What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a preventative, complementary therapy, and it is used to help maintain and boost health. You keep your clothes on when receiving Shiatsu.
Deeply relaxing
Most people find that Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience. They come for a session to de-stress and find balance in their daily lives. It is a holistic therapy that considers the individual as a complete person (not just the physical aspect).
All about chi
Related to traditional Japanese healing and the philosophy of Chinese Medicine, the underlying idea of it is that vital energy (known as Ki in Japanese, Chi in Chinese) flows and vibrates throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians. Ki is the active part of our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual selves. For many different reasons Ki can stop flowing freely and this then produces a symptom.
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Shiatsu promotes relaxation
I have found it to be helpful with
back pain
stress
headaches and migraines
whiplash injuries and neck stiffness
joint pain and reduced mobility
menstrual problems
digestive problems
asthmatic and other lung symptoms
sports injuries
depression
What to expect in a session
Each session lasts approximately one hour.
In a Shiatsu session I will listen to you telling me about yourself and how you are. Depending on your constitution and general energy levels, I would then use a variety of techniques which might include gentle holding; pressing with palms, thumbs, fingers, elbows, knees and feet on the acupressure points (tsubos); and when appropriate, more dynamic rotations and stretches.
The session takes place with you lying relaxed, and fully clothed throughout, on a padded mat or futon at floor level. I am also experienced in giving Shiatsu to people who are lying on a massage table, sitting on a chair, or in a wheelchair.
'The Eastern vision of the body, as we can see from the inner landscape, is a vision of symbols and metaphors.' Joyce Vlaarkamp
Here is a scientific article about how Shiatsu works.