Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: massage therapy

  • Shiatsu, Happiness, Grief, Emotions, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu, Happiness, Grief, Emotions, Exeter, Devon 

    It’s been an unusual day today, a real mix, of real positives & real sadness. 

    I had a full day of Shiatsu massage treatments today, lots of different clients. I had a really lovely piece of feedback from a client who felt Shiatsu left her feeling cleared through & clean with a sense that she could acheive what she wanted to. The day felt a really positive & successful one.

    I have been feeling a little fragile myself over the last few days, it is the anniversary of my grandmother’s death tomorrow. The few days running up to her death were difficult & I have been revisiting my memory of this time last year. We had an impromptu get together tonight, as my son was violently sick on his actual birthday we had a beleated pizza party this evening. This allowed my mum & I to be together just when we needed to be.

    Also & incredibly difficultly it became clear today that a neighbour of ours maybe losing her battle with cancer. She is only in her mid 30’s & will be leaving behind a little girl of 6. I spoke with he family today, in the street, it was heart-breaking & seems so unjust. It feels unbearable to imagine what they all must be feeling. 

    Mixing this upsetting news with my own grief it has felt an emotionally charged day. My Shiatsu sessions seemed to mirror this. They were treatments that seemed to centre on emotions being held in the body. Shiatsu can treat the client on different levels, the physical, mental or spiritual & the emotional, which seemed to be the prevelant one today. 

    For my son’s birthday he was bought a Ukulele, he was so happy. He smiled, then laughed & cheered. It was infectious & joyful. We sang ‘happy birthday’ whilst my step father played & my son danced. It was joyous, with the family all around, a strong contrast to the grief & heightened emotional day.

    I feel blessed for having my husband & sons & such a supportive family around me. I feel blessed to have a job that I love & that allows me to support others with their emotional journey. Shiatsu has helped me process my grief & past emotional distress. It is supportive but also helps the energy flow smoothly, creating a sense of ease which can help emotional, mental or spiritual distress. 

    Thanks for reading and a good & peaceful night’s rest to you all.

  • Shiatsu massage in the workplace, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu massage in the workplace, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu can easily be given in the workplace. It is an effective form of massage therapy, short sessions can relieve symptoms & ease conditions. It is always given through clothes, so there’s no undressing. It is energizing & invigorating, although relaxing it is always going to be possible to get back into work.  Shiatsu massage can be motivating & can provide drive & focus.

    The logistics of giving Shiatsu in a workplace are pretty straight forward, the main thing is enough staff members interested in the idea. Then a space big enough for a massage chair is needed. The sessions are 20 minutes long, the length of a break-time or part of a lunch break. The cost per session is £10, which is generally an affordable price & a fraction of the normal cost of a full length massage. Either the staff member can pay this or maybe the employer can subsidise the cost. The employer needs to be willing to let the staff have their 20 minutes when the sessions are taking place. 

    A taster session can be arranged, where the Shiatsu is free of charge, so that staff can decide if it suits them. I generally offer this service in the Exeter area bit would be willing to travel if a work place has a large number of staff interested. I can come at what time in the day suits the business. 

    If you are interested in this idea or you have any questions about Shiatsu then do get in touch, details on the ‘contact me’ page. 

  • Shiatsu event, Devon

    Shiatsu event, Devon

    A week on Sunday I will be offering Shiatsu at the East Devon Mind, Body, Spirit Fair in Budleigh Salterton. 

    The Shiatsu massage tasters will be on a massage chair – they will be 10 or 20 minutes & just £5 & £10.

    More details about the event can be found here

    Hope to see some of you there

  • Shiatsu This Saturday, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu This Saturday, Exeter, Devon 

    Just a couple of days until I’ll be at Exeter Respect Festival with my colleagues. 

    We are offering Shiatsu massage in the Health Zone – 30 minutes for £10.

    The health zone is tucked away at the back of the park, behind the family zone – so please spread the word & come find us.

    More details of the event here

  • 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 at Exeter Respect

    Shiatsu at Exeter Respect

    So excited – only 7 days until we are offering Shiatsu massage at the lovely, friendly, vibrant Exeter Respect Festival. The festival is in in Belmont park, Exeter on this Saturday & Sunday, 3rd & 4th June. I’ll be there on Saturday 3rd. It runs from 12 noon till 7pm. 

    We will be in the health zone which is tucked behind the family zone. So come & find us. Shiatsu sessions will be 30 minutes long & will only be £10. 

    More info on the festival can be found on the Exeter Respect website

  • Shiatsu event, Budleigh, Devon

    Shiatsu event, Budleigh, Devon

    I’m going to be at the East Devon Mind, Body, Spirit event at Budleigh Salterton town hall on June 11th. I’m going to be offering Shiatsu massage tasters for just £5 & £10. There’ll be loads of other stalls so lots to enjoy. It’s on from 10.30am till 4.30pm.

    More information on this event can be found here
     

  • Shiatsu for Anxiety & Depression, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu for Anxiety & Depression, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a gentle & supportive treatment therefore it can be really helpful in supporting clients who have stresses in their lives. At the very least a Shiatsu treatment is some ‘time out’ – a space away from life, there are no expectations or demands on the client.

    The session begins with a short diagnosis, which is a chance for the client to express their issues & concerns. Sometimes this diagnosis is almost as helpful as the treatment. Sometimes the client does not feel that they want to express verbally how they are feeling, they may only say very little.

    Shiatsu massage is very relaxing & can take the client to a place of deep quiet, some clients have said they experience a stillness or quietness, just some space to breathe & just be.

    Shiatsu allows people to feel their stress, anxiety or depression in their physical body. The massage can bring attention to feelings or emotions that the client was not aware they were holding. Sometimes verbal expression doesn’t have enough of an impact for a client, not helping them to find a way forward. Sometimes a physical therapy, like Shiatsu can help to unlock something for the client & they can begin to move forward. Sometimes a talking therapy needs to be used alongside.

    Shiatsu can also relieve tension & distress in the body, some clients have expressed sensations of ‘crawling skin’ being ‘constantly unsettled.’ Shiatsu can bring the body to a place of peace & with this can come a quietness of thought. Clients have also expressed that they have felt ‘right’ after a treatment, they have a flow that they felt they had lost. They have more energy to make changes. This again can help them begin to make steps forward.

    I work in Exwick, Exeter on Wednesdays & Saturdays.   I am always happy to discuss Shiatsu so please get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

     

  • Shiatsu Events Coming Up, Devon 

    Here’s a quick reminder of the events I have coming up. 

    Saturday 3rd June – Exeter Respect Festival – in the health zone – slightly hidden away behind the family zone – more info here

    Sunday 11th June – Mind, Body, Spirit Fair – Budleigh Salterton – more info here

    At these sort of events I always offer Shiatsu tasters at a really affordable price. It’s a great chance to give Shiatsu to lots of people, introduce people to it or remain people of what Shiatsu is all about. 

    You can get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page if you have any questions or would like to hook a session in advance.