Shiatsu Therapy
What Is Shiatsu?
The name Shiatsu comes from two Japanese words ’’shi’’ (finger) and ’’atsu’’ (pressure), but a practitioner may also apply pressure using palms, elbows, and knees. You wear loose clothing for shiatsu, which is usually performed on a mat on the floor. No oil is used in this treatment.
Shiatsu is a therapy were using the finger pressure weak areas in the body are balanced, to relax the tension and promote well-being while also integrating mind-body-spirit awareness.
The therapy takes its origins in Japan and is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Shiatsu combines the treatment of the meridians and pressure points also stretches, rotations, and pressure applied to the body to restore the healthy flow of energy called Chi in Chinese or Ki in Japanese.
It is a holistic therapy and addresses the whole body instead of focusing on one area where symptoms are most obvious.
Thought to be restoring the right vibration to your physical organs, so body self-healing then takes place easier.
The mindful touch, the presence and the space that is created between practitioner and client are very important elements to facilitate a powerful change and make you feel good.
There are almost 90.000 Shiatsu therapists in Japan and the life expectancy in Japan is the highest in the world. Maybe it is connected :)
I see shiatsu as one of the most effective therapies to facilitate and support health.
History and Principles of Shiatsu
Shiatsu was formally recognised in the early 20th century, but it has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Some sources claim that basic shiatsu has been existing in Japan from much earlier times.
The theory behind shiatsu is that the body has energy pathways, or meridians, along which the vital energy flows.
When you are healthy then energy flows freely along these pathways supplying all parts of the body with vital energy.
But when the body has been weakened by poor diet, caffeine, alcohol or emotional stress, energy no longer flows smoothly. It may be deficient in some areas and excessive in the others.
The shiatsu practitioner knows these energy pathways as well as the pressure points that are located along the meridians.
Pressure points are essentially areas of high activity and can be treated in a number of ways – finger pressure in shiatsu, needles in acupuncture or heat in moxibustion.
Restoring Energy Flow
By applying pressure to the active body points, shiatsu practitioner identifies blockages and imbalances to restore the smooth energy flow.
If the energy is deficient in some areas, then practitioner introduces energy to that area with the touch.
If some areas are painful, that means there is an excess or stagnation of energy that needs to be balanced. As with any treatment, you are in control of how much pressure you want, but the practitioner usually feels that and adjusts the pressure to your body needs.
Energy feeling and communication is the specialty of good shiatsu practitioner.
There are almost 90.000 Shiatsu therapists in Japan and the life expectancy in Japan is the highest in the world. Maybe it is connected :)
I see shiatsu as one of the most effective therapies to facilitate and support health.
History and Principles of Shiatsu
Shiatsu was formally recognised in the early 20th century, but it has roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Some sources claim that basic shiatsu has been existing in Japan from much earlier times.
The theory behind shiatsu is that the body has energy pathways, or meridians, along which the vital energy flows.
When you are healthy then energy flows freely along these pathways supplying all parts of the body with vital energy.
But when the body has been weakened by poor diet, caffeine, alcohol or emotional stress, energy no longer flows smoothly. It may be deficient in some areas and excessive in the others.
The shiatsu practitioner knows these energy pathways as well as the pressure points that are located along the meridians.
Pressure points are essentially areas of high activity and can be treated in a number of ways – finger pressure in shiatsu, needles in acupuncture or heat in moxibustion.
Restoring Energy Flow
By applying pressure to the active body points, shiatsu practitioner identifies blockages and imbalances to restore the smooth energy flow.
If the energy is deficient in some areas, then practitioner introduces energy to that area with the touch.
If some areas are painful, that means there is an excess or stagnation of energy that needs to be balanced. As with any treatment, you are in control of how much pressure you want, but the practitioner usually feels that and adjusts the pressure to your body needs.
Energy feeling and communication is the specialty of good shiatsu practitioner.
Each energy pathway is related to an organ (kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, stomach, etc.) as well as an emotion or mental state (fear, sadness, anger) making it a little more complicated for the western mind to understand. If there is tenderness in your liver meridian, it doesn't mean you have liver disease. It just means that your liver energy is unbalanced.
The traditional oriental model of health and wellness is very different from the western model and is oriented towards maintaining healthy balance in the body before something goes seriously wrong. It's also about preserving your Ki, which gets weaker as you age.
What To Expect from Shiatsu Treatment
Treatments can be continued to keep you in balance to guaranty your body-mind-spirit performance in life.
The traditional oriental model of health and wellness is very different from the western model and is oriented towards maintaining healthy balance in the body before something goes seriously wrong. It's also about preserving your Ki, which gets weaker as you age.
What To Expect from Shiatsu Treatment
Shiatsu is given on a comfortable treatment mat, on the floor, supporting your whole body and providing space for movement and stretch.
There is a 10 minutes consultation just before the 1st treatment to give me an understanding of you as a person and your health in general. We also discuss how to tailor each treatment, for sessions are unique and given according to your needs at the moment.
During the Shiatsu session, you may experience deep relaxation and it gets deeper once your body starts readjusting session after session, this can sometimes be felt like a meditative state when the mind becomes quiet and stress goes away. The blissful feeling may also appear after receiving shiatsu.
You don’t need to "do" anything during the treatment or help me in any way, just to relax and give up your body in my hands.
Together, we will determine the levels of pressure to be applied, depending on the energy distribution in the energy channels in your body and your comfort levels.
In many cases you will feel health improvement, relaxation and energy already after the first session, however, depending on the health issue, three to five treatments would be the most beneficial to the body.
Treatments can be continued to keep you in balance to guaranty your body-mind-spirit performance in life.
Shiatsu can also be done on a massage table if requested.
Shiatsu is recommended to receive through light clothing, so please wear or bring light clothing with you. Tracksuit bottoms or light cotton trousers are ideal.
Please avoid having a heavy meal or alcohol before treatment