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Shiatsu Theory and Practice 3rd Edition By Carola Beresford-Cooke – Book Review
This is the 3rd edition of one of the most comprehensive and useful textbooks for serious Shiatsu Students – Shiatsu Theory and Practice. the first edition came out in 1997 and has been a kind of Bible for learning Shiatsu since then.
Overall Rating (out of 5):
This is the 3rd edition of one of the most comprehensive and useful textbooks for serious Shiatsu Students – Shiatsu Theory and Practice. the first edition came out in 1997 and has been a kind of Bible for learning Shiatsu since then. This edition has been greatly expanded with additional text in the new version, technique demonstration on a DVD-ROM, several new chapters including scientific discoveries and developments particularly around energy medicine, field theory, consciousness and intention.
Carola Beresford-Cooke is a respected teacher and author, her roots are in acupuncture but she is firmly allied with Zen Shiatsu, which is probably the most common and popular style of Shiatsu today.
Revised 3rd Edition of Shiatsu Theory and Pracice with improved layout, bigger print and colour photos. Additional chapters for beginner and advanced students of Shiatsu. Lots of theory and advice on practice. DVD-ROM of technique demonstration. Over 100 new pages of content including new theory chapters and and advice for practitioners with approaches to common ailments. Online test questions for revision and CPD.
Pros of Shiatsu Theory and Practice 3rd edition:
- 100 additional pages
- New chapters on energy medicine, consciousness & intention and Field Theory, common ailments
- DVD-ROM of technique demonstration
- Detailed descriptions of the 5 Phases, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Zen Shiatsu theory
- Diagrams and descriptions of each meridian and major points
- Online test questions that can be used for revision and Continued Professional Development
- Particularly relevant to the Zen Shiatsu Style of Shiatsu Massage
Cons of Shiatsu Theory and Practice 3rd edition:
- The chapters jump around between beginner and more advanced material, but this is reference material, not a novel
- Could be daunting for the new Shiatsu student as there is just so much information to take in
- Could be seen to be such a complete work that it is unnecessary to learn from an experienced, qualified teacher (there is no substitute to proper tuition)
This book comes highly recommended to any student of any style of Shiatsu, and especially if you are a Zen Shiatsu student, as it is particularly relevant to this form of Shiatsu. It is even recommended if you have an older edition of this work, since the new chapters and extra material make this an invaluable addition to your TCM library.
Remember that this book is no substitution to full and complete training, but will help you to gain deeper insights and greater knowledge into the theory and practice of Shiatsu.
The material in the new scientific discoveries chapters alone makes this a must have for any serious practitioner of Shiatsu, Acupuncture or other Traditional Chinese Medicine modality.
Remember it’s not a novel so there is no need to read it cover to cover, use it as a reference and dip in and out where you need to, as suits your knowledge level and requirements.
If you want to buy the book you can visit Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
Also available on Kindle (US) or Kindle (UK)
This is one of the best and greatest books on Shiatsu Theory and Practice… as the title of the book quite clearly implies ;o)
This is a must have!
How Shiatsu Can Improve Your Health
This is a guest post written by Nisha from healthypages.co.uk
Take it away Nisha:
Shiatsu is a form of touch therapy that originated in Japan, but draws extensively on ancient Chinese medical philosophy and practice. Shiatsu, which activates the body’s natural ability to heal, is used not only to treat a wide variety of physiological and psychological symptoms, but also as a preventative measure to maintain general health and wellbeing. Eastern cultures believe that illness results from imbalances in the natural flow of energy through the body. As in other treatments such as acupuncture, Shiatsu therapy manipulates the energy to restore balance and allow it to flow freely. This energy, the body’s life force, flows along pathways or meridians throughout the body. In Japan it is known as Ki. In other areas of the East it is called Qi or Chi.
A skilled Shiatsu practitioner can interpret both the quality and flow of Ki in your body through their highly developed sense of touch. The treatment involves applying gentle, rhythmic pressure to the energy meridians, using the fingers, thumbs and palms, focusing on any area of the body where the Ki is blocked. Along with massage, Shiatsu therapists advise their clients with the aim of increasing confidence, mind-body awareness and coping abilities. As well as producing deep relaxation, Shiatsu stimulates healing and is used to treat many common conditions including:
Arthritis – Shiatsu can help alleviate the symptoms experienced by those suffering from both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The gentle massage and stretching has numerous benefits from pain relief to reducing inflammation and swelling, soothing stiff muscles and helping to maintain range of motion in the joints.
Post-injury muscle pain and spasms – Shiatsu is often the treatment of choice for people experiencing chronic pain following a fall, whiplash or other injury, particularly when traditional medical intervention has failed provide long-lasting relief. Shiatsu can alleviate the pain and spasms, while improving motility and range of motion in the affected area.
