Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: therapy

  • Shiatsu Summer holidays, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu Summer holidays, Exeter, Devon 

    Right now I am in the throws of the very last Sunday night before a week of school for the eldest, pre-school for the youngest & work for my husband & me. Bring on the school holidays, 5 days & counting, how I loathe the amount of preparation I have to do usual on a Sunday.

    I am so looking forward to hanging out as family. Eating breakfast in as many stages as the kids want, rather than trying to make sure enough food has been guzzzled in one quick sitting to get through to lunch. Asking the kids what they’d like to do that day. Heading to the beach, river or moors. Enjoying the world through the eyes of a 5 year old & a 3 year old. Look I know there will be tantrums & fall-outs but there will be jokes & laughter too, plus hoping there will be a little more sleep & a little less tiredness – lets see.

    I am looking forward to the holidays but I am also looking forward to working quite a bit through it. I am still offering my usual availability every week except two weeks (when we hope to be camping.) I love giving Shiatsu & I understand lots of people are away in the Summer but I will be offering relaxing & peaceful Shiatsu massage as much as I am able to.

    I have some spaces left in August so do get in touch if you want to book in.

    So wish me luck for the last week of school, getting us all through it! Have a great Summer & any questions please feel free to get in tiuch through the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Shiatsu tasters tomorrow, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu tasters tomorrow, Exeter, Devon 

    Come find us – 12-6 – Priory Park, Exeter. 

    Shiatsu massage tasters for just £5 or £10. 

    The weather is supposed to be good – theres loads of other stalls – live music – food & drink 

    Hope to see you there. 

  • Shiatsu this Saturday – Exeter, Devon 

    This Saturday my colleague & I will be at the Exeter Lions Gala Day – in Priory Park, Exeter – giving Shiatsu massage taster sessions – details of the event here 

  • Emotional Support with Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

    Emotional Support with Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

    Although Shiatsu is a physical massage therapy it can be really helpful & supportive on lots of different levels. 

    I had a client recently who commented that the treatment was completely emotional for them. Although I was physically massaging the client they felt a strong sense of emotion as I worked them, they said they hardly felt the massage as it was all emotions. 

    The stresses & strains we experience in life are often held in our bodies. Oh bodies become a physical history of our lives, injuries or accidents the body sustains & emotional tension from difficult times or issues we experience. 

    Shiatsu is a supportive hands-on therapy. Just having a gentle human touch can give a sense of support. Shiatsu is a safe space, the body can release tension, the client can feel & listen to their body & any emotional response that arises. 

    A client may find that an unexpected emotion arises but they generally feel safe & secure enough to simply feel the emotion, maybe cry or express how they are feeling. The emotinal release often comes with a sense of relief or acceptance. 

    Further Shiatsu treatments can be booked to work with the emotions further, to deepen the clients understanding of how they are feeling or to release futher emotional tension. Shiatsu massage is gentle, it meets the client how they want to be met & never pushes the client, it gives space to the body to chose to release tension or not.

    If you would like to know if Shiatsu may be able to help you please get in touch – 07791 070837 – or though the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Feeling stuck in a rut? Try Shiatsu – Exeter, Devon 

    Feeling stuck in a rut? Try Shiatsu – Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu massage can be a great support if you are feeling like you are stuck in a rut or you feel stuck where you are & have little options for change. Similarly it is a great support if you feel indecisive, if you can’t make a decision or have too many decisions to make.   

    These scenarios indicate a specific diagnosis. The meridians that are affected are the ones relating to the Tree element. This is one of the elements in Five Element Diagnosis, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one form of diagnosis that Shiatsu massage uses. 

    The Tree element is in balance when there is a good flow & fluidity in the body. You can imagine a strong tall tree, that is secure in the ground, is rooted well, it also moves with ease when it is blown by the wind. When the Tree element is out of balance the body is stuck or stagnant, the tree is brittle & inflexible in the wind, branches may snap or the roots may be pulled up. 

