Why Shiatsu?

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The key to what makes Shiatsu different
from most science-based as well as
complementary medical systems
​is that it is soul medicine. 

Alice Whieldon

I have been asking myself this question quite a few times in the last weeks. Having spent most of my time on producing marketing material for my brand and concentrating on how to get the general public to know What Shiatsu is, I one day realised I lost sight of why Shiatsu was my chosen go to therapy and especially why I felt like it was my passion.

Shortly after that realisation, and the upcoming urge to give a lot of Shiatsu to find its magic again, I gave a treatment to a new receiver. He had never had Shiatsu before and had only read about it because he saw me posting about it on social media. My post has caught his interest.

I hadn’t given a full hour treatment in a while and I felt the pressure of wanting to win a regular client. However, as soon as I set down next to him and focused on my alignment I was calm.

The treatment was a great experience for me and as it turns out for him too. I could feel a lot of Ki movement in both his legs, there were acupressure points I could fall into. I felt blockages release under my mother hand whilst I was working down his meridians.
I was amazed by what I felt and the hour past by very quickly. I was very pleased with the treatment. Even more so when he confirmed that he felt great. He could feel energy flow as well and was astound by it having never felt anything like it before.
On my way home I knew I had reconnected to the answer to Why Shiatsu? by giving this treatment.

I wrote about my story and how Shiatsu saved me in last months blog. So I can say that my passion for and confidence in Shiatsu really started as a 16 year old teenager. Receiving Shiatsu for almost 3 years every 2 weeks changed my life and helped me transform into a more confident life loving young woman. If that isn’t a valuable answer to Why Shiatsu I don’t know what is but of course there is more to it.

To be honest I can’t really recall how or what I felt during a Shiatsu treatment back then. I only know that I enjoyed it immensely and I felt a lot better after every treatment. I also didn’t know any of the theoretical background of Traditional Chinese Medicine or Masunaga Theory. I didn’t seem to feel the need to look it up either. I knew it made me feel great and that was all that I needed.

Now, of course after having studied Shiatsu for 3 years in college and continuing to be more and more interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Masunaga Theory, I know the background. However for me the theoretical background gives a map or a more ‘scientific’ explanation of what happens when you get touched or touch someone with Ki rather than a real explanation of what Shiatsu is in its core.

Alice Whieldon – Chair of the Shiatsu Society – said ‘The key to what makes Shiatsu different from most science-based as well as complementary medical systems is that it is soul medicine’

I love that –Shiatsu is soul medicine. For me that is the truth of Shiatsu.

As soon as you feel that mindful touch filled with Ki and the intension to help you heal yourself you can let go of everything. That is how I can describe how I feel when I receive a Shiatsu. Being free of all my thoughts, feelings, aches and pains. Falling into me and just being my truth. Even if it is just for an hour – most of the time the effect of the treatment carries on beyond that hour.

Over time the body and mind remember its healing abilities and who they are. The beauty is that Shiatsu is a holistic therapy – body, mind and soul are all one and are all integrated in the treatment. If your mind is in pain your body might manifest the pain and your soul might fight the pain because the pain is not its truth. Shiatsu is balancing this disrupted energy flow.
That is pretty much why Shiatsu is my chosen therapy to receive.

It is also my passion because of the above said but there is more to giving Shiatsu. 

A lot of gratitude goes out to my first Shiatsu Therapist. She not only opened my universe to Shiatsu she also once said to me ‘you would be really good in giving Shiatsu’. That stuck with me for years but I was too scared to embark on Shiatsu training.

After University and realising that what I had studied for 6 years wasn’t my passion I started the adventure of my 3 year Shiatsu training. I loved it from the first day on. All the theory seemed so logical to me and I welcomed that it seemed to be away from the western medicine doctrines.
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When giving a treatment I love the exploration of the Ki relationship between me as a Shiatsu practitioner and the receiver. Feeling the flow of Ki and releases of energy in their body is a great experience. I only focus on the receiver and their flow of Ki that I feel. It is a mindfulness practice as I am there in the moment my full attention lies on one thing and I watch the changes with excitement and acceptance. Judgement free. Giving Shiatsu is a treat in itself.
 
So in short – Why Shiatsu?
Because Shiatsu is a healing art connecting mind, body and soul to bring the life force in balance and flow and remind the individual of their own healing capabilities. Shiatsu makes you go back to your soul and be your truth.
Shiatsu is balancing body mind and soul to live your life in a more harmonious way. Therefore Shiatsu is a lifestyle choice of mindfulness and balance.