Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: sleep

  • Happy Easter – family – Shiatsu – chocolate

    Happy Easter – family – Shiatsu – chocolate

    Hope you have all had good day. Whatever your religious belief’s a day when no shops are open, life is slow & most people are with their families is a good day, right? 

    I spent today in sunny Hampshire with my sons & husband, his mum, brother, sister & brother in law & their kids. The happiest part of the day was watching the cousins enjoying themselves together, content, gang-like & getting along beautifully. 

    I also spent some of the day giving Shiatsu massage to my poor mother in law, who was trying to enjoy Easter with Sciatic pain. I gave her Shiatsu in the morning, before lunch & just before we left to come home. It was a short session each time which was enough for her. It reminded me that sometimes it is good to have a number of short sessions close together, to help treat specific issues. I have had different agreements with different clients so that I can support their needs. 

    Each Shiatsu massage helped my mother in law & she was able to get through the day without the distress of the unpleasant pain Sciatica causes. I also showed her some exercises that may help her & there was some discussion, around the dinner table, regarding what the best stretches for Sciatica are. Stretching can be brilliant for Sciatica but also it is important to be careful, listen to your body & not stretch too far. Stretches that are back twists, with legs pulled up can really help as can back-arching stretches. I am always happy to advise on stretches & other life style support at the end of a session. 

    At the end of a happy family day we also had a really easy journey back to Devon. It’s lovely to be back in Exeter, in our own home & I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. I am glad that the chocolate gorging is over, mostly my sons still have a bit to work through. I’m sad that we don’t live nearer to the family. I’m happy that yet again I mixed my daily life with a little Shiatsu. 

  • 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 Event North Devon 

    This event is coming up soon now –  I’m offering Shiatsu sessions for just £15 – normally they are £35 – the event is in North Devon – it’s an established fair with over 25 stalls – it’s on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd April from 10am till 4pm – please spread the word & let people know if you think they might be interested – more details at North Devon Mind, Body, Soul Festival. You can book a Shiatsu session in advance here

  • 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 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 Event, North Devon 

    Shiatsu Event, North Devon 

    Another reminder that I will be giving nearly full length Shiatsu treatments for just £15 at the below event in a few weeks time. It is in beautiful North Devon & there are a lot of different people & businesses attending so should be really good. It’s on Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd April.

    North Devon Mind, Body, Spirit Festival

    You can  book a Shiatsu massage session in advance – find me on the above event page & follow the link to book. Look forward to seeing some of you there. 

  • 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. 

  • Easter is coming – Shiatsu is having a break

    Easter will be on us before we know it now. I found these Easter dudes in a charity shop today & decided I didn’t need to put them away for a week so they joined all the flowers I received for Mother’s Day on our mantel piece. It has been a tough school term for us, our first year of school & we are still building the stamina it takes for the whole family to make it through each term! I have decided to take a week’s holiday on the week running up to the Easter weekend. So no Shiatsu week commencing 10th April & back Tuesday 18th April. 

    We are going to spend the week visiting family. So although I am not offering Shiatsu here in Exeter one of my family members will probably ask for a quick treatment – it’s so often the case. We are so well supported by our families it’s actually the least I can do.

    If you would like to know more about Shiatsu or would like to book a massage before I go on holiday then get in touch through the contact me page.