What is Shiatsu? - Shiatsu is a Japanese style of bodywork based on the Chinese Medicine practice. Shiatsu is based on the 5 Elements and Meridian Systems. The 5 Elements are Water, Wood, Fire, earth, and Metal (Air). The word “Shiatsu” translates to finger pressure. A practitioner will primarily use their thumbs, fingers, and palms but is not limited to those. Practitioners may use their elbows, knees, and forearms as needed. The Meridian System are channels or pathways where energy flows through the body. There are many points along the Meridians that connect to the Elements that bring balance and harmony to the body. Sometimes these pathways are obstructed and energy cannot flow through them. The practitioner uses a combination of light massage, acupressure, rotations, lifts, and stress to allow the obstructed energy to flow.

What is Yin and Yang? Yin and Yang are part of the Chinese belief system. My definition of Yin and Yang simply means everything is as one and nothing can exist or work without the other within the natural world, the human world, or Universe. Yin and Yang are two energy forces that work together to create balance and harmony to everything. Nothing is without Yin and Yang energy. Their energy flow continues from dawn to dusk and changes the relationships between and within everything. Yin and Yang are the definition of oneness, totality, and wholeness. Both energy forces have very specific and distinct characteristics as well as how they interact and influence everything moment to moment.

Yang is considered “masculine”, active, restless, fiery, driven, has a positive charge, hard, hot, creativity, dominant, expansion, fullness, abundance, life, freedom and power. It is associated with rising energy, the Sun, summer, the day time, light, the color white, and even heaven. It is an energy that I believe most of the human race feeds off of.

Yin is considered to be “feminine”, passive, slowness, resting, quiet, intuitive, negative, softness, death, negative charge, contraction, empty, depletion, emptiness, winter, and empathy. It is associated with descending energy, the Moon, water, night time, the color black, and darkness.

Describe the 5 Element Cycle - Yin & Yang was broken down into the Five Element Cycle. Yin and Yang is its fundamental root. The Five Element Cycle (FEC) is unique because of its connection to the natural world. The FEC recognizes that humans are made of the same 5 elements as the natural world: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal/Air. And just like Yin & Yang, these 5 elements have very specific functions and characteristics as well as how they interact and influence everything you do, think, interact and connect to moment to moment. Each element resides in the organs of our bodies which have a physical and spiritual connection to the natural world. Each element has a specific location in the Hara. Each organ has a Yin and Yang element, emotional and physical characteristics, and functions. These 5 elements flow through us in an endless cycle providing lessons and gifts on how to take care of ourselves. The elements flow through energy channels in our bodies called Meridians. The Meridian channels can be mapped throughout the entire body. When an Element is out of balance or harmony, whether emotionally, mentally, physically, or spiritually, discomfort and pain can be felt along the meridian channel. The channel that is in distress can indicate which organ and element is out of balance and harmony. When an element is out of harmony it affects all the other elements.

● Water - The Water element is the first element in the FEC. It is where energy and life begin.
Womb energy. The Water element allows us to flow and move through life giving us agility, mobility, and portability. It simultaneously teaches us to rest, be still, refresh, and reflective. The water element moves us to sink into our deepest inner being to dream, envision, empower, and restore.

The Water Element is associated with winter, coldness, the north direction, the whole back body, teeth, bones, the hair on your head, the colors blue and black, and the Kidney (Yin) and Bladder (Yang) organs.
When the water element has an imbalance of arthritis, pain, and stiffness especially in the back body specifically lower back, swelling and inflammation, fatigue, fear, frustration, hoarding, bladder infections can manifest.

When the water element is in balance there is time for reflection, sufficient rest, there is power to overcome obstacles, courage, willpower, confidence, intelligence, intuitive, resourcefulness, and a deep connection to oneself.

