Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: exeter

  • Shiatsu massage for Sciatica 

    Shiatsu massage for Sciatica 

    I have been reminded today of how helpful Shiatsu can be for the treatment of Sciatica. My poor mother in law has been suffering with it, whilst we have been staying with her. She has been trying to cater for & enjoy her large family whilst dealing with the dreadful pain that Siatica creates. 

    She was so bad after supper that she couldn’t keep still & was almost hopping around. So I offered to see if I could feel what the issue was & maybe help. We were washing up at the time, she didn’t sit down or lie down, I simply touched her sacrum whilst she stood. It was obvious that her sciatic nerve was inflamed so I moved her hip a little, just for a couple of minutes. She began to move around again & immediately felt some relief, she could stand still, without moving constantly to try & ease the pain. 

    Sciatica is a nasty complaint, the pain is often sharp & extreme & it is hard to find relief. I have had a good number people come for Shiatsu because they are experiencing Sciatica or some form of pain in their back or hips that also carries down into the leg.

    Regarding my mother in law it is the least I can do for her, she is hosting Easter, feeding & looking after us all so well. She is vety active & social & when she gets Sciatica it really affects her. If you are suffering from Sciatica & would like to know more then do get in touch at amyhinkswright@yahoo.co.uk or have a look at my Facebook page. 

  • Different things for different people – Shiatsu style

    Shiatsu massage is different every time. If you had a Shiatsu massage in the morning & then another in the afternoon they would be different to each other. Shiatsu works on what is happening for the client at that moment in time. The practitioner follows what they pick up as they give the massage, this can be the most satisfying thing about a Shiatsu. A good Shiatsu should meet you exactly where & how you want to be met. What a feeling it is when it happens. A sense of space & relief, a deep relaxation in the body & a sense of stillness.

    A good Shiatsu will give a sense of satisfaction & this shows that there is balance in the body. This balance of energy is the aim of Shiatsu, with balance comes healing & can lead to a relief from symptoms.  The client can leave happy with their massage & this sense of well-being & contentment can continue for hours or days. 

    If you would like to discuss if Shiatsu may be of help to you do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. I work in a quiet practice room in Exwick, Exeter, Devon. It’s easily accessible by car, bus or train.

  • Shiatsu, holidays & sunshine 

    So officially I’m on holiday, as of yesterday, but in this world of technology & the need to keep an online presence here I am on my blog! Actually I enjoy blogging, I love looking at life through ‘Shiatsu-tinted’ glasses, taking daily lessons from it & trying to be more present to what is taking place around me.  

    I have used Shiatsu on myself over the last couple of days, as I woke with a stiff neck a couple of morning’s ago, thanks to a restless & unsettled child sleeping in bed with me. Better to sleep in an awkward position than risk him waking again, one of the many delights of parenthood.  

    I also regularly use the principles of stillness & breathing deeply into the abdomen, or hat a as Shiatsu calls it.  This school holiday has been good so far, plenty of sunshine so easy to get outside & give the kids lots of exercise. There haven’t been many meltdowns or stressful moments. There has been some bickering over who should have what & who has the best, whether that’s a toy, some food, or which of mummy’s hands is best to hold. At these moments I am often, not always, able to still myself, take a moment & then step back into the discussion. I hope this helps the kids to, allowing them to see a way to handle their own stress.

    I really enjoy giving Shiatsu & will miss not giving treatments this week. I am looking forward to a week of family time, lots of fresh air & some quiet moments too hopefully! I hope it’s sunny where you are & that you have a good week, with fun, laughter & some quiet too! 

  • Shiatsu April offer

    Shiatsu April offer

    This month I am offering Shiatsu massage treatments for just £25 – normal price is £35 – if you book an appointment on a Wednesday afternoon. Each session is an hour long, with at least 40-45 minutes of Shiatsu massage. My quiet practice room is in Exwick, Exeter & is easy to get to by car, bus or train. I offer appointments on Wednesday evening’s & Saturday morning’s but the offer relates only to Wednesday afternoon’s. 

    To find out more about me & my style of Shiatsu go to my Facebook page. You may also like to go to the Shiatsu Society website for more information on Shiatsu. I am always happy to talk Shiatsu so please feel free to get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. 

  • Shiatsu room view, Exeter, Devon 

    It’s been such a beautiful few days here in Exeter, Devon. Here is the view from my Shiatsu practice room. What a joy tolook out at.

  • A Productive Day 

    A Productive Day 

    No Shiatsu related business took place today, however it has been a joy-filled, productive day, although on the surface of it not much happened! The day was helped, quite a lot, by the most glorious weather. Everything’s easier when there is a  clear sky & the warm sun. 

