Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: Chronic pain

  • Shiatsu Massage & the Changing Seasons – Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu Massage & the Changing Seasons – Exeter, Devon 

    Wow so we find ourselves in September, already, & the weather seems to have a harsh lesson for us this year – enough of the Summer, welcome to cold Autumn. No Indian Summer, as yet, no gentle change in temperature, no final days of golden sunshine – just plenty of rain, cold temperatures & harsh winds – great!!!!

    This time of year relates to the Earth energy, within 5 Element Diagnosis. This is part of Traditonal Chinese Medicine & is used as a form of diagnosis within Shiatsu. The Earth energy is about gathering fruit & later crops, to begin to settle down into the Autumn & to store for the Winter.

    This year the energy seems different. It’s like we have missed a season & similarly have missed an Element within the 5 Elements. It feels like we have moved straight to the Metal element energy & bypassed the Earth energy. The metal energy is about letting go, about boundaries, about organisation & having things in their place.

    A lot of the clients I have seen recently have been showing an imbalance with their metal energy & I have been having quite a few conversations with people who are having to let go of big things in their lives. It seems a strong energy this year to let go of things & to adapt to quite big changes. It feels like the Metal energy is insisting that we shed & move on & prepare, already, for the upcoming Winter months.

    So how do we support our metal energy at this time – how do we feel alright about these changes?

    • Grasp the nettle & declutter – not all of it! Just have a go at clearing out a corner in your house or sort the piles of letters you have been ignoring!
    • Exercise to get going – no I’m not suggesting you start jogging or weight lifting! Wake the body in the morning – stretch the arms, open the chest, breath deeply, rub your limbs, your face & scratch your scalp. Don’t jump up & start the day, take a couple of minutes to wake the body up.
    • Get out in the fresh air – breathing the, at present rather fresh, air can help balance the metal energy, as can a bit of cardio exercise. A brisk walk, not for long, to open the lungs & energise the body & mind.
    • Then maybe think about what you want or need to let go of & what you really want to hold onto.
    • write a list, get some clarity & focus. This can work either way, you may feel you can’t let go or you may feel you can’t hold on, you may also feel a lack of clarity of thought, you don’t really know how you feel. Try to get your ideas down on a piece of paper as a first step.
    • Of course get some Shiatsu massage! Shiatsu is a safe & secure form of therapy, allowing you to feel how you feel without judgement or expectation. It can help rebalance the Metal energy in your body, removing fuzziness of thought, or fear of letting go or anxiety to hold on. It can help the flow of energy in the body which in turn helps the flow of thoughts & emotions. It provides time out from daily responsibilities & expectations, a quick breather, which can leave the client feeling relaxed but energised & ready to face the world once more!

    If you have any questions about Metal energy deficiency or whether Shiatsu maybe able to support you then do get in touch – through the ‘contact me’ page.

    I work in Exwick, Exeter, Devon.

  • Shiatsu massage tasters today – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu massage tasters today – Exeter, Devon

    10-4 today my Shiatsu colleagues & I will be offering tasters at the Exeter Green Fair.

    Come & find us amongst all the great stalls, on Exeter Cathedral Green.

  • Shiatsu Holidays – Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu Holidays – Exeter, Devon 

    I am now officially on holiday, again! I’m taking another week away from Shiatsu massage, to coincide with the kids school holidays.

    I am back week commencing 28th August.

    For more information about Shiatsu massage have a look on the pages on this website. If you have any questions or would like to book a Shiatsu then do get in touch – 07791 070837

    Shiatsu is a gentle but powerful hands-on therapy that is suitable for all & can be beneficial for many complaints, physical, mental or emotional.

  • Shiatsu For Back Issues, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu For Back Issues, Exeter, Devon 

    Well we have survived a few days camping, four kids, four adults, wet weather at times, late nights, early mornings & lots of fun. Sleeping on air beds, being busy a lot of the time, packing & unpacking & lugging lots of heavy stuff around definitely takes a toll on your back. 

    It really reminded me how hard our backs work & how painful they are when these is an issue. I would say that the most common complaint people come to me with, to have Shiatsu massage, is back pain. Often it is the lower back that is causing problems but sometimes it is the mid or higher back where the pain is. 

    Shiatsu can really help support back issues, whether they are chronic or a recent injury. The quicker after an injury that treatment is sought the better. Clients witb chronic back issues can really get a good amount of relief too though. 

    There are many different techniques that are used in Shiatsu massage & this makes it very versatile & if one technique is not working so well there are different approaches. 

