The diagnosis used in a Shiatsu treatment is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & the five elements, fire, earth, metal, water & wood. The theory is that when in balance the 5 elements support & feed each other, they also help keep each other in check, the fire is not allowed to burn too brightly for instance. In practice most of us have an imbalance within the five elements. Often the water element is low, this shows through tiredness, lower back ache, fears & phobias along with a number of other symptoms. The idea is that the symptoms shown begin to build a picture which leads to a diagnosis. In Shiatsu, being a hands-on therapy, touch is then used as another form of diagnosis, often supporting what has begun to show through a verbal consultation.

Personally I have a long history of an imbalance with my earth energy, along with water & wood. The earth governs the idea of self, nurture, ideas & the mother. So having already a tendency to imbalance within this element it is of no surprise that when I became a mother it became more & more pronounced! TCM attaches two meridians, lines of energy in the body, to each element. The meridians are named after organs in the body. This doesn’t mean that all the issues relating to the meridian are specifically to do with the organs. the two meridians that relate to the earth energy are the spleen & stomach meridians. 

I have recently had a lack of energy & drive (water element) a sense of frustration & inflexibility (wood element) & a tendency to mother anyone who comes within 3 foot of me & to burst into heart felt tears over anything (earth element.) This culminated today in me leaving my eldest son at school & beginning to drive home (he has just begun school this year & doesn’t particularly like it.) I listen to the radio as I drive & someone’s great aunt is about to turn 100, I begin to cry. I walk by the river with my youngest son & another child is trying to feed the ducks but the seagulls keep getting the food,  I start to cry. A friend tells me her son is not working for his exams, I start to cry…..you get the idea. Leaving my son at school is tough & can feel upsetting (he is fine 5 minutes after I leave) but today the balance tipped over, this was an abnormal reaction & not necessary!  After I had picked my eldest up from school I took the children to a pet shop, as I had to pop into another boring shop nearby. I was very close to walking out with a bearded dragon, 2 long-eared rabbits, a handful of hamsters & a poor dog that kept barking in one of the vet consultation rooms! 

Enough, definitely the balance has tipped , I cannot look after (mother) these poor animals, we have no space & no time.  I cannot kept pretending I have a sniffly nose when I start tearing up in the street! I came straight home & booked a Shiatsu session with a lovely fellow practitioner. I am also about to curl up, with the heater & a fluffy jumper on, to read, now the kids are asleep (finally!) & my mothering duties are done. It is so important to listen & react to our bodies, emotions & our mental state. Shiatsu can really help ease things, like a bit of oil, to get the cogs working together, smoothly again. Also stopping, being & trusting our instincts. Nearly every time my clients know what is going on for them & what might support & help them.  If you are interest in knowing more about Shiatsu massage then please contact me, details in the ‘contact me’ page.