Really missing my job now. I have enjoyed making the most of the family time but the longer the lockdown goes on the more I am missing what giving Shiatsu gives me.
Whilst supporting clients to work towards their own health, happiness and wellbeing I also get a chance todo this for myself. I am missing being part of the therapeutic journey.
I also have a quiet, calm and special place to practice. Fondly nicknamed (by me) as the Shiatsu Shed. It is actually a shared space, with many husband who practices meditation teaching in there too.
At the moment the Clematis is blooming beautifully outside the window. This is one of my favourite times to practice Shiatsu as I can catch a glimpse of this beautiful plant through the window. The Shiatsu Shed is a great place to practice, even in the rain or cold. I even gave a Shiatsu whilst a thunder storm took place above.
It is a special place to provide a safe and secure environment for healing to take place. I can’t wait to get back in there. Hoping it won’t be long until I can get back into the flow. Until them I’ll make do with watching the Clematis.
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.
Ha the school holidays can create stress and tension for sure. Lots of parents, including myself look forward to having time as a family, but even so there are always tough points.
So although it’s half term next week, down here in Exeter, Devon at least, I am still offering Shiatsu appointments. Obviously this is for those if you who are on a normal week and those of you who need to escape the half term madness. It’s also going to help my own sanity and energy for the kids too!
I’ve limited appointments but do still have spaces left. Have a look at the pages on this website for more information. To discuss or book message me at amyhinkswright@yahoo.co.uk
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
Today is mental health day, which is great, highlighting this often hidden health issue. As a society we are getting better at acknowledging mental health issues and how important it is to support them. There is still a long way to go but great to see how many mentions of world mental hlath day I have seen today.
Using touch Shiatsu can help support a client’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects. How great not to have to try and dissect and analyse your feelings or concerns, simply to feel how you are when you are held by the practitioners touch.
The Shiatsu approach can bypass the mind, where we can get caught up in trying to understand and remedy our issues. Shiatsu is a chance to be still and feel in our bodies what affect how lives are having on us.
Shiatsu looks to find balance in the body, when there is balance there is relief and release of physical tension. With the release of the physical tension also comes release of mental and emotional tensions.
A Shiatsu treatment is a safe and secure space where a client can be however they want to be. A client can be anxious, stressed, nervous, frightened even. A session can still be a success no matter how the client is, they can leave feeling emotionally supported and with a lighter mental load.
Just having a space where you can be whatever and however you want can help a client. Often it can be hard to express to those close to us how we are mentally and emotionally. We don’t want to burden our parents, partners, friends. A Shiatsu treatment is exactly the right place to voice how you feel and what is happening for you. Some clients feels they are no longer managing on their own, they have the support of Shiatsu and a therapist.
It is such a privilege to be able to support and facilitate clients as they make positive changes to their health, be it physical, emotional or mental. It is great to watch people regain their confidence and self belief, to have some sense of control of their situation rather than feeling their situation or condition controls them.
So anyone is welcome and supported in my practice. Anything g can be discuused or not discussed. Everyone can be the way they need to be.
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.
I have recently worked with a couple of mums who have really benefited from their sessions of Shiatsu with me.
Both women are just into their 30’s and have at least 3 children each. They have both just had another child and were really feeling the strain of their expanded family.
Both women are incredibly independent and the type of person people will come to for support and nurture. This was adding extra strain to their lives.
Both were finding their bodies weren’t recovering from the birth of their child as quickly as they had hoped. They had physical pain in the pelvis and lower back. Both had began their menstrual cycle quickly after the birth and this was causing mental distress and physical pain.
They were also carrying a large amount of physical tension in their upper back, shoulders and neck, from busy lives, physical jobs, carrying babies and children.
The shock for them was that they weren’t able to push through like they had previously been able to. This affected them both physically and mentally. It also brought up emotionally distress, both present and historical.
Gentle and supportive Shiatsu gave them the space to relax and rest. Just lying on the futon mat on the floor, on which Shiatsu is given, was a relief for them.
