Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: alternative health

  • Springtime & Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

    Spring is such a special time of the year, lots of changes are happening, lots of ideas are planted & start to sprout.

    The Spring energy is upwards energy, rising & pushing up. It is an energy that can make anything feel possible. When in balance the Spring energy gives us drive & focus.

    This year it feels that the Spring energy is very strong. I have noticed that it isn’t such a rising energy as other years. It has aspects if tightness & inflexibility to it. When the Spring energy is out of balance it can be hard to be emotionally flexible, we can feel stuck in a rut.

    I think there is more of the stuck in a rut energy around this year. To me it feels quite a constrictive energy, not as expansive as most years.

    So what’s all this mean? Well you may be feeling more tired than normal, for no obvious reason. You may be feeling a lot of tension in your body. You may feel lowin energy, in general.

    There are a few things that are great for supporting yourself at this time of year:

    • Stretching, yoga or sport stretches
    • Eat light – stay away from fried & fatty foods
    • Drink plenty – water with lemon is perfect, particularly first thing in the morning
    • Early nights where possible
    • Gentle Qi Gong exercising – if you know this form of movement exercise

    I’m always happy to discuss lifestyle recommendations & it can be part of a Shiatsu treatment when appropriate. Shiatsu itself can help balance the energy in the body & this can ease tension & stress.

    Xx

  • The Shiatsu Shed, Exeter, Devon

    I blogged recently about the special treatment space I have in Exeter. We have put up a wooden cabin in the garden & it is the perfect haven away from daily life. It is a sanctuary of calm where it is easy to relax, rest & just be.

    Today the sun is shining & the apple blossom is starting to come out so I took some new photos of the Shiatsu Shed.

    It’s a very special place to practice Shiatsu, it is solid wood & we have used natural materials as much as possible. It is a little piece of quiet yet close to Exeter city centre & the main train station.

    Xx

  • Shiatsu for Sleep issues, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for Sleep issues, Exeter, Devon

    If you suffer from fatigue, insomnia, or any sleep or energy related issues you may want to try Shiatsu. This gentle but powerful hands-on therapy looks to balance the energy in the body, to re-balance the body. When the body is in balance sleep can come more easily, energy levels can be higher & the body clock is more settled.

    There are a number of things that are worth trying if you suffer with sleep or energy levels. There are the more obvious things; cutting out caffeine, cutting down on sugar & alcohol, eating earlier in the evening, staying away from screens near to bed time.

    Shiatsu is based in Traditional Chinese Medicine. (TCM) This provides further suggestions that may be of help; meditation, eating fish & sea vegetables, sitting & stillness, some cardio exercise. It is possible to give individual lifestyle & exercise recommendations as part of a session of Shiatsu.

    Shiatsu may be able to help. A session is an hour with at least 45 minutes of hands-on work. At the very least Shiatsu provides a space away from daily life, it is a chance to relax, or at least feel how that may feel! It is deeply relaxing & allows the body & mind to rest but it is also energizing & can leave the client with higher energy levels.

    Shiatsu is also a very supportive & confidential space where it is completely OK to feel how you feel & be how you want to be. This can provide a sense of relief & release alongside a sense of being held & supported.

    Clients have mentioned that they have felt a buzz after a treatment that has lasted for sometime. They have had deeper sleep than normal, they have change the times that they wake, they have woken less regularly. They have felt less fatigue & mental strain. They have felt mentally able to manage their situation more, make changes or achieve what they would like to with ease.

    I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu so do get in touch with any questions or queries, if you would like to know more or would like to discuss if Shiatsu may be able to help you.

    I work in Exwick, Exeter. I offer appointments most days, some evening appointments.

    xx

  • Modern Day Priorities, Shiatsu in Devon

    Modern Day Priorities, Shiatsu in Devon

    Down here in Exeter, Devon we have had a strong reminder of modern day priorities.  A new IKEA has opened in the town & boy do we know about it.  The build up has been immense, & the hype has been unbelievable. IKEA were able to show films inside, the general very sacred, Exeter Cathedral, they have put furniture on the high street & rowed a viking long boat down the river Exe.  You can’t say their publicity hasn’t been top notch. Local press have been advising people to plan their journeys as the traffic to IKEA is going to cause delays!

    Over the past few days I have found myself repeating ‘it is only a shop’ a lot. It has been a strong reminder of the values we seem to have in this society, we value the ability to purchase products, particularly at a reasonable price with some style it seems.

    This blog isn’t a rant it is an expression of the sadness I feel with the loss of contact with nature & the world around us. Also the lack of value of our inner world, the peace & calm we can find within. Generally our society doesn’t value self-care & support much either.  We are always on the move, with something to get done or somewhere to be, no time to rest, just be, meditate or take care of ourselves.

    The people that I meet who are most at peace with themselves aren’t thinking about when they can next go shopping.  These people are giving space & time to themselves. I treat a couple of therapists who use Shiatsu as a support tool for their own healing & development.

    Shiatsu allows me to reconnect to what is important to me & to be quiet & still for a time.  In a Shiatsu session I create a space that is quiet & still & allows the client to just be, to rest & to heal. The space can create time away from modern day expectations & demands, stresses & strains. A chance to get back to what our personal priorities are.

    xx

  • Shiatsu offer this Friday, Exeter, Devon

    Due to cancellations I’m offering 15% off Shiatsu sessions this Friday.

    So can you make it to Exwick, Exeter & could you do with some quality support & relaxation?

    Get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page to book.

