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Shiatsu Diffusion Society / SDS
(Ontario)
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Newsletter - Volume 5 - July 2002 Table of contents From
the Editor * * * Spring is finally here and everything is growing and green. We at the Shiatsu Academy are also in a time of growth. We have a new graduating class preparing to embark on the second step of their careers as Shiatsu Practitioners and an expansion of our professional clinic into the downtown Toronto core. As for this issue we will give you more information on the above news in our Upcoming Events section, treat your sinus problems in Kensen Saito's Home Treatments and inform you with an article by Jule Webb. As always enjoy, Sincerely, Christopher
Lambert, CSP * * * Sinus Congestion Blue skies, warm weather, green trees and opulent gardens, for most of us spring is a blessing, but for some it means the return of allergy season. For those of you who suffer from sinus problems I believe I can help. The sinuses are paired cavities in certain cranial and facial bones (see figure 1). They are lined with mucus membranes that are continuous with your nasal cavity lining. The role they play is to serve as resonating chambers for the voice, decease the weight of the head and to produce mucus, which purifies, moistens and warms the air to protect the lungs. Unfortunately when infected or irritated the membranes swell and block drainage into the nasal cavity thus producing that awful congested feeling we all know to well. Because of the location of the sinuses to the Frontal lobe, Pituitary Gland, Eyes and Teeth excess pressure can cause many disturbances of concentration, productivity and enjoyment. Sufferers experience headaches, toothaches, eye fatigue, elevated stress levels and decreased concentration.
So how do you relieve these symptoms? First with finger on finger technique apply pressure to 3 points on both sides of the nose simultaneously from top to bottom 5 to 7 times. Next apply the same technique to 2 points along the base of the eye from nose outward and 2 points under the eyebrows, 5 to 7 times. Finally apply pressure to 5 points just above the eyebrows, again 5 to 7 times (see figure 2). After giving yourself a shiatsu treatment clean the throat and nasal passages with a weak sea salt solution by gargling for one minute and inhaling water up the nose (this is slightly uncomfortable and causes your nose to run a bit so do it over a sink). Finally clean your eyes with running water. Repeat this
treatment in its entirety (shiatsu and flush) three times a day,
once in the morning, once at lunch and once before retiring for
the evening. It is important to do it just before bed as it will
give you a better sleep and allow you a fresh start in the morning.
If you follow this simple treatment plan you should be able to stop
and smell the flowers in 2 to 3 weeks.
* * * The Benefits of Shiatsu by Jule Webb My introduction to Shiatsu occurred early in 1996 when I was attending a home show in Toronto. At the point of leaving the home show I noticed a group of soon-to-graduate Shiatsu students giving "sample" treatments. For most of my adult life I had been having chiropractic treatments to treat migraines and backache with limited relief. I had previously read articles about Shiatsu therapy, some positive and some negative, the negative explaining how some practitioners used elbows, knees and sometimes full body weight to exert pressure. The negatives ones influenced me against seeking this type of treatment. I later found out that Namikoshi's Shiatsu method uses only thumbs, fingers and palms. But at that time, feeling extremely fatigued and with lower back aching from all the standing I decided to take advantage of the students' offer. The session lasted about 20 minutes, at the end of which time I felt such rejuvenation it was difficult to believe the extent of relief. My back was no longer aching, fatigue had vanished and I was left with a pleasant feeling of relaxed tiredness and a lightness of body as though it had, to a certain extent, been released from the pull of gravity. This experience led me to seek out a permanent therapist whom I found in Kensen Saito of the Shiatsu Academy of Tokyo. I have been having regular therapy since then and the benefits have proven to be numerous: fewer and less severe headaches; relief of backaches and tension in the neck and shoulder area; lowering of high blood pressure; less insomnia; ability to breathe more deeply; fewer episodes of short term memory loss that come with aging, and a corresponding increase of powers of concentration. My husband was in an automobile accident a few months after I began therapy. As a result of this collision his lungs, already weakened from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suffered severe bruising. He had never been in favor of alternate therapies but his suffering was such that he agreed to Kensen administering Shiatsu therapy. After only one treatment he said the relief he felt was nothing short of miraculous. Unknown to us he was also in an advanced stage of prostate cancer, diagnosed six months later during a general medical examination. He continued having regular Shiatsu therapy until the time of his death in 1999 and it gave him enormous help in coping with all of the discomforts of two major illnesses. He looked forward to the days when he would have Shiatsu therapy and was always able to fall into a deep, restful sleep following the treatments. I believe if
Shiatsu were at least partly subsidized by government the overall
benefit to the health of people in treating existing and preventing
future problems would be considerable, not to mention the resulting
savings in medical costs. * * * Upcoming Events and School Happenings ConGraduation!! Student Clinic Pilates on
the Ball™ Coming Soon... |
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