What is shiatsu?
"Shiatsu technique refers to the use of fingers and palm of one's hand to apply pressure to particular sections on the surface of the body for the purpose of correcting the imbalances of the body, and for maintaining and promoting health. It is also a method contributing to the healing of specific illnesses."
—Japanese medical department of the Ministry Welfare (current Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare) in December 1957
Shiatsu means "finger pressure" in Japanese. Shiatsu is the therapeutic bodywork of choice in Japan and has spread across the globe as an effective therapeutic bodywork modality for maintaining and promoting health. The Shiatsu practitioner works primarily with the body's qi/vital energies to bring harmony and relief from pain.
What does it do?
Shiatsu works with Tsubos or pressure points along the energy meridians of the body. These pressure points are like little pots where the body's vital qi ("chee") accumulates. Qi can become blocked or stagnate and by working these pressure points the qi can return to its natural harmonious flow. Through kneading and pressure with thumbs, palms, fists, elbows, knees and feet, the shiatsu practitioner helps to relieve excess, tonify deficiency and remove blockages that cause aches and pains and illness in the body.
The benefits from Shiatsu can be felt immediately. From migraine headaches to rotator cuff injuries, shiatsu is an effective therapeutic bodywork. Over time, with regularly scheduled treatments, Shiatsu gets to the root causes and helps to shift the patterns that give rise to disease and pain in the body.
Shiatsu is also a great self-help modality where clients learn specific pressure points that they can use in their daily lives to improve their overall energy levels and vitality.
Shiatsu is deeply relaxing, energizing and feels great. Clients have described Shiatsu as acupuncture without the needles. Shiatsu is a great addition to your personal health maintenance plan.
Who is it for?
Shiatsu is always effective for people of all ages. From infants to the elderly, everyone benefits from the balancing techniques and harmonizing effects of Shiatsu.
Here are some conditions improved by Shiatsu:
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Headaches (migraine)
- Hormonal imbalances (PMS)
- Fybromyalgia
- Digestive disorders (IBS)
- Auto immune disease (CFIDS/AIDS)
- Allergies and asthma
- Anxiety and grief
- Recovery from illness
- Post-surgical recovery
- Endocrine disorders (diabetes/hyper-hypothyroidism)
- Pregnancy (pre-natal/post-natal)
- Depression
- Physical injury
What is a session like?
What to expect in your session:
Shiatsu is a clothing-on modality. So wear something loose fitting and comfortable. If you wear jeans or carharts, my thumbs will be less able to effectively reach those pressure points in your sacral areas as well as your hamstrings and calves. A session is typically an hour, given most people's busy schedules, but quite a few of my clients have discovered a secret about shiatsu: It really goes into deeper places with an hour and a half.
The first session is an hour and a half because there is a half hour intake which includes filling out a health history and a series of questions that allows me to fit a treatment to your individual needs.
You will be asked to stick out your tongue. Many people are embarassed about their tongues and think that spending a half hour before a session vigorously scrubbing their tongue to make it 'cleaner' will help alleviate this anxiety. Tongue and pulse assessment are a part of a shiatsu therapist's training. It allows us to go deeper and get to root causes of pain and disharmony in the body. Also, about 20 seconds after a scrubbing the condition of the tongue returns to it's natural state, allowing the practitioner to assess energetic patterns present in the client.
It is recommended that you do not eat a meal for at least 30 minutes before a session as there is often some form of abdominal work or stretching that are best done on a less than full stomach.
About David Miller, Shiatsu Practioner:
In January of 2007, I graduated from the Shiatsu Therapy Career Training Program at CenterPoint Massage & Shiatsu Therapy School and Clinic. This professional training program consisted of over 700 hours involving studies in eastern and western pathology, anatomy and physiology and student clinic. My love of Shiatsu began in 1990 at the Desert School of the Healing Arts in Tucson, Arizona where I enrolled in their Zen Shiatsu basics course. At that time I was travelling with a friend suffering from Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome and Shiatsu helped to alleviate some of her symptoms. During this time I lived on an intentional community in Arizona that practiced Jin Shin Do, a gentle form of touch healing rooted in eastern philosophy.
I also bring a great love of herbalism to my practice. In November of 2000 I graduated with a certifcate in the Art and Science of Botanical Medicine from Brighid's Academy of the Healing Arts in Eugene, Oregon. This professional training program consisted of over 400 hours of study in plant identification, wildcrafting, herbal pharmacy, materia medica, and aromatherapy. I work on incorporating bio-regional herbal allies, when called for, into my practice.
I have been a member of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) since June of 2007. I am currently the Legislative Co-Chair of the Minnesota Chapter of the AOBTA.
Rates:
My base rate is:
$65 per hour
$75 for the first session (includes 30 minute intake)
$35 half hour
I believe that shiatsu should be accessible to everyone, and in that effort I offer my clients a sliding fee scale based on income, age and employment status.
- Under 21, FT students, unemployed, retired:
$30 - $0 - 20,000:
$35 - $21,000 - 40,000:
$45 - $41,000 - 60,000:
$65 - $61,000 - 80,000:
$75 - $81,000 and up:
$85
House Calls: I also have a table/mat and will travel. I do make house calls! I add $10 to the cost of the session to cover travel time and gas costs.
I also make receipts for clients for their Flex Spending accounts, and several of my clients use their Health Insurance accounts to cover their sessions. Many people do not know that they have this option, so it's good to check in with your Health Insurance provider to see if this is an option for you.
For the vast majority of us who are uninsured, or whose insurance does not cover 'alternative therapies,' I offer my sliding fee scale to try and make it more affordable
And of course, real solutions will come with comprehensive health care reforms. As the legislative co-chair of the Minnesota Chapter of the AOBTA (American organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia; click here for the national AOBTA website), I am working hard to help ensure that as reforms are enacted, included are effective therapies like Shiatsu that people are currently paying out of pocket to receive.
***Gift Certificates available on request!