• To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

    - Buddha

Key Concepts & Theories Used In Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork that works to balance the energy of the Body and Mind. To this end, Shiatsu makes use of the body’s natural energy.

The basic concepts and theories used in Shiatsu are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They include (but are not limited to) :

Ki Energy

Yin & Yang

Meridians

5-Elements

Imagine Your Body As Land--The Meridians Are Your Body's Main Highways

Imagine Your Body As Land--The Meridians Are Your Body's Main Highways

The aim of a session is to encourage ki to flow harmoniously throughout the body’s energy pathways, known as meridians. The meridians are associated with aspects of the Body and Mind, such as movement and thought.

The meridians are divided into pairs which are yin and yang. And are further subdivided according to one of the five-elemental transformations (Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire).

Modern practitioners of Shiatsu continue to deepen their skills in two ways:

– by developing greater sensitivity to the subtle energy, which flows throughout the body and concentrates in the meridians;

– and by using the traditional theories of Chinese Medicine to accurately read the body and assess its condition for treatment.

 Despite its roots in TCM, the general approach and techniques of shiatsu reflects the cultural background of Japan by emphasizing the importance of being connected with and moving from your hara, and the philosophy of modern shiatsu reflects the philosophy of Zen Buddhism with its emphasis on self-understanding and awareness.

For the practitioner, focus and awareness comes from using hara, which is the body’s center of gravity. This is located in the belly. By using your hara you are using the total power of your whole body.

Using your hara requires you to originate all of your movements from your belly area. To be more specific–to move from a point just below the navel which is your body’s central pivot point. This point is called tanden (or dantian in Chinese).

The Japanese term HARA means to be focused in the vital center of self.

The Japanese term HARA means to be focused in the vital center of self.

The concept of hara, anatomically refers to the area below your ribs and your sternum all the way to just above your pubic bone. This part of your body contains many of the vital organs. Japanese culture believes the hara to be the seat of the soul, where self-consciousness is anchored.

From a pathological perspective, people hold emotional stress in their abdomen, affecting digestion and causing other physical problems.

In the west, the shiatsu practitioner receives many benefits, both physically and psychologically, by moving from their hara and by connecting harmoniously with the client.

These same benefits may be experienced by the home practitioner who uses shiatsu exercises and methods as home remedies for prevention of illnesses. Home application of shiatsu techniques can be very effective, however proper assessment of the state of ki and the meridians is essential for professional results.

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What Is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu Restores & Balances Energy, Eases Tension & Stiffness, Impoves Breathing & Enhances Well-Being

 

Shiatsu is a Japanese bodywork therapy based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulated in the 20th Century. Its roots are in many different disciplines, including acupuncture, herbalism, nutrition, exercise and meditation.

There are several styles of shiatsu, all of which incorporate TCM and modern methods of muscle lengthening and joint mobilization to varying degrees. 

As a healing art it is revered as a form of preventive medicine. All styles of shiatsu use the power of touch to bring balance to the body and mind, enable self-healing, and induce relaxation and a feeling of wellbeing.

The word Shiatsu comes from the word shi, which means finger and atsu, which means pressure. Shiatsu technique may also incorporate applying pressure with your thumb, elbow and knee.

A shiatsu session may be dynamic with intense stretches to help release tight muscles or more static while the practitioner meditatively supports areas of weakness. Shiatsu is also regarded as energetic bodywork and the practitioner approaches the human body as an energetic organism.

The heart of shiatsu relies on its origins in Traditional Chinese Medicine; the practitioner uses his knowledge of the network of meridians that energetically support the functions of the internal organs as well as the individual’s emotional, psychological, and spiritual health. 

Cara Michelle giving a session in Ibiza, Spain.

A Shiatsu session may use stretches to release tight muscles.

In Japan people seek out a licensed shiatsu therapist for health reasons rather than pleasure and it is considered a form of medical treatment. It is important to understand that shiatsu refers to many varying manipulative approaches that are based on the location of the meridians, the acupoints and their functions, bone structure and the autonomic nervous system.

 This is an important difference when compared to traditional Swedish massage techniques that emphasize muscle, lymphatic and blood circulation, bone structure as well as the autonomic nervous system.

Receiving shiatsu regularly monitors the energetic changes that may be precursors to illness and helps by keeping the body and mind flexible and in harmony. Shiatsu is concerned with keeping the body and mind healthy and happy.

Unfortunately, in most cases people seek out a shiatsu therapist after they already have health problems, in which case shiatsu is an excellent therapy used in conjunction with your medical treatment. In the United States, shiatsu is growing as a complimentary therapy to medical treatments. 

“Shiatsu therapy is a form of manipulation administered by the thumbs, fingers, and palms, without the use of any instrument, mechanical or otherwise, to apply pressure to the human skin, correct internal malfunctioning, promote and maintain health, and treat specific diseases.”

