Healing and Children

For some time, Ive been thinking about and feeling drawn to work with children. I pull a card daily and this one above of Damara, comes up often and yet I've been perplexed as I feel well, how will work with children. For awhile I have wanted to teach children yoga and mindfulness as tools that can really help them (I've seen it happen.) Both modalities help them deal with anger, stress, anxiety and self-esteem. And it's amazing to see their faces post-practice of either yoga with relaxation or meditation. Both of which I taught to little kids (so cute.) And I've also taught to teenagers and college age, and really enjoyed it! So still in my new part of the world-Western Mass, I hadn't figured out how to be of service.
But the card keeps coming. So today it became clear. I am going to start working with children as part of my shiatsu bodywork practice! Once that became clear-so many ideas began to fall into place. I'll follow up more on this in next few days, and am working on a web site where I will give details about this. A website and a blog, wheew, I guess the website is more static information on my work. And the blog can be more fun and spontaneous and cover misc. musings!
I was so inspired at the plan to work with children and healing, that I immediately was drawn to take some photo's for my web page. Out of many lesser shots, I've chosen and edited these two. Children and creativity-such blessings!

REMEMBRANCE COLLAGE: honoring the life of your pet

dad's old dog
Originally uploaded by falafelicious

WORKSHOP POSTPONED!!! To be put on mailing list for next one, please email me with "Remembrance Collage" as subject.
UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

The idea to create "Remembrance Collage" workshops started as I began to notice that I and several friends had lost a dear pet recently. I realized that it can be difficult finding ways to mourn the loss of an animal that has been our beloved companion for years; my 15 year old cat died recently after a long struggle. As I talked to people, it became clear that a lot of emotion was bound up in the loss. As I write this I just remembered another friend who lost her dog too. Thats- 1 (M), 2(B), 3 (C), 4(J&E), 5(G), friends or aquaintences who are dealing with death of a animal companion in a short span of time. I believe in serendipity and that our lives gives us clear feedback on "what's next" and what's "important" if only we pay attention.

The workshop will be 3 hours long and will be Sunday May 3rd, 1-4pm. My aim is to provide a supportive environment where each person can create a piece that will be a positive memento of the relationship with their pet. The workshop is open to all and will begin with a guided mindfulness practice and relaxation, as a way to ease into the creative process. Journaling and sharing will also be encouraged. Participants will bring multiple photocopies of their pets image, fabric or anything that can be glued down onto a surface. I will encourage participants to experiment with adding a map/images of places or important events that linked their life with the life of the beloved pet. My hope is that each attendee, not only feels that their heart has been lightened by this process, but most important that the art they create serves as a lovely reminder of the joyful memories shared with their dog or cat."

If I had a mission statement it would be: To help facilitate healing and joy in an individuals life on all levels through a variety of holistic means. Whether that be through shiatsu, mindfulness, yoga or art." Viv (Kalavati) Williams.

By clicking on button you will be taken to a Paypal secure page, to use mastercard, visa or debit card. You do not need to have or setup a Paypal account in order to make a purchase.

Cost: $35

or register by mail to: Viv Williams PO Box 103 Heath, MA 01346. Please send payment in time to be received before workshop date and receive confirmation back from me.
Date: Sunday, May 3rd, 1:00-4 pm
Location: Shelburne Falls, MA.
Materials list and pre-homework will be given.

Stress & Shiatsu Massage: Case Study Pt. 2

Daily homage
Originally uploaded by Oda's Courses

Case Study continues....
Our 38 year old male is relaxing as the shiatsu therapist does a hara palpation....
The hara (the abdominal region between the hip bones and the lower ribs) palpation shows a kyo condition (a relative lack of energy) in the kidney/bladder meridian. And a jitsu (excess of energy) in the liver/gallbladder meridian. This has allowed the fire energy (heart/small intestine/heart governor and triple heater to become unbalanced.) That accounts for some of his malaise (headaches, fiery temper, flushed complexion.) Hara diagnosis is also part of the treatment, it's always a combination of accessing and responding to what is felt.
As the client relaxes, he mentions that his libido has been low for some time and asks whether this could help. At the end of the session, the MT lets him know that the body tends towards balance if given the opportunity and that he should find that changes occur over several sessions. These include, a lessening of his feelings of tension and stress, the headaches on the side of his head may diminish and he will notice a more steady sense of energy. The low back discomfort is related to kidney meridian kyo state, and was aggravated by cold weather. He had had it checked by his physician and they found no cause except perhaps the excess abdominal weight and weak musculature.
Short term: he is given the suggestion of cutting down his caffeine intake from the 3-4 cups of coffee plus sodas, that is his current norm. He asks to reschedule and to learn some breathing practices that he can do at home. He has cut down to 2 cups a day by the 4 session, and says his energy level is good despite that.
Long term: as he makes some changes including cutting down on his alcohol consumption, and resuming a exercise regimen he reports feeling a lot better, more even tempered, less spikes in energy. He begins to notice he is relating differently to his wife and they plan a vacation for the two of them, something they have not done in a while.

