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Working With The Body
The Art of Shiatsu
What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is an oriental form of bodywork, which is based on Japanese massage therapy traditions. Shiatsu integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and Japanese practice with western physiology and anatomy.
Shiatsu was developed in Japan from the techniques of anma, a traditional Japanese massage, which in it’s origins was practiced by blind people. Shiatsu merges the western knowledge of anatomy with anma, ampuku (Japanese abdominal massage), acupressure, and Do-In (Japanese breathing and stretching practices).
Shiatsu massage, which deals with alleviating various physical and emotional ailments by working on pressure points, is the counterpart to the Chinese method of acupressure.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) System is based on the concept of ‘Chi’ or in Japanese ‘Ki’, which is energy that flows through the body along various channels, called meridians.
The word ‘Shiatsu’ comes from the Japanese words ‘shi’, which means finger and ‘atsu’, which means pressure. This pressure is created by the practitioners body weight through fingers, thumbs, elbows, forearms, feet and knees in contact with the recipient’s body.
A Shiatsu treatment takes place on a futon (Japanese mattress) on the floor. During a Shiatsu treatment, you are fully clothed and massaged without the use of oils. Please wear comfortable loose, light, and warm clothing (preferably no jeans or skirts) and clean socks for your Shiatsu treatment.
Before and during a Shiatsu session Autumn will assess and diagnose the ki flow through the body. Autumn’s Shiatsu sessions create a very meditative and reflective space.
Questions about specific ailments or diet and lifestyle choices may be addressed before and after the treatment.
We recommend booking a 90-minute session for your initial Shiatsu appointment. This allows us time to get to know you and still provide a full, effective treatment to help you get the most benefit from your session.
Benefits of Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a deeply relaxing experience that brings awareness to your whole body and your mind. Shiatsu reconnects you with your breath.
Clients who come with specific ailments like back or joint pain, may feel relief of symptoms for 2-4 days after only one Shiatsu session. But people with chronic conditions are recommended to come weekly or fortnightly for an agreed period of time, to give the body the chance to feel pain-free longer. Conditions that have developed over a period of months to years, will need time to show a stable improvement. This is best achieved through repeated treatments and good self-care.
Clients with acute conditions may find relief after just a few treatments. From the beginning of a Shiatsu session, immediate positive effects should be noticeable.
After a Shiatsu treatment physical flare-ups such as muscular soreness or tiredness are possible too and can last from a couple of hours to two days before improvements occur. Unexpected reactions such as headaches or heavy menstrual flow may be part of a so-called ‘healing crisis’ which can appear as tensions or imbalances work their way out of your body. If such symptoms last longer than 48 hours, please inform your Shiatsu practitioner.
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Conditions that respond well to Shiatsu include:
pain
arthritis
fibromyalgia
insomnia
anxiety & depression
fatigue
headaches and migraines
premenstrual and menopausal problems
pregnancy (pre-/postnatal) – during
conception/IVF treatment
digestion / irritable bowel syndrome