Counselling & Shiatsu

Counselling and Shiatsu Therapy – Exeter, Devon

  • Shiatsu view of the world – Colour in the dark 

    So yesterday I talked about resting in the dark months of the year, building & storing energy ready for the spring & summer. Its also important to have some exercise, to ensure a good balance in life. Today my toddler & me headed out into the cold & slightly damp air to get some fresh air. We managed a moderate amount of cardio-vascular exercise, too much takes away the energy we should be storing & growing. 

    It was pretty dull down here in Devon, dark clouds over Exeter & surroundings. Drizzle was in the air but luckily not too much of a wind. We were careful not to be out to long, stayed well wrapped up & listened to our bodies when we had done enough. We headed home to the warmth & snuggled with books to recoup any energies used.

    Today was however pretty dark & dreary so we took the challenge to find colour in the dullness. Please excuse the poor photography (completely my fault) This is what we found….

    Beautiful purple stems on this bare shrub

    A couple of stray rosehips still about

    Vibrant gorse 

    We also saw a couple of signs that spring is not quite so far away 

    Catkins

    Sheep just been visited by a ram – pregnant maybe?!?!?

    It cheered our spirits spotting small amounts of colour under the grey clouds & reminded me to make the most of small things. I also appreciated the reminder that taking a few deep breaths of fresh air can re-energize the body. I did a few stretches that support the lung & large intestine meridians & felt a good flow of energy fill my body. I feel lucky that I studied Shiatsu & 5 element diagnosis, it helps me keep perspective at times & helps me keep my health balanced. 

    If any of this resonates with you & you would like to know more about Shiatsu please head to the ‘contact me’ page. I am always happy to talk Shiatsu.

  • Blue Monday blues? 

    I don’t really understand how they decide that today is the most miserable day of the year but I definitely understand thd idea of January blues. Having spent a lot of money on Christmas then having the exciting high of the festive period & new year it can feel hard to get back into the routine if work,school, daily life. January is a long month & the pay-day also comes along a good while after the December one.

    We’ve been relatively lucky with the weather this month, so far, no sign of the blizzard & snow-drifts we were told were coming, well at least here in Exeter, Devon. The morning’s are dark & generally cold & there is no evening thanks to the long nights. Sorry not sure I’m cheering anyone up here! We all feel it at this time of year. 

    What are January’s for? Moping & feeling low? 5 element theory, the form of diagnosis that Shiatsu uses says that we should rest & regroup & strengthen our roots in the deepest winter. We should be still & rest, just be. Not be looking forward or planning or pushing to get things done. If we rest & wait now our bodies will strenghten & be ready to start planning in the Spring & bringing projects to fruition in the summer. We have plenty of time to socialise, go out, exercise, work-hard & inevitably spend money later in the year. 

    Rather than feeling sorry & low we can take this opportunity to listen to our tired & pushed bodies & rest & be quiet. As much as our busy lives push us on if it’s possible to find at least moments of still now in January we should feel more energy later as the days get longer. Just a thought!

    Shiatsu can help us reconnect with what our body needs, in each season. Shiatsu can also help to recharge ourselves & our bodies. If you would like to find out if Shiatsu could help support you please get in touch. Details on the ‘contact me’ page. I practise in Exwick, Exeter, Devon & if you are feeling the blues or aches & pains (so common in the cold weather) you may want to arrange a Shiatsu massage.

  • Free Shiatsu massage taster sessions

    I think Shiatsu massage is an unique & flexible hands-on therapy, obviously, I spent 3 years training to qualify! However I know that quite a few people haven’t heard of it & don’t know what is involved. I wish this was different & that more people understood how many benefits Shiatsu massage can have. I love promoting Shiatsu & trying to get the message out there.

    Shiatsu is not as well know as some other alternative therapies, Reflexology, Acupuncture, Osteopathy. It is a relative new-comer to the therapy party, having originated in Japan as many different forms of massage it became a recognised form of massage through practitioners developing it in the western world. There are a number of Osteopathy & Acupuncture clinics in Exeter, Devon but not one Shiatsu clinic. There are a handful of us practising Shiatsu in Exeter & although it is beginning to become known-of it is still a challenge to promote Shiatsu & it’s benefits. 

    Over each year I do a number of events promoting Shiatsu massage. Sometimes this is with other Shiatsu practitioners & sometimes alone. The aim is to do events that are free or very cheap so that everyone or most people can afford to have a taster session, & hopefully get the buzz that Shiatsu can produce. I have a few events lined up this year but I am always looking for further opportunities. Shiatsu can be given pretty much anywhere, festivals & fairs of course but also in workplaces, cafes, shops, libraries & at pamper evenings & parties. 

    If you have an idea of an event that Shiatsu would be good at then please do get in touch. Events that I attend are generally in the Exeter area but I’m also happy to go further afield. Contact details can be found on the ‘contact me’ page. 

    Thanks for reading & happy Shiatsu buzz to all.