The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare 

3 Steps to Producing a Profitable Holistic Webinar

If your holistic business can help others improve their lives then you owe it to your customers to deliver your message in a way that makes it easy to choose you. Webinars are an efficient and cost-effective tool for conferences and training but their greatest value is as a resource for offering your message and service to potential clients.

But many are realizing that weaving a mindful or heart-based sales offer into a virtual presentation requires special techniques. Making a sale or attracting a new client through a webinar is vastly different than the offer you’ve perfected for your in-person presentations and seminars.

If you’re unsure as to how to structure your service offering in an information webinar then read on to learn 3 Key Steps for a profitable webinar.

The 3 Key Steps that I will outline for creating a profitable webinar are:

  1. Positioning
  2. Value Proposition
  3. Strategy

1.) In a webinar, you will want to position 4 crucial areas:

a.     You. No matter how well organized or informative your material is your audience will not be open to the benefits unless you position yourself. In the introduction you must establish your credibility while at the same time showing that you are accessible.

  1. Credibility. An authority may establish their special skill or knowledge by detailing their training in practice, their liscenses or successes. Credibility can even be borrowed by mentioning the high-level executives or celebrities that you have or are working with. The listener will know that they can rely on you because you have established your expertise.
  2. Accessible. To be accessible simply means that you are reachable. Successful people that share their most vulnerable moments are inspiring to others. This is why motivational speakers talk about the obstacles that they have overcome. It doesn’t have to be that you lived in your car before publishing your first book. However, sharing how the rejection letters felt as they were pouring in makes you accessible in the mind of the listener. Being accessible is often overlooked and in the paradigm of social media this oversight may lead to stagnation for your business.

b.     Expected Outcome. Then you will explain the incredible outcome that your service provides to your clients. The outcome is the return on their investment they can expect to benefit from, if this includes a financial return be sure to frame it inside of the emotional return.

  1. Emotional. Describing the transformation that a customer will experience from your service is a powerful way to keep your audience engaged. Remember that this is an information webinar and it is highly likely that your audience will begin multi-tasking at some point or simply turn-off their computers if you fail to inspire them at the start.
  2. Financial. Following-up with how much money they can save with you after describing the qualitative (or emotional) benefits will keep your webinar listeners attracted to your information and ready to hear more.

c.     Customers. Next, you will want to describe your ideal customer to make sure that everyone in the webinar is in the right place and give the listener the sense that they are being spoken to individually. This is as simple as saying, If you’re unsure as to how to structure your offerings in a webinar then read on to learn 3 Key Steps for creating a profitable webinar.

d.     Overview. Finally, you will give an overview of what will be taught using the outcome-based language used earlier. Remain connected to the transformative, expected outcome to keep your audience (potential client) listening actively. And don’t be afraid to keep on giving to the audience. A positive principle to remember is to treat your audience as if they are already clients. Let them know you’re already committed to reaching their personal or professional goals.

2.) The 3 parts to crafting your Value Proposition:

Your Value Proposition must be a truthful and compelling introduction to your products or services. Here is an outline for making your message comprehensive and a client magnet:

  1. Need. You’ll create a compelling message that explains the gap between where your customer is right now and where they want to be. Who are the people that will need your service? You must be able to understand, empathize and articulate what it is they need to accomplish.
  2. Solution. Now is the time to demonstrate what is possible with your company’s service. Freely give the solution. In the webinar you will have to give some proven how-tos. Make sure that these are strong strategies and tools, this also helps to build the client’s trust and confidence in you, but don’t give the whole service. Stick with giving your listener the low hanging fruit they can implement immediately with promises of a much bigger bounty (in the future, with your help).
  3. Differentiation. Now you will establish what differentiates you from other services as proof that you are the best solution. One thing to remember is that many people respond to success stories far better than hearing criticism about other people’s services. A good approach for a webinar is to use your success stories as teaching tools. You can transform your webinar into a huge payday by providing proof and teaching through your client case studies.

3.) A 2-part closing Strategy can turn audience into clients:

  1. Game Plan. This is your close. You will need to lay out what is the plan or process for people who want more of your solution. Because you have more and it only gets better. This may be the customized how-tos that you provide with your service. You will explain that with what they learned today they are on their way to achieving their goals but as your client or with your product they can do it more efficiently, cost effectively and with greater success!
  2.  Urgency. First, make it clear that acting now delivers the benefits sooner. Then you will make your service or product available within a limited time or to a limited number of people. In the virtual world you might facilitate the webinar on Wednesday but your customer is listening Saturday morning. Your offer strategy should emphasize urgency and reward people who act immediately but don’t penalize someone that had to wait.

Implementing these 3 Key Steps into your next webinar makes it easier for the customer to confidently choose you.

Don’t forget, if your service is the best-kept secret in your field then you’re not reaching your potential.