Counselling & Shiatsu

Category: work stress

  • Busy lives, burn out & Shiatsu – Exeter, Devon

    Busy lives, burn out & Shiatsu – Exeter, Devon

    I’ve been prompted to write this particular blog today as I have personally had a busy, stress-inducing, multi-tasking frenzy of a day.

    I questioned what my life was about as I drove to two supermarkets with my 2 year old in tow. Ideally I would stay away from Supermarkets but we are not in a position not to try & buy things at the lowest price we can. One of the supermarkets have the only healthy bars my eldest son will eat, the other the only one that has the washing powder we use.

    I then tried to catch up with emails whilst cooking lunch for the two of us, also unpacking the shopping. My two year old couldn’t wait for food! At this point the postman arrives with a number of parcels (upcoming birthdays & no time to buy presents so online gits purchased.) I sign for the parcels whilst my son chooses this moment to need a poo, out comes the potty, off goes the cooking lunch, apologies to the postman.

    Lunch eaten & rain pouring inside play it is. Reading stories & I have a telephone call about Shiatsu. Whilst talking to a possible client I am opening & emptying play dough pots to entertain my son whilst I chat. He is pulling at my leg & I give in, pick him up & head to the kitchen for a bribery snack.

    It gets even more complicated once I pick up my eldest son up from school & don’t even imagine what it’s like once my husband is home. Suffice to say I have made it to this point in the day, a little weary & with a slight headache!

    I am going to sign off from this blog, leave the washing up & toys on the floor & take an hour to rest, chill, relax & just be. I am writing this almost to force myself to do this as I know when I try to slow down & relax it will be harder than I think.

    Lives for us seem to be non-stop. There are people which much busier & more stressful lives than me & there seems to be an expectation that we just keep going, relentlessly. Rest & quiet seem the least important thing & actually they are the most important. Without rest & deep stillness our bodies don’t recoup the energy we exert & then we risk burn-out & serious health issues.

    Shiatsu massage is a great break, for an hour, away from the world. Supportive & nurturing touch, nothing to do but lie down & breathe.

    There are also many ways to get some peace & stillness into daily life. 5 mins of meditating or breathing if that is all the time there is.  I have advised clients in the past to schedule in rest times when they are filling their diaries. Don’t fill up all your time & hope you have some left for yourself, book in the space first then the work around it.

    So this is me signing off, I’m going to do some stretching exercises, some sitting Qigong & a little mediation. Maybe tomorrow will be a little less full-on……….

  • Shiatsu for the whole body, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu works with meridians, lines of energy in the body & Tsubos, pressure points. These are the same meridians  & points that are used in Acupuncture. As the meridians run across the whole length of the body the massage can be given on one part but will be working the whole body. I often get comments from clients saying that they feel a sensation in another part of their body to where I was working.

    Being able to work the whole body as one can be really helpful for very painful or inflamed injuries. Rather than working on the sensitive area distal work can be done. Similarly if there is a large area of tension that won’t release with direct massage this can be worked from other areas of the body.

    When I am working the feet, for instance, I will be conscious of the whole body, what effect the massage is having & where.  As the meridians run the whole length of the body you can work one part of the line of energy & the whole line will be worked. Symptoms can be relieved & also a general sense of more energy & flow can be felt.

    If you are interested in finding out more of if Shiatsu maybe able to help then do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Shiatsu, Exwick, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu, Exwick, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu is a form of massage therapy that has its origins in Japan. It involves lots of different massage techniques & the client is fully clothed. It is given on a mat on the floor, although it can be given in a seated position if lying isn’t comfortable. 

    It’s an enjoyable & relaxing experience, the client can feel calm & peaceful. It is tailored to suit each client on the day they are treated, so each Shiatsu treatment is different. It can be a very satisfying experience with a lot of ‘that’s the spot’ moments.

    It’s a form of massage therapy that is suitable for all. It is great for young & old, for babies & children, for families, for pregnant ladies. I have had clients come for a wide range of complaints or concerns, backache, siatica, chronic pain, headaches, neck ache, depression, stress, anxiety, work injuries, relationship difficulties or breakups, pregnancy & fertility.

    I have been practicing Shiatsu massage in Exwick, Exeter for 5 years.  I have been qualified for 7 years having completed the 3 year training course at the Devon School of Shiatsu. I have continued to complete professional development work since I qualified.   

    My practice room is calm & quiet. There is easy on street parking & it’s easy to get to by bus or train. The space I offer is a chance to step away from life for an hour, to take a breath, to have nothing expected of you, it’s safe & confidential, supportive & nurturing.

    I love Shiatsu as a form of therapy, it is gentle & not intrusive. I love the effect it can have on people’s energy levels, focus & drive. It is a pleasure to see people have relief from symptoms & to feel taller & stronger. It is a powerful form of healing that is also enjoyable, supportive & comforting.

    I’m also happy to talk Shiatsu so do get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. Have a look on my Facebook page & please like if you fancy it. You can check out the Shiatsu Society website for information on Shiatsu. 