Shiatsu is so much more than massage-it stimulates the bodys own innate healing wisdom and often one finds that changes that need on to be made (emotional, physical) are easier to manifest as a result.

Stress & Shiatsu Massage-A Case Study

Daily Walk Photo 3/19/09

Continuing on from the last post Spring & the Meridians, it's not spring in the hilltowns of Western, MA-not yet. So I'd like to give a general overview of someone who might come in to my office at this time. This hypothetical person is completely made up and an amalgam of typical symptoms in order to further explore 5 Element Theory and shiatsu massage. I will include emotions and stressors as that is very important for the shiatsu therapist. So lets see:

He is a 38 year old male, a bit overweight around the middle, he is a former competitive athlete. But he has since stopped working out. He's too busy! He is very goal oriented, successful at this profession, he works for a large corporation. He has coffee for breakfast and maybe a bagel on the run. For lunch which he may put off or skip he'll grab whatever is handy-chips, soda, a corned beef sandwich delivered. He often works late into the night as he finds it hard to stop once he's started any project. He can be short tempered with staff and lately his wife and kids. His medical history shows high blood pressure controlled by medication, he often has heartburn and now headaches that are quite intense. In addition just this winter he began to have low back ache. Also recently his cholesterol is up. His doctor has recommended he incorporate some relaxation methods into his lifestyle.
So he comes in as he has heard that massage is helpful for stress. He has tried shiatsu on his travels to Japan so he is vaguely familiar with it.
An assessment begins by listening to him and reading his health history. The therapist needs to observe things such as posture, skin tone, sound of voice, etc. His face is reddish in tone, flushed looking and he seems rushed and speaks in a relatively loud tone. The session begins with him relaxing on his back on a futon, he is encouraged to breath deeply and relax. Using a chart of the Hara (the abdominal region), for what is referred to as Hara diagnosis. (Please note that a shiatsu/massage therapist is not a medical doctor and is not giving a clinical diagnosis of disease.) We palpate the hara to feel the energy flow of the meridians that correspond to certain organ systems which in Traditional Chinese Medicine is broader in scope than a Western understanding of an organ. It is helpful for the MT to have a health history, but TCM often is concerned with states before any full blown disease would be diagnosed.
....to be continued
Kalavati (Viv Williams, LMT) shiatsu massage, Shelburne Falls, MA.

Spring and the Meridians

Like the seasons, we change and adjust over time and in a set cycle. As winter in New England begins to give way to spring, so does our body shift hopefully in tune with the environment of which we are a part. Shiatsu is wonderful at the change of seasons to help us acheive a graceful transition. The meridians that are most emphasized in the winter are the pair Kidney/Bladder. As we move into spring the emphasis shifts to Liver/Gallbladder meridian. As mentioned in a previous post on Five Element theory-the color green and the element of Wood are Liver/Gallbladder correspondences. Water was the element corresponding with Kidney/Bladder. If we had a nurturing healthy winter season, ie. we stayed warm, ate nourishing food, avoided drafts, stress and got plenty of rest-we are in an optimum position to shift harmoniously into spring....If anything threw us off balance we may have symptoms such as: headaches, irritability, tension, and pain that is on the side of the body for example. Next article more on some signs of imbalance as the spring season onfolds...
Kalavati, LMT shiatsu massage, Shelburne Falls

Shiatsu Massage Overview: Yin & Yang

So in Oriental traditional health theory, we are not separate from the outside world, the environment. It's all about harmony and disharmony. To maintain health we must constantly adapt, as change is always happening as in the Western concept of homeostasis. But in the traditional Asian theory-we are much more interdependent on the environment and it's subtle changes. The concepts of Yin and Yang are vital to understanding traditional medicine in China and Japan. The theory of Yin & Yang was elaborated in the I Ching (Book of Changes) around the 2nd millenium BC.
According to my shiatsu teacher "A little good in all bad, a little bad in all good," see famous yin yang symbol for a succinct visual representation of these concepts. Notice the flowing shapes, like waves implying movement-not rectilinear; the circle as the "container" which implies wholeness. The dot of opposite in each one, and yet how the shapes fit exactly and support each other.
Everything has yin and yang aspects. And both qualities are relative- always in comparision. And they are always changing and shifting in relation to one another. Here is a basic list of yin and yang classifications.

