Shiatsu

About shiatsu

Shiatsu is a manual therapy developed in Japan, with its roots in classical Chinese medicine. Shi-atsu literally means ‘finger pressure’. Shiatsu aims to restore a disturbed energy balance and to support the body’s capacity to heal itself.

Iokai Shiatsu relaxes and calms, and can contribute to deeper, more restful sleep. People come for shiatsu with, among other things, muscle and joint complaints, stress and tension, fatigue, sleep problems, headache, and complaints around menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

See also the article Shiatsu: what does the research say?

Basic principle

When life energy flows freely through your body, you feel healthy and energetic. When that flow is disturbed, physical or emotional complaints can arise. Iokai Shiatsu is characterised by treating the whole body, along the meridians: the channels through which, in Eastern medicine, Ki or Qi flows.

Treatment makes disturbances in the meridians noticeable and aims to release or soften them, so that balance can return.

Treatment

Iokai Shiatsu is given fully clothed, traditionally on a cotton futon on the floor or a treatment table. Loose clothing made of natural materials is best.

The first session starts with an intake interview. We decide together how often you come. A session takes 60 minutes. Avoid a heavy meal beforehand, and drink plenty of water or herbal tea afterwards.

Complaints

People come to Saskia with, among others:

• Stress, tension and burnout complaints
• Sleep problems
• Fatigue
• Neck, shoulder and back complaints
• Headache
• Menstrual complaints
• Complaints during pregnancy
• Inducing labour
• Menopausal complaints
• Digestive complaints
• Relaxation and recovery after illness, surgery or chemotherapy

Pregnancy

A lot changes in your body during pregnancy. Shiatsu during pregnancy helps you experience your body more consciously, so you can approach the birth relaxed and with confidence. The sessions are tailored to you: shiatsu, movement and breathing exercises, on your own or with your partner.

Shiatsu and Mensendieck exercise therapy are well suited to pregnancy and put no extra strain on mother or child.

Combined with Mensendieck

Saskia ten Brinke is both a shiatsu therapist and a Mensendieck exercise therapist. If a combination can help your recovery, we will discuss it with you; usually this means a combined session. We only do this if you want to.