Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: 5 elements

  • How does Shiatsu massage differ? Exeter, Devon 

    How does Shiatsu massage differ? Exeter, Devon 

    I get asked, quite often, how Shiatsu massage differs from other forms of massage. It’s both hard & easy to answer this question! It is difficult to really know what people’s experience of massage is, as there are so many different types & different practitioners, so it’s hard to compare. It is easier to explain what Shiatsu is…..

     Shiatsu is a hands-on therapy that originates from Japan. It uses Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & touch as it’s forms of diagnosis. It works to balance the energy in the body, using the same pressure points & meridians (lines of energy) that Acupuncture & Acupressure use. It uses a lot of massage techniques, palming, thumbing, rotations & stretches. The whole body is worked. It can help with physical, mental or emotional issues or concerns. 

    The big differences to massage (ones I’ve had anyway) are:

    • Shiatsu is given on a futon mat on the floor
    • It is always given through clothes
    • It is never the same, it is tailored to that client, on that day
    • It can be quite physical, when appropriate, with stretches & rotations of joints

    If you would like to know more about Shiatsu you may want to visit the Shiatsu Society website.

    I have a Facebook page for details of events & offers.

    You can have a look at the other pages on this site, where there is information & photos.

    You are welcome to get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page with any questions or queries – I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu. 

  • Summer Shiatsu Stretches, Exeter, Devon

    There are different stretches that relate to different meridians (lines of energy in the body.) Each meridian related to a season of the year. The below stretches relate to the Summertime. As always with stretches warm up before & down after. Be gentle when doing them & don’t push. The idea is to take a few breathes in the pose. See how the body feels whilst holding it, tight or very comfortable, these senses may show an imbalance in the body. 

  • Shiatsu & the Summertime, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu & the Summertime, Exeter, Devon

    Yes Summer is here! What a beautiful day it’s been, hot, sunny & so easy to make the most of.

    Summer is the time of year when it’s right to get out there, make the most of the long days, socialise, travel & do lots of things. In our society we seem to push to try & do lots all year round. In the Autumn we should try to sit back & enjoy what we have achieved in the year. In the Winter we should try to rest, find stillness & regenerate some of the energy we have expended over the Summer. In the Spring we should plan & hatch ideas of what we want to do in the Summer. If we have rested enough in the other seasons we should have enough to get out there & really make the most of our lives.

    Because we try to push all year when we try to make the most of Summer sometimes we lack the resources to do so. We may start to get back pains or colds, we may burn-out, we may become hot-headed & feel our emotions are a little erractic. These are all signs of an imbalance in the body.

    Shiatsu massage is gentle but powerful. It uses lots of massage techniques to balance the energy in the body. Shiatsu is always given through clothes & generally on a futon mat on the floor. It can help calm the body, mind & emotions or can build up some of the energy that’s been exerted. It can make the client feel relaxed & more settled.

    I have practiced Shiatsu for 10 years & I work in Exwick, Exeter. Do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page if you have questions.

  • Shiatsu event, Budleigh, Devon

    Shiatsu event, Budleigh, Devon

    I’m going to be at the East Devon Mind, Body, Spirit event at Budleigh Salterton town hall on June 11th. I’m going to be offering Shiatsu massage tasters for just £5 & £10. There’ll be loads of other stalls so lots to enjoy. It’s on from 10.30am till 4.30pm.

    More information on this event can be found here
     

  • Shiatsu for Anxiety & Depression, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for Anxiety & Depression, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a gentle & supportive treatment therefore it can be really helpful in supporting clients who have stresses in their lives. At the very least a Shiatsu treatment is some ‘time out’ – a space away from life, there are no expectations or demands on the client.

    The session begins with a short diagnosis, which is a chance for the client to express their issues & concerns. Sometimes this diagnosis is almost as helpful as the treatment. Sometimes the client does not feel that they want to express verbally how they are feeling, they may only say very little.

    Shiatsu massage is very relaxing & can take the client to a place of deep quiet, some clients have said they experience a stillness or quietness, just some space to breathe & just be.

    Shiatsu allows people to feel their stress, anxiety or depression in their physical body. The massage can bring attention to feelings or emotions that the client was not aware they were holding. Sometimes verbal expression doesn’t have enough of an impact for a client, not helping them to find a way forward. Sometimes a physical therapy, like Shiatsu can help to unlock something for the client & they can begin to move forward. Sometimes a talking therapy needs to be used alongside.

    Shiatsu can also relieve tension & distress in the body, some clients have expressed sensations of ‘crawling skin’ being ‘constantly unsettled.’ Shiatsu can bring the body to a place of peace & with this can come a quietness of thought. Clients have also expressed that they have felt ‘right’ after a treatment, they have a flow that they felt they had lost. They have more energy to make changes. This again can help them begin to make steps forward.

    I work in Exwick, Exeter on Wednesdays & Saturdays.   I am always happy to discuss Shiatsu so please get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

     

  • How is Shiatsu different, Exeter, Devon

    How is Shiatsu different, Exeter, Devon

    I get asked quite often how Shiatsu differs to other forms of massage. Although I haven’t studied other types of massage I think there are a few points that make Shiatsu different. 

    1. Shiatsu is given on a futon mat on the floor

    2. The client is fully clothed, the massage is always given through clothes

    3. Shiatsu uses diagnosis techniques rooted in Eastern medicine

    4. Shiatsu also uses touch as a form of diagnosis 

    5. Each massage is different & is tailored specifically to support the client

    I am always happy to talk Shiatsu so if you have any questions do get in touch with me through the ‘contact me’ page. You can also have a look at the other pages on this site for more info on Shiatsu or me. 

