Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: pelvic pain

Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

Good Monday Morning! How is your week shaping up?

I am ready to get into a week of Shiatsu treatments, in my special treatment space – know fondly as the Shiatsu Shed!

Shiatsu works on many levels so I get to work with a lot of different clients…..those with pain and physical concerns, those with stress and anxiety, those with fatigue and sadness.

I love that Shiatsu meets the client where and how they would like to be met.

Along with being a physically satisfying experience it can be nurturing, supportive and transformational.

I have watched my clients take control of their situation – be it a bad back, chronic fatigue or a bad life situation – and start to make steps towards a healthier space.

I am looking forward to another week or being in the privilege place of supporting and facilitating people’s journeys.

Jan 30, 2023
Shiatsu for Mum’s, Exeter, Devon

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 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

xx

Jan 21, 2019
Shiatsu in Exeter Devon

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.

xx

May 20, 2018
Modern Day Priorities, Shiatsu in Devon

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

May 10, 2018
Shiatsu Massage this Saturday & Sunday – North Devon

It’s nearly time for me to be heading up to the north of this beautiful county, to be an exhibitor at the North Devon Mind, Body, Soul Festival. It was such a joy to give lots of Shiatsu taster sessions there last year so I can’t wait to do it again this year.

To me it felt like a very special event, there are simply loads of exhibitors & an incredible buzz about the place. It was such a welcoming, open & positive event & i would say well worth a trip.

It’s on Saturday & Sunday, 10am till 4pm. Shiatsu taster sessions are 30 minutes long & £20. For information on the the event or to book in advance head to the Big Sheep Website

Maybe I’ll see some of you there, to get a first taste of Shiatsu or to get a really cheap but pretty long treatment. If you would like to know more about Shiatsu or me have a look at my ‘About Shiatsu’ page or my ‘About Me’ page. I also have a Facebook page, which you can like to hear about events & offers.

Have a good weekend whatever you plans.

xx

Apr 19, 2018
Shiatsu For All – Exeter, Devon

Shiatsu is a gentle & supportive form of hands-on therapy so it suitable for any age . It can be given to children & they often lap it up. I have given family sessions, where the whole family has a treatment. These can be given as a home visit, which is agreed through discussion.

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.

Mar 26, 2018
Shiatsu for Pain, Exeter, Devon

For those of you who don’t know Shiatsu is a form of hands-on therapy. It’s a bit like a massage, it uses massage techniques, but it is always given through clothing. Shiatsu is generally given on a futon mat on the floor but can be given on a couch or massage chair. It is a very relaxing treatment that can also leave a client feeling energised.

Shiatsu is suitable for all & can help with a great number of conditions. It can be helpful for long-term care & can have preventative benefits. I have had clients who have come for Shiatsu for various physical conditions including back ache, arthritis, hip issues, frozen shoulder, Sciatica & pelvic issues.

Shiatsu can also be helpful for emotional & mental concerns such as stress & anxiety. I have had clients come with issues such as work related stress, relationship breakdown or issues, high levels of anxiety & depression.

Pain is a common issue that people come for Shiatsu for, whether it is due to a recent accident or injury or a more chronic condition. Clients have found that Shiatsu has helped ease pain levels for some period after a treatment. Generally the pain relief lasts for longer & longer periods of time, as the client has more sessions. In my experience Shiatsu seems to have a very positive effect on joint pain, whether that is Arthritis or an injury or another issue.

Clients have often expressed that the mental strain of pain is almost as bad as the actual pain itself. Particularly if someone has lived with pain for a long period of time it can become an almost unbearable strain. Shiatsu is a very supportive treatment & it can provide comfort to the client, they may feel that they don’t have to manage it completely on their own. Shiatsu can also help with energy levels & with a little more energy a client may feel they have the resources to be able to make changes & not feel that the pain is in control of them.

I love giving Shiatsu & hearing, from clients, about the positive effects it has for them. If you would like to hear about events & offers then please like my Facebook page. If you have any questions then do get in touch through the Contact Me page.

xx

Mar 13, 2018
Shiatsu musings, Exeter, Devon

I have had a lovely day learning how to give Ginger Compress treatments. They are an amazing remedy that creates warmth in the body. The compress warms the kidneys, which are the burners for the body, energising the whole system. They can help alleviate a number of symptoms.

I love learning new skills & catching up with Shiatsu colleagues. Professional development courses are so important, for gaining new skills, but also for bringing new ideas & life to your practice. I am really looking forward to the Shiatsu treatments I will be giving this week.

Shiatsu is a gentle but powerful form of hands-on therapy. It is suitable for everyone & is tailored to meet the needs of that client at that time. It can be good for physical aliments as well as emotional & mental stresses & strains. Shiatsu is very relaxing but can also help with energy levels. Shiatsu can aid sleep & help with anxiety, stress & depression.

So a busy week of treatments for me. I love giving Shiatsu & I’m always happy to discuss it if you have any queries. You can get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page.

Have a good week everyone.

xx

Mar 12, 2018
Shiatsu for Joint Pain, Exeter, Devon

The longer I practice & the more cases I see the more I believe Shiatsu is really helpful for joint pain. It can be good for any pain, providing some level of pain relief but also supporting the client with the mental strain & tension that comes from dealing with pain.

I have had clients who have come to me because they suffer with pain in their knees, hips, shoulders, wrists & fingers. Clients have mentioned, after their treatment, that their pain is less for some time.

Shiatsu is a gentle hands-on therapy that works to balance the energy in the body. By holding the joint, or on either side of the joint, Shiatsu can ease the discomfort. There doesn’t need to be stretches or rotations of the joints to give a result, very gentle massage can really help. Sometimes it is appropriate to involve stretches & rotations in the treatment, this can loosen a joint, again giving relief from the symptoms.

Shiatsu is a very supportive & nurturing form of therapy & can allow the client to feel supported. They don’t feel so alone when coping with the emotional & mental strain of dealing with the pain. Clients have also mentioned that they feel some of the mental & emotional stress eases, thoughts seems to flow more easily.

Shiatsu can help with energy levels. It can also provide deep relaxation & can aid healthy sleep patterns. Getting proper relaxation & sleep & feeling more energised can help a client feel better & allow them to make positive changes that may help with their health & any pain they are experiencing.

I love giving Shiatsu & hearing the results from the clients. I’m also always happy to talk Shiatsu so do get in touch through the’contact me’ page with any questions.

Like my Facebook page for info on events & offers.

Feb 25, 2018
Shiatsu for Relaxation, Exeter, Devon

Having a Shiatsu treatment is relaxing in itself, it is an hour of time out, no expectations, no demands, no responsibilities. It is a gentle hands-on therapy that is tailored to suit that person on that day at that time. This can make it a very satisfying form of therapy, finding the places on the body that want to be worked & then working them in the way they want to be worked.

Shiatsu can support with physical issues but it also good at tackling emotional or mental concerns. There is a short consultation at the beginning of the session & then the rest of the time is hands-on work. Shiatsu allows the client to feel how they feel, there is no need for discussion, although this sometimes takes place. Allowing the client to feel the tension in their body can provide release or relief, from physical tension but also held emotional & mental tension.

The relaxation felt in a treatment can stay with a client for sometime afterwards. Release from tension can make things feel easier, physical effort & also emotional & mental thought can flow with more ease & fluidity. Everything just happens more easily. Shiatsu can also help with energy levels & aid sleep, also providing an ability to relax more easily.

I work in Exeter. I have a wooden cabin in the garden, which provides the perfect environment for a relaxing & energising treatment.

Do get in touch through the ‘Contact Me’ page – I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu.

Feb 21, 2018