Qi Energy Massage

SHIATSU

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Shiatsu

ABOUT ACUPRESSURE...

Acupressure is a modified version of acupuncture that uses finger pressure instead of needle insertion. There are hundreds of acupuncture points on the human body, with about 360 of these points on 14 different meridians. Shiatsu and Acupressure can be considered the same methodbecause they both deal with these points or "tsubos"; however, Shiatsu is much broader when it comes to methods of evaluating and the way it is actually applied onto the body.

ABOUT SHIATSU...

“Shiatsu” literally means “Finger Pressure”. Its purpose is to energetically balance Qi energy flowing through the body via the traditional energetic meridians. It is used to aid the body's healing process and bring it into homeostasis. Shiatsu does this by blending the Body/Mind/Spirit into one harmonious balance.

ABOUT 5-ELEMENT THEORY...

5-Element Theory is an American style of Shiatsu which blends many different types of Eastern bodywork and classical Chinese medical principles dating back approximately 4,500-5,000 years. It uses many different aspects of traditional Eastern methods in conjuction with the body’s system of energy flow to bring the physical body into balance and homeostasis with our emotional mind and our spirtiual being. Together, this balance promotes, maintains, and restores the body’s health.

ABOUT THE SESSIONS...

Unlike a Western Philosophy, which separates or lives from our dysfucntion, 5-Element Theory views our disharmonies of physical and emotional life as a cause or affect of disharmony within the 12 meridians and within the 5 elements. In simpler terms: A 5-Element Theory Shiatsu Practitioner will see the overall condition of the client as a reflection of the client’s entire life. Their physical, physiological, mental, and emotional levels will all be assessed and addressed as a whole.

A 5-Element Theory Practitioner seeks out patterns of disharmony, deficiency, excess, and dysfunction of the body, mind, and spirit and perceives these findings as a reflection of the individual’s entire life. This goal is to balance all 5 elements individually and in unison using the principles of Kyo and Jitzu, Yin & Yang, and Qi Energy so that the body, mind, and spirit are connected and balanced together.

With this premise in mind, the condition will be assessed and evaluated, a treatment plan will be formulated, and the treatment will be executed dynamically, smooth, and extremely focused. Every Shiatsu practitioner works differently, there is no one form or protocol to this type of work.

Each session uses massage, pressure, movement and/or heat differently based on one's energetic balances & imbalances of the 5 Elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. Their usage within a session is dependant on each elements Yin & Yang energy, Qi flow, and the state of one's spirit, lifestyle, and emotions. Once the most Kyo and the most Jitsu elements have been determined, then we can begin to balance the body, mind, and

spirit and bring it into a homeostatic state of existence.

TRADITIONAL FLOOR or TABLE...

A traditional Shiatsu session does not incorporate the use oil, and is performed clothed and on the floor or table. There is an energetically dynamic communication of Qi flow between practitioner and client which is connected through the practitioner’s choreographed balletic session. These practices are unique to Eastern philosophy where the power differential between client and therapist is non-existent and the theory is rooted around the transference of energy rather than just the transference of touch, as in traditional western massage therapy. You have the choice to decide whether you want a Table Shiatsu or a Floor Shiatsu.

About the 5 Elements

5-Element Theory is based on various stages/phases of our life cycle. Named after nature's elements, the 5 Elements correlated to everything in the universe, including our movement through space and time.

These Five Elements symbolize our life phases:

Wood is Childhood/Spring
Fire is Young Adult/Summer
Earth is Middle Age/Late Summer
Metal is Old Age/Fall
Water is Death and Transformation/Winter

The 5 Elements are also based on a circular balance of energy.

Each element must be strong enough to balance its “controller” and the element that it is “controlling”. This relationship is seen all over the natural world: Survival of the Fittest, the balance between species among the food chain, and among humans in their relationships towards each other. A person with a Water Type Personality might be objective, careful, and perceptive. This type of personality can slow down and relax a person with a strong Fire Type personality that is extremely enthusiastic and prone to excess. Consequently, the enthusiasm of the Fire Type person can hold back the linear, impatience and rigidness of a person with a Strong Metal Type Personality. Metal is also known for its aggressive competitive nature and powerful decisiveness. These qualities match will with Wood Type personality that is decisively impatient. However, the bold ambition of a highly motivated Wood type Personality can give a Earth Type homebody the motivation to go out and be less territorial and see the world. And finally, the nice and loving humanitarian Earth Type Personality will be a great asset to that introverted Water Type person.

About Yin & Yang

YIN YANG

Yin and Yang are two distinct states of being which make up the universe, are in constant never-ending motion, and can not exist without the other. Their existence is based on their opposition and attraction towards one another.

