Shiatsu is a non-invasive and profoundly effective form of manual medicine that is helpful for a wide range of common complaints, injuries and illnesses.
WHAT SHIATSU OFFERS
Shiatsu addresses a wide variety of complaints. Some of the benefits are:
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Pain relief from backache, headache, muscle tension or injury
- Increased mobility and flexibility
- Improved digestion
- Better sleep
- Clearer mind
Shiatsu is based on the same venerable medical system as acupuncture. But Shiatsu uses hands instead of needles. “Shi” means finger, and “atsu” means pressure. Shiatsu is finger pressure along the energy pathways in the body.
After a Shiatsu treatment, many clients report feeling grounded, centered and aware of “being in the body.” They find more strength and stability. Still others comment on the personal and spiritual development that often comes as a side benefit.
WHEN TO SEEK TREATMENT
Shiatsu has proven effective for treating a variety of mild to severe complaints in categories such as:
- Stress – tension, sleep problems, anxiety
- Pain reduction – headache, muscle tension, joint pain, chronic pain
- Stiffness – back, neck, shoulders, hips
- Injury recovery – sports, accidents, repetitive motion
- Digestion – upper and lower digestive complaints
- Repiratory – sinuses, allergies, frequent colds
- Reproductive health – prostate, fertility, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause
- Immune system– low energy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatique
My wish for you is that you be happy and healthy! Skilled touch is able to alleviate not only a person’s pain, but also the mental and emotional suffering that magnifies it.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A TREATMENT
- A session lasts approximately 45-55 minutes, determined by the condition of your health at the time of treatment
- The amount of pressure can vary from gentle to firm, according to your level of health and comfort level or preferences
- Your whole body is addressed, even if your only reason for treatment is a stiff neck (the meridians that treat a stiff neck run from head to foot)
- After the treatment, you typically feel very calm and relaxed and clear-headed
- Your complaints will often be either gone, or at least noticeably reduced
- The results tend to last longer than a regular massage for most people. There is also a cumulative effect after several treatments that lasts even longer – for some clients, as long as months; a few have even said years.
When you come for your first treatment, you fill out a brief health history form and I will ask for any additional pertinent information. If you are coming for a chronic condition, I may inquire about your short-term and long-term goals for treatment. Then you lie on the table. No oils or lotions are used. You wear loose, comfortable clothing during treatment. I have bolsters, blankets, and a table warmer ready for your comfort. I address your concerns by applying my palms, fingers and thumbs to your entire meridian system (the pathways you see connecting points on acupuncture charts).
More about the differences between Shiatsu and Swedish massage
WHAT I PROVIDE AS A SHIATSU SPECIALIST
Since 1975, I have trained extensively with Shiatsu masters, European osteopaths, Asian acupuncturists, American chiropractors and shamanic healers from five cultures. These influences, combined with my decades of treatment experience, form my personal technique. And . . . after all these years . . . I still love my work!
- I have 40 years of experience treating everything from stress and fatigue to backache and headache, from digestion and PMS to accidents and injuries, from depression and insomnia to allergies and sinuses
- I listen intently to what you say AND to what your body tells me
- I give specific attention to your areas of complaint
- I pay attention to any additional areas of disharmony
- I track your progress and help you connect the dots when you can’t make sense of what is going on in your body
- I will always tell you when I think a different or additional type of treatment will help you, and I will recommend someone whose skills and integrity I trust
ABOUT SHIATSU
A BIT OF HISTORY
Shiatsu, a traditional healing art from Japan, has its roots in the ancient wisdom and principles of Chinese medicine. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine is the oldest written medical text still in existence. It dates back to the 1st century B.C.E. This text documents the sphere of bodywork in Asian medicine and states “…finger pressure is used to promote digestive function and restore vigor.”
Shiatsu is based on the same system as acupuncture, but with shiatsu, no needles are used. Chinese medicine dates from the 1st century B.C.E. with the oldest written medical text still in existence – The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. This text documents the sphere of bodywork in Asian medicine and states that “finger pressure is used to promote digestive function and restore vigor.” Asian medicine was brought to Japan by a Buddhist priest, Gan Jin Osho, in 552 C.E.
In Japan, it is believed to this day that no instrument will ever surpass the precision and sensitivity of the human hand for assessing energy and being able to determine the condition of a person’s health. For this reason, examination and diagnosis by palpation has been developed to an extraordinary degree in Japan.
The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare defines shiatsu therapy as “a form of manipulation administered by the thumbs, fingers and palms, without the use of any instrument, mechanical or otherwise, to apply pressure to the human skin, correct internal malfunctioning, promote and maintain health, and treat specific diseases.” The ministry lists over 200 health concerns for which shiatsu is considered a primary treatment.
In the United States, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has come to concur. The research on acupuncture and massage in our own country shows agreement with findings of the Japanese ministry.