  • Shiatsu Stretch for tiredness, Exeter, Devon

    There are set of stretches that go alongside Shiatsu. They can be done at home, to support Shiatsu treatment & to encourage well-being. This stretch is a great stretch if you feel tired & drained. It’s good if you have done too much & feel like you are burnt out. It is great if you have fatigue or exhaustion. Like all stretches it is important to not push too far. This is particularly important if you are very tired, pushing too hard may use up the last of your energy & leave you feeling worse.

    You are looking to stretch the meridians, lines of energy, that run along the back of your legs & down your back. Remember to warm up before, breathe whilst stretching & only go as far as your body is comfortable with.

    You may want to get a big cushion to rest your torso on, once you have leant forwards. This is a great stretch to hold for a long time, at least a few slow breathes.

    The body should feel stretched, of course, & lengthened.  You should feel quieter & more peaceful. You may want to meditate or lie afterwards, as this is the sort of energy you may generate doing the stretch.

    It is really easy to overstretch ourselves, there seems to be so much to do & so much demand on our time. This stretch helps renew Water Element energy in the body. Shiatsu uses 5 Element theory as one form of diagnosis.  Within 5 Element diagnosis the Water energy is so important, it is our vital energy, our core energy. If we push to do too much in our lives & don’t rest enough our core energy can be used up, then we feel deep tiredness & exhaustion. Using this stretch regularly, daily, can help build core energy & relieve tiredness.

    Try it out & let me know the results, I’d be interested in knowing what effect it had on you. You can get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. I’m always happy to talk Shiatsu so any questions or comments please send me a message. 

  • Shiatsu & Springtime, Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu & Springtime, Exeter, Devon

    Spring is a time of budding of opening of new life & new starts. This goes for us humans too, Spring is a great time for coming up with ideas & new ventures, for jotting down our dreams & aspirations. A time to enjoy our creativity & draw inspiration from the new life emerging around us. 

    Spring is the time of year that relates to the Wood element, within 5 Element diagnosis, which Shiatsu massage uses as one form of diagnosis.  If you imagine a tall, strong tree moving & swaying in the wind, this is the wood element in harmony. The body feels flexible & fluid. The mind & emotions are flexible & adaptable. Everthing happens with ease, joints move smoothly & the whole body is supple.

    When the wood element is out of balance you can imagine the tree in two ways. One, it is brittle & unflexible, unable to move with the wind, it is stiff & may break, or becomes rigid & stuck in one position. Two, it is too eager to grow & expand, it pushes itself higher forgetting its lower trunk & roots, it becomes thin & weak & can be pushed too much by the wind. Again it’s the same with our bodies, we can become inflexible, rigid with tension, we can become stuck in a rut. Or we can become too driven, push ourselves too hard, we can become driven by our emotions, become angry too quickly for instance. Often this also leads to a lot of tension, headaches & eye complaints. 

    How do we keep our wood energy in balance then? Well Shiatsu massage is a good way to start!! Of course I would say that right – so let’s come back to that. Here’s some tips that you can use on yourself at home. 

    1. Stretch every morning & night – just 5 minute if that’s all the time you have. Be gentle & don’t push too hard, listen to your body. Warm up before stretching. Work on your neck & shoulders & your inner thingh – all places where tension maybe found with excess wood energy.

    2. Massage your feet before bed – just 2 minutes is fine – relax & calm your body to get a good night’s sleep & bring your energy away from your shoulders & neck.

    3. Eat as little fried food as possible. This can really encourage the wood energy to stagnant, so leave it alone where possible.

    4. Eat your greens – not salad or stir fried greens – eat deep, dark, rich greens, steamed with a little soy sauce or sea salt. This supports the flexible & adaptable Wood energy.

    5. Meditate & rest when you can. Quiet, calm stillness builds Water energy & in turn this feeds the Wood energy.

    So back to Shiatsu massage. It can be great if you are feeling stuck or stagnant,  it can be great for tension or strain, Shiatsu massage can be a massive energy boost. It is a relaxing & enjoyable experience & afterwards you may feel invigorated, energized, more flexible & adaptable. 

    Similarly if you are feeling over-worked & stressed, like there is too much happening & you can’t settle, Shiatsu massage can be calming & centering. Bringing you back to a place where you can feel your roots & the strength in your trunk. Quietening the mind & emotions & giving some sense of strength in your core. Shiatsu works to balance the energy in the body, to get the tree strong but flexible as it were. 

    If you’d like to know more please get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. There’s more info on th e other pages on this site too. 

  • Shiatsu Massage for Injuries, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu Massage for Injuries, Exeter, Devon 

    Shiatsu can be really good for supporting injuries, from accidents, falls, car accidents for Instance. Shiatsu is a form of massage therapy that has many different techniques, allowing the injury to be treated in a lot of different ways. It is possible to treat directly on the injury, with gentle general or specific pressure. When this is not appropriate work can be done either side of the injury, bringing focus, energy & healing through the injury. Similarly distal work can be used, points relating to but a way away from the affected area can be worked.

