Natural Harmony ~ Centre for Well Being
A centre of excellence for Shiatsu Powys, Mid Wales.
What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a hands on bodywork that originates from Japan. It is received fully clothed on a comfortable futon matt. The aim of Shiatsu is to help you balance and support your energy, body and mind.
Using palm and finger pressure, various techniques may be used depending on what you are needing, such as stretches, rotations, muscle and joint release/support and working with energy points and pathways on the body.
It can be experienced as deeply relaxing and supportive, helping awaken your own healing system within, as it is your own body that does the healing. Shiastu offers a way to ease many painful conditions, such as back or neck pain, muscle and joint pain, or body stiffness and also includes energy and emotional support. More conditions are listed below, in the practicioner's leaflet and on the Shiatsu society website. www.shiatsusociety.org
Common conditions which can be helped by Shiatsu include:
- asthmatic symptoms, breathing support
- Back Pain
- circulation
- depression, emotional support
- digestive problems
- headaches and breathing difficulties
- joint pain, reduced mobility
- menstrual problems, pmt
- sports injuries, strains
- stress
- whiplash, neck stiffness
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How does a Shiatsu treatment work?
A diagnosis is made, then the practicioner will help support you, your body and energy with what is needed to attain optimum health and balance.
Using a similar theory to acupuncture, the practicioner works with points and energy pathways on the body to help regulate the flow of energy within you. (No needles are used in Shiatsu, it is purely a touch, hands on therapy).
Along with this energy based approach, the use of stretches, rotations to limbs and holding in key areas may also be used, giving Shiatsu great depth in helping you, the receiver, find healing and support.
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Is Shiatsu massage?
Shiatsu is known as Japanese Massage in some places in the world. It uses physical leaning in pressure, stretches and point work to relax and reduce muscular tension and joint/body stiffness. However, unlike massage, the receiver remains fully clothed during the treatment and the principle aim of Shiatsu is not to work on localised areas, such as muscles and joints (though they will be included), but the overall energy system of the client.
A shiatsu practicioner working on a shoulder joint, for example, will not just focus on the joint, but the patterns that may have created any imbalances and the energy flow throughout the whole of the client's body.
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Is Shiatsu healing?
The aim of Shiatsu is to help "awaken your own healing system within". It is more accurate to say Shiatsu aids healing, rather than does the healing. It is the receiver's own body and energy that does the healing and balancing, whilst the practicioner's energy and touch along with universal energy help facilitate this.
This is a a different approach for example than Reiki, where the energy is channeled from practicioner to client.
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Is Shiatsu painful, is it safe?
By the nature of Shiatsu, it is unlikey for it to have harmful effects. The focus of a treatment is to facilitate a shift within the body, supporting the client wherever they are at, helping relieve and release areas of weakness or stuckness. Sensations are felt by the receiver, as the Practicioner works on areas that need attention, this may sometimes be slightly uncomfortable, but it is a gentle sensation bringing awarness and new balance to the area being worked on.
The practicioner will always work with what's best for you, the aim is not to hurt you, but support you.
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What do I need to know after treatment?
A treatment may take 24-48hrs to settle, so it is helpful to be as gentle as possible within this time, avoiding any strenuous activity while your energy is settling. Drinking plenty of water to help flush out any toxins will benefit you. Most people just feel relaxed and enlivened after.
But should any headaches, tiredness, body aches, stomach upset or a desire to urinate frequently occur, this will pass, it is just the body's way of letting go.
If emotions arise after a treatment, allow them to be and take note of them. They may be something you are happy to look at yourself, find meaning from and let go, or you can bring up in the next treatment anything you want to discuss. The practitioner will advise you as best she or he can, if it seems appropriate for the client to see another therapist or counsellor at any point with emotional issues that arise, that are needing support.
You also are very welcome to phone the Practitioner to discuss anything, or for advice.
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At the Natural Harmony Centre this service is delivered by:
Sarah Churcher Owen
Sessions are typically about 1hr in duration and cost £40
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