I have been getting many massages over the years through deep tissue Thai massages where they step on you, hot stone, acupuncture, and even other shiatsu.
However, Todd from Shiatsu Land, someone I just found through Google searching "shiatsu in Orange County", is easily one of the best massage therapists I've had in Southern California.
If you're not sure how Japanese shiatsu massage works, it's a lot different from the typical American style of rubbing oil and using hands with varying amounts of pressure. With acupuncture, it's all about choosing what they call pressure points. These are the potentially sensitive areas that cause pain and/or tightness in the muscles. As someone who's had extremely tight muscles for a really long time, this is part of why I get regular massages.
As for why I like shiatsu specifically, I think shiatsu is better for more sensitive areas that regular massage therapists might have trouble massaging with just elbows and hands. For example, I like the way that shiatsu massages work with the neck, which is generally a more sensitive part of the body. Since they only have to press down certain spots around the neck area, it's easier to feel like they're doing work without causing too much pain. Same with the pec minor area, especially with someone like me who has a nerve issue called pec minor syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome. Something like shiatsu massage feels best for places like that.
With shiatsu massage, you generally keep all of your clothes on except for glasses and shoes. That definitely makes it more convenient for everyone so you don't have to worry about feeling uncomfortable with being touched. Because with shiatsu, you're generally covered by an extra sheet so you don't have to worry about exact physical skin contact.
Going back to Todd from Shiatsu Land, though. I've only had maybe a handful of shiatsu massages at most. but I think Todd might possibly be my new favorite massage therapist who does shiatsu specifically.
I think he has the right balance of good pressure and figuring out the right spots to work on. Like any good massage therapist, he'll still ask about areas to focus on. As someone who mostly gets 90-minute massages on average, I always appreciate that he still does the full body and does a good job. He balances working on the full body while also focusing on the areas that you requested.
Shiatsu Land is in a small room in a kind of big building. Todd will be waiting inside to guide you to the room and then do your massage. Then you pay after with an optional tip. You know the usual.
If you are looking to try a shiatsu massage and you live in or around Orange County, I think Todd is a good one to start off with. His pricing is very reasonable: $60 for an hour, $90 for 1.5 hours, $120 for 2 hours before tips. With this quality at this pricing, you're getting, in my opinion, better deals than many deep tissue massage places that overcharge. read more
