Common Conditions
Chronic Pain
A message from your practitioner
I know from my own experience how debilitating chronic pain can be. No matter what is causing your pain- or where it is located in your body- as a person who has experienced it, I’m aware that living with a chronic condition can affect your life in so many ways. The exhaustion, brain fog, depression, alienation, etc that can come with chronic illness or pain in itself can create a seemingly insurmountable obstacle to living a decent life.
The work that I do with clients suffering from chronic pain varies on a case by case basis, but my goal for everyone is to provide a safe, supportive space where we can work together to stimulate your body’s natural ability to heal and get at the root causes of your pain to provide the deepest and longest lasting relief from your symptoms as possible.
I empower my clients to embrace the active role they have in their own healing, rather than to see themselves as passive recipients of something that will “fix” them. In addition to the work that we do together I will work with you to help establish effective self care habits, routines and techniques that you can use on your own in between our sessions together. Below, you will find some specifics regarding treatment for some of the most common chronic conditions that I work with.
Migraines and Headaches
The symptoms and severity of migraine headaches can vary quite a bit, but no matter what your symptoms are or the frequency or severity of your headaches, Shiatsu Alchemy can most certainly help provide you with some relief.
This gentle approach consists of delicate adjustments to the head, face and neck, as well as Myofascial massage to release tension in the muscles of the neck and back.
Energetic imbalance is addressed, and a full body assessment is used to help determine any tensions or misalignments in other parts of the body that may be contributing to the origin of your headaches. The sessions are calm and meditative in tone and spirit, and help to ease your nervous system into a relaxed state of balance and unity.
TMJ Disorders
Dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint can be quite painful and annoying, and may be the cause of other symptoms such as headaches and neck pain. TMJ pain, clicking, and locking up often caused or exacerbated by bruxism (teeth grinding) and/or stress can be greatly relieved through the relaxing and focused touch of Shiatsu Alchemy.
Gentle skeletal manipulation, pressure point massage, and myofascial release techniques are all used to ease tension in the muscles of the jaw, neck, shoulders, and upper back and realign the bones of the face and head.
Intra-oral muscle release is used to relax the jaw muscles in the cheek and help align the palate, jaw, and teeth. Often TMJ issues are connected to restriction in other areas of the body or excessive stress, and work may be done in those areas and to help reset the nervous system to a place of more balanced calm.
Fibromyalgia
The widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, emotional distress, and cognitive difficulties related to fibromyalgia can be debilitating and alienating. Everyone’s experience of this condition is different, and therefore each individual case is treated as unique and the approach may vary person to person and even from session to session.
By approaching your body in a sensitive and delicate way, we can move past the hair trigger responses of an over stimulated nervous system and coax you into a more relaxed state where your body can restore a sense of balance.
Fibromyalgia is often tied to unresolved trauma, and the gentle awareness and supportive nature of Shiatsu Alchemy can help your body to recognize, process, and release the traumatic memories held in the body.
Many who suffer from fibromyalgia also respond well to specific pressure point stimulation which helps to restore and regulate a balanced energetic flow. Deeply relaxing and restoring, Shiatsu Alchemy helps you to connect to your body’s innate healing power and can help you relieve pain, reduce anxiety and improve mental and emotional clarity and a general sense of well-being.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a serious and debilitating condition that causes extreme fatigue and inability to rest, and can significantly reduce the quality of life of those who suffer from it.
By establishing a supportive connection to your body through gentle touch, Shiatsu Alchemy allows your nervous system to relax and recalibrate, helping you to reduce symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, and cognitive difficulties, as well as improve circulation, reduce inflammation and pain, and restore balance in the body.
In addition, your sessions will help restore your tranquility and peace of mind.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be caused by many different factors, such as menstrual cramping, constipation, bloating, fascial restriction, endometriosis, inflammation and more. From relieving pain to improving bowel function, Shiatsu Alchemy can work wonders for a wide range of abdominal problems.
It can even help with other digestive issues like acid reflux and indigestion. The abdomen can also be an area where emotions are stored in the body causing discomfort, bloating, pain or digestive and reproductive disfunction. All of the body’s energy channels flow through the abdomen, and work here can shed a light on pain elsewhere in the body and help to maintain a balanced and even flow of Qi.
Light pressure techniques from Craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and shiatsu are used to address your pain in a non-invasive, gentle manner.
Depression • Anxiety • PTSD • CPTSD
For whatever reason you may feel stressed, anxious or depressed, whether it’s because of an obvious current cause or situation, an underlying trauma that may be conscious or subconscious, or from post-traumatic stress, the sustained clear attention of a trained bodywork therapist can help you to feel clearer and more grounded.
Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, insomnia, nervousness, brain fog, irritability, physical pain, nausea, emotional numbness, headaches, etc can be greatly reduced or eradicated.
The focus of Shiatsu Alchemy is on the body, and through sensitive touch we can engage with and help to integrate or release emotional imprints held in the tissues. The tension and fear associated with trauma can often stick with us, causing pain and restriction in the body, as well as an anxious or depressed emotional state. This type of touch meditation allows you to bring your awareness into your body in a way that may have been previously impossible or uncomfortable. This process slowly starts to dissolve the deep-seated tensions and fears that may have been rooted deeply for years.
The safe space provided by Shiatsu Alchemy therapy can be an amazing tool for releasing trauma held since childhood, or even more recent events.
The gentle approach of Shiatsu Alchemy eases the central nervous system into a relaxed state, allowing the body to recalibrate, releasing physical tension and pain and reminding your mind and body that a peaceful and calm state can be returned to at any time. The connection between mind and body is strengthened, and a sense of grounding can allow us to approach ourselves and the outside world with new perspectives.
Lyme Disease
Lyme is an incredibly complicated and elusive disease, and people infected with Lyme and it’s common co-infections can have a wide range of symptoms and experiences. While Shiatsu Alchemy is not a Lyme disease cure or suggested as a stand-alone treatment for Lyme, it can be a helpful support for your body as you navigate other avenues of treatment.
By providing a safe, nurturing space where your body’s natural self-correcting mechanisms can be most effective, Shiatsu Alchemy helps boost your immune system, reduce pain and stiffness in the body, and regulate the nervous system – improving relaxation and cognitive function and reducing stress and anxiety.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a type of massage that is used to improve the performance and recovery of athletes. It can help prevent sports-related injuries, reduce inflammation, and improve range of motion.
The benefits of sports massage are manifold: it keeps muscles limber, helps relieve pain and tension in injured areas, restores balance and alignment, improves circulation, reduces fatigue levels after exercise or competition, and assists with post-event healing.
Sports massage can be used by everyone – from beginners who want to avoid injury during their first few sessions to seasoned athletes who need regular treatment for improved performance or chronic injuries.