Shiatsu Massage

1. Change your position to face across your partner, placing your uppermost hand on the Hara (lower abdomen). Place your other hand on the inside of the knee allowing your fingers to curl under the joint. Leaning back, simply allow your body weight to lift the leg. There should be very little effort involved in this. As the leg comes up, slide your hand from the inside of the knee to the upper shin.
2. Rotate the leg out from the body, focussing on the hip joint. Start with small circular movements and, releasing the leg as much as possible, gradually increase the rotation to the fullest range.
3. Place the leg so that it rests comfortably with the toes at the level of the opposite ankle, with the spleen meridian uppermost. You may prop it up either with your leg underneath or a cushion. Palm up the inside of the calf along the Yin meridians to the knee. Thumb up the calf from the ankle to the knee.
4. Use your forearm to continue the pressure up the thigh. Rotate the leg once again then move down to your partner’s feet.
5. Cup underneath the ankle in one hand. Place the other hand on top of the ankle. Bring your Hara into contact with the sole of the foot. Grasp it firmly and rotate your body from the hips. As you move your partner’s body will move with yours.

Repeat all the techniques on the opposite leg and complete this section of the sequence with your hand back on your receiver’s Hara.
Caution: Do not give shiatsu on the spleen meridian during pregnancy if miscarriage is likely. Do not work below the knees in any pregnancy.

1. Kneeling up, bring your free hand to your partner’s furthest shoulder. Place your other hand on the near shoulder. Your arms should now be crossed. With your receiver’s “out” breath, lean forward on your hands, opening up the shoulder and chest area.
2. Maintain the support of the shoulder nearest you. With the other hand, as in the treatment of the legs, begin by gently rocking and kneading the arms from the shoulder to the hand. Position the arm at right angles to the body with the palms facing up. Then palm down the arm, avoiding pressure on the elbow joint. Follow by thumbing down the middle of the arm to the palm along the heart protector meridian.
3. Grasp the wrist and move your body so that your outstretched leg is parallel to the arm, your foot resting comfortably against the upper torso. Gently lean back stretching the arm, giving counter pressure with your foot.
4. Link your little fingers inside your partner’s index and little finger to stretch open the palm. Your thumbs are then naturally placed to work into the palm with circular movements.
5. Place the support hand on the shoulder, tucking your thumb into the armpit. Hold the wrist, lift and loosen the shoulder joint.
6. Step forward with your outside leg, stretching your partner’s arm to the floor above the head.
7. Move your body so that by gently leaning back your partner’s arm is stretched, using a two-handed grip to the wrist.
8. Pick up your partner’s other hand and rest the forearms on your knees.
9. Lean back, allowing your knees to slide up the forearms to the wrists. On the “out” breath, this makes a powerful stretch for the shoulders and chest.

Repeat all the techniques on the opposite arm, stretching, rocking, kneading, palming, thumbing and massaging the hands. To finish return again to the Hara (lower abdomen area). Simply holding for a minute or two gives your partner time to feel the changes that have occurred. Break this final contact very slowly and if appropriate cover your partner with a blanket. Give your partner some time to experience how he or she feels.

One of the great benefits of shiatsu is that it encourages self-awareness. It is often in the still moments of a session, when we are just being with our partner, that both giver and receiver can have the most profound insights.