Shiatsu
What is it?
Shiatsu is a non-invasive body therapy which has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is safe and effective in pregnancy (see research)
How Does it work?
A Shiatsu Practitioner will work with your Qi (sometimes spelt Chi or Ki) – pronounced Chee.
Qi is often described as energy. More specifically, it is your essence – what makes you, you.
Just as a River contains River Qi which makes it a River as opposed to, for example, a Tree, so your Heart, Lungs, Liver etc. are all containers and manufacturers of specific kinds of Qi. So we can talk about Lung Qi and Heart Qi etc.
The body is forever seeking harmony and balance and in Traditional Chinese Medicine and dis-order or dis-ease is a disturbance of Qi.
A Shiatsu Practitioner will, by diagnostic means, discover where the imbalance might be and work to support your body in correcting it.
What Can I expect from a Treatment
A typical treatment will last 50 minutes and will take place on a futon on the floor. You will be fully clothed throughout.
A full medical History will be taken and questions may be asked about your lifestyle – sleep patterns, diet and so on
The Shiatsu Practitioner will do a gentle diagnosis – usually by feeling your lower abdomen or looking at your tongue – or sometimes both.
Once diagnosed, the treatment given will depend on what is needed – sometimes just gently holding and sometimes quite vigorous stretching and rotating the joints.
The Shiatsu Practitioner will work Meridians – pathways of Qi - in your body. This will mean that he or she will apply pressure both with her full hand and with her thumb to specific lines.
Most people find shiatsu extremely relaxing and come away enlivened. They find they sleep better and awake refreshed.
What conditions can Shiatsu help
As shiatsu is based in Chinese Medicine – a full medical system - it can be helpful for all conditions.
Has it been researched? Yes!
A recent research study was carried out by Thames Valley University and revealed that shiatsu had the following specific effects:
- reduction of lower back pain
- reduction in fatalities in Angina sufferers
- reduction of anxiety (and so adverse symptoms) in people receiving chemotherapy
- increase in spontaneous vaginal birth in pregnancies which were post-term
- reduction in anxiety and labour pain in birthing mothers
- reduced nausea in a number of conditions
- increase in sleep quality in the elderly
