Anma is the Japanese manual therapy organized from Chinese anmo: kneading, pressing, stroking, and stretching applied through clothing, without oil, on a mat or chair. It is the root system shiatsu emerged from, and it survives as its own discipline with its own sequence logic.
How it is practiced
Work proceeds through set kata-like sequences — kneading and pressing along the channels of the meridian framework, with rhythmic, repetitive technique from the shoulders outward. The dry, clothed format shapes the vocabulary: compression and kneading dominate where oiled systems glide.
It is commonly sought for muscular tension and general wellbeing. Channel descriptions are the framework’s own account, typed as tradition in this record’s register.
- 01Shoulders & neck opening — The classic starting region; rhythmic kneading sets tempo.
- 02Channel sequences — Pressing and kneading along the framework’s lines, region by region.
- 03Stretch & close — Joint movement and stretch, then closing strokes.
Pressure
- Very light
- Light
- Light–moderate
- Moderateas recorded
- Moderate–deep
- Deep
MassageData does not measure force, and nothing here is a score.
History and origins
Safety and considerations
This record does not assert a complete technique-specific contraindication list. Defer massage for acute systemic infection or fever, suspected thrombosis, or acute medical emergencies, and seek appropriate clinical assessment.[S124]
Evidence limits. The stated precautions come from general massage guidance. They do not prescribe Anma-specific abdominal pressure or stretch ranges.
Training and professional context
Licensed as its own profession in Japan; taught in North America through dedicated programs and post-graduate study rather than entry-level curricula.
Whether this technique is within your scope depends on your profession, training, jurisdiction, and licensing board. Review the rules that apply where you practice.
Sources
Related techniques
- DESCRIPTION
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