YIN/YANG

Yin&Yang - Zora&Lilith
Originally uploaded by adambeads

Earth/Heaven
Feminine/Masculine
Dark/Light
Night/Day
Hot/Cold
Space/Time
Wetness/Dryness
Stillness/Activity
Contraction/Expansion
Interior/Exterior
Falling/Rising
Solid organs/Hollow organs

Photo: Yin&Yang-Zora&LIlith
Originally uploaded by adambeads @Flickr. (Click on photo to go to his page)

Tara...

In between clients, continuing to create a healing ambience-I find time to make a bit of art. The piece Tara, featured a few posts ago, is now almost finished with the addition of the two side portions. I've added a wonderful intricate brocade fabric, and will add some collage bead elements. Then add hinges to join the three pieces together and several coats of protective varnish.

It is green Tara, though I made her primarily golden. Her mantra is Om Tara Tuttare, Ture Svaha- she is the believed to respond instantly to the cries of her devotees, and is said to protect from a variety of calamities, things like floods, fire, thieves etc...My shiatsu as well as my art is deeply intuitive rather than linear, so I open to what that moment brings and this piece is unorthodox-it is not meant to be like a traditional Buddhist Thanka. Of course tradition implies rules which can be a great thing, but my work comes through as spontaneous transmission of Spirit.
My work life will hopefully continue to be a mix of holistic work with others and solitary creative expression. The latter is then sent out into the world. Both ways of "working" bring a sense of balance and harmony to my spirit at this time. And time spent doing one nourishes the other.
Hope to see you soon for a shiatsu or private yoga session or a combination of the two. Also if in need of support in transitioning from one form of livelihood to creative or healing work, do get in touch to disuss Transition Mentoring.

Shiatsu Massage Overview: 5 Element Theory

GENERATING CYCLE

Here as promised is the first part of a straightforward series on the theory behind shiatsu massage, in order to make it more understandable.

The Generating Cycle represents an understanding of the natural world including the human body, as a miniature reflection of the Universe. So 5 Elements are mentioned-each has a series of correspondences ie. sense organs, season, color etc. that we will discuss later in this series. But basically each element is seen as supporting the one following in the cycle (follow the arrow.) A lot of the "theory" is poetic and based on intense observation using our human senses, codified over centuries.
Lets look at Water, in life water nourishes Wood (plant life.) We burn Wood to create Fire, yeah that's true! Fire dies down and creates ash which feeds the Earth. And Metal is formed within the Earth. Ok the last one is a bit less easy-but Water condenses on Metal. And we start all over. So your saying what does that have to do with massage?
Each element represents a pair of organs & energy channels (meridians.) And when one is healthy and thus in harmony-- the energy flows in that order.
Let's go through the list, starting at my favorite-Wood and notice that I'm keeping the order outlined above of the Generating Cycle aka Nurturing Cycle.

• Wood= Liver & Gallbladder
• Fire=is a bit different and has 2 pairs: Heart & Small Intestine; and Pericardium & Triple Heater
• Earth=Stomach & Spleen
• Metal= Lung & Large Intestine
• Water= Kidney & Bladder

So now your thinking well she left out an awful lot of organs! Some system... Like where does the brain come in that's really really important. Well believe it or not the Ancients did not leave out the brain-they were not unaware of it's existence. Some of the elements have direct link to the Mind- the heart for example but on some level they all do....
Lets delve a bit deeper. So you get the flow right?
A wonderful thing is the holistic nature of Traditional Chinese Medicine (from which shiatsu originated) and in fact many world systems of healing. On the holistic note lets talk about emotions. Emotions of course are linked to our thoughts which come from our Brain!! (see told yah they didn't forget) and correspond to a particular element. Now this is where I find it such a beautiful understanding of the human being. The emotions that correspond to each element are:

• Anger: Wood= Liver & Gallbladder
• Overexcitement: Fire=a bit different and has 2 pairs: Heart & Small Intestine; Pericardium & Triple Heater
• Worry: Earth=Stomach & Spleen
• Sadness: Metal= Lung & Large Intestine
• Fear: Water= Kidney & Bladder

Of course the emotions above have many levels of expression, again lets take Wood: ranging from irritation, impatience to full blown rage. And Water element fear ranges from bit afraid at times to constant fear to panic attacks. Notice the colors of the emotions...so I will leave you wondering about that. Be well.
Kalavati