About Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a Japanese manual therapy based on Traditional  Chinese Medicine. The term shiatsu is composed of two  words: shi meaning finger and atsu meaning pressure and so  the therapist applies comfortable, sustained pressure with  their thumbs, fingers and hands to specific points on the body.  Shiatsu is used for stress management, to improve and  maintain health and to treat a wide variety of specific  condtions, both chronic and acute.

The pressure applied in shiatsu can help to increase circulation, release muscular tension, relieve pain, increase range of motion and help the body to function at its best. While there has not been a large amount of research on shiatsu, it has demonstrated a positive effect on short and long-term stress levels, anxiety, tension, sleep disturbances, and pain.

A full treatment lasts sixty to ninety minutes and is done with the client fully clothed, lying on a massage table or, more traditionally, on a comfortable mat.

Shorter treatments of twenty or thirty minutes are also quite effective, particularly if done on a regular basis. Short treatments can be done using a massage chair and are ideal for a corporate environment.

Shiatsu can be performed on anyone, regardless of their age or state of health. The depth and strength of pressure is adjusted to suit the health needs and comfort level of each individual client. Pressure can range from extremely gentle for those who are quite sensitive or in a delicate state of health to very deep for those in robust health and with a stronger tolerance. The pressure, however, should always be comfortable.

Services

I am available for half-hour, one hour and ninety minute treatments at the Artists’ Health Centre at Toronto Western Hospital. Private appointments are available for non-artists.

Many businesses have taken advantage of my on-site services over the past several years. No company is too large or too small, and businesses can choose from twenty, thirty or sixty minute sessions for their employees. A three hour minimum is requested.

Receipts are always provided, and I also work to further improve the health and wellness of all clients by providing appropriate self-care and after-care information.

I am a member of the Natural Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC), and I carry comprehensive professional liability insurance. I am licensed by the City of Toronto as a holistic health practitioner.