GaiaShiatsu

18/10/2025

I've recently started a patreon, simple because I wanted to write and share more about Shiatsu, Sei-Ki and Forest Bathing. It's free - please go and follow if you are interested.

Here is a short article about why Shiatsu sessions can help ease you shoulder tensions and pain.

Get more from GaiaShiatsu on Patreon

13/10/2025

As the sun stands lower in our sky, the days get shorter, the trees are turning inward, letting go of their leaves and the cold is creeping into our houses we are moving deeper into the Metal phase of the chinese 5 element phases. ​​​​​​​​
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The Metal phase is associated with the organ lungs and large intestine. We are also encouraged to let go of people, situations, patterns and thoughts that no longer serve us.​​​​​​​​
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Metal is also the phase of grief. Grief for the warmth of the sun, long days, growth and yang spirit. But of course also people we have lost - not just through death but also through break ups, losing connection or being abbondante. ​​​​​​​​
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Be gentle with yourself at this time, seek support and help if you need it. (telling this to myself too!) ​​​​​​​​
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26/08/2024

The Heart Protector often comes up in the Hara Diagnoses when I work on someone for the first time. In the light of this energy being the one that is protecting your innermost self it makes total sense.
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In Shiatsu Hara Diagnosis is a two way energy exchange. I pick up on the imbalance that you want to show me and you want me to work on. It strikes me that a huge amount of trust is required to reveal those imbalances. So potentially first time receivers feel the need to protect themselves - as a result the Heart Protector energy comes up in the diagnoses.
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Once the trust has been built we can dive into the ‘real work’ of balancing your energy flow.
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22/08/2024

Shiatsu College, Manchester Teacher Hannah Mackay - Shiatsu and creativity collected quotes on one thing you love about Shiatsu from practitioners, students, teachers and receivers.

Here is one thing The Shiatsu College founder Carola Beresford-Cooke loves about Shiatsu.

What is one thing YOU love about Shiatsu?

15/08/2024

The Heart is carrying our awareness which is seen as ‘the divine spark that is within all sentient beings which is unique to each individual, yet is a part of the greater radiance of universal awareness.’ (Caraola Beresford-Cook).
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Therefore the Heart needs protection and a network of helpers that carry out its work all over the body. The Small Intestine, which is only assimilating what is healthy, the Heart Protector, which has a protective function but also carries some of the Heart’s workload, and the Triple Heater, which spreads the Heart’s fire throughout our body, are all part of the Heart network.
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Interestingly the Heart shows itself very rarely in the Hara diagnoses in my Shiatsu treatments. As is shown it is a very protected energy and therefore hard to reach. The energies of Heart Protector and Small Intestine do appear fairly regularly when I am diagnosing. Through working with them Heart energy can be reached and nurtured.
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13/08/2024

Often during searching for content to write about I am fascinated by the connections and similarities between TCM and other spiritual ideas.
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Fascination also overcame me today reading up on the Shen. TCM describes that we have five spirits - each inhabiting one of the five phases and their corresponding organs.
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Shen is the one that is associated with the Fire Phase and the Heart. It is said to be the conscious awareness - this is a part of the divine light that is in us.
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‘In Taoist tradition, it is said that when the yang and yin essences of the parents unite at the moment of conception, the star seeds of the shen are scooped up in the ladle of the Big Dipper and poured down into the heart of the developing embryo. In the alchemical vessel of the heart, this pure light mixes with the essences of earth and eventually becomes the stuff of awareness, intelligence, and consciousness as well as the basis of our own unique sense of self.’ - Lorie Eve Dechar in ‘Five Spirits’
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This reminded me of the spiritual idea of our soul coming from the universal light. Therefore we carry the divine light in us and are part of the divine light.
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I love that I made this connection today via reading about the Shen. It makes the ‘divine light in me’ idea somehow more tangible.
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So, be yourself and shine your unique light! ✨
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📸 .at

01/08/2024

Joy is the emotion associated to the Fire Phase.
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🌞the joy of sun shine
🌲the joy of a forest walks
🌻the joy of flower blossoms
🥕the joy of fresh vegetables from your garden
💞the joy of a heart to heart with a loved one
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there is a lot of joy around in the Summer months.
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It can be hard to find joy in times of war, violence, and climate crises.
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But I do believe we should try to find a balance - feeling joy and open our heart to love without forgetting the sorrows of the world.
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18/05/2024

Ever thought about learning how to give Shiatsu?

Check out the Shiatsu College London Branch at which I am teaching regularly.

We have an open drop in day on Saturday, 15th June at University of Westminster, Cavendish Campus.

24/01/2024

Essence (or Jing) is a vital substance for life on Earth. It is life’s enduring energy and power that we slowly use up and deplete during our lifetime. When we have used up our Essence we die.
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The ancient Chinese said that our Essence is created through the fusion of our mothers and fathers Essence at the time of conception. The quality and quantity of our Essence is depending on the constitution or our parents, their health and life circumstances during our conception.
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It is said that the Essence is stored between the Kidneys. For some scholars this location means a point called Ming Men – which is the source of vitality and all life. But for others it means the reproductive organs. I personally like to think the Essence is stored deep within our core self with a vital connection to the reproductive organs.
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Essence mainly gets depleted through s*x, menstruation and childbirth as well as too much stress, extreme exercise and a s*x, drugs and rock’n’roll lifestyle. By leading a lifestyle that is ensuring a good amount of rest, healthy food and moderate exercise we can make sure that our Essence lasts longer.
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Essence is deeply connected to our growth, maturation, s*xuality, reproduction, aging and dying.
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16/11/2023

Did you know that it is national ?

Treat yourself to Shiatsu this Saturday - 18th November at Sage's Health Store in Surbiton.

I am looking forward to meeting you and working with you on the Shiatsu futon!

This week is - an annual national awareness week that focuses on embedding support for self care across communities, families and generations.
The theme for 2023 is “Mind & Body” - Shiatsu is a physical therapy which uses a combination of pressure points, gentle manipulation and stretching. It is a deeply relaxing experience which body and mind both find healing - why not head to our Practitioners Directory to find a practitioner near you and discover more about the amazing benefits 💚 ✨https://www.shiatsusociety.org/practitioners/venues