    Shiatsu massage works to balance the energy in the body. It can give the client back the flow & fluidity that they may have been missing. When the energy flows better then the mind & emotions also flow & adapt better. I get comments from clients that they feel they have options after having Shiatsu, they are more focussed & motivated, they have their drive & determination back. When you have these things you can make decisions with more ease, you can take steps to make changes & you can feel more relaxed & at ease in general.

    If you would like to know if Shiatsu massage may be able to help support you then do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu! 

  • How does Shiatsu massage differ? Exeter, Devon 

    How does Shiatsu massage differ? Exeter, Devon 

    I get asked, quite often, how Shiatsu massage differs from other forms of massage. It’s both hard & easy to answer this question! It is difficult to really know what people’s experience of massage is, as there are so many different types & different practitioners, so it’s hard to compare. It is easier to explain what Shiatsu is…..

     Shiatsu is a hands-on therapy that originates from Japan. It uses Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & touch as it’s forms of diagnosis. It works to balance the energy in the body, using the same pressure points & meridians (lines of energy) that Acupuncture & Acupressure use. It uses a lot of massage techniques, palming, thumbing, rotations & stretches. The whole body is worked. It can help with physical, mental or emotional issues or concerns. 

    The big differences to massage (ones I’ve had anyway) are:

    • Shiatsu is given on a futon mat on the floor
    • It is always given through clothes
    • It is never the same, it is tailored to that client, on that day
    • It can be quite physical, when appropriate, with stretches & rotations of joints

    If you would like to know more about Shiatsu you may want to visit the Shiatsu Society website.

    I have a Facebook page for details of events & offers.

    You can have a look at the other pages on this site, where there is information & photos.

    You are welcome to get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page with any questions or queries – I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu. 

  • Shiatsu event – Saturday 15th July – Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu event – Saturday 15th July – Exeter, Devon 

    A week today a colleague & myself will be at the Exeter Lions Centenary Gala Day – giving Shiatsu tasters for £5 & £10. The event is in Priory Park, Mount Pleasant, Exeter. The park is near to the city centre & there is on street parking. It sounds like there will be lots of stalls, activities & live music. 

    A taster is a perfect way to try out Shiatsu, to see if you like it & whether it has an affect on you. In just 10 or 20 minutes you can get a really good idea of what this form of massage is like. 

  • Self Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon 

    There are 6 stretches that relate to the meridians, lines of energy, that are worked on in Shiatsu massage. These stretches can be done away from a Shiatsu session. It’s great to do them daily, they stretch the meridians, bringing energy to places where there is little & loosening tightness & stagnation in other areas. 

    As the stretches are done its important to remember to:

    • Gently warm up before & down after 
    • Listen to your body, be kind & don’t push to hard
    • Take a few breathes in each pose
    • Feel how your body reacts to each pose, tight, loose, easy, tough
    • If the pose feels good stay for a couple more breathes 
    • If the pose feels less good come out after a few breathes
    • Do each pose twice, feel the difference the second time

    I am always happy to show how the stretches go at a Shiatsu massage session.

  • Shiatsu event, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu event, Exeter, Devon 

    On July 15th a colleague & I will be offering Shiatsu tasters at the Exeter Lions Centennial Gala Day. This event is in Priory Park, in the Mount Pleasant area of Exeter. We will be offering taster sessions for just £5 & £10. More details of the event can be found here.

  • Shiatsu for digestion, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu for digestion, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu aims to rebalance the energies in the body & this can be really helpful for people who suffer with issues with their digestion. When the body is balanced & the energy is flowing well the digestive system works well, the movement of food & liquid is smooth & happens with ease.  

    When the energy is low or stagnant, when there is an imbalance, the digestion system can be easily affected. Maybe there isn’t enough energy to fully break down or move the system along, maybe there is too much energy & there is a tightness, blocks or stagnation. 
    When I have given Shiatsu to clients with digestive problems they have said that the issues have eased or have been relieved & this has happened quite quickly. Shiatsu can get the bodies natural flow & rhythm balanced, so that symptoms are relieved & systems in the body work better. 

    If you would like to know if Shiatsu could be of help to you or if you have any questions please get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.