FAQ

Shiatsu is done on a futon mattress on the floor, over the clothes, and does not require oil. In shiatsu, the intervention is made on the person as a whole, on a physical, psychological and emotional level.

Not a problem! On the contrary, receiving shiatsu massages during the mother-to-be’s pregnancy helps her to have more energy and to avoid some unpleasant symptoms (e.g. nausea or lumbar pain).

There aren’t many contraindications to shiatsu.
That said, there are a few conditions that require some particular precautions:

• bone fracture
• high fever
• acute inflammation
• severe skin infection
• phlebitis
• severe pulmonary or cardiac problems
• hemorrhage
• recent surgical operation

Between 60 and 75 minutes, as I always take a few minutes after the massage for feedback.

I am a member of the Fédération québécoise des massothérapeutes (FQM), which allows me to hand out receipts that you’ll be able to submit to your insurance company.

Shiatsu (a Japanese term meaning “pressing with the fingers”) is an energy discipline that has been practiced in the Far East for millennia. This method combines stretching and pressing along the acupuncture meridians. We press on the client with our thumbs, hands, elbows or knees.

Yes! In shiatsu, we consider that chronic pain is the result of a severe stagnation of the energy (Qi). Being both gentle and firm, maneuvers in shiatsu contribute to restarting the energy circulation and, consequently, to alleviate any associated pain.

A session lasts for about one hour. When the client arrives, we discuss their needs and health condition in order to establish a unique and specific intervention plan. The client then lays down on a futon mattress on the floor (on the back, the belly or the side, as the case may be). I then do the pressure, stretching and mobilizations maneuvers to help with the client’s relaxation and well being. Once the shiatsu session is over, I take a few minutes for feedback on the treatment and, if necessary, I give the client stretching homework.

The number of sessions varies depending on everyone’s needs. Many factors need to be taken into account, such as the age of the client, their health condition, the gravity of the problem, and its intensity. In acute cases, more frequent sessions might be necessary. In chronic cases, I usually recommend weekly sessions to reduce symptoms.

There generally aren’t any, although it is possible to feel a state of beneficial fatigue after a session. Rarely, some people will feel their symptoms get worse for 24 or 48 hours before getting better and giving way to a greater overall well-being.