Shiatsu therapy
Discover your wellness through the ancestral meridian system and the healing power of touch with Alex
What is shiatsu?
Zen Shiatsu is a unique form of therapy that offers a profound energy-balancing experience, rooted in thousands of years of Eastern philosophy and healing methods.
Shiatsu directly targets the body's meridian pathways, through which flows Ki energy, our life force. This energy manifests in various forms, including movement, communication, respiration, digestion, thoughts, feelings, and spiritual practices.
Any blockages or stagnation of energy within these meridians can lead to physical, psychological, and emotional imbalances.
Zen Shiatsu facilitates energy balance on all levels while delivering a deeply relaxing and clinically therapeutic musculoskeletal treatment.
While acupuncture may provide immediate relief initially, Shiatsu delves deeper to address the root cause of issues.
When certain organs lack energy, various symptoms—both physical and psychological—emerge, affecting our overall health. These symptoms can range from headaches and insomnia to severe anxiety or depression. Weak organs and energy deficiencies compel other parts of the body to overcompensate, disrupting our internal balance. Shiatsu's objective is to revitalise these deficiencies, nurture them, and gradually alleviate the symptoms that have arisen.
Shiatsu session
Zen Shiatsu is suitable for individuals of all ages and body types. It is administered with the recipient fully clothed, lying on a futon placed on the floor, and each session typically lasts for one and a half hours. Zen Shiatsu has shown remarkable effectiveness in addressing conditions with an underlying element of emotional disturbance or stress.
While this encompasses a wide range of ailments, the following conditions are commonly associated with stress:
- Insomnia and sleep disturbances
- Anxiety and depression
- Muscle tension
- Headaches
- Digestive issues
- Menstrual dysfunction
- Low immunity
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Joint and hip problems resulting from repetitive strain
In the traditional practice of Shiatsu, sessions are conducted on a futon atop tatami mats, with the recipient attired in comfortable clothing. A thin cloth is used by the practitioner to cover the recipient's body, ensuring a non-direct "skin-to-skin" contact.
It's worth noting that when we make direct skin contact with someone, we stimulate their sympathetic nervous system, while using a cloth or thin sheet to work on the body engages the deeper parasympathetic nervous system.
HOW DOES SHIATSU WORK ?
In Japanese, Shiatsu literally means "finger pressure" (SHI = fingers/extremities; ATSU = to press)
Zen Shiatsu stands apart from massage therapy by operating at a much deeper level.
In Shiatsu, we focus on the body's energy rather than solely its physical structure. It goes beyond concerns of circulation, blood flow, or muscles; it reaches the profound depths of the parasympathetic nervous system—the body's natural healing and resting mode, in contrast to the Sympathetic nervous system's fight or flight response.
Through Zen Shiatsu, we facilitate healing for both the body and the mind.
This natural therapy empowers patients to comprehend and take charge of their health. We offer insights into the root causes of their issues and provide guidance on rectifying them.
Shiatsu centres on the meridian system, the organs, and their energy pathways, delivering the same benefits as acupuncture or moxibustion but with a gentler touch and technique.
A Zen Shiatsu session can be as deep or gentle as the recipient requires. Practitioners carefully gauge the patient's energy level to apply the appropriate amount of pressure. Using both hands, one hand listens and assesses the recipient's responses, while the other reaches the suitable depth, establishing an energetic connection that signals when the pressure is optimal. This energetic circuit fosters change and movement within the patient's body.
At times, the patient is gently guided through stretches, particularly toward the conclusion of a session, offering benefits akin to certain yoga poses.
In contrast, massage therapy primarily targets muscles and connective tissue, utilizing gliding and kneading strokes. It is employed for general relaxation or musculoskeletal therapeutic purposes, working primarily on the sympathetic nervous system. Massage therapy possesses its own unique merits and utility...