    Xx

  • The Shiatsu Shed, Exeter – Devon

    I practice Shiatsu in Exwick, Exeter, Devon. I work in a lovely space at home, in the Shiatsu Shed.

    I love the space that we have created in our garden. It’s a sanctuary from busy life, the real wood creates a warmth & coziness. It is the perfect space to rest & relax, to breathe & just be.

    So come & find some healing & peace, close to Exeter city centre & easy to getto. A little piece of tranquility for an hour.

    Xx

  • Shiatsu for Stress and Anxiety – Exwick, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for Stress and Anxiety – Exwick, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a very supportive & nurturing form of hands-on therapy so can really help support a client suffering from Stress, Anxiety, Depression or other mental strain.

    As Shiatsu is a hands-on therapy it approaches the situation from a different angle to ‘talking therapies.’ Our bodies hold our stresses & strains, whether physical, mental or emotional. Rather than talking through their concerns a client can relax & feel how they feel. Physically working the body can lead to emotional release & relief, that maybe harder to come by through talking or discussion.

    Shiatsu provides a safe & open environment that allows a client to relax & just be. There are no expectations or demands. The space is held for the client to explore how they feel, to the extent that they feel happy to.

    I offer Shiatsu in Exwick, Exeter, where I have a wooden cabin in the garden.

    Do have a look at my Facebook page. You may want to like the page to keep up to date with offers & events.

    Enjoy the bank holiday weekend, whatever your plans. Do get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page if you would like to discuss if Shiatsu maybe for you.

    xx

  • Shiatsu for the Family – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for the Family – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a gentle but powerful form of hands-on therapy that is suitable for all.  In the past I have treated whole families, home visits can be arranged if needs be.  Shiatsu leaves clients feeling relaxed but also energised & it is lovely when a whole family can be in this space at the same time.

    Children generally really enjoy a treatment, they love that it is hands-on.  Shiatsu is always given through clothes & is a very safe & secure touch. Children often respond well to a treatment with tension & stress easing quickly. Shiatsu is also good for mental strains such as stress & anxiety.  It can provide deep relaxation which can quieten the mind & calm the body.  Shiatsu can also help aid sleep & energy levels.

    There are a lot of stresses & strains in our daily lives & even the most focused family struggles to have enough quality time together.  Shiatsu can allow the pace of life to slow down for a while, for the physical & mental concerns & conditions to release & for the family to really feel relaxed at the same time.

    I have a lovely relaxing wooden cabin that I work in, in Exwick, Exeter. It is the perfect space to unwind. Otherwise home visits can be arranged, if the whole family would like a treatment at the same time. The price for the home visit can be arranged by discussion.

    If you would like to know more about Shiatsu then do head to the pages on my site, including the photos as these are a good way of understanding what is involved. I am always happy to discuss Shiatsu so do get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page.

    xx

  • Shiatsu for Energy – Exwick, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for Energy – Exwick, Exeter, Devon

    We live busy lives & are often tired, if not exhausted, by our daily routines. Our bodies & minds need rest & relaxation to be able to function well. We don’t seem to value rest & quietness enough in this society, we become more & more depleted & ground-down.

    When we are tired or drained it is hard to think up ideas & plans, it is easier to do what we are already doing, to keep drudging along. Then before you know it you are even more tired, no time to catch up & even less energy to look at changes.

    Shiatsu is a subtle but powerful form of hands-on therapy that is great for building up energy levels. It uses massage techniques to work the pressure points & meridians (lines of energy) that Acupuncture uses. It is always given through clothes & is generally given on a futon mat on the floor. I do have a massage couch & chair if this is more comfortable.

    Shiatsu looks to balance the body, finding the quiet areas & treating them with a nurturing & holding touch. It can help loosen tension & stress in the body, finding the loud or full areas then using stretches & rotations to ease & release them. Shiatsu is specific to the particular person being treated, on that day at that time. It is different every time.

    Clients say they like ‘to be stretched by someone else’ they ‘loved the neck & shoulder work, it felt really good’ they ‘felt their body was listened to’ & they felt ‘3 inches taller’

    As well as being a satisfying treatment it is also good for aiding healthy sleep, providing long-term preventative care, it’s deeply relaxing & can help with anxiety & stress. It can also leave a client feeling more energised & balanced. It can provide a clear mind, the energy to make plans & changes.

    Clients have said they felt ‘buzzing for a few days after’ they felt ‘not stuck in a rut’ & they felt ‘inspired & energized.’

    If you would like to discuss if Shiatsu may be able to help you then do get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page. I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu. I work in Exwick, in Exeter.

  • Shiatsu Massage this Saturday & Sunday – North Devon

    Shiatsu Massage this Saturday & Sunday – North Devon

    It’s nearly time for me to be heading up to the north of this beautiful county, to be an exhibitor at the North Devon Mind, Body, Soul Festival.  It was such a joy to give lots of Shiatsu taster sessions there last year so I can’t wait to do it again this year.

    To me it felt like a very special event, there are simply loads of exhibitors & an incredible buzz about the place. It was such a welcoming, open & positive event & i would say well worth a trip.

    It’s on Saturday & Sunday, 10am till 4pm.  Shiatsu taster sessions are 30 minutes long & £20. For information on the the event or to book in advance head to the Big Sheep Website

    Maybe I’ll see some of you there, to get a first taste of Shiatsu or to get a really cheap but pretty long treatment.  If you would like to know more about Shiatsu or me have a look at my ‘About Shiatsu’ page or my ‘About Me’ page. I also have a Facebook page, which you can like to hear about events & offers.

    Have a good weekend whatever you plans.

    xx