Yin is the core basis for Yang and Yang is the expressive manifestations of Yin. Because of this connective duality, there will always be a little bit of Yin within Yang, and a little bit of Yang within Yin. The symbol of Yin & Yang represents this dualistic nature within each other.

The dualistic nature of Yin & Yang is what causes the tensions within the body, mind, and spirit and can take our Qi Energy out of balance and into the Kyo an djitsu states of imbalance.

YIN

Yin, as it applies to our bodies, is the stored essence of ourselves and shows itself on the more protected,front and inner surfaces of the body. It can be described as shadowed, cool, and stored. It has the ability to cool, nourish, provide rest, and aid the body in a quicker in recovery when necessary. Yin allows us to use our energy more efficiently as Yin energy is slow and therefore capable of nourishing the body more efficiently.

YANG

Yang as it applies to our bodies is our outward personality and expressive qualities in lifeand expresses itself on the harder prtective and defending surfaces of the body such as the Back and sides. It can be described as bright, warm, active and has the ability to heat up, light up, and energize the body for strength, expression, and defense. Yang energy is quicker and faster, allowing us the strrength, energy, and endurance to move through life actively protected.

Benefits

Physiological Benefits of Shiatsu

1. Increases Circulation

2. Stimulates Blood Vessels

3. Decreases Stress Levels

6. Decreases Tension

7. Stimulates the Nervous System

8. Bring Balance to the Autonomic Nervous System

9. Promotes Healthy Skin

10. Enhances Healthy Muscle Tissue Quality

11. Stimulates Healthy Digestion and Peristaltic Contractions

Metaphysical Benefits of Shiatsu

1. Brings Unity to our Mind, Body, and Soul

2. Even, Smooth Qi Distribution Prevents Diseases

3. Balances Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Dysfunction

4. Balances Qi flow within Meridians, Tsubos, Elements, Organs, Tissues

5. Balances Qi flow between the Mind, Body, & Spirit

6. Helps to focus our thoughts

7. Centers ours Mind

8. Promotes Body Awareness

9. Attends to Functional & Structural Dysfunction

About Qi Energy

Qi is not accurately translatable in the English Language. Although the concept of Vitality comes as close to a rough translation as possible. Another way to describe Qi is to use a candle burning as an example. The process of the Flame burning down the candle would be comparable to our lifeforce, Qi, which is depleted as we continue on our journey through life. Just as the candle eventually burns out its flame, we too eventually burn out our Qi, the source of all of your bodily functions, our thoughts, our lifes activites.

About Kyo & Jitsu

KYO & JITSU

To be balanced in life, our Qi needs to be running smoothly and freely though the body. Anything can cause a disruption is the smooth flow of Qi, Physical stress, trauma, injury, emotional stresses, mental fatigues, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, too much sleep…etc. Since Yin and Yang seek to achieve balance in Qi flow, a disruption of flow will disrupt balance. Shiatsu sets out reestablish this balance and smooth flow of Qi by either tonifying to increase defficient Qi flow, or dispersing to sedate excessive Qi flow.

Kyo and Jitsu are the terms used to describe energy when it is either excessive/Jitsu, or defficient/Kyo. These two terms, Jitsu & Kyo, reference the quality of energy, they are not co-existing forces like Yin/Yang.

The primary goal within Shiatsu is to bring Qi back into balance from either a Kyo or Jitsu state. Imbalances in any part of the mind, body, spirit connection will be expressed as either an excess or deficient state. Once imbalances have been identified, then the work to balance the Yin & Yang of all the Elements can begin.

To understand Kyo & Jitsu and how a Shiatsu practitioner deals with the two states, think of your stomach and the effect food has on it. When there is insuffficient food, we become weak, and our stomach feels empty and yearns to be filled with sustenance. But when we over eat, such as at a Thanksgiving dinner, our stomachs become extremely sensitive, bloated, and will sometimes reject anything touching it or anything else we try to put into it. A better way to deal with a full stomach is to indirectly pull the energy away from it by taking a walk and increasing our metabolism for digestion, resting until the stomach settles.

Kyo and Jitzu use the same basic principles.

KYO = Deficiency, Lack of or Decreased Energy Flow, Emptiness

JITSU = Excess, Too Much or Increased Energy, Fullness

Types of Shiatsu Offered

YIN SHIATSU

YANG SHIATSU

Qi-ENERGY CHART

Qi-ENERGY CHART & CONSULTATION

5-ELEMENT THEORY SHIATSU

Announcements

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