Migraine – The pain of a migraine is the result of rapid widening and narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain and can be triggered by stress, hunger, a change in the weather, certain foods or drugs such as caffeine. The relaxing effect of Shiatsu alleviates the pain by increasing blood flow and circulation.
Pre-menstrual syndrome – Ninety percent of women experience the physical and emotional symptoms associated with PMS. Shiatsu can relieve the cramping, backache and general fatigue while calming the nervous system. It can even help reduce cravings.
Pregnancy – Shiatsu is useful in treating the common discomforts of pregnancy such as morning sickness, heartburn, pre-eclampsia, low back pain, fatigue, and edema. It can also be used before or during labor to help speed up the process, by intensifying uterine contractions.
In addition to be used for specific conditions, Shiatsu improves your overall health by regulating hormonal balances, enhancing digestion, improving posture, preventing injuries by limbering up your muscles, decreasing blood pressure, revitalizing your skin, supporting your immune system and much more. Shiatsu is a very powerful therapy, that can help keep you dis-ease free.
Hello my name is Nisha, I am the Editor for healthypages.co.uk. I love to write about health and beauty, especially Complementary Therapies, please visit our site for more information
5 things to consider when choosing your complementary therapist
Some things to look out for when choosing the right Complementary Therapist for you. How to find the best solution to your particular situation.
Finding the right therapist for you is an important process and needs to be considered carefully. You will be entering into a relationship with your therapist that in some ways is more intimate than with anyone else, you will potentially be dealing directly with physical, mental, emotion and even spiritual energies, and ideally transforming them into a healthier state. We all have our individual tastes and different needs when looking for the right massage therapist or CAM practitioner to work with. Here we will look at some common considerations when choosing your complementary therapist.
Most importantly for me to look at is
What do you hope to achieve from the treatments?
This will depend on your particular situation in regards to your health, stress levels and other reasons for wanting to have treatments. If you have a long-term condition you may simply want to gain some on-going relief and will therefore be looking for a long-term relationship that suits you and your therapist. Alternatively you may be dealing with some acute stress, recovering from an injury, illness or surgery, or looking for a performance boost before a special sporting event, perhaps trying to deal with nerves before a big business meeting or conference or maybe you’re wanting to feel better in other areas of your life. In these cases you would need to consider what would be most effective to deal with the situation.
Male or Female therapist?
This can simply be a question of who you are more comfortable with, or could come down to what is more appropriate for personal or religious reasons. Or you might choose your therapist based on the qualities of the gender in regards to the style of therapy you choose, depending on the energy involved (you would expect the big, hulking guy to provide the best Thai Yoga Massage, but it seems the tiny Thai lady is uniquely suited to inflicting the most pain). This is very much down to personal taste and will vary from individual to individual and situation to situation.
Home visits or clinic?
Which you choose will generally depend on your situation in regards to time, location, space and money. This really comes down to cost or convenience; if you’re busy and can afford it, you might decide to have someone come to your house or business, you’ll pay more but the time saved will surely be worth much more. Alternatively visiting a regular clinic may keep the costs down, as the therapist can see more people in a day, making their practice more efficient.
Which therapy Style you choose?
This will be a mix of personal preference and your intended results. If you are mainly seeking therapy for enjoyment, or experience, you may choose the style that you like the best, simply because it is pleasant or interesting. Or you may have very specific goals in mind, to rehabilitate a bad back or other damaged body part, to deal with stress, to gain flexibility and mobility, to improve sleep… there are a huge and growing list of ailments and conditions that can be helped with different complementary therapies and forms of body work, so you may have to do some research into the various styles to find out what works best for your condition and what you personally resonate with the most. If you have the opportunity I’d recommend trying the different styles that appeal, even if you’re not familiar with them, and even trying different therapists within a style, to make sure you really find the best person to treat your particular situation.
Your Personal preference?
Sometimes there is just a connection you feel when being treated by the right therapist, it’s indescribable, except to say that they can find every point that needs their attention… those places you didn’t know hurt until just that moment when they touched there… and already the pain is easing…
That is the X factor…
As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider when looking for a therapist, sometimes logical, sometimes on a feeling. I hope this post will help you get more from your massage therapy sessions
🙂
Natural Health Remedies – without Antibiotics
Ever wondered about ways to stay healthy without needing to reach for the antibiotics? Protect your immune system naturally.
Antibiotics may have saved many lives and killed an unimaginable number of harmful bacteria, but they also indiscriminately kill the beneficial bacteria as well, not to mention surviving strands can become resistant over time forming SuperBugs. The less we have to use antibiotics for everyday illnesses, that our own bodies immune system should easily handle, the better.
5 Natural Health Remedies
So I’ve compiled a quick list of household remedies and natural cures, so we can improve our health and give our immune system a health boost, naturally. Continue reading “Natural Health Remedies – without Antibiotics”