"Zen Shiatsu ... aims at achieving systemic change for the entire body, using the body's innate healing mechanisms. A Zen Shiatsu therapist is trained to diagnose by feeling the body's condition, particularly the movement or lack thereof, of Ki, by his/her hands. The goal is to find the imbalanced areas in the body assist in restoring the flow of Ki...""Diagnosis" for each session begins in the Hara, which is the abdomen. With your permission, I will place one hand under your mid-back while connecting with my other hand to points in your abdomen that correspond to each of twelve organs of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. Based on the most active (Jitsu) and least active (Kyo), I'll focus your session on bringing balance between those by working their corresponding meridians. Your entire body will also be stretched, joints rotated or areas of physical tightness, discomfort or otherwise discussed during our discussion. The scalp, neck, hands and feet are areas of accupressure point concentrations and often all given attention."The meridian system can be pictured as like the arteries of our physically embodied energetic system." In Western medicine we accept and rely on unseen realities all the time: EKG's. EEG's, X-ray, CT and MRI imaging. The idea that human hands can sense Ki energy is a leap for many but the effect of applying pressure to the body does have scientific understanding that may help alleviate some of this skepticism. It is called piezoelectricity. If you are of an age to recall crystal watches and still today, handheld calculator screens use this idea that crystalline substance, when pressure is applied, will change shape and return to a set point when that pressure is released. This is greatly simplified and Google is a great source to explore this even further!This doesn't fully explain Shiatsu as there are practitioners who do much of their work "off the body". However, the end result will be a deeply relaxing session that will bring your body to a state more able to heal, restore and harmonize it's systems.

"Imbalances and strains on our bodies come from stressors, and until they dissipate, they maintain a stress load in the system. The human stress response keeps us alive in the face of threats, and ideally, the system returns to a relaxed state when threats are not present. Too many stressors make this "return" difficult. The work of a biodynamic craniosacral therapist revolves around and expands on palpating the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and spinal cord in a patient’s body. Because this fluid flows rhythmically, a well-trained therapist can pick up and read this rhythm anywhere in the body, using a gentle touch. Developing rapport with the patient’s rhythm, a therapist can invite their rhythm to go into a still point, a pause in the rhythm that allows the system to reorganize itself in a more optimal way. A still point may last anywhere from a few seconds to 20 minutes or longer as the intelligence within the system considers how best to reorganize toward greater health.Reading the rhythm can also show a therapist where the flow is constrained locally.The therapist invites these strain patterns to pause. As with still points, the patient system begins to reorganize locally or "return", in a more optimal way, toward healing, balance, and ease. The release of these strains reduces stress and frees up healing resources in the system. Patients who have been living with many stressors may report feeling a bit more resilient after each session. Regular sessions accelerate stress reduction and recovery and work well with other types of health care. In this way, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy may be thought of as healing from the inside out."

Gua Sha and Cupping are two techniques used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that draw out stagnation in the body and thus promote and accelerate healing. These methods increase blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed or skin scraped. This helps relieve muscle tension which can improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It also creates an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body. Both produce colored marks called "sha" which shouldn't be mistaken for the same thing a a "hickey" or "love bite". Cups or scraping do not always produce markings but when they do, they last for 3-5 days. Please keep this in mind if you have an event coming up that you will wear clothing that will show the area that work needs to be done.