When the phonecall came through offering me the chance to experience a Shiatsu massage, I jumped at it. My to-do list was about to hit treble figures, my email inbox was full to bursting and I couldn't find my computer keyboard under the piles of unopened post. The idea of half an hour of relaxation and a chance to forget about work was just too tempting. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it...
What is Shiatsu and what can it treat?
My eagerness to scamper from the office as quickly as possible meant I didn't actually bother to find out what Shiatsu was or what it involved. I came clean to my practioner, Katherine Hall, and she patiently explained that it's a traditional hands-on Japanese healing art, which literally means 'finger pressure'. Shiatsu works on the individual as a complete being - so it not only tackles the physical, but can also help on an emotional/psychological level. There are a wide range of conditions it can treat - from specific injuries to more general symptoms of poor health, which include back pain, headaches, depression, menstrual problems, sports injuries and joint pain.
The philosophy underlying Shiatsu is that vital energy (known as Ki in Japanese) flows throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians. This flow can become blocked, and pressing, rotating and stretching is used to free them up. It's a bit like acupuncture in that respect, only without the needles.
Lie back...
Katherine began by finding out a bit about me, whether I had any aches and pains - my left shoulder has been niggling me; what my emotional state was - frantic, but happy; and whether any illnesses ran in the family - too many to mention. She explained this was just a taster session to give me an idea of what it was all about. With that I was ordered to lie down, fully clothed - the great thing about Shiatsu is there's no messing about getting dressed or undressed or any sticky massage oils.
I lay face up while Katherine set to work on my legs. This, she explained, was to help re-energise my spleen, an area of the body that can get run down, particularly in women, because they tend to juggle 101 things at a time. She applied pressure at certain points on my legs, moving from my thighs all the way down to my toes, while keeping one hand centred on my stomach. At this point I shut my eyes and started to drift off.
Next it was the turn of my arms and shoulders, which she pressed, rotated and stretched. As she moved from my shoulders up my neck to my head, I could feel my limbs relaxing and all the tension draining from my body. It was heaven!
...and relax
By now work was a distant memory and I was just settling into a light snooze when I realised Katherine had stopped and I heard her say I was all done. I wanted to hide under the blanket and continue with my nap and if I could've got away with it, I would have, but there was a string of other journalists waiting in the next room whom, I'm sure, would have had no qualms in booting me out, so I thought it best to make a move. I thanked Katherine and walked out onto the street, resolving to stay relaxed and to book a full hour next time.
Further information
Find out more about the first ever European Shiatsu Week (17-25 September 2005) at www.shiatsu.org.
To book a treatment with Katherine Hall visit www.shiatsuplus.co.uk.
