By Amelia Glynn

Some yoga classes have introduced free weights to build better yogis. Is it wise to mix traditional yoga poses with dumbbells?

Bodywork was a key part of Japanese culture even before shiatsu became the national massage. Anma or traditional massage therapists date back to the Taiho Ritsuryo (Taiho Code) in the eighth century. Shiatsu was born during the Meiji Era when Japan was particularly enthusiastic about western ideas. Massage techniques were imported from France and integrated with the methods of anma. This hybrid is the shiatsu we know today.