Shiatsu is a form of therapy that has been developped in Japan, but has its origins in ancient China under the name of Do-In and Ankkyo. During the Han dynasty (roughly 200BC to 200AD) this so called 'classical oriental medicine' was well chronicled with the completion of the Yellow Emperor's text which is today widely considered as the 'bible' of oriental medicine. It deals with many different subjects, ranging from a cosmological explanation of the universe- the basic law of Yin and Yang forces as the determinants of every manifestation of the surrounding natural phenomenon - to the actual healing methods of human sicknesses. The overall message of this classical text is the importance of maintaining a healthy state of being by respecting the balance of Heaven and Earth as energy encounters. The Yellow Emperor's text underlines the most important message of oriental medicine as being the preservation of mental and physical well-being, by following the right path of Heaven and Earth energy which flows into our bodies. Healing is a symptom and therefore not an end in itself. It is rather a mean to understand the actual formation of laws of nature. We do this by observing the symptoms of sickness and see how it came about and how it can be made to disappear through different methods of healing such as: acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicines, dissection and Do-in Ankkyo (stretching of blocked meridians to allow the flow of energy to return in one's self or in another's). Do-In and Ankkyo are the forefathers of today's shiatsu and are in line with the early tradition which emphasizes a prevention method. Yoseido shiatsu is very much a preventative method which deals with pre-sickness.

Yoseido shiatsu puts much importance on stretching the eight extraordinary vessels regularly through exercise and also on exercising the eight regulating points of these extraordinary vessels. Yoseido shiatsu deals with learning these eight vessels as well as learning the twelve principal meridians and all the basic knowledge of shiatsu such as: correct posture, breathing, attitude of the practitionner and above all the importance of oriental philosophy and the basis of all oriental medicine, the understanding of I-Ching (the book of changes). In advanced learning, the relationship between I-Ching and oriental medicine is thoroughly studied.