Zen Shiatsu

What does a Zen Shiatsu treatment involve?

The first treatment begins with a short case history, enabling me to get a clearer idea of the areas/issues on which you would like to work.

Treatments are usually carried out with the client lying down on a low treatment couch or futon mattress, wearing loose, comfortable clothing. I will start by observing your energy field and applying gentle touch to various points on your abdomen (or ‘hara’ – our energy centre where all the meridians converge) in order to identify any areas of imbalance (blockage or deficiency) in the meridians.

Next I will use a combination of gentle pressure, stretches, manipulation and more static touch to help relax and realign your whole body, re-balance the flow of energy throughout your system, and promote a sense of mental and emotional well-being.

What conditions can Shiatsu help?

Shiatsu has shown to be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including: back/neck/shoulder pain, headaches and migraines, TMJ/jaw issues, digestive and menstrual irregularities, arthritis and frozen shoulder, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and much more.

The Theory of Zen Shiatsu:

Oriental healing is based on the understanding that, at the subtlest level, everything in the universe is composed of ‘ki’ (or life force energy), including human beings. Our ancestors were intuitively aware of this, but our modern Western culture has all but forgotten.

As human beings, our ki is circulates throughout our systems in various ways: one of these is via lines or channels (meridians) that run throughout the body. We remain healthy and in balance when our vital energy runs smoothly and evenly throughout our meridians. However, our ‘ki’ can sometimes become either blocked or deficient when subject to excessive external challenges or internal stress. For example, eating a lot of processed foods, excessive mental/emotional stress, living an a polluted or damp environment, spending too much time on the computer or improper breathing patterns can all affect the quality and flow of our energy. When an energetic blockage or imbalance becomes pronounced, it eventually manifests as a physical ‘symptom’, such as back pain, headaches, fatigue or constipation. The body is signaling that there is an underlying imbalance present.

In order to alleviate the symptom, it is important to identify and address the root cause, as well as use some form of energy work (e.g. shiatsu, reiki, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi or qui gong) to re-balance the body’s vital energy.

In Zen Shiatsu, I focus on balancing the energy in both the meridian system and the auric field so as to help bring about balance to the entire system.