Quiet Stream Shiatsu

Emily Fowke, Shiatsu Practitioner (MrSS), in Central Cambridge



Shiatsu is a clothed body massage which involves the use of relaxed body pressure, mainly in the form of palming and thumbing, but also with vibrational, tapping and other techniques. It follows along specific energetic pathways of the body (as per acupuncture) (which to a western mind might equate with the connections of the nervous system and the fascia of the body.)

The shiatsu style I practice uses occasionally firm but never heavy pressure, to be a comfortable, reassuring experience, which can connect deeply into the body/mind/emotional centre.

For a shiatsu session you wear comfortable trousers/top and socks, and cloths are used on areas of bare skin. The practitioner will often check the stomach area - which we see as having diagnostic areas to it (and is known in Japan as the 'Hara'), to help work out which channels of the body to work on in the session.

You might lie on your back/sides/stomach or a combination of all of these for a shiatsu massage. Shiatsu can also be carried out on someone sitting or standing - but I don't normally do this.

Shiatsu is performed traditionally on a futon or using a massage bench - I use a massage table.

Before a session it's best to avoid a heavy meal and its also a good idea to allow a stretch of time to be quiet in after a session in order for the experience to sink in.