Will Eastern medicine become a common medical practice in the Czech Republic? We talked to shiatsu expert Dalibor Boháč
How would you explain to me as a layman what is meant by shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a holistic medicine technique. Unlike traditional massage, with which shiatsu is often incorrectly confused, it is about working with life force and energy. Because everything in the body is connected, we don't just work superficially with muscles and ligaments. As a result, shiatsu works not only on the body, but also on the psyche.
We work with the so-called meridians (according to traditional Chinese medicine, meridians are precisely defined pathways of the human body, through which the life energy of a person flows, meridians form a coherent network that connects individual organs, they run 3-5 mm under the skin and at certain points they rise to the surface in the so-called acupuncture points, ed.). When a person is healthy, the energy in the body flows smoothly, but due to stress, tension and sudden life situations, the energy begins to block, the body can begin to stiffen and stagnation occurs, for example, in the form of a blocked neck, back pain, cold limbs, etc. Tension arises in some places and lack of energy in others. The task of shiatsu is to work with the energy and get it moving again.
Shiatsu literally means "finger pressure", but in addition to the fingers we work with the palms of the hands, we also work with the elbows, knees, etc. It depends on what is needed and how one is contracted and built.
Can shiatsu be used on anyone? For example, isn't it a problem if one is too obese?
Not at all. I work with a variety of clients. Even with children as young as three to six months, but also with people in their 80s. The only time I don't do shiatsu is when a person has cancer and is just going through radiation and chemotherapy. Otherwise, anyone can come in. On the other hand, when a person is very obese or very thin, the cause is often an imbalance in the body that needs to be straightened out, and shiatsu can help with that.
What all can we break down with shiatsu? Besides the psychological burden, is it possible to get rid of some inflammation in the body?
Sure. As I have already mentioned, it is holistic medicine, because in shiatsu we do not divide the body into individual segments, but work with it as a whole. Everything in the body is connected, so inflammation can be related to an imbalance in the bladder meridian, kidneys, or even the heart. With shiatsu, we can work with that.
Before any illness comes, the body usually alerts us. Cold feet, slight pain, chills, etc. People often think it's just something unimportant. The main problem is that many people don't perceive their body that consistently. We notice the world around us, who has what clothes, where we buy what and where we hunt for what, but we don't notice ourselves. We often forget about ourselves. We think about careers and we're always chasing something, but we forget the essence of what it takes to make everything work, which is a healthy body and a healthy soul.
When is the right time to visit you? At the time when a problem arises or is it good to attend preventively?
Definitely in both cases. I have clients who only come preventively to relax and unwind. They come because they enjoy it, it feels good and they can switch off for a while. Then I get people who have health problems that Western medicine can't deal with. Sometimes it can happen that a person doesn't feel well, but according to the results of blood and other tests he is healthy. Then it is good to try Eastern medicine, for example shiatsu.
So it's just a kind of alternative direction?
Exactly. With the caveat that in some countries shiatsu is already accepted as standard medical care. But still, of course, there are people who don't take Eastern medicine into account at all and say that something like that is stupid.
That was one of my other questions... I saw that there are several reports on the internet that deny the functionality of this technique...
Yes, such people don't address and perceive that we have some energy inside and that we are part of nature, but they feel that they are the masters of the world. Yet they do not perceive at all that pressure, wind and other things that can cause sneezing, pain, chills, etc., are acting on them. Everything is interrelated and people should realise this and not consider the teachings that work with this as fallen on their heads and fictional.
What would you say to these people?
I wish that nothing bothers them and that they are healthy. As long as they are well in their life and energy, that's fine. I wish them to be healthy mentally and physically.
According to Dalibor Bohac, Shiatsu also works well against depression and anxiety. Especially in the current times, many people are isolated, have no social contact and fall on their mouths. All this causes a certain imbalance in the bodyPhoto: Archiv Dalibor Boháč
So if I decide to do shiatsu, what do I need to do to do that? What is the procedure?
