The Art of Healing

 I asked my friend Rob what he considers the main difference between the Japanese Shiatsu massage and the Thai traditional massage and he answered me this:
" Both systems are energy based: Shiatsu working with the meridians and Thai Massage with the Sen lines.
These are not the same however on a closer examination. The way the late Asokananda described it: if you want to go to the beach and look on the map you can take the highway or the country roads.
Not everyone sees it this way: Maria Mercati claims in her book that the sen lines correspond directly with the meridians. She is alone in this view point however.  If you look at detailed maps the Sen lines do differ from the meridians.
Besides that the flavor of the work is different too, reflecting on the difference between the two cultures.
I find Shiatsu a lot more structured, while Thai Massage is much more playful. And of course especially in the Northern style of Thai Massage you have an amazing array of stretches that are the main trust of the work, not a little extra. This is by the way  the style I favor, in America sometimes referred to as Thai Yoga Massage.
From a bodyworkers point of view this is very different to practice. For instance I hardly use my thumb (as opposed to Shiatsu) and instead apply pressure using my whole body in combination with stretch. I don't think that the thumbs are ultimately designed for prolonged and repetitive use and will wear out from this.These are just a few thoughts, wish I could give you a treatment."
Rob De Nies has a holistic center in San Fransisco USA  415-664-1997