Shiatsu Massage
Treatments

WHAT IS SHIATSU MASSAGE?

 Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage with its roots in Chinese Medicine. It treats the person as a whole, working on physical and emotional levels; relieving tension, promoting deep relaxation while rebalancing your whole system. I work through the clothes, using acupressure massage techniques, stretches and joint mobilizations and offer recommendations to support you in daily life. Shiatsu treats chronic and acute conditions and regular treatments help to maintain good mental and physical wellbeing. A treatment is given on a massage table or futon on the ground. 

In shiatsu, symptoms are observed and treated within a framework of the 12 Meridians or energy channels. Our energy, or ki, naturally wants to flow, however the stresses of life can cause blockages along these pathways, which manifest as ailments, such as back ache, migraines, anxiety etc. The Meridians have emotional and physical associations and provide a framework for optimising our mental and physical wellbeing.

For example, the Stomach and Spleen Meridians are connected to nourishment and getting our needs met. When in balance we might feel grounded and centred, able to digest and feel nourished by life’s experiences. However, with our busy modern lifestyles, we often have little time to process and integrate these experiences, end up living  more in our heads than in an embodied way and this can manifest as stress, difficulty getting our needs met and digestive issues.
The Heart Meridian is connected to our emotional core and when in balance we might feel joyful and connected to others, when out of balance we might experience anxiety and have sleep difficulties. Sometimes, the underlying cause of anxiety is grief which is connected to the Lungs and associated with boundaries and the capacity to take in what we need and let go of what no longer serves us.
The Kidneys and Bladder Meridians are connected to our nervous system, when in balance we can go with the flow, when out of balance, we might feel stressed and experience back pain. 

Each shiatsu treatment begins with a hara diagnosis to determine which meridians to work to address your presenting symptoms. The genius of this diagnosis is that it highlights the root cause (kyo) or hidden need, which often underlies your symptoms (jitsu). Once this is brought into awareness and met, great changes and shifts can take place!

An understanding of the Polyvagal Nervous System informs my work. By deeply allowing your system to relax, shiatsu engages the ventral vagal part of the nervous system which counteracts our survival stress responses. From here, we can resource our systems, live from a place of safety, wellness, creativity and capacity!  

Shiatsu is beneficial for:

Online Adult Consultations | Online Kids & Teens Sessions

WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY:

Shiatsu views the person as a whole, working on physical as well as emotional and energetic levels. It uses the framework of the 12 Meridians, or energy channels, to diagnose and treat presenting symptoms. Our energy, Ki, naturally wants to flow, however the stresses of life can create blockages, manifesting as physical and emotional ailments. The Meridians are connected to organs and have physical and emotional associations.

For example, the Stomach and Spleen Meridians are connected to nourishment. When in balance we feel grounded and centred, able to digest and feel nourished by life’s experiences. However, with our busy modern lifestyles, we often have little time to process and integrate these experiences, end up living  more in our heads than in an embodied way and this can manifest as stress, difficulty getting our needs met and  digestive issues.
The Heart Meridian is connected to our emotional core and when in balance we might feel joyful and connected to others, when out of balance we might experience anxiety and have sleep difficulties. Sometimes, the underlying cause of anxiety is grief which is connected to the Lungs and associated with boundaries and the capacity to take in what we need and let go of what no longer serves us.
The Kidneys and Bladder Meridians are connected to our nervous system, when in balance we can go with the flow, when out of balance, we might feel stressed and experience back pain. 

The diagnostic area for the Meridians is in the region of the tummy or hara. It is believed that the presenting symptoms (known at the Jitsu) are often hidden/unmet needs, which are looking for nourishment (known as the Kyo) and each session will begin with a hara diagnosis to ascertain which Meridians need to be worked to bring about balance for the body and mind. When this need becomes conscious, we have more capacity to meet it and live our lives more fully.