What Is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu Heals Your Whole Self 

Feeling good is bigger than the moment and has its roots in our patterns, beliefs and history. Shiatsu addresses these with movement, stretching, self-reflection, acupressure and cellular retraining. More than technique, shiatsu reflects a mind/body philosophy based on the thousands year old healing methods of Asian, Native American and Indigenous People everywhere. Both practical and natural, you leave feeling relaxed, energized and graced.

Early healers corrected imbalanced thoughts, beliefs, choices, inheritance, DNA, emotions, relationships, nutrition, movement, spirit, everything, through observable mind/body energy channels, or meridians. They spent thousands of years studying, interacting, affecting and balancing meridians for holistic health. When modern science discovered exactly how and what our body communicates, it contemporized this metaphorical body/energy language with terms like cell receptors, neuroscience and molecules of emotion.

In traditional medicines, “energy” equals life or life-force. Our life-force expresses through our physical, mental and emotional health. We enjoy good health when our life-force remains unblocked and balanced. A practitioner observes symptoms such as a tight muscle or unproductive frustration and understands them as energy imbalances, treatable through herbs, bodywork, acupuncture/pressure, dialogue, etc. By correcting one issue, like back stiffness, we heal all associated physical, mental or emotional concerns such as closed-mindedness or quick temper.

A model of efficiency, Chinese Medicine simultaneously diagnoses and treats imbalances. For example, discussing your emotional troubles illuminates the concern, relieves it, changes it and your back feels better. Palpating for blocked energy concurrently unblocks the energy, heals the underlying cause and improves your state of mind. And, what took years to damage may ultimately take years to heal.

Shiatsu moves and frees your body, mind and emotions, the foundations of life.

The Basics

Shiatsu blends Asian and Western Medicine by moving more than traditional meridian therapy. The therapist uses fingers, hands, knees, feet, toes and their whole body to stretch, compress and use acupressure to balance out the meridians. Done on a large floor futon, both receiver and practitioner have ample space and support to move comfortably. The receiver remains clothed, aiding in self-reflection and relaxation.