How This Works
I could ramble on for days about the theory and practice of shiatsu until your eyes glazed over (which would probably occur after two or three sentences.) If that's your thing, though, I have plenty of books and links I can refer you to....
In the meantime, I will attempt to simplify what I've found through hands-on practice in my five years of doing this... and what I believe to be the five key components of shiatsu which create the conditions under which your body can restore itself to better health.
Relaxation. There are two branches to our nervous system. One governs the fight or flight mode, and deals with the job of rallying resources so as to take one of those actions. Much of modern life keeps this state engaged and without a break, eventually becomes a drain on deeper resources. The other nervous system branch governs the relaxation response, which allows for restoration and regeneration.
Awareness. There's a saying in Chinese Medicine, "Yi Leads the Qi" ('yi' being the mind or intention, 'qi' being the life force). My applying of pressure to various parts of your body draws your awareness to those places, the very act of which can sometimes create a shift in your experience of pain, for example. Like opening the curtain in a dark, unused room, your attention can bring life into empty and stiff areas.
Creation of space. Your physical experience can affect your mental perspective (and vice versa). Think of your posture, and how differently you feel when slouching versus sitting up straight. Some of the techniques I use open up joints, unwind connective tissue and release contracted areas which not only allow for more physical mobility and range of motion, but can be internalized as an awareness of new possibilities in your life.
Making connections. Shiatsu is addressing channels of energy which ultimately flow into each other, connecting all the bodily organs and functions into a unified whole, this experience can show up in our perception of the world and your mental processes. You may make more clear connections between your actions, your feelings and your physical experiences...discern where you're blocked and find ways through or around those areas.
Therapeutic touch. Throughout our lives we're exposed to many kinds of touch.. some welcome and caring, others perhaps invasive and inappropriate, even threatening and hurtful. Shiatsu acknowledges that our internal organs are affected at the skin level, and how we receive touch deeply impacts our overall health. Our relationships to other people as well as the external world as a whole is intimately connected to our responsiveness to touch. The safe space of a therapeutic relationship (as quite possibly the fact that shiatsu is a clothed treatment) allows for you to receive compassionate touch that is a somatic reminder of the nourishing touch you received (or should have) as infants.
Any one of these can be a catalyst for healing on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels.
Taken together, and combined with a clear intention, can bring about profound changes in how you experience your life and your relationship to it.
Ready to try a session?
Call me: 610-304-5120, or check out my hours, rates and package options.
Want to read more?
Here's my philosophy.
And here's a couple other posts to give a sense of the unique-ness of shiatsu:
Under Pressure: Turtle Syndrome