    If you are interested in discussing if Shiatsu may be of help to you then feel free to get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. You can also call me on 07791 070837.

  • Neck Injuries & Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon 

    Having a sore neck can be really tough. I have treated people who have neck injuries due to car accidents, often they have come after some period of time following the accident. I have also had people who have a chronic stiff or tight neck. The other time that clients come with neck pain is when they have over exerted themselves & have pulled a neck muscle.

    Shiatsu is a gentle form of hands-on therapy but is can be powerful & effective. As Shiatsu is generally given on the floor on a futon mat well supported neck stretches can be used to relieve symptoms. If the area is inflamed or very painful it is possible to work on the injury distally, from another point in the body, or to work either side of the injury. There are a number of different ways that Shiatsu massage can tackle client’s concerns.

    Shiatsu can be helpful in easing pain levels, which can be helpful for chronic conditions. Some clients find Shiatsu will relieve or reduce the pain they feel for a period of time after the treatment. As successive treatments are given the length of time that the pain is relieved for does sometimes lengthen.

    If you are suffering from neck pain & would like to discuss if Shiatsu may be able to help support you then do get in touch – through the ‘contact me’ page or on 07791 070837.

    I practice Shiatsu massage in Exeter, in beautiful Devon. I offer evening & daytime appointments.

  • Shiatsu Saturdays, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu Saturdays, Exeter, Devon 

    I offer Shiatsu in the daytime on Wednesdays & also on Wednesday evenings. I also work on Saturdays. I appreciate that generally daytime is work time for most people & as I only offer one evening in the week I also offer Shiatsu massage on Saturdays. So after a hard week of work you can have a relaxing & energising Shiatsu, to re-charge ready to make the most of your weekend. At present I offer Shiatsu on Saturdays only in Exeter. 

    I hope that soon I will be able to offer Shiatsu at other times in the week, so watch this space.  

    If you are interested in booking a Shiatsu massage or you have any question please do get in touch, through the ‘contact me’ page. 

  • Back pain & Shiatsu massage, Exeter, Devon

    One of the common complaints that people come to me for Shiatsu massage for is back pain. Often but not always it is lower back pain but sometimes it is middle back pain or neck & upper back pain. Shiatsu massage can be very successful at relieving pain in the back.

    Shiatsu works to balance the energies in the body, using meridians, lines of energy & pressure points, the same points that are used in Acupuncture. The meridians & points in the back are really effective & results can often be seen quickly when it comes to back pain. Sometimes the relief only lasts for a short period & then a few treatments quite close together, weekly or fortnightly, can be benefical. The period of relief from symptoms will hopefully extend further after each Shiatsu.

    If the back pain is due to an injury or accident & it is uncomfortable to massage directly on the area then it is possible to work it from a distance. As the meridians that Shiatsu uses run across the whole body it is possible to treat one area from a different part of the body. This can help to avoid aggrivation of a complaint.

    It is a really good idea to get treatment for an injury or complaint as quickly as possible. There is more of a chance or remedying it quickly. Shiatsu is also helpful for chronic & long-term complaints, particularly chronic back pain.

    If you are interested in whether Shiatsu massage may be of help to you or you would like to book an appointment in Exeter then do get in touch with me. Go the the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Shiatsu in Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu in Exeter, Devon 

    I thought it was probably time to write a basic blog about my Shiatsu practice here in Exeter.

    I have been practicing this gentle but powerful form of massage for 10 years, I qualified from a pretty extensive & intensive 3 year diploma course in 2010. I have continued to practice Shiatsu regularly since then. I began practicing in Exeter in 2013. N

    Shiatsu is a form of hands-on therapy. It’s an enjoyable & relaxing form of massage. It originates from Japan & it’s aim is to balance the energy in the body. It uses Traditional Chinese Medicine as a form of diagnosis & works on the pressure point & meridians (lines of energy) like Acupuncture & Acupressure also do.

    As well as being a satisfying & enjoyable treatment it can leave the client feeling re-energised & invigorated. It can relieve symptoms, pain & tension, as the body’s energy is realigned.

    My practice room is in Exwick, a quite area of Exeter, down here in Devon. My practice room is calm & peaceful. We will soon have a solid wooden garden room in the garden where I will be practicing Shiatsu massage from. My practice is near to the train station & there is a bus stop at the bottom of the road. It is also easily accessible by car & there is on street parking

    I am always happy to talk Shiatsu so do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

  • 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.