SHIATSU ON THE TABLE

QI OR “KI”

• Everything is comprised of different forms of Qi

• Qi can be translated as “energy” or “life force”

• Qi activates, warms, defends, contains, and transforms

QI GONG

• Translates as “Qi work”

• Happy shaking

• Twists

• Knee rotations

• Shoulder twisting-with arms outstretched

• Hand/palm stretches

YIN AND YANG

• Yin and yang are not opposites

• Yhey create and control each other to achieve balance

• The sun is yang, the moon is yin

• Yin and yang are relative to each other

• So, the light of the moon is considered yang-the moon itself is yin

YIN AND YANG

• Yin is calm, female, cool, downward and inward, earth, night, dark, autumn, winter

• Yang is movement, male, hot, upward and outward, light, day, heaven, spring, summer

YIN AND YANG IN THE BODY

• The front, lower, interior, and inside of limbs are all yin

• The back, upper, exterior, and outside of limbs are all yang

THE FIVE ELEMENTS

Wood

Water

Fire

Metal

Earth

YIN YANG THEORY

• Engendering cycle

• Controlling cycle

12 CHANNELS PLUS REN AND DU

pathways of channels

HANDS ON

• Self care-do not over extend yourself

• Clear boundaries-therapeutic intentions

• No caressing

• Be aware of body parts that contact client

• Careful with hugs

HANDS ON

• Nails cut? wash hands?, get centered

• Crisp, clear boundaries-can’t emphasize this enough!

• Know clearly where you end and your client begins

• Focus on your client-the treatment is about her/him

HANDS ON

• Body mechanics-do not massage with your nose

• Close eyes to help put more awareness in the hands

• Lean in-use gravity to your advantage

• Active hand verses support hand-mother/daughter

• Ideally both hands feel as one to the client

PRESSURE

• Listen with your hands-closing the eyes can help

• Pay attention to the clients breath-and do not breathe in their face

• Types of pressure:

• Perpendicular-about 90 degrees

• Stationary-can be at any angle

• Supporting-lifting instead of leaning in

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

• Palms-use first, not as versatile or specific as the thumbs or fingers

• Thumbs-use sparingly

-use as if you are holding a ball in the palm

-fingers and palm are still used with the thumb

-very precise and activate points instead of an area or along a channel

-use along spine(below the neck) to press and press away from the spine

HANDS ON

Fingers-less pressure than thumbs

• Great for face, head and intercostals

• Dragons mouth-roll wrists to torsion

• Great for arms, legs, neck, and feet

• Elbows, knees, forearms-use them because fingers and thumbs get tired easily

• Work well to address larger, stronger areas as well as more robust clients

• Elbows and knees and heel of the hand all have greater surface area

• Can be very sedative and help unblock Qi in a gentle way

POSITIONING THE CLIENT

• Seated

• Lateral encumbant

• Prone

• supine

COMMENTS

What did you like about the class?

How could this class have benefited you more?

Would you be interested in a more in depth version of this class?