    If an injury has been sustained it is good to have Shiatsu massage as soon as possible afterwards. The quicker the injury is worked on the more likely it is to be eased. As time passes injuries become chronic & then it can take longer to see results. It is totally possible to work on chronic issues & our bodies hold a physical memory of what has happened to us I  our lives. 

    I have had clients who have come for Shiatsu massage as they have injuries sustained by a fall. I have had clients come for a frozen shoulder, due to strenuous work. Clients have injuries to their backs, due to the type of work they do. I have used different techniques to support these clients & have seen positive results.

    If you are interested in knowing more then do get in touch through the contact me page.

  • Get up & go – Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon

    Here’s a great stretch for mornings or when you need to get going & don’t fancy doing much! It fills your lungs with fresh air & is a good stretch for the whole body.

    Breathe in as you raise your arms to a comfortable height behind you. Always be gentle & never push to hard.
    Breathe out as you lean forwards, again being gentle – it’s not about going as far as you can it’s about enjoying the stretch, your breathe going out & the feeling of movement as the energy flows around your body. 
    This is a makaho exercise, they go alongside Shiatsu massage. They help stretch specific meridians, or lines of energy in the body, the same lines that Shiatsu massage works with. If you’d like to know more feel free to get in touch through the ‘contact me’ page. 

    Thanks for reading & a happy & calm day to all xx 

  • Shiatsu Massage – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu is a form of massage therapy that originates from Japan. Literally translated Shiatsu means ‘thumb pressure.’ 

    Shiatsu massage uses a number of different massage techniques including thumbing, palming, stretches & rotations of joints. It can be quite a strong & physical massage or a quite & gentle massage, it is tailored to the clients needs. 

    Shiatsu massage is given on a mat on the floor, it can be given in a seated position, or on a massage chair. It is always given through clothes. It is relaxing & also energizing. It is enjoyable & satisfying.

    Shiatsu massage is suitable for all & can be helpful for a whole number of complaints & issues. It is good for stress & sleep. I have had success with clients who have come with back, neck, hip & knee pain. I have had clients with chronic pain, emotional distress, headaches, Siatica, digestion issues & work stress. 

    A Shiatsu treatment is roughly an hour long, with a consultation at the beginning & at least 40-45 minutes hands on massage. I work in a quiet practice room in Exwick, Exeter, Devon. Do have a look at the other pages on this site for more information & get in tiuch with any questions. 

  • Shiatsu Event – June – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu Event – June – Exeter, Devon

    The year is whizzing by & before we know it, it will be June already. My colleagues & myself will be giving Shiatsu massage tasters at Exeter Respect Festival again. We are going to be in the healing area this year, which is a little away from the noisy main stage & community stalls. The tasters will be 30 minutes long, so not much less than a full treatment. 

    You can find more about the festival here

    It’s a free festival with so much going on & an amazing message behind it. It’s such a happy day & represents Exeter so well. Shiatsu massage fits in perfectly & is a great break from all the dancing, stall-wandering, chatting & fun

  • Shiatsu Musings – Exeter, Devon

    Shiatsu Musings – Exeter, Devon

    So I have struggled to get to this blog over the last week. I was busy giving lots of Shiatsu at the weekend. One of the principles of Shiatsu massage is to be effortless, to not work at giving the treatment. However doing numerous massages over two days made this difficult & I was tired afterwards.  

    Then I returned back to Exeter to my children, this was the first time I had been away from them over night. My eldest took it in his stride but my youngest struggled & for a couple of days he really made me know that he had missed me! Following that he has now got ill & I was up all night with him, with earache.

    In amongst this I have managed to update my Shiatsu accounts, ready to do the dreaded tax return. I have arranged a couple of new Shiatsu opportunities & have seen new clients. I do enjoy working for myself & mixing my work & home life so closely but it has meant I’m not left with much energy at the end of the day. 

    I have been doing Do-In every morning, waking each of the meridians, lines of energy, that Shiatsu works on in the massage. Taking time to wake up my joints & limbs, focussing on each part of my body.  Rubbing & gentle hitting the meridian lines. Stretching & rotating my joints. This has helped re-build my energy after the busy weekend. 

    I have used Shiatsu to support my own digestion. I have had issues with this in the past & generally I am ok now. I ate different things at different times this weekend & this has left me in some discomfort. Shiatsu can be really good for digestive issues, for reflux or heart-burn, for IBS or constipation. I have worked specific points, or Tsubos, & have relieved the symptoms I had. 

    So a busy Shiatsu week down here is sunny but freezing cold Exeter, Devon.  Even when I’m busy I still have time to chat Shiatsu so if you would liek to know if Shiatsu may help support you then do get in touch. you can do this thriugh the ‘contact me’ page. You can also check out & like my Facebook page for offers & events. You can also head to the Shiatsu Society website for information on Shiatsu massage.