Shiastu Massage

Relax and energize with this oil free ancient Japanese massage. Your therapist will work over the sheet on pressure points and energy meridians to bring you back into balance.

What is Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a Japanese word that means: “finger pressure”. A shiatsu treatment does however incorporate the use of not only finger pressure, but also thumbs, palms, knees, forearms, elbows and feet. Pressure is applied to the areas of the energy lines (meridians) to promote good health by “stimulating the body’s energy flow” (ki).

Length of Shiastu Session

Each session usually lasts 60 minutes. The session either takes place on a mat/futon on the floor or on a bed. The mat/futon is more in line with the ancient practice of shiatsu.

The session usually begins with gentle stretching and manipulation techniques to help stimulate the movement of energy and to relax the muscles. Pressure can be applied to both wide areas as well as precise points. These can be varied depending on the body’s needs. Sometimes the pressure can be gentle and calming. Sometimes the pressure can be deeply stimulating at the energy level. The amount and the type of pressure depends on the specific needs of the individual.

Benefits of Shiatsu Massage

Shiatsu can help alleviate the pain associated with a wide range of conditions. It can also assist an individual with their self development and self healing; balancing the underlying cause of a condition; taking into account the functioning of the psychological and physical; promoting health and strengthening the body’s own healing abilities.

Some of the immediate physical benefits of Shiatsu are to:
1. Stimulate the circulatory, lymphatic, and hormonal systems
2. Regulate the activity of the automatic nervous system

Shiatsu is a deep treatment and regular session help to prevent the build-up of stress in our daily lives. Following a shiatsu treatment, an individual may have feelings of increase vitality and relaxation.

Tips

Whether you are a first timer to massage or the Spa experience, or someone who has regular massage/treatments, here are some things to keep in mind to enjoy your time:

• For any oil massage, you will have to undress and slip between the sheets on the massage table. It is your choice whether you undress completely or you’re your undergarments on. Depending on the temperature of the room, there will also be a blanket that will cover the sheets. Your practitioner will direct you as to whether be on your back or front. Once you are settled on the bed, make sure that the covers are up to your shoulders, covering your body. Your practitioner will give you enough time to settle and then knock on the door to see if you are ready or not. When you give the signal, then they will enter and get ready to start the massage.
• For non-oil treatments such as shiatsu and thai, you will either wear your own clothes if they are loose or use clothes provided. The treatment will be done over/through the clothes.
• Once the treatment begins, what experience you have is between you and your practitioner. You determine how it goes. If you want more or less pressure, then communicate this to the practitioner. If you want a particular area to have more attention, then communicate this. If the practitioner is good, they will continuously be asking you questions, to determine these. The clearer you are, the more personalized your treatment will be. If the practitioner is not open to you communicating your needs, then they are not worth continuing with.
• Many people ask how much they should talk in a treatment. The answer is that it is completely up to you. You are paying for the service. If you need to chat, then chat. If you wish to be silent and fall asleep, then go for it. The practitioner will respect this. Again, you are paying for the treatment.
• As the practitioner moves around to different areas of your body, they will be moving the covers on and off. They will doing this while keeping your private areas still covered. The technique of draping is taught in all the schools and is essential part of a treatment. The experience should always be a comfortable one for both you and the practitioner.

The length of time of the massage

Usually places will give options of 30/60/90/120 minutes. A 30 minute massage is considered a “teaser”. It is used if you have a specific area that you want worked on for a short period of time. A 60 minute massage is considered the standard minimal for a full body massage experience. Both 90 and 120 are better if want the full experience as well as concentrate on a specific area. These times mean that the practitioner can take their time to really focus on areas that need attention. For the specialty treatments such as: hot rocks, salt exfoliations and body wraps, 90 minutes is considered the minimum. 120 minutes is considered the standard. These treatments take time and need the extra to have the full experience. It is well worth the extra time!

Timing – our guarantee

Many spas will take 10 minutes off the massage time and use this as part of the preparation time. Therefore, a 60 minute massage, becomes a 50 minute and so on. At Nibbana Healing Spa, we believe that you get what you paid for and a full body massage is a full 60 minutes. Instead of the time taken off of the time taken for you to prepare, we absorb that time in our schedule. We want you to have the maximum benefit. So, you have an extra 10 minutes to enjoy.