● Wood - The Wood element is the second element in the FEC. The Wood element relates to the roots and trees of Mother Earth. It represents creative potential, flexibility, growth, new beginnings, rising energy, rootedness, stability, strength, and vitality. The Wood element allows us to plan and develop the dreams and visions from the Water element into and allows them to start manifesting.

The Wood Element is associated with spring, wind, ligaments, tendons, the east direction, creativity, eyes, eyebrows, joint movement, tears, Liver (Yin) and Gallbladder (yang) organs. When the Wood element has an emotional or spiritual imbalance anger, aggression, frustration, headaches, impatience, addiction, rage, violence, indecisiveness, laziness, jealousy, congestion, overeating, feeling stuck, and controlling tendencies can manifest. Physically imbalances of wood will manifest as acnes, eczema, grogginess, headaches, migraines, neck and upper back pain, strokes, seizures, and allergies.

When the Wood elements is in balance it expresses itself as kindness, patience, thoughtfulness, forgiveness, indepence, create freedom, visioning, planning, organization, decision making, coordination, emotional expression, creativity, new growth, expansion, resourcefulness, and an abundance of rising energy.

● Fire - The Fire element is the third element in the FEC. The Fire element relates to communication, connection, expression, and love. It is associated with fire, summer, heat, warmth, the south direction, the color red, expression, passion, action, communication, expansion, and vibrancy. The Fire element flows through the Triple Heater (Yang), Heart Protector (Yin), Small Intestines (Yang) and Heart (Yin).

When Fire is out of balance disconnection, isolation, sadness, selfishness, hatefulness, cruelty, heartlessness, cold heartedness, lack of boundaries, insensitivity, low energy, restlessness, detachment, fear, anxiety, insomnia, no creative outlet, poor circulation, numbness, constipation, emotional stress, vulnerability, and poor digestion issues can manifest. Physical imbalances of Fire can show up in the arms, chest, neck, and shoulders.

When Fire is in balance love, excitement, growth, fun, love, laughter, joy, happiness, self expression, activity, confidence, selflessness, and the ability to set healthy boundaries manifests

● Earth - The Earth element is the fourth element in the FEC. The Earth element is related to grounding, stability, community, peacemaking, abundance, giving and receiving, reciprocity, support, our center, the earth's center, foundation, transitions, nature, nurture, and Mother Earth. It is associated with late summer, early Fall, Stomach (Yang) and Spleen (Yin), and it stimulates the 5 senses.

When Earth is out of balance it may manifest distrust, lack of sympathy or empathy, the desire to resist change, spinning out of control, instability, sluggishness, depletion, lost, creation of poor eating habits, poor digestion, the inability to focus, indigestion, overeating, infections, and weakness.

When Earth is in balance patience, compassion, empathy, sympathy, understanding, adaptable, faith, grounding, fulfillment, order, collecting, absorbing, transforming, distributing, healthy appetite and digestion, nourishment, slowing down, gathering treasures, caring, mothering, contentment, centeredness, security, comfort and belonging will manifest.

● Metal (& Air) - The Metal element is the fifth and last element of the Five Element Cycle. The Metal element represents Autumn, the end of Fall, clarity, understanding, air, universal understanding, divine understanding, alignment, inhalation, exhalation, healthy boundaries, lessons, and experiences. It is associated with the Lungs (Yin) and Large Intestines (Yang).

When Metal is out of balance indecisiveness, confusion, worry, grief, sorrow, depression, detachment, hardness, emotionally blockages, lack of worth, the inability to see the bigger picture, no belief system, stiffness respiratory issues, diarrhea, emotional and physical constipation, growth of tumors, asthma, allergies, lack of energy, negative, overindulgence, and weakened immune system can manifest.

When Metal is in balance consolidation, communication, resiliency, spontaneity, strength, endurance, productivity, self care, precision, elimination, healing, healthy immune system, clearer breathing, improved respiratory functions, the understanding and acceptance of death, strengthened spirituality and values, purpose, self worth, self respect, self control, understanding and accepting the art letting go will manifest.