Ever Heard of Yumeiho?

Ever heard of Yumeiho?

Through my ashiatsu research over the years, I have frequently seen yumeiho listed as a relative to ashiatsu.   So, I set out to learn a little more about this practice.

First,

“The main aim of the YUMEIHO® therapy is to correct the pelvic bones position and to set the vertebral column properly, and thus to mobilize the autotherapeutic forces of the organism and to reach the cause of pathological state.”   Source Link

There is a not a great deal of information available, but here are a few other things I learned:

I have seen that practice is most popular in Europe/Russia, although it originated in Japan.

I have not seen much for barefoot work in the videos, but the practitioner does use their whole body during the massage.  The recipient is clothed, on a floor mat, and put through a series of positions – much like a Thai massage session.

I see it listed sometimes as “yumeiho massage”, but I think something got lost in translation here. From videos I have seen and other information I have read, it involves a great deal of osseus (bone) manipulations, which I would think knocks it far out of the massage therapy scope of practice for any massage therapists in the US. It looks like a combination of a Thai massage and chiropractic adjustment on a floor mat.

Here is one video of a Yumeiho therapy:

So, while it appears the practice of yumeiho and ashiatsu are like that of third cousins twice removed, it is always nice to learn more about healing arts around the world.

Do you know of any Yumeiho practitioners in the US?

About Ivy

Thank you for reading this post! In addition to writing here at Ashiatsu.net, I write about more general massage topics at Massage & Bloggywork, as well as teach massage continuing education at Advanced Massage Techniques.

  

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Comments

  1. Dear Ivy,

    Thank you for the information and video.
    Yumeiho massage or Yumeiho therapy, as you mentioned, is to correct pelvic bone and vertebral column. This concept is accepted nowadays that aligning the pelvic bone (sacroiliac joints) and verbral column could prevent a range of diseases and cure a range of musculoskeletal conditions.
    It is sometimes like a magic to remove a pain of 2 years or more in a session of Yumeiho therapy.
    Yumeiho techniques are very comfortable and patient-friendly and as a rule, movements or massages that produce pain for patient are not allowed in Yumeiho. According to my experience, it is very helpful for lower back pains, migraine headaches, sciatic disease, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel disease and lumbar and cervical vertebral discopathies.

  2. Welcome to official website in European Union:
    http://www.yumeiho.eu
    It is more information about Yumeiho Therapy in english language.
    Best wishes

    • Thank you so much for sharing, Maciej. I will check that out. I know there are a lot of people interested in learning more about Yumeiho.

  3. I remember my step mother learning this modality while I was living in Germany. SHe used me as her practice body and let me tell you, it’s one of the best treatments you can get. It literally cracks every joint in your body, one feels 20 lbs lighter and taller as well, moving feels almost effortless afterwards. It can make you gassy though. I’ve been trying to find a school here in the US, but I don’t believe it would be legal to practice here being just an LMT. Now if one could word the treatment so there is no mention of “cracking” or “resetting” joints, or any type of “skelettal adjustments”, one should be safe. Have a disclaimer on the bottom stating something like “cracking” of joints may happen, but is not the “purpose” of this modality. Or something of that sort. I will definitely save some money and will stay in London or Germany for a few months…YAY!!

    • Hi Steven,

      I agree that it would not be legal to practice as a LMT here in the states, but I just find this modality so interesting. My father is a chiropractor and I asked him about it recently and he had not heard of it either (I was hoping to see if there were any Chiro CE classes I could sit in on and watch). It looks delightful. Jealous of your trip to Europe! Let me know if you ever find someone here in the US practicing.

      • Oprea cristiana says

        hi.I am Cristiana,i am from romania and i am visiting for 6 months ,and i am a yumeiho Therapist…and i would like to do this therapy more here in USA,do u have any ideas what do i need to do everything legally?Thank you very much.

        • Hi Cristiana!

          So happy you stopped by! I love hearing about this modality! As far as practicing legally, I am not really sure if it is regulated at all. It is scarcely practiced here. But, since (from what I have observed) involves manipulation of bone and muscle tissue – that it would fall under chiropractic/osteopathic/physical therapy license areas – depending on the state. Meaning you would need a license in one of those areas to practice (note – massage therapists cannot manipulate bone tissue). I would contact whomever trained you and see if they can put you in touch with a US contact. I will try to dig up some information too. Best wishes!

          PS – Let me know if you find out any information.

  4. Hello,
    My name is Billy Ristuccia. I am possibly the only current Yumeiho practitioner to have trained directly with the founder of Yumeiho in Japan living in the USA. I have a Japanese martial arts school and private practice here in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Kotsuban Yumeiho” is a form of body work based off of a very old art known as “Seitai Ho”. In the east, manipulation techniques are apart of old forms of massage and bodywork.

    Western Chiropractics was heavily and directly influenced by these eastern arts during its development in history. David Palmer (chiropractics) learned principles of old Japanese arts such as Anma, Seitai, and Shiatsu. However, he took some of the manipulation methods in a more western science direction when creating his own art form.

    I am all Japanese medicine and bodywork trained. As I have said already, to date I am the only one in the entire USA to have a license from the founder of Yumeiho. As you know with how the laws are structured here in the USA it prevents you as a massage therapist from performing certain kinds of manipulations. This is a sad state of affairs for the USA because the oldest forms of massage on the planet have these manipulation techniques together with other areas of massage techniques. It is actually where they originated from. Massage techniques and manipulation techniques are meant to go together hand in hand. Separating the two is actually no so good. Manipulations without first preparing the body’s tissues is not good. This is traditionally never done in the east nor is it done in Yumeiho. So in western based Chiropractics when they perform higher velocity adjustments… you get all the ugly tissue scaring and damage that is reported after years of this kind of “half technique” application.

    So obviously with the current state of the laws in the USA structured the way that they are… Yumeiho never became popular here. Sad for us in the USA because it is a very powerful art.

    If anyone would like to know more about the art of Kotsuban Yumeiho you can visit my website and contact me through my website at: http://www.yotsumedojo.com

    Take Care,
    Billy Ristuccia

    • Thank you so much for introducing yourself and contributing so much information here and for posting your site! I am glad that those who have questions will have a good resource to go to now since the information here in the US is almost non-existent.

      Best,
      Ivy

  5. I have to say that this video looks too scary for me. I’ve been thinking of giving yumeiho a try, but now I wonder if this neck cracking and other manipulations could possibly hurt my scoliotic spine (S curve) and misplaced shoulders & ribs.

    • It definitely is different and I am sure it is important to find a practitioner that is competent and qualified to perform. If you decide to try it, spend time finding someone that has good feedback and a solid reputation.

  6. Any yumheiho in brisbane/australia?

  7. Yumak Alonso says

    I am also a martial artist practitioner and i am very interested in learn YUMEIHO, there is any certify school here in USA who i could learn and also offer legal certification for future instructors or therapist ? I live in Miami Fl

    • I do not know of any at this time. I think since it does involve some osseous manipulation a license that includes osseus manipulation would be needed (e.g. chiropractic, osteopathic, physical therapy).

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