  • Shiatsu to support resolution

    We are now well into January, it already feels a long time ago when we were looking forward to the new year & the opportunity for new starts. Resolutions are important, & making changes to feel more positive. Motivation & drive help us achieve the goals we set, some people are able to self-motivate & find the drive they need, most of us need some support. 

    When we experience life, emotions, mental stresses & strains, work, family & relationships it is also held physically in our bodies. People often mention that they hold their tension in their shoulders or neck, but it can also be in other areas & more integral to the body. The energy in the body becomes inflexible & stagnant, it doesn’t flow or move well around the body. As much as our experiences are absorbed into our bodies so our bodies affects our thoughts, emotions, motivation & drive. The energy doesn’t flow, so thoughts & emotions are tight or inflexible too. 

    Having resolutions is very important, it can get to a point where it seems harder than it should be to push through & drive for goals. Then maybe it’s time to get some outside support. Shiatsu massage can bypass the ‘head’ stuff, the over thinking, it focuses on what is happening in the body, right then. Getting the energy to flow & move in the body allows the mind & attitude to follow. Things then seem to just flow, become easier, with more ability to be adaptable & flexible. This really supports self-motivaton & drive & can help resolutions become nature & daily habit. 

    If you are feeling a little stuck & that you may benefit from some support you may want to try a Shiatsu massage. I practise in Exwick, Exeter, Devon in a quiet, calm space. You can contact me on the ‘contact me’ page. 

  • Shiatsu massage – Exeter, Devon

    My Shiatsu massage treatment sessions are filling up for this month. I have available sessions on Wednesday 25th January & Saturday 28th January. You can book a Shiatsu taster session this month for £20 (usual cost £30/£35.)

    I blog as much as possible on this site but I also have lots of pages on here, with information about Shiatsu & my background. There is also a page with photos so you can get an idea of what a Shiatsu treatment is like. You may also like to have a look at Shiatsu society website, for further information.

    There is also my Facebook page to have a look at. You may also be on Twitter & in which case you may want to follow me @AmyHinks. Any questions please contact me – details on the ‘contact me’ page.  Many thanks for your time reading this! 

  • Shiatsu massage as a client

    So I haven’t had a Shiatsu massage myself for quite a while & after a hectic Christmas I decided to book one. I managed to get time away from my children, enough to have a cup of coffee beforehand & a couple of hours after to rest. I was absolutely on time, punctuality is always helpful to a practitioner, & I wanted to get as much hands-on time as possible. 

    I had a brief discussion with the Shiatsu practitioner about why I was there & what I hoped for from the session. This was interesting, being on the client side of the discussion, I realised that up-most on my mind was the wish to be lying down & having the Shiatsu. Note to self: get clients onto the mat as quickly as possible, they are there for the massage!

    I was determined to make the most of the massage, not to be second guessing what my lovely colleague was going to do & critiquing her work. However I enjoyed feeling what was absolutely brilliant & the moments (not many) that were a little less fluid or a little shaky. I chose to say once that I felt the work was a little strong, & I chose to trust the practitioner a couple of other times. 

    I was giving Shiatsu’s later in the same day & I was able to ask my clients at certain points if the work was too strong or too soft. I asked them to be more communicative within the treatments, ensuring they still got the same level of relaxation. I worked hard on seeing the treatment from their point of view, how much movement did I make, how much did I move them, how much quiet work opposed to strong or fast work was there. I hope that the clients felt very well supported & listened to, that there needs were met. 

    Having Shiatsu massage myself helped me give better Shiatsu massage to others. I need to have more Shiatsu! I think I can manage that. 

  • Still time to get a Shiatsu bargain 

    I’m offering Shiatsu massage taster sessions for just £20 – but for just this month only. Sessions are filling up but I do still have some treatments available before the end of January.

    If you’ve not tried Shiatsu before this might be the ieeal opportunity. Maybe you would like to see how it differs from other massages or other alternative therapies; acupressure, reflexology, reiki.

    Or if you suffer with aches & pains, back issues, hip & knee issues, fatigue, stress or you are going through a difficult time at the mkment then you may want to see if a Shiatsu massage can help.

    The sessions are roughly 30 minutes long & they will have has much hands-on in the time as possible. In a short period of time a Shiatsu massage can really help. 

    I practise in Exwick, Exeter, Devon & have been qualified for over 6 years, following completing the 3 year diploma course. I will hapoily answer any questions you have so please contact me – details on the ‘contact me’ page.

  • Well we have got our son to 5 years old!

    When I’m not working as a Shiatsu practitioner I am looking after our two young boys. We celebrated our elder son’s 5th birthday today with a trip to the cinema & a picnic in the park. Aptly we watched a film called Storks, which is about Storks delivering babies, then diversifying to delivering packages, before realising they should be delivering babies after all. It was apt as there were many comical nods to the trials & difficulties that parents face.

