About Shiatsu
Shiatsu (pronounced 'She-at-Su') massage/bodywork is a Japanese healing art, through touch. The word Shiatsu literally means finger pressure. Its theory and techniques have roots in several disciplines of oriental medicine, including acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 5 Elements theory, nutrition and other traditional Japanese holistic therapies. However traditional Shiatsu, which works along the acupuncture meridians, can incorporate the use of the pressure applied by palms, thumbs, fingers, elbows, knees or feet to stimulate or sedate the body’s vital energy (Ki ). By treating the whole body, along with gentle stretching and light manipulation where needed. The Shiatsu treatment aims to bring energy to depleted areas and to release congested ones, thus stimulating the body’s vital energy, via the acupoints of the meridians, to re-balance and return to a state of equilibrium and health. By doing this the body’s ability to heal itself is activated. By re-aligning the body's muscular skeletal system it can further allow it to function properly and reduce a lot of discomfort that can occur from being out of alignment. This can occur for many reasons, not limited to; injury, trauma, posture, sports, lack of regular movement, child birth etc.
When the Ki circulating within us through the meridians becomes depleted or blocked, we experience it as pain or as an ailment at a physical or emotional level. The sensitive quality of the Shiatsu touch, combined with the skillful application of pressure on the whole body, allows the receiver to release pain and tension, while addressing and integrating the underlying origin of the discomfort.
The aim of Shiatsu is to restore the recipient's overall health and wellbeing by activating the body’s natural self-healing system, as well as re-balancing the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. As an example, this can have tremendous effects on restoring calm after being in a state of fight or flight, thus helping in calming anxiety and depression. The links between the body and the mind are inseparable and they both affect each other, both negatively and positively. By only treating one in isolation the root cause of the issue will likely remain, or take longer to heal from. So by addressing the mind via psychology and the body via Shiatsu, I aim to restore balance in a much more holistic way that has proved to have profound and lasting results with my clients.
This form of therapy helps in many ways with many conditions and issues. It can help ease stress, aid relaxation, energise, as well as rejuvenate the body and mind by restoring balance and harmony. Regular shiatsu sessions can help us in dealing with today’s fast paced modern society and help relieve unwanted physical, emotional or psychological symptoms. It is believed in Japan that Shiatsu may help prevent illness and disease which commonly occur due to our current lifestyles. As such Shiatsu is, and can be acknowledged, as much more than just a feel-good and relaxation practice.