Shiatsu helped their bodies re-balance after giving birth. Their physical and mental symptoms began to ease.
The Shiatsu strengthen the weaker areas; pelvis, lower back and eased the areas of tension; shoulders, neck.
They expressed that they felt more themselves and that they could go with the flow more easily.
They had better energy levels and were able to manage the full-on physicality of their busy lives.
They came weekly and began to see big changes after two Shiatsu sessions. When working with anyone who is under strain I like to work weekly if at all possible. I would then hope to extend the space between sessions until the client is only coming two or three times a year for on-going support.
A session of Shiatsu is an hour long with 45 minutes of hands-on work. The rest of the hour is used for a short consultation at the beginning and time at the end to ‘wake up’ from the Shiatsu. I charge £40 a session but cost can always be discussed.
I work in a really love space in Exwick, Exeter. We have a wooden cabin in the garden, it is solid wood and provides a clean and natural environment to enjoy this unique therapy.
I offer Shiatsu appointments on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. I have evening appointments available. As well as Exeter I have pop-up clinics in Dawlish and Exmouth. Watch out for dates for these two places.
I have loads of photos of Shiatsu here and these are a great way to get an idea of what a treatment involves.
If you wanted to know more about Shiatsu have a look on the pages on this site or head to the Shiatsu Society website for their info.
I’m also happy to answer questions so do call me on 07791 070837 or email me on amyhinkswright@yahoo.co.uk
September is Shiatsu Awareness Month. The Shiatsu Society are promoting this amazing hands-on therapy with information about how it can support & help clients.
I have only managed one event this September, to promote Shiatsu, but I am always happy to talk about it, discuss whether it may be of help & to answer any questions. You can contact me through this site or on 07791 070837
I write a lot about what Shiatsu is, trying to describe what it is & what it is actually like to have a treatment. There are pages on this site describing Shiatsu & my background so go check those out if you want to know more about this incredible form of therapy.
Today I thought I’d talk about what Shiatsu means to me. I didn’t realise the effect Shiatsu would have on me personally when I started the three years of training. I changed jobs, homes & relationships & have found myself in a much more real & honest place. I feel more happy & content now than I ever have done.
I feel more connected to my body & how it is reacting to what is happening around it. I also feel more connected to the Seasons & to nature, following the natural flow of things. I feel I can get focused & centered in a way I never could before. I have much better self support practices & this allows me to support clients & those around me with gentle kindness.
I feel very lucky to practice this hands-on therapy as my job. It doesn’t feel like work. I get so focused on what I can feel as I work on a body that the sessions fly by. I also love holding the space for a client, a healing space to feel safe & to be however they want to be.
Shiatsu is a very clever therapy in my opinion. It bypasses the analytical thought process & accesses feelings & emotions through how & where they are held in the body. Shiatsu can provide release & relief of physical & emotional tensions. Often because the tension felt has an emotional aspect to it, that has led to the physical holding.
I like seeing the results that clients experience. I have seen it help with chronic pain, with stress, with Sciatica, with knee & other joint issues. I love the fact that it works well with physical, emotional & mental issues. It holds a client in a particular way, it meets the client how they need to be met.
It is such a privilege to be a therapist for people, it is a very personal relationship & I take it seriously. I am so grateful to be part of someone’s healing journey. Shiatsu has an ability to raise energy levels & allow clients to make changes that they would like to make. It has allowed them to see options & opportunities where previously they have felt stuck, or at the mercy of their condition or complaint.
I use Shiatsu on a daily basis, on myself & my family. I support my kids with digestive issues, when they are distressed, if they can’t sleep, if they have a temperature. I help family members with Arthritis & pain, with mental strain & tiredness.
I work in a lovely space in Exeter which I feel works perfectly for Shiatsu. We have put up a real wood cabin in the garden, it’s a sanctuary but still in Exeter. I work here most days of the week & offer evening & weekend appointments.
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 & also in Dawlish & Exmouth. I offer appointments most days, some evening & Saturday appointments.
Shiatsu by Amy 