There is always an initial interview at the beginning. We talk and do a diagnosis from the face, body language, speech, etc. among other things. Then I ask what the person is coming with and what is bothering them. In addition, in shiatsu we have our own diagnostics which are done on the abdomen. Based on this, we select the individual meridians, i.e. the energy pathways that are currently most important to work with.
One changes into comfortable clothes at the beginning, as shiatsu is not done on the bare body. Usually the client lies down on their back and then the actual treatment takes place, which lasts between three quarters of an hour and an hour. The length of the treatment is individual for each person. It depends on the client's current state of health. At the end, the client has a few minutes to relax and integrate the treatment. Then there is space for questions and recommendations. Some people feel subdued after the treatment, others experience a great burst of energy. During the following hours or a few days, cleansing processes take place in the body and mind.
So how long does it take for the final effects to take effect?
This is individual for each person. It depends on what the person comes up with. Whether one feels unwell or very unwell. Already after the first treatment the person gets better, but otherwise it is true that as long as the disease arises, it takes once as long to get the body back together. More serious things take longer to fix, of course.
Does the severity of the illness determine the length of treatment?
It certainly does. Even if you put three people who suffer from depression next to each other, each of them may take a different length of time to be treated. But most of all, it's important that the person is willing and ready to work on themselves and maybe even change their lifestyle. If the person doesn't want to, even shiatsu won't help. Shiatsu can speed up the healing process, but it is important that the person accepts it, not just come in, lie down and expect a miracle to happen.
I have found that shiatsu can be accompanied by some side effects, but that these are evidence that something is wrong with the body...
Shiatsu itself doesn't have side effects, but if people don't have certain health or mental things sorted out, or have gone through an illness, it all gets stored in the body. For example, past illnesses stay in the body, mucus can form and block the flow of energy. As part of the treatment, these things start to clear and so the person may get a fever, for example, get nauseous, or get diarrhea. But it's not that common. As I said, some people are tired after the treatment, others are cheerful and want to walk around and do new things. However, most of the time, people's eyes light up with the energy and their color is much better.
How long does one have to learn before they can sense the internal energy, meridians and other things that are worked with in shiatsu?
In Europe, even in the Czech Republic, there are shiatsu schools that follow the standards of the European Shiatsu Federation. We learn how to work with Eastern medicine, the anatomy of the human body, the meaning of the meridians, the meaning of the points, and it is about a three-year course. After that the practice is important. Based on that you then receive a certificate.
How did you personally get into shiatsu?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to help people. However, I only got into it five years ago. My last job was as manager of a restaurant in an airport. It was very busy, I was under pressure from the management, we had different cultures and nationalities coming and going, and many times we didn't even eat. My psyche was disturbed, I became nervous and obnoxious. I needed to get rid of the negative energy, so I started going to acupuncture to get myself together, but the needles weren't doing me much good. I looked for other alternatives and found shiatsu. I haven't let go of it since and now I help others too.
In Japan, Israel, Switzerland, and even in Germany, shiatsu is legally recognized as a healing method. How is the Czech Republic?
Several people are trying to promote Eastern medicine here, but it is quite difficult. In Japan, but also in neighbouring Germany, it is treated in the same way as when you go to the dentist or other specialist doctor. It is even covered by health insurance.
Do you think that this will happen here in the future?
I think we are slowly moving towards that. A lot of people are practicing yoga, meditation and other techniques, opening up to new directions and starting to experience their effects on their own bodies. I dare say that many more people are seeking out these alternative directions. Often it's through referrals, and that's how most people come to me as well. But for shiatsu to become some sort of mainstream health practice, it's not on the table yet and it will take time.
Does shiatsu have any effects on you? Do you find yourself taking negative energy from people?
It happens very often. However, I do practice breathing exercises where there are different techniques to cleanse the energy. Of course it is necessary to wash my hands, I use different protective things that I wear so that the energy doesn't stick to me, but the important thing is to have a clear mind and head and when a person leaves and the door closes, you literally have to leave the person. Often you can feel their emotions, and it draws you in. So all you need is meditation and a good shower to wash it off.
