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






It is very accessible. It is generally given on a futon mat on the floor. I also have a couch & a massage chair so if the floor is difficult then there are other options. Shiatsu can be given with the client lying or sitting in any position, allowing the client to always be comfortable. It always given through clothes but still provides a strong connection & satisfying massage.
Shiatsu provides a safe touch, which allows the client to quickly drift into a deeply relaxed state. As it is a safe & secure form of therapy it can allow a client to explore their emotional or mental balance, feeling this through their bodies rather than thinking or talking it through. This can allow tension caused by stress, depression or anxiety to be released.
Shiatsu is tailored to suit that client on that day, which can make it a satisfying form of therapy, meeting the client how they want to be meet. It is a gentle but powerful form of therapy, although it can be more physical when appropriate, including stretches & rotations.
Shiatsu uses the same Meridians (lines of energy) in the body that Acupuncture uses. We also use the same pressure points on those Meridians. We use massage techniques to work the Meridans & points to help the body to regain balance. When the body is in balance symptoms can ease, energy levels can rise, stress & anxiety can fall away, sleep can become deeper & healthier. The body can feel like everything is working as it is supposed to, there is more flow & fluidity physically, mentally & emotionally.



