Shiatsu

Shiatsu is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); its primary concept being Yin and Yang.

Yin/ Yang - a belief that the polarity of forces exists throughout the universe, actively changing throughout the day, season, and lifetime, but that overall maintains a necessary balance. This relationship is considered to be the source of all change and movement. Although both seem to oppose, one has no meaning without the other.

Yin in the Body

Front of the body

Inner Body

Lower Body

Underactive

Coldness

Yang in the Body

Back of the body

Outer Body

Upper Body

Overactive

Hotness

Aspects of Yin	Aspects Yang
Dark	Light
Night	Day
Low	High
Cold	Hot
Inside	Outside
Contracting	Expanding
Passive	Active
Deficient	Excessive
Weak	Forceful

Deeper energetic theory of traditional Chinese medicine is applied through principle of the 5 Elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. (Slide -> on mobile website)

Element	Fire	Earth	Metal	Water	Wood
Color	Red	Yellow	White	Black/Blue	Green
Climate	Heat	Damp	Dry	Cold	Wind
Season	Summer	Late Summer	Fall	Winter	Spring
Yin Organ	Heart	Spleen	Lung	Kidney	Liver
Yang Bowel	Sm Intestine	Stomach	Lg Intestine	Bladder	Gallbladder
Taste	Bitter	Sweet	Spicy	Salty	Sour
Sense Organ	Tongue	Mouth	Nose	Ears	Eyes
Tissue	Blood Vessel	Muscle	Skin	Bone	Sinew
Emotion	Joy	Worry	Grief/ Sadness	Fear	Anger

12 Meridians: Body Clock, Elements and Acupressure Points

3am-5am - Yin - Metal - Lungs

5am-7am - Yang - Metal - Large Intestine

7am-9am - Yang - Earth - Stomach

9am-11am - Yin - Earth - Spleen

11am-1pm - Yin - Fire - Heart

1pm-3pm - Yang - Fire - Small Intestine

3pm-5pm - Yang - Water - Bladder

5pm-7pm - Yin - Water - Kidney

7pm- 9pm - Yin - Fire - Pericardium

9pm-11pm - Yang - Fire - Triple Burner

11pm-1am - Yang - Wood - Gallbladder

1am-3am - Yin - Wood - Liver

There are two extraordinary vessels that are single channels known as the conception (Yin) and governing vessels (Yang).