    The last five years have been the most rewarding but also the hardest, sleep deprivation, endless logistical organisation, complete mess & chaos, total lack of personal space & button-pushing boundary challenges! There is however nothing like a child climbing into your lap, or taking hold of your hand as you walk along. Watching them learn & explore is fascinating & has re-opened my eyes to the world. Hearing them giggle when you play them warms your soul, or when they quietly come & say ‘Mummy’s the best’

    So why am I writing about this on my Shiatsu page? Well being a parent has allowed me to feel unconditional love & shown me that I have quite a capacity to feel & give love, it has taught me that I can nurture & care for others but also hold boundaries when necessary. These things have helped better my Shiatsu practise. I have become more comfortable & confident when a nurturing or mothering touch is important in a treatment. I feel its important to support Shiatsu clients with an openness & a sense of care, being a parent has given me more confidence to do this fully, knowing I can hold the professional space & boundaries at the same time. This being so important for practitioner & client. So if you would like to try a supportive & nurturing Shiatsu massage with me go to the ‘contact me’ page for details.

  • What is Shiatsu?

    I have recently placed an advert on a different website to I have used previously – I have found myself describing Shiatsu a number of times. I have directed people to this site & the information pages but also to the Shiatsu Society & to my Facebook page. 

    I find that I give slightly different information to each person, generally based on either their e-mail or phone manner, as I don’t see them face to face when they enquire. I try to ask questions & not make presumptions but it’s almost impossible. So I have taken to having a few set phases, but also explaining on how I view Shiatsu. I want new clients & I think Shiatsu is absolutely brilliant so I try not to bombard with huge amounts of information but I want people to know the difference between Shiatsu & other massage. I am incredibly proud to offer Shiatsu & I’ve realised I have to show this when I’m explaining it!

    So what is Shiatsu? It’s a form of body work the originates from Japan. It is gentle & powerful, it works on the principle that there are lines of energy in our bodies & Shiatsu works to rebalance these. It can be energizing & invigorating as well as relaxing. It is given on a futon mat on the floor & the client is fully-clothed. This allows a lot of movement, stretches, rotations, within the massage. It is brilliantly supportive & nurturing & gives space for the body to rebalance & recharge. 

    If you are interested to trying a Shiatsu then please get in touch – details on the ‘contact me’ page

  • The spleen in me! Shiatsu, Exeter, Devon 

    The diagnosis used in a Shiatsu treatment is rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) & the five elements, fire, earth, metal, water & wood. The theory is that when in balance the 5 elements support & feed each other, they also help keep each other in check, the fire is not allowed to burn too brightly for instance. In practice most of us have an imbalance within the five elements. Often the water element is low, this shows through tiredness, lower back ache, fears & phobias along with a number of other symptoms. The idea is that the symptoms shown begin to build a picture which leads to a diagnosis. In Shiatsu, being a hands-on therapy, touch is then used as another form of diagnosis, often supporting what has begun to show through a verbal consultation.

    Personally I have a long history of an imbalance with my earth energy, along with water & wood. The earth governs the idea of self, nurture, ideas & the mother. So having already a tendency to imbalance within this element it is of no surprise that when I became a mother it became more & more pronounced! TCM attaches two meridians, lines of energy in the body, to each element. The meridians are named after organs in the body. This doesn’t mean that all the issues relating to the meridian are specifically to do with the organs. the two meridians that relate to the earth energy are the spleen & stomach meridians. 

    I have recently had a lack of energy & drive (water element) a sense of frustration & inflexibility (wood element) & a tendency to mother anyone who comes within 3 foot of me & to burst into heart felt tears over anything (earth element.) This culminated today in me leaving my eldest son at school & beginning to drive home (he has just begun school this year & doesn’t particularly like it.) I listen to the radio as I drive & someone’s great aunt is about to turn 100, I begin to cry. I walk by the river with my youngest son & another child is trying to feed the ducks but the seagulls keep getting the food,  I start to cry. A friend tells me her son is not working for his exams, I start to cry…..you get the idea. Leaving my son at school is tough & can feel upsetting (he is fine 5 minutes after I leave) but today the balance tipped over, this was an abnormal reaction & not necessary!  After I had picked my eldest up from school I took the children to a pet shop, as I had to pop into another boring shop nearby. I was very close to walking out with a bearded dragon, 2 long-eared rabbits, a handful of hamsters & a poor dog that kept barking in one of the vet consultation rooms! 

    Enough, definitely the balance has tipped , I cannot look after (mother) these poor animals, we have no space & no time.  I cannot kept pretending I have a sniffly nose when I start tearing up in the street! I came straight home & booked a Shiatsu session with a lovely fellow practitioner. I am also about to curl up, with the heater & a fluffy jumper on, to read, now the kids are asleep (finally!) & my mothering duties are done. It is so important to listen & react to our bodies, emotions & our mental state. Shiatsu can really help ease things, like a bit of oil, to get the cogs working together, smoothly again. Also stopping, being & trusting our instincts. Nearly every time my clients know what is going on for them & what might support & help them.  If you are interest in knowing more about Shiatsu massage then please contact me, details in the ‘contact me’ page.