What to expect

Sessions last approximately 1 hour. Extended sessions are available.

When you receive a Shiatsu treatment, you will lie on a floor mat or massage table. You will be fully clothed, so please wear comfortable clothing. Oil is not usually applied. Practitioners use their fingers, palms, thumbs, elbows, knees, and/or feet to apply a comfortable pressure. Laurie may also assist you in slow stretches and movements of your joints and muscles in ways that work your meridians.

During a session, expect to relax deeply. Your heart rate and blood pressure may decrease, and your body’s natural pain relievers, endorphins, will be released. If long held tension is relieved, you may experience a welcome emotional release. Recipients sometimes relax to the point of sleep, although many report afterward that they feel energized and alert.

After your session, you will very likely experience an increase in flexibility and a decrease in aches and pains. Most people also enjoy a greater feeling of connectedness between mind and body that results in a deep sense of calm. Practitioners and recipients alike note that the benefits of stress relief and improved mental and physical health increase with regular sessions.