So this photo is me walking to my course – 4 weeks to go till the end of year one. Feels like yesterday that I was starting out…..
I have learnt so much, about another therapeutic way to support people, about myself.
It has informed and deepened my Shiatsu practice. My Shiatsu has informed and supported my way of being whilst learning.
I am looking forward to next year when I begin my practise hours but not looking forward to my last essay and prepping for my competencing to practice test.
Here’s to new things – new challenges – shifts and changes – endings and beginnings
I am loving the Autumn sunshine as I prepare for 3 very busy days of work – before life gets quieter and slower again.
I am here in November if you need me. I’m offering Zoom support sessions and personalised exercise and lifestyle videos. All by donation of course.
Plus I will be making exercise videos to promote motivation and relaxation – to support anxiety and mental and emotional stress. Hoping to do these at least weekly and they’ll be on my Facebook page
Also Shiatsu can offer an interesting perspective on what is helpful and not helpful when looking to support oneself. I am offering personalise health charts, based on the 5 element system of diagnosis. These could be a good present idea for friends and family as well as good for you as an individual.
Hopefully I’ll see a lot of you virtually this month and 🤞 in person in December.
Come on let’s talk about these things. Stress, Anxiety and Depression are discussed more openly these days but it still seems that they are still, at least a little, taboo. In the 10 years that I have been practicing Shiatsu mental strain, Stress, Anxiety and Depression seem to have become more prevalent, I am treating more clients with these types of concerns.
To me it’s not a surprise. I have many clients who come to my Exeter practice and talk about their busy lives. Inevitably they have too much to do, are juggling numerous different priorities and are not getting anywhere near enough personal time. They find themselves spending the little precious time they have in their heads, trying to fathom out how to get out of their current situation.
Work seems to be a big factor in the pressure and stress that people feel in their lives. Jobs are more about targets and financial restrictions that supporting individual workers. Clients often express feeling out of control, trapped, hurt and deeply affected by decisions made in their workplace.
There are many ways to support Mental Health issues, meditation, Mindfullness, taking time out, counselling, cognitive therapies. Shiatsu is one way that someone with Stress, Anxiety or Depression can find support, relief and solutions.
Shiatsu is a supportive and safe form of hands-on therapy. It is always given through clothes, which often eases any fears or concerns about having therapeutic hands-on work. It originates from Japan, so has an Eastern ethos and theory behind it. The treatment looks to balance the energies in the body, to ease ailments, concerns or issues. It is gentle and nurturing but can be more physical and dynamic if appropriate.
Gentle and Supportive Neck and Face work, to ease Tension and Stress
Shiatsu may help to relieve and ease feelings of Stress and Anxiety and may lighten low moods and Depression. It provides deep rest and relaxation, aiding better sleep and softer more flexible thought patterns. It can also provide a sense of support and space, a chance to feel exactly how you feel and maybe let go of some of the mental burden.
What makes Shiatsu different is that the work is totally centered on the body, the tensions and stresses that it holds. When balanced with Shiatsu the body can feel relief, relaxation and release, the mind and emotions can follow what the body does. This can provide the client with a sense of being back in control of themselves, rather than at the mercy of their feelings. With this sense of control comes opportunity, to make changes or take steps forward in their lives.
I would hope Shiatsu would provide some sense of relief and relaxation within a session or two, along with better sleep patterns, if this is out of balance. Then would look at regular Shiatsu treatments following on, to support the body’s balance. The regularity of these sessions would depend on the individual situation. I always work to expand the time between sessions, as quickly as possible, until the client has Shiatsu just a few times a year.
Firm but supportive Pressure, allowing tension to release and be relieved
I have given Shiatsu, here in my Exeter practice, to a number of clients with concerns around Anxiety, Stress and Depression, along with many other issues and concerns. I feel confident working in this area and enjoy watching the positive changes that clients are able to make in their lives.
Shiatsu is a nurturing and supportive form of therapy. It is a relaxing and enjoyable form of hands-on therapy, a form of massage through clothes. Shiatsu is also great for providing a structure of support for oneself.
In my Shiatsu treatments I nearly always provide recommendations to he client. These maybe around diet or lifestyle and can help the client support themselves between treatments.
I use Shiatsu to support myself and my family. It can be great to calm and ease distress for the kids. It also provides a structure for me to care for myself.
I have designed a course that introduces the principles of Shiatsu, so it can be use on oneself and on one’s friends and family. The course also introduces concepts within Shiatsu that can allow a great self care routine to happen.
If we don’t care for ourselves how do we care for those around us. If we actively take time to experience how we are and where we are we can gain perspective on our situation. With mindful care of ourselves come changes and personal growth. This benefits us but also those around us.
The next Shiatsu Self Care course is on Sunday 26th January. Details of the course can be found here
I am really enjoying offering courses in the “Shiatsu Shed” in Exeter, Devon. The space is perfect for a relaxing and supportive treatment but also big enough to hold small workshop groups.
The Shiatsu Shed ready for a Course
Shiatsu is a very supportive and nurturing form of therapy, that is tailored to the individual. Because the course numbers are limited they also offer a high level of support and guidance, and can be easily tailored to the participants.
