Zen Stretching - History & Charachteristics

The practice of Zen Stretching was developed by Shizuto Masunaga, the last great Shiatsu Master. His intention was that of offering to people that could not afford Shiatsu treatments, a way to work on their physical condition, by working on the principle of the meridians to diagnose and cure a number of diseases.
He thus introduced the concept of self-healing by effectively stimulating the energy flow in the body.
The peculiarity of the Zen Stretching technique lies in the use of visualization and of breathing techniques to improve the energy flow in the whole body, rather than in the single parts acting in the movement.

The characteristics of the Zen Stretching exercises are:

- Minimum physical effort required
- Mind and body relaxation
- Improving the functioning of the organs
- Improving the body’s elasticity
- Deepening one’s awareness


Exercising will no longer require effort and time: in fact, 10 or 15 minutes of a correct practice are enough to bring the person back to a well balanced mental and physical condition.

Zen stretching is a way to stimulate the natural power of self-healing innate in each of us. It shows to everybody, with no age limits, how to work with the meridians and improve one’s own health without having to recur to invasive therapies.