Shiatsu

What is Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese treatment method based on eastern philosophy and ‘Shiatsu’ literally means ‘finger- pressure’. It works with the meridians as an energetic bodywork under the premise of the unit of body-mind-soul.
Shiatsu can support and treat people through careful, ‘unintentional’ and deep contact, leaning, stretching and rotation… ‘Unintentional’ in this context means: the practitioner uses his/her perceptions, uses his/her impulses received from the client’s body.
Every human being is dependent on his/her own story and life circumstances; due to our personal story, we develop different patterns/attitudes, and we react in different manners to stimuli from the outside… This means that each person must to be treated in his/her own individual way.
Shiatsu is based on Chinese medicine and the teaching of the 5 elements and the existence of Qi = the life energy.
Since the 20th century Shiatsu is a recognised profession in Japan and came over to the west in the 1970’s. Zen Shiatsu was developed by Shizuto Masunaga; he started his research in his 70’s. It contains a theory which integrates totally the practical work during a session. He joins the traditional use of Shiatsu as a folklore natural healing, with the roots of Chinese medicine, with the psychology of the west, with physiology, with the philosophical bases of Zen Buddhism and with the experiences of thousands of treatments = joining the eastern with the western theory and the actual practice.
As a result, you find a system with a human being as part of universal energy-system. In this system the life energy – Qi/Ki – runs in the meridians (energy lines) in a constantly flowing manner.
Actual mental states (well-being, health, hurts and pains, emotional conflicts etc.) are frequently an expression of free flowing or stagnating or lack of energy.

How does it work?
Shiatsu supports the free Qi/Ki flow and leads us to a better sensitivity and self-awareness. This can be a possibility to come back to a adequate balance – health.
As a Zen Shiatsu practitioner you go in an aware and open contact with the energy pattern of the client. The clients body leads you to put impulses.
Stagnation can start to move, energy lacks can be filled, connections to themself can take place.
Consciousness about – Who am I? What are my needs? Where am I inside right now at this moment? – grows… the connection to the real moment arises – and not to our wishes.

Shiatsu Treatment
Shiatsu is recommended for people with physical, emotional or mental stress, exhaustion or pains, after sicknesses/accidents, for recovery, as a prophylaxis for your health or as a support on your spiritual path.
Normally a Shiatsu treatment takes place on a mattress on the floor or on a massage table and you stay comfortably dressed.