The two courses I have run already have been adapted to suit the participants that day. One course became focused on how to support oneself as a carer, and how to use Shiatsu to support someone you care for. The other course focused on how to support oneself as a massage therapist and how Shiatsu can help you find inspiration in your own practice. The second course would work just as well for yoga teachers, reflexology practitioners, acupuncture therapists, counsellors and any other therapists.
In past careers I have always found myself drawn to the training and development aspect of a role. I have gained a fair amount of experience in delivering training and mentoring others. So it feels very special to be able to bring those skills into my Shiatsu business.
I hope to offer more courses in the new year. I am excited to see what type of courses I end up developing and who I am approached by.
The courses are offered in Exeter, Devon, although I can travel. They can be tailored for therapists of all types, massage, yoga, counselling. They can also be for carers, both professional and those who care for family members. The courses would also suit those interested in self care and self development. They would suit a group of colleagues interested in team building, or a professional organisation keen to offer self care and support to their employees.
The courses are designed to provide a basic knowledge of what Shiatsu is, how to support yourself and how to give Shiatsu to friends and family. Numbers are always small and the prices are affordable.
To find out more about my practice head to my Facebook Page
I love my job, helping clients ease their issues and concerns. Be it physical issues, neck pain, frozen shoulders, back pain, hip and knee issues. Or emotional or mental strain, anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression.
So to hear from clients about how well the treatments are going is such a pleasure. I received this recommendation just thr other day…
I am so overwhelmed with how I feel after my second treatment with Amy. She is very warm and intuitive and has given me some fantastic and nice to follow up and showed a lot of kindness. Having a safe space to completely relax and explore what my body is holding onto is invaluable to me at the moment. Thank you Amy
I am also very lucky to have such a special space to practice in. My treatment space is ideal for relaxing. Its cosy and warm and a safe space to be in.
I received the above quote as part of another recent recommendation. Again I feel so lucky to be able to help people make changes to their health, feel more in control of their lives and decisions and happier in themselves.
Stress and anxiety can be debilitating, taking over or limiting daily life. It can be hard to find a solution; counselling, mindfulness, management techniques can work but sometimes a different approach is required.
When we talk about stress or anxiety we say we ‘feel stressed’ or ‘feel anxious.’ The physical body ‘feels’ our emotional and mental tensions, holding it as tension, blocks and weaknesses.
With Shiatsu you can approach stress and anxiety from the body first. How and where is the body holding the stress or anxiety? What Shiatsu touch allows the body to release the holding?
There doesn’t need to be any discussion before or during the treatment, although sometimes this is what the client would like. There’s no brain work, no analytical process. The client simply lies down and enjoys the relaxing treatment.
The physical touch can allow a sense of relief from held emotions and tensions. A chance to reset and feel ready to make positive steps forward.
Shiatsu is also a very safe and supportive form of therapy. In a held space a client can be however they want or need to be. Just feeling like there is a place where there is no need to wear a mask can help. A space where there are no expectations or demands. You don’t even need to be able to say how you feel for a Shiatsu to be a success.
Clients often express a feeling of physical and mental lightness after a Shiatsu treatment. Their worries and physical discomforts feel less.
Shiatsu is suitable for all, and has been shown to support people suffering withstress and anxiety, along with a number of other conditions.
To find out more head to the pages on this site or Facebook page or do contact me at amyhinkswright@yahoo.co.uk
A client once said ‘It’s not like any massage I’ve ever had.’ It does use massage techniques but is always given through clothes. It is also given on a futon mat on the floor, although can be given on a couch or chair.
Although it isn’t a talking therapy, psycho-therapy or counselling it can release held emotions, traumas, stresses and strains from the body.
Shiatsu is body-work, most definitely and although it comes at things from a different angle to physiotherapy or sports massage, it can still help ease pain and increase mobility.
Shiatsu is energy work. Although it is different to Reiki and other forms of healing it can still help build the levels of energy in the body. Shiatsu can help with the balance of mind and body and spirit.It is an unique form of hands-on therapy that can provide balance in the body. Whether the clients concerns are physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or a bit of all of them, Shiatsu has the ability to re-balance the energy and ease the symptoms. It can be good for aches and pains, for stress and anxiety, for sleep and relaxation.
It is a pretty physical form on therapy, with some great stretches and rotations. Obviously it is only as physical as appropriate for each client. It is a little like Thai or Yoga massage but looks to work the Meridians, lines of energy, that Acupuncture and Acupressure use.
Maybe you have tried various forms of massage and other therapies, Acupuncture, Reflexology for instance. If what you have tried hasn’t scratched your itch, as it were, then you may want to try a session on Shiatsu with me.
I am interested in providing a space for my clients that is safe – where they can feel and express in anyway they want to. Clients have their own stories and journeys and generally want to move on, away from physical issues or leaving behind past habits or upsets. I look to support them to do this by bringing their attention to their bodies, where and how is the body holding trauma and what touch provides relief or release.
I work in Exwick, in Exeter, just behind Exeter St. David’s train station. I offer appointments on most days of the week and I have evening appointments available.
Shiatsu by Amy 