Shiatsu and the Benefits of Stretching

Those who have received treatments from me are familiar with my stretching techniques. I incorporate them into treatment and suggest them for home care. I always receive positive feedback from these stretches. The joints, muscles and spine are gently directed to elongate. You feel more relaxed, taller and pain is lessened.

Stretching should be a part of any exercise routine; it increases flexibility helps prevent injury, improves circulation, range of motion of joints, and helps with posture. It is also a great way to reduce stress. The overall effect: daily tasks are easier to perform. Tasks such as bending and lifting are trouble-free, balance is improved, and muscles recover from injury more quickly.

In shiatsu, the stretching performed during treatment is referred to as passive stretching. A position is held with the assistance of the therapist. It is used to target tight and hard to reach at muscles. When muscles are stretched, blood flow increases and pain decreases. There is also the added benefit of having the muscles of the surrounding area manipulated by the therapist to address related physical pain issues.

For home care I suggest active stretching - holding a position and targeting specific muscles unassisted. This encourages tight, tired muscles to release and improves flexibility. As your shiatsu therapist I tailor the stretches. If you are not used to it, we start slowly and build the routine. Most people feel the benefits immediately.

It is important to find the time to stretch. Do them at home or at work. You can even research a yoga class in your neighborhood, (specifically Hatha) to help improve your flexibility and strength. Yoga also gives you an overall sense of well-being. Yoga classes have the added benefit of an instructor and the discipline to steady your mind for at least an hour.

When stretching remember:

1. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely. Think of your muscle as plasticine. You need to warm them up before they can lengthen.

2. Breathe into the stretch. Inhale and slowly exhale into position. It may be possible to lengthen the stretch while exhaling. Don’t hold your breath. This is a relaxing exercise.

3. Do not bounce. You can tear the muscle and cause pain and injury.

4. Do not force. If it hurts, you've gone too far. Ease off to the point where you don't feel any pain, then hold the stretch. Eventually the length will increase.

Please contact me with any questions regarding stretching techniques or how shiatsu can benefit your overall health and wellness. I look forward to hearing from you.

Chronic Pain and Fatigue, Can Shiatsu Help?

Let’s get right to the point. Yes, Shiatsu can help with chronic pain and fatigue. First I’ll discuss chronic pain and fatigue then discuss how shiatsu can help. Chronic pain is pain that has lasted for over 6 months. It can cause inactivity, weakness and inflexibility of the muscles. The body cannot circulate blood and dispose of toxic waste effectively. Cancer, fibromyalgia and arthritis, spinal injuries, headaches, and nerve damage can cause chronic pain. This differs from the acute pain that results from immediate trauma or a condition that warns the body that something is awry. In effect there is no function for chronic pain; it has long served its purpose for warning.

Pain is perceived differently by each individual. Factors that can influence perception include: emotional and mental attitudes, previous experiences, and developmental predispositions. It can be frustrating for those who suffer from chronic pain where there is no physical explanation. Their pain is real and it important for the therapist to recognize this. Fatigue can be a result of chronic pain or vice versa. Usually fatigue and chronic pain are felt together. Poor diet/lifestyle, medication, excess mental stress and illness are contributing factors. Fatigue can be felt physically through headaches, malaise and insomnia. Also psychologically through poor memory, fogginess, anxiety, frustration and depression. These symptoms can make it difficult for people to live their daily life normally. They can also lead to dependencies on medication or even on people. Shiatsu addresses both the physical and psychologically aspects of chronic pain and fatigue. In the traditional sense, shiatsu brings the body into balance. Pain is the blockage of Ki (vital energy) and shiatsu moves this blockage so Ki can circulate uninhibited. When Ki circulates it enables the body to perform all its necessary functions for good health. For more information: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_9_36/ai_n16765893 From a Western perspective, shiatsu treats the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) which controls the body's internal state. It is responsible for unconscious activities such as: digestion, heart rate, respiration, etc. The PNS promotes the calming and relaxing the body and mind. When the PNS is stimulated healing begins. This is an important aspect in the treatment of chronic pain and fatigue. My shiatsu treatments always involve your participation in treatment planning. Together we discuss the location of pain, triggers, what aggravates or relieves it. We go over your daily routines: sleep, diet, work habits, etc., and make changes. Energy can improve significantly and can be immediate. Shiatsu treatments plus lifestyle changes - the results can be amazing! Please feel free to contact me anytime. I would love to hear from you.

Shiatsu at the Downtown Jazz Festival's Artisan Village

The Downtown Jazz Festival's Artisan Village is on from June 20 - 29, 2008 at Nathan Phillips Square! I'll be there promoting and providing the benefits of Shiatsu on Saturday June 21st 12pm - 6pm and Tuesday June 24th 12pm - 8pm. Click on the image for more details. Come by the booth and say Hi. Peruse the village. It will be a fun and exciting event with musicians and artists throughout the square. Lots to see and do. I'll see you there. ~ JoAnn Booth # 17 - south east corner of pool/ice rink.

The Benefits of Shiatsu.

Shiatsu is beneficial for many reasons. It can be used as a tool to prevent illness by decreasing stress, relieving pain and gives the therapist a tool to "read" the body. In effect I have treated insomnia, chronic and acute pain, headaches and anxiety. Treatments are used to balance the body. For example, if you have a pounding headache, most of your energy is in the top half of your body. I will almost always work on your feet before your head. Why? To bring that energy down and ground you. During the treatment your breathing will slow and become deeper. This will have a very calming. Another example would be pain/stiffness in the hip. After the assessment I will determine which channel the pain/stiffness lie. Shiatsu is about balance. The area of pain could be considered jitsu - an excess of energy. Close by, there will be a kyo area - a deficiency. The treatment will entail moving the excess towards the deficient. Good pain will be felt. That "ah" feeling is the movement of energy. Pain is decreased and the body feels more balanced. Shiatsu is a full body treatment that includes Hara, the body's centre. Hara diagnosis allows me to have an energetic understanding as to what is happening in the body. Again, I look for jitsu and kyo areas. Hara diagnosis allows me to note: fatigue, neck pain, a busy mind, constipation or irritability. The shiatsu technique involves longer/deeper holding on kyo and shorter/dispersing pressure on jitsu. This results in balancing the body's energetics. The effect is felt immediately and even days afterwards.

Balance is key to our body wellness. We should not always be too happy, angry, sad and stressed for long periods of time. We should not suffer pain, headaches or even PMS. There is an imbalance. Shiatsu allows the body to balance and heal. Wellness is the goal.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Act, 2006

It is slowly coming to fruition - Transitional Council of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO) has been established. Therefore, in a few years the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) will become regulated. This is important as it is a means of protecting the Ontario public by assessing and determining the qualifications of those who practice TCM in Ontario. The CTCMPAO will regulate it's members as the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Optometrists, Massage Therapists and Physiotherapists do. I will keep you up to date on the progress of the TC-CTCMPAO.

Treating Headaches with Shiatsu

Shiatsu is very effective in treating headaches. Before treating, I want to know:

1. Where is it?
2. How long have you had it?
3. What does it feel like
4. What are the triggers? What makes it feel better?

It is important to treat the whole body and focus on channels where the headaches lie. Generally, shiatsu treatments include head, face, neck, back, arms and legs: grasping the muscles and applying acupressure on key points such as GB 20, LI 4 and LV 3. Organs (energetically speaking), involved usually include Liver, Bladder, and Stomach. They are usually imbalanced and it is the job of your therapist to bring harmony back to your body.

An assesment is necessary to determine the type of headache you experience and how to rid yourself of them for good.

Please contact me should you have and questions.