    It’s the Easter holidays so both boys woke happy & energetic this morning. We went out early & bought two Venus Fly Trap’s, as my eldest had read about them & has waited over the winter to get one. The plants are domant until the warmer weather, hence the delay. Of course the youngest had to have one to. There was then a discussion about how to make sure we knew which plant belonged to which boy. Pots were purchased & decorated & by 10am the plants were in place, waiting for a fly or two.

    The boys then seemed content in the garden so I began digging a flower bed, we are havjng a Shiatsu shed built so lots of plants need to be moved. I thought I would be rushing this job at the last minute, almost whilst the shed was being delivered!  Actually the boys being content gave me space to do this essential job, & gain enjoyment from doing it. 

    Lunch was a lazy, snacky affair, often the best type of meals. The boys ate the good stuff & had a bit of sweet stuff in reward. This brought us to the subject of Easter eggs & how long it was until Easter & said chocolate eggs.  I love decorating for Christmas & Easter & Birthdays & I realised this hadn’t happened yet. After lunch we all tidied up, out came the decs & up they went.

    In one day Easter arrived & a whole new flower bed was dug, composted & planted. A good day’s work, & acheived with ease. We have been so busy this last few days & a quiet, home day, gave us rest & allowed us to settle a bit. The boy’s didn’t even ask to go out & I enjoyed them pottering & playing contentedly. It reminded me that quiet days & rest are important, also taking care of your environment can feel satisfying & cleansing. We start a run of busy days again tomorrow but I reckon we will cope well thanks to our rest. 

  • Shiatsu news

    Shiatsu news

    A few bits & pieces going on at the moment for me, Shiatsu-wise.

    As it’s the school Easter holidays I am having a week off Shiatsu next week. Back the week after Easter – the Wednesday is the 19th April 
    Then the following weekend I’ll be at North Devon Mind, Body, Spirit Festival – giving Shiatsu massage for just £15

    I’m also going to be offering Shiatsu at Exeter Respect Festival, with some colleagues. Again this will be low cost sessions, so as many people can try it out as possible.

    There are other events coming up later in the year too, details later.

    The other news is that I will be moving from my current practice room, as we are building a Shiatsu space in our garden. A lovely timber structure, warm, dry & quiet. I can’t give a date for this move, as these projects tend to take longer than you would hope. Watch this space though & I will update as we progress.

    Lots of Shiatsu things to look forward to this year xx

  • Shiatsu massage touch 

    Touch is generally very important & most of the time has a meaning & intent behind it, even an expectation at times. We hug & kiss to say hello & goodbye, shake hands with strangers. We reach out to give hugs when someone is feeling sad or something has happened. We kiss & touch our partners, play fight with our kids. A nurturing touch without an expectation & just there to hold & support you is very special. Massage of any sort, any hands-on therapy, is going to give you contact & support, relaxation & space.

    Shiatsu massage touch is one of security & safety. The touch meets the client & makes a strong connection. A client is able to breathe & relax whilst being supported & held. A strong connection makes a client feel secure & confident in the practitioner & the massage they are going to receive. It allows them to feel how they actually feel, or just be. Also a safe touch can be really important, for people who have been affected by something that stops them accepting contact, or contact makes them anxious or nervous.

    If you are interesting in knowing more about this or would like to book a Shiatsu in my practice in Exeter, Devon they do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Peaceful Shiatsu in Exeter, Devon

    I am really lucky that I have a really lovely room as my practice space. 

    It is in Exwick, Exeter, Devon. It’s really easy to access by car, bus or train and there is parking outside. Exwick is a very quiet part of Exeter & our road is dead end so even less traffic. The room is therefore really quiet & this creates a peaceful & relaxing environment. 

    To find out more go to the ‘about me’ & ‘contact me’ pages. I hope you all find some time to be quiet by yourself & to find some time to  relax…..& maybe book a Shiatsu massage for the future.

  • Small things 

    It’s the first day of the Easter holidays, down here in Exeter, Devon. We took our sons to a wood, which had an Easter trail to follow. There was no prize but stamps as we wentcto punch hipoles in their trail guides.We had a great time & I was reminded of the joy you can get from small things. Our boys walked slowly, they chatted to us about whatever they wanted. They enjoyed the gorse flower smell, like coconut, they sat quietly in the bird hides for long periods. They loved finding the stamps in the trail & the muddy puddles to splash in & the stoney slopes to run down. 

    I watched them sauntering & winding their way, stopping whenever they fancied, enjoying the beauty & nature of the woods around them. They just seemed happy & relaxed. It helped me be in the moment too, to take in the fresh air, to watch the birds, to listen to the noises of the woods. There is so much to be said about making the most of the small stuff, being in the moment . Also enjoying nature & the natural world. It was a special family day, even though it was just a trip to the woods. I’m hoping there is a lot more to come this holiday.

    Shiatsu massage can bring you back into yourself, it can slow you down & help you reconnect to where you are & what is important to you. If you are interested in finding out more then do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.