretching your joints, as well as manipulating pressure points. When these points are pressed, people describe the sensation as feeling tender, tickling, intense, or slightly uncomfortable, unlike anything else. Shiatsu is both preventative and healing, so getting it done on a regular basis, along with stretching, exercise, and a healthy diet, may improve your health.