Share Shiatsu

I just can't get enough of the Eastern modalities this summer:

I went for a Shiatsu session today from one of my favorite practitioners, Susan Hare. The session was absolutely lovely. Shiatsu is a traditional form of hands-on therapy from Japan, by way of China. I studied Zen Shiatsu briefly under the patient tutelage of the lovely Sande Mullany and remain curious and fond of it, but I do not use it per se in my own practice (though the three months I spent studying have proven to be instrumental in my work)

In Shiatsu, like in Thai Massage, the client remains clothed and the work is done on a traditional futon mat on the floor. At the beginning of the session, the practitioner reads the 'Hara', or abdomen to assess what work might best benefit the receiver. This is usually just gently placing a hand on the abdomen and 'listening' and observing. Shiatsu systematically works the 12 meridians, or energy pathways (pretty much the same meridians as in acupuncture), and the Hara represents all 12 meridians in a specific arrangement.

In Zen Shiatsu, the treatment, after the Hara assessment, begins on the front of the right leg and then the left, moving down from the upper thigh to the feet, with the intent to 'ground' the receiver (by working the Earth meridians of Stomach and Spleen) The practitioner uses her fingers, thumbs, and palms to press and sink down into the meridians. Then the right arm, followed by the left arm are worked (the Fire - Heart and Sm. Intestine - and Metal meridians of Lung and Lg. Intestine). Finally, the client turns over onto her stomach for work down the back, hips and legs (the Water meridians of Kidney and Bladder). Finally, the client turns over for some work on the neck and head. Mmmmm! Maybe that's the best part. When working the neck and head, a silk cloth is used for the finger-pressing up and down the neck, along the scalp and face. The scarf or towel can even be used for adding a little traction to the head. Ahhh, great stuff!

I highly encourage everyone to experience Shiatsu - sooner than later!

Standing West, Looking East

It's true I've referred numerous times lately to Traditional Chinese Medicine, with references like Fire Element, Qi Gong and Traditional Chinese Medicine. But really, i know only very little about such things. After all, what's my brief study to a philosophy that was 4000 years in the making? And it's fun and satisfying to learn and involve myself in a completely different (and yet not alien) paradigm. As well, the (traditional) Eastern-based paradigm is rooted in finding harmony with the world around us. This segues nicely with the work I do, which is also rooted in creating and supporting balance for our selves and the world we must engage in. 

Beyond some personal dabbling, my practice and the bulk of my pursuits is based on Western-developed concepts of bodywork therapy. Though I studied Swedish massage techniques for my basic training, I've since moved on to more in-depth techniques, including craniosacral therapy, myofascial therapy, and deep tissue. These forms, known as modalities in health-jargon, provide me with techniques that I use with skilled and experienced discretion. I combine and use them as a painter uses her paints on a pallet - deemed appropriate to a given setting, or to achieve a desired outcome. I seek to open up possibilities and invite change in the soft tissues - nothing forceful or dominant. Just making suggestions, in a non-verbal sort of way, my fingertips, to your muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia. The results are often profound.

Fire and Laughter

No, this isn't about walking over fiery coals, but it is about a challenge, of sorts.

In honor and recognition of the Fire Element, which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is represented by the hot and sunny months of summer, I am emphasizing laughter in my daily routine. Laughter and joy are the sound and emotion associated with the Fire element.

I need at least a giggle a day to get my minimum need of vital joy and well-being. Who knew I'd have to make an effort to ensure this 'kleinigkeit' in my day? Shouldn't laughter, at least a chuckle, be easy enough to come by? It's not like I need to hoard it and save it for a rainy day. But I've found I have to make a conscious effort to make it happen. But practice makes habit and good habits lead to success. Laughs away!

So where to start?

Words:
The Funny Times (www.funnytimes.com)
Calvin and Hobbes
Puns
Dr. Know of the weekly Willamette Week (http://www.wweek.com/portland/articles.sec-121-1-dr-know.html)

Performace:
Mel Brooks (Blazing Saddles, Space Balls, Young Frankenstein, to start)
Kids in the Hall ('Buddy Cole and the Dinosaur', Chicken Lady sketch, etc.)
Colbert Report
Ministry of Silly Walks (Well, really all of Monty Python)
The 3 Stooges
Jim Carroll's ("A Day at the Races," etc. from Praying Mantis)

Links:
http://www.snorgtees.com/
www.fark.com (esp. the photoshop contest)

Other:
Getting an unsolicited piggy-back ride from my husband
Talking with my oldest, bestest pals

Maybe you have some dependable sources of giggles and laughter? Nothing violent, political, gross or sarcastic (though these things can elicit laughter too sometimes), just good, healthy fun?

Me and Qigong

After two years of saying 'shoulda, coulda, woulda' about learning some qigong for self-care, I finally jumped in to the summer session taught at Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM) in late July. The specific form we learned was Hui Gong (pronounced "way gong"), which means "Heart Wisdom" qigong and focuses on the energy of the Heart. This form is taught in the summer as the 'Heart' is a part of the Fire element, which corresponds to the hot, bright month's of the year's cycle, summer.

Qigong from afar looks kind of like a person pretending to swim very slowly underwater, or perhaps dancing among the clouds with some flourishes of the hands thrown in for poetic dazzlement. Really, it is a beautiful form of combined mindful exercise, breath and meditation. Each movement and repetition has a very specific wisdom, purpose, meaning and execution.  I find it helpful, and very interesting, to know the story behind each motion, but it is not necessary to understand the background in order to get the benefits of the exercise.

I was finally prompted learn and practice qigong because of a worsening overuse injury to my shoulder. Indeed, the exercise worked wonders and I am amazed how quickly I began to heal and feel less pain immediately after the first class. Ideally, I would practice the Hui Gong routine daily (it takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes for a sesssion), but I usually manage 4-5 times per week.

Also, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) paradigm, the physical is not separate from the mental, emotional and spiritual health of a person - all of these things combined is well-being. So while my qigong exercise helps with my shoulders, arms and neck, it also helps me to deal with stress, be more communicative, and especially, achieve a deep sense of self-security and calm, as I've noticed over the past several weeks.