Practicing Shiatsu for relief of stress and anxiety

1. Practicing Shiatsu for relief of stress and anxiety suitable for practice in shelters, fortified areas, kindergarten classes, schools, family, community and elsewhere This presentation was written by the staff at Tmurot – The Israeli Team of Integrated Medicine. Please feel free to pass it on or place it on any website for downloading.

2. 3 Why Shiatsu? 4 Treatment for the shoulders 8 Treatment for the arm and forearm 11 Treatment for the palm of the hand 17 Treatment for the neck 19 Treatment for the head Relaxing facial Shiatsu 24 Closing words תוכן המצגת

3. Why Shiatsu? • Shiatsu is a fun, relaxing, stress-relieving activity. • Shiatsu can be practiced at times of stress and distress. • Shiatsu is beneficial to both the receiver and the giver of the treatment. • It’s recommended to accompany the treatment with pleasant music. • Using Shiatsu can achieve the following goals: * Keep parents and kids busy. * Provide stress-relief for children who suffer from insomnia and fears. * Bring people closer after spending too much time together under very stressful conditions. * Help time pass pleasantly. • Please note: detailed recommendations for Shiatsu treatments in emergency conditions can be found ( in Hebrew) in the following link: Shiatsu directions for trained therapists.

4. Stage 1 – Shoulders • Place yourself behind your patient. • Place one foot forward so you can move backwards and forwards bending your knees, without bending your back.

5. Make sure your patient sits upright. • The patient can lean against the back of the chair (if the chair has one) • The patient should keep both his feet on the floor (uncrossed). • The arms should hang at each side of the body or rest on the knees. The eyes should be closed, the breathing deep and the body relaxed.

6. Stage 1 – Shoulder blades • Place both your hands on the patients’ shoulders and knead them like dough. • The shoulder massage should be pleasant for the patient so make sure you’re not kneading them too hard or too soft.

7. Take a step back so you can straighten your elbows. • Use the palms of your hands to apply pressure along the shoulders and on either side of the spine. • Repeat several times.

8. Stage 2 – Right arm • Move to the patient's right side. • Carefully place your foot on the edge of the chair. • Stretch the patient's arm and place it on your knee.

9. Hold the forearm with your right arm and stretch it. • Use your left hand to massage and squeeze the muscles from the shoulder towards the palm of the hand. • Take the patient's forearm in both your hands and stretch and squeeze it from the elbow to the wrist (like wringing a rag).

10. Make sure the palm of the hand is loose by gently shaking the forearm or the palm of the hand.

11. Stage 3 – The palm of the right hand • It’s important that at this stage you’ll face the patient's hand directly. • The patient's palm should face upwards.

12. Insert the patient's thumb between your pinky and ring finger. • Insert the patient's pinky (little finger) between the pinky and the ring finger of your other hand.

13. Three of your fingers (index, middle and ring) should support the back of your patient's palm. • Place your thumbs on the patient's palm and begin to apply pressure.

14. Apply pressure to the whole palm. • It’s advisable to first apply pressure along the middle of the palm and then at the sides. • Work deep and slow and make sure to extend the hand when releasing pressure.

15. After working on the palm, hold each finger at its base, squeeze it and pull it. • You can turn the hand over and give the back of the palm a similar treatment.

16. Stage 4 – The left arm • Move to the patient's left side. • Repeat the moves listed on slides 8-15 (leg on the chair, extension of the arm, kneading of the shoulders and arm, wringing the forearm, shaking of the palm, massaging the palm and fingers).

17. Stage 5 –The neck • Stand behind the chair (as shown in the picture). • One of your palms should support the patient's forehead and the other should be at his neck. • The patient's head should rest on your palm as if it were a pillow. • The weight of the head should allow you to estimate your patient's ability to relax their head.

18. Knead the patient's neck from the hairline to the shoulders and back. Repeat several times. • You can also apply pressure with your thumbs. • Hold the neck at the hairline, extend it carefully and gently rotate the head

19. Stage 6 – The head • Stand close behind your patient, so he can rest his head on your chest or abdomen. • If this is awkward, you can place a pillow or a folded towel between the two of you.

20. Massage the scalp and apply pressure with the tips of your fingers. • By doing this, you increase blood flow to the scalp and the roots of the hair. • Make sure the massage and the pressure is applied with only the tips of your fingers (and not your nails).

21. Stage 6 – The face • Apply pressure using all the fingers of both your hands, starting at the middle of the forehead, above the eyes, each hand making its way to the side of the head.

22. Apply pressure with your thumbs under the eyes from the angle of the nose to the ears. • Apply pressure along the jaw line. Massage both lower and upper jaws

23. Rub your hands until they’re warm. • Place your palms on the patient's closed eyes. • Repeat if necessary. • Slowly remove your hands from the patient. • Thank your patient and allow him time to recuperate.

24. Closing words • You can switch and allow your patient to treat you. • It’s not necessary to follow the presentation step by step. Any action that doesn’t cause pain or harm is beneficial. • We’d be happy to hear from you, as feedback can benefit and improve the presentation and those who practice its content. • Any question or request can be addressed directly to Dr. Nir Amir of Tmurot.

25. We’d be grateful to get your feedback for this presentation בברכת שקט ורגיעה צוות ההדרכה של תמורות Participated in the preparation of this presentation: Omri Cohen (Shiatsu and Chinese medicine practitioner, Lital Gamliel, Dr. Nir Amir, Nurit Einhorn nurite@gmail.com (Shiatsu practitioner)