Monica Konrad

What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a type of energy-based bodywork originating in Japan. There are different styles of Shiatsu practised today, but as a hands-on therapy its foundational roots lie in a blend of East Asian and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shiatsu aims to encourage the smooth flow of energy throughout the body, restoring balance and supporting the body’s inbuilt healing ability.

Shiatsu therapy is very effective for unraveling the physical and emotional stresses of daily life. As a professionally trained Zen Shiatsu therapist, my sessions offer you an integrated body-mind experience that will support you to feel more relaxed and at ease in yourself. Imagine feeling calmer, more grounded, kinder, and more accepting towards yourself, your body softer, more open, and alive. These are just some of the many benefits Shiatsu can bring to your life.

What conditions can Shiatsu help?

Shiatsu therapy has proven positive effects on the body’s physical structures and the internal organs. It can also help the emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of our being. Shiatsu can be a very effective therapy for releasing patterns of holding and relieving pain, assisting both chronic and acute conditions. Shiatsu is highly versatile and can be tailored to your individual needs and concerns.

Some common presenting conditions:

• general weakness
• muscle stiffness, rigidity
• frozen shoulder, back pain, TMJ conditions and other musculoskeletal issues
• respiratory system disorder
• digestive system issues
• prolapse
• facial palsy
• anxiety, worry, stress
• sleep disturbance
• menstrual cycle and infertility
• chronic fatigue

Other conditions can also be supported by Shiatsu.

Benefits

There are many benefits of Shiatsu therapy for the body and the mind. Amongst other changes, clients often report:

• feeling calm and relaxed
• pain relief
• improved energy levels
• nervous system balancing
• emotional regulation
• improved sleep
• immune support
• improved digestive function

How does Shiatsu work and why it is effective?

Shiatsu works with the body’s meridians (energetic pathways) and tsubos (acupoints). Shiatsu therapy is informed by the Five Elements and TCM to support the individual’s Ki for healthy, balanced energetic levels.

The therapeutic effects of Shiatsu are linked also to the benefits of piezoelectrical stimulation for the body’s health. We now know that at the tissue level, the body generates tiny electric fields when parts of the body are touched, moved, stretched or compressed. Scientists call this ‘piezoelectricity’, and the ‘piezo-electric’ effect refers to how such information is electrically conducted through the body’s energetic systems – for example, nerves use electricity to transmit information; muscles use electricity when they contract; and the brain uses lots of electricity to think! When you receive Shiatsu, this supports self-healing and the coherent functioning of the body’s connective tissue network with its properties of natural bioelectrical signal transmission between every single part of the body.

What happens in a session

In a Shiatsu session, and following your initial therapeutic consultation, you will remain comfortable and clothed whilst selected areas of the body including meridian pathways and acupressure points are contacted.

Shiatsu therapy is often a deeply relaxing experience, and you may fall asleep during a session. According to your specific needs, various therapeutic touch techniques are used to assist the movement and gathering of Ki energy – this may involve applying gentle, sensitive, and adaptive depth of pressure with the fingers, palms, forearms or elbows, gentle stretches, holding, joint mobilisations and slow rocking movements. These techniques are performed to affect the physical structures and meridian rebalancing of the body and whole energetic system.

Shiatsu is usually given whilst you are lying comfortably on a supportive floor-based futon. If preferred, you can be seated in a comfortable chair. Alternatively, an adapted Acu-Chair can be used.

A session usually lasts 75 minutes. A course of Shiatsu therapy may be needed, and this will be discussed with you.

What is Shiatsu?

What is EFT?
Emotional Freedom Techniques, also known as EFT or tapping, is a powerful, evidence- based self-help and therapy technique. It combines ancient Chinese acupressure with modern energy psychology.

EFT works by facilitating the process of releasing deeply held emotional patterns that may contribute to pain, discomfort, anxiety, and limiting beliefs. It involves focusing on an issue and tapping through a series of points based on meridians in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Benefits of EFT
EFT reduces, among other things, stress, trauma, overwork, sleep disturbance, physical and emotional pain, or tension. EFT also helps with chronic fatigue, weight loss and other energetic imbalances, habitual behavioural patterns and beliefs, as well as complex issues such as loss, grief and burnout.

How EFT works
The now more than 120 scientific studies have shown that EFT works 3 to 5 times faster than classic methods and changes the gene expression of 72 genes. In the UK, Australia and the USA, EFT is already part of psychotherapy and/or mental health care.

What happens in a session?
A session usually lasts one hour, and dependent on the issues presented, a course of sessions is advised – this will be discussed with you. The techniques are gentle yet powerfully transforming, and you will remain comfortably seated whilst tapping.

Similar to acupuncture but without the use of needles, holistic Acupressure is a comforting touch to restore function and promote a sense of deep rest for body and mind.

Beneficial for several conditions, it can assist with physical issues, such as helping to strengthen the immune system; supporting circadian rhythm and sleep; assisting with the removal of toxins from the body; reducing stiffness and improving flexibility.

Acupressure may also be indicated for emotional and mental issues, or when support is required on a spiritual level for subtle energy shifts and higher awareness.

Following a therapeutic initial consultation, Acupressure can be received whilst you are lying comfortably on a supportive futon, treatment couch or seated in a chair.

Acupressure sessions with Monica are usually one hour’s duration.

Originating in Asia and gaining popularity in the UK, Warm Bamboo massage is a specialist treatment and unique full-body massage experience. It involves the use of crafted bamboo sticks of different lengths and thickness levels to access all the body’s muscles and pressure points equally.

Offering tension relief according to each person’s individual needs, the gently heated massage sticks can support a deep stretch for tight muscles helping to break down tension accumulated through exercise, daily stress or improper posture.

Combining the therapeutic benefits of massage oil and muscle stretching with wellbeing relaxation and soothing warmth to the entire body:

• increases local circulation
• improves blood flow to surrounding areas
• releases physical and mental stress
• relieves tension from tight muscles
• supports the lymphatic system and elimination of toxins
• Improved skin tone

Following a therapeutic initial consultation, you will lie on a comfortable treatment couch and start to feel the comforting effects of deeply relaxing heat as the warm bamboo soothes your body and mind.

Upon request, Warm Bamboo can be offered alongside Shiatsu sessions.

Warm Bamboo Massage: 90 mins
Warm Bamboo Massage and Shiatsu Facial: from 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours

Please note: Warm Bamboo Massage is not suitable for pregnant women at any stage.