Who knew getting walked on could feel so good?

Apparently, the Japanese did. Barefoot Shiatsu is a form of massage that works with the flow of energy through your body along lines called meridians (the same ones as in Chinese acupuncture). The energy flows through your body, supporting the various systems. If the energy gets blocked (think of it like a kink in a hose), the body manifests illness or pain.   Using hand, foot, or thumb pressure, or stretching, I unblock the flow for you, helping balance your body.

Barefoot Shiatsu is done on a padded mat on the floor. You wear loose comfortable clothing, like a t-shirt and sweat pants. The treatment is a combination of passive stretching and compression applied with hands, feet, or thumbs. It is relaxing and rejuvenating. Because it is designed to work with the flow of your energy meridians, it is usually more energizing afterward than a Swedish massage.

I use my feet to work on your back. Does it hurt? Not usually. I place a stool or chair nearby when I work on your back, and I am able to lean my weight on the chair to regulate how much weight I put on you. The first time I received a Barefoot Shiatsu treatment, the practitioner was a stout man, and when he walked on my back it didn’t even hurt. As in Swedish massage, a particularly sore or tight area may hurt a little when it is worked on.

Through years of experience, I have developed impressive palpation skills with my feet. In layman’s terms, that means that not only do I “see” with my hands when I work on people, but I can also “see” with my feet.   It’s pretty cool what the human body can do!

I recommend Shiatsu for anyone who can get down and up off the floor, and especially for those who need to feel energized after their massage. Typical Swedish style massage on the table can leave a person groggy, whereas Shiatsu, though relaxing, aligns one’s energy via the meridian work, so it’s easier to get up and go afterward. If you would like to try Barefoot Shiatsu, please let me know when you book your appointment, so I can plan ahead to set up the mat rather than the massage table.