What to Expect 

Sessions last 60–90 minutes and are adapted to what you need that day. Each session is designed to be both a treatment for immediate tension and part of a longer process of regulation and release. The goal is not to force change, but to support the body in releasing tension in a way that feels safe, gradual, and sustainable. 

1. Before we begin 
• brief conversation about your needs
• change into Kimono pyjamas
2. Assessment 
• gentle evaluation of neck, back, hips
• postural and mobility observations
• reassessment at the end to notice changes
3. Treatment  
• pressure techniques from soft to deep
• stretching, joint mobilization, SotaiHo
• rhythmic movement and gentle manipulation
• leg‑length and hip balancing
• simple home exercises if needed
• optional ear acupuncture + ear seeds 

How often should I come? 

Shiatsu works both as immediate relief and as a gradual process of regulation over time.

Acute tension or pain

1–3 sessions spaced closely together can help calm the system and reduce symptoms before they become chronic.

Long-term patterns

A series of regular sessions (weekly or bi-weekly) helps the body gradually release deeper tension patterns. Over time, many clients choose maintenance sessions every 3–4 weeks to support balance, recovery, and prevent tension from building again.

Final note 

Shiatsu is not only about relieving tension in the moment, but about supporting the body’s ability to reset, regulate, and adapt under ongoing stress. 

With regular treatments, many people find that their body becomes more responsive, less tense, and more resilient in daily life. 

Zu kan soku netsu — “a cool head and warm feet”

The human body is designed for movement and depends on it to maintain balance. Long periods of inactivity, mental effort, and stress can influence how we experience heat, circulation, and energy throughout the body.  When this balance is disrupted, people may experience symptoms such as fatigue, tension, headaches, poor sleep, irritability, or difficulty fully relaxing. 

In East Asia traditions, the legs are called the “second heart” because their movement helps pump blood efficiently. When circulation in the lower limbs is reduced, the body feels less grounded. Cool feet can disturb sleep, and an overstimulated head makes it harder to concentrate.

The Japanese expression Zu kan soku netsu — “a cool head and warm feet” — describes the body’s healthiest state: a cool, calm mind and warm, grounded feet. This state is believed to activate the body’s natural healing and self‑defense mechanisms.

Targeted Shiatsu Treaments

Anpuku — Abdominal Shiatsu (Hara Work) 

Abdominal Shiatsu works on both the physiological and energetic levels. The abdomen is a central hub of Ki, vital energy, and contains key Tsubos such as Tanden. Using gentle, sustained palm pressure (Te-ate), the therapist softens tensions, improves circulation, and encourages the natural movement of Ki.

Hara work strongly influences the Autonomic Nervous System, helping the parasympathetic response dominate. This calms the mind, reduces internal tension, and supports deeper regulation.

Because gravity often causes pelvic stagnation — cold legs, swelling, menstrual discomfort, or hormonal imbalance — abdominal work helps restore the natural balance described by Zu kan soku netsu (“cool head, warm feet”). Treating the abdomen together with the lower limbs improves warmth, grounding, and overall circulation.

The abdomen is also the body’s most sensitive and revealing area. It often holds deep, chronic tensions that cannot be accessed from the back. Releasing these from the front (the main Kyo zone) allows the back to respond more easily and with less intensity.

This work also relates to Kan Jin Kaname (Liver–Kidney balance). By treating the front and back areas connected to these organs — and their distal points — the session supports the body’s natural self‑healing capacity. Treatments may focus on patterns such as Liver–Kidney–Stomach (digestive) or Liver–Kidney–Spleen (endocrine), helping maintain healthy Ki and blood flow throughout the body.

Ashi Kubi — Shiatsu Legs  

Ashi Kubi Shiatsu works through key acupuncture points, meridian pathways, and the lower kinetic chain to support circulation, mobility, and deep muscular release. Alongside precise pressure, the treatment uses gentle stretching, percussion, vibration, rotational work, and soft joint mobilisation to release tension in the legs and feet. 

The calves are often called the body’s “second heart” because of their essential role in circulation and vitality. The inner line of the legs — the traditional deep blood pathway — is a major route of blood flow and energetic movement. 

The feet and ankles form the foundation of postural alignment. Restrictions here can create a chain reaction through the knees, hips, spine, and neck. Working through these structures helps restore balance and correct imbalances from the feet all the way up the body.

Sotai Ho® — The method for realigning the body 

Sotai Ho® is a gentle Japanese method developed by Dr. Keizo Hashimoto to realign the body through comfortable, painless movements coordinated with breathing. It helps release tension, improve alignment, and restore natural mobility — without force or strain. 

Sotai Ho® follows a simple principle: the body corrects itself through comfort, not effort. You move toward the side that feels easiest, exhale as you move, pause briefly in the position of greatest comfort, and let the nervous system reset. No forcing. No pushing through pain. Just listening to your body and doing what you can. 
 

Sotai Ho® is ideal for people with reduced mobility or chronic tension. It improves circulation, supports joint function, and helps the body return to its natural structural balance. Its effects are often noticeable within the first session.