  • Shiatsu & Sorting – a good Saturday, Exeter, Devon

    I did my usual Saturday morning of Shiatsu today, down here in Exeter, Devon. I love giving relaxing Shiatsu massage to people at the end of a busy week. Clients are generally cheery & already quite relaxed when they arrive, which starts the treatments off well.  I finish my morning’s work feeling energized & positive.

    I got home to find my eldest son wasn’t feeling great, it might have had something to do with the busy school trip yesterday. My husband headed out to exercise our youngest child, much like a puppy, young boys need a certain level of exercise & fresh air to feel relaxed in their bodies. Also, to be honest, our house gets wrecked pretty quickly if they have too much energy so we need them to get out & about. I was then stuck in the house energized & ready to do something positive, whilst our eldest took some well needed time out.

    Having young kids means various areas of our house have become dumping grounds, which we just haven’t had the time to clear or organise. The kids are a little older now however I am now working more so still not much time to get stuck in to anything but the daily household tasks.  Before I had a chance to think about how long a job it would be I began clearing the under the stairs cupboard. 

    Although it did take quite a bit longer than I had anticipated, & there were points where I wish I hadn’t started, it was such an incredible sensation of achievement, relief & clarity when I had finally finished. It reminded me that within the 5 Element system, one form of diagnosis used within Shiatsu, organising & sorting, cleaning & clearing can be really helpful & beneficial.  

    If you are struggling to have clear thoughts, they are muddied or keep being swayed by others then you may have a deficiency within the Metal element, of the 5 Element system. The metal element is about boundaries, being able to hold them or being too quick to let them go. It is about organisation or disorganization & it is it about clarity & pinpointed focus or unclear & inconsistent thought. So a little clearing & organising may help, maybe not a massive undertaking like sorting a pit of a cupboard, but just sorting a drawer or a kitchen cupboard, filing a little paperwork or even just writing a to do list. 

    Another good thing to do for a metal deficiency can be cardio exercise, getting air into the lungs, so a brisk walk or even a run up & down the stairs. It depends what exercise you are used to taking,  it’s good to start off with a small amount just to expand the lungs a little. You could even do the hovering, a bit of cardio with a little organising & clearing! The aim isn’t too push yourself, it’s not to get fit or loose weight, it’s about waking up & feeding the Metal energy in the body.

    Following my Shiatsu & Sorting today I did find I had clarity of thought, good focus & drive. I have managed to get a fair few more jobs done, written a list planning next week & generally got myself a little ahead of the game. Good old Metal energy. 

    If you would like to know more about 5 Element Diagnosis or Shiatsu, if you feel you may have a Metal deficiency or you’re wondering if Shiatsu may be able to help you then do drop me a message.  You can do this through the ‘contact me’ page. I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu.

  • Shiatsu for recovery, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for recovery, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a gentle but powerful form of massage therapy. It is gentle & supportive, nurturing & kind. This makes it perfect to help recovery. I have had clients who have come for Shiatsu as they have had an operation, I have clients who have come because they have had  an accident. 

    ● It is ideal if Shiatsu is given soon after the event, there is less of a chance of the condition becoming chronic & causing issues for a long time

    ● Shiatsu works to balance the energy in the body, this brings relief from symptoms & can help not only the body but can allow the client to feel & work through the emotions attached to the operation or accident

    ● It doesn’t have to be given directly on the area that has the injury. Another area of the body can be massaged & still be affecting the injury

    ● Shiatsu massage is a strong & supportive connection. This gives the body, mind & soul space to feel & react, to change & remedy

    ● It can be a physical massage where appropriate & can relieve tension, knots & tightness giving a sense of release & relief

    Shiatsu can also work well on chronic pain & conditions. It gets the flow of energy going in the body, re-awakening, releasing long held tensions.

    If you would like to know more do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

  • A Good Stretch – Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

     

    One of the main comments I get from clients, after a Shiatsu massage, is that they feel that they have had a good stretch. They feel that they have been pulled & stretched back to their correct length. They hadn’t realised how tight & bound up they.  They have really enjoyed the sensation of someone stretching their body for them.

    Shiatsu is an enjoyable & satisfying form of hands-on therapy. It is quietly powerful, relieving symptoms & creating energy. It is also a physical work out for the body, when appropriate. It gets into the knots of tension & also stretches them out.  The body can be moved a lot in the massage treatment, hip & shoulder rotations, neck stretches, whole body side stretches.

    Shiatsu can be great for held tension in the body, particularly shoulder & neck tension. It also works well for releasing tension in the rib cage & solar plexus area. It can make the body feel like one whole body again, getting the energy flowing around.

    If you are interested in whether Shiatsu massage may help you then do get in touch. You can message me through the contact me page or you are welcome to call me on 07791 070837.

    I work in Exwick, Exeter, Devon. I have a quiet practice room with easy parking. It is also very near to a bus stop & a 15 minute walk from Exeter St. David’s train station. At present I work on Wednesdays & Saturdays, other times in the week can sometimes be arranged.

  • Shiatsu on a Saturday, Exeter, Devon

    I have just sat down after a busy day of Shiatsu & family. I love giving Shiatsu on a Saturday, mostly the people I work on have had a really tough week & are very pleased to have had a Shiatsu massage to look forward to. 

    Shiatsu massage is a powerful form of hands-on therapy, it is deep & can be strong. It is however also invigorating & reviving & can give the client an energy boost. After a long week at work it can be perfect for de-stressing & relieving tension without leaving the client feeling drained & tired. 

    Having given Shiatsu massage this morning I then did some Shiatsu paperwork (which I do tend to leave for as long as possible!) My Shiatsu treatments this morning seemed to have given me an energy boost. I cleared some admin that has been hanging around for ages then could go out guilt free to enjoy an afternoon.

    If you are interested in booking a Saturday Shiatsu or have any questions then do get in touch, details on the contact me page.