Incorporating Shiatsu into Your Home Life
Incorporating Shiatsu into Your Home Life
Shiatsu/Shin Tai does not always have to be given in hour-long sessions in a treatment room, which is a great thing to remember right now! You can use it in a more casual way with people (and pets) who are living with you. That is how bodywork was used traditionally. For those of you who are living without any other people in the household, you can do these things with your dear self through Do-In and other self treatment methods (therapeutic exercises, foods, teas, chanting, etc).
Here are some ways we use shiatsu/shin tai in our household:
Try some shiatsu when you are in the mood for something different than the usual interpersonal activities. Instead of eating, talking or playing a game, suggest some bodywork for fun and health. You can put on some great music and sing and hum while you treat. We listen to Beethoven symphonies lately when we treat each other; I’m obsessed with the 7th right now. Let yourself play around a bit and do what feels fun and natural.
Set up a table or futon while you are cooking a meal or watching casual tv. Work on whoever lays down for a few minutes while you are cooking or enjoying relaxing together. It can be an interesting experience to share some bodywork in the course of daily activities and the receiver will get a chance to experience more balance while in their typical home environment.
If you someone in your family or social cohort (the group of people you have decided to keep contact with through the pandemic) does bodywork, do an exchange that is shorter than usual. Try 10 minutes each, or switch back and forth each doing 3 techniques at a time. This will make you more likely to actually do it, since you don't need a whole 2+ hours.
