Often referred to as acupuncture without needles, shiatsu (meaning finger pressure) is a traditional style of Japanese bodywork. My learning from @zenshiatsuchicago is informed by the work of Shizuto Masunaga and instructors and students of this style and philosophy. 

 

Shiatsu is deeply relaxing. Often people express afterwards a feeling of having woken from a deep restorative nap. Shiatsu practitioners listen to what their clients are asking for and work to provide just that. Whether it is attention to a certain area of pain or tension, a desire to feel grounded and at ease, a need for deep breathing to help release emotional holding, or asking to feel warmth and lightness, each shiatsu session and the quality of touch reflect how you are wanting to feel.

 

Shiatsu translates to “finger pressure”, yet it is so much more. It is the art of finding space, leaning into emptiness, and nourishing an openness that softens and allows for smooth movement of Qi.

 

On the physical level this looks like gentle traction, exploring range of motion, promoting mobility through passive movement, and applying satisfying pressure that sinks into the whole body. We work both the energetic meridians of Chinese medicine as well as the fascial network that is the matrix of our bodily integrity.