Stress and Shiatsu

Stress is the cause of a seemingly ever rising tide of ill health. It can manifest in a huge number of conditions from back pain to digestive disorders to fatigue, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and many others. It seems that people today are increasingly prone to ‘stress related' symptoms which can lead to real discomfort for the sufferer, loss of productivity for their employers, and deterioration in relationships within their families. There is little doubt that today's working practices and lifestyles are far more pressured than ever before. At work, there are deadlines to be met, career imperatives to chase down and always the pressures of imperfect interpersonal relations. At home there is the headlong rush of consumerism, driving us to achieve greater and better standards of living for us and our families. There may often be underlying issues of ill health or marital problems, and maybe financial or social pressures. Somewhere in the middle of all this is a vulnerable human being with their own needs and desires. Stress occurs when those needs are subsumed by the demands of the greater world. They become lost or forgotten by the individual, resulting in self neglect, often at an almost subconscious level.

In Shiatsu terms stress can be seen as simply an imbalance in one or more of the energetic systems within the body. In this case it could be as a result of many factors such as overwork, mental fatigue, or simple neglect of one's own needs in favour someone else's.

So how can Shiatsu help? Imbalance can be redressed. By manipulation of specific acupuncture points or tsubos, clearing blocks to efficient Qi flow and use of some musculoskeletal techniques, Shiatsu can help in combating the debilitating effects of stress. Although many people see Shiatsu as simply an aid to relaxation, and as such a help in even those terms, the real benefit is much deeper. By strengthening the body's energetic system, not only does Shiatsu help reduce the symptoms of stress, it can also help to stop it reoccurring. The result is a happier and more fulfilled person better able to cope with life.