Soon after Shizuko Yamamoto's arrival in the United States, she began to develop a fine reputation as a practitioner of barefoot shiatsu, the topic of this book. Impressed by both her philosophy and her treatment, I invited her to demonstrate shiatsu at the First Western Hemisphere Conference on Acupuncture, Kirlian Photography, and the Human Aura held in New York City in 1972. She coauthored a chapter for the conference proceedings (The Kirlian Aura, Anchor/Doubleday, 1974) and was invited to participate in a follow-up conference in 1973. Once again, her demonstration was acclaimed and she coauthored a paper for the proceedings (The Energies of Consciousness, Gordon and Breach, 1974).
As an advocate of holistic healing practices, I have been impressed by Shizuko Yamamoto's unification of mind and body in her work as well as her prescription of exercises by which her clients can maintain their health. In this book, she avoids sensationalism, offering no diamatic promises. Instead, she presents the reader with a direct, common sense approach to "higher living" through the cultivation of self-reliance.
Shiatsu attempts to establish harmony between the person and the universe, and to maintain this condition once it is acquired. In Barefoot Shiatsu, Shizuko Yamamoto describes this process quite well. She acquaints us with the subtle life force known as "ki" that is said to circulate throughout the body. She describes how sickness arises when the flow of ki is diminished or blocked. Barefoot Shiatsu attempts to free the flow of ki through a system of massage which typically utilizes the practitioner's feet as well as the hands.
It is easier to keep a problem from developing, however, than to stop in once its symptoms become obvious. Thus, shiatsu offers its clients advice concerning diet, exercise, meditation, and relaxation. In these times of increased stress, the practice and philosophy of shiatsu represent a valued contribution of the eastern world to the western world. The United States has not been entirely deficient as regards some of Shizuko Yamamoto's practices, however. Benjamin Franklin took "air baths" in the 1700s, portraying them in a way quite similar to the description the reader will find in Barefoot Shiatsu!
STANLEY KRIPPNER, PH. D.
Humanistic Psychology Institute
San Francisco
