GaiaShiatsu

02/02/2026

In five phases theory we are now in the transition phase from Water to Wood Element.

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We are moving from the still, deep silence and rest of Winter into a hopeful, vibrant and lively Spring.
We have to be careful though in this transition phase as Winter can always make a short return visit.
So keep prioritising rest, wrap up warm but do enjoy the returning light and green coming out of the soil.

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Kidney one - also called bubbling spring - is the Wood point on the Kidney (Water) channel. It is a great point to ground yourself and helps to refresh our vision so that growth can happen. So I feel a perfect point for this time of year.

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I hope you are finding the balance between stillness and awakening that you need in this transition phase.

26/01/2026

As I am slowly emerging from my winter slumber I just wanted to post this quote from Thich Nhat Hanh...

frankly because for one he was/is a great teacher of mindfulness and awareness in daily life. And it was the anniversary of him returning into a cloud (dying) a few days ago.

Secondly, for me this sentence speaks so much to what I aim for in my body practices. Being fully present with the person that is receiving my touch or that I am listening too. When you can stay in full awareness it is a such a wonderful feeling and you do touch everything that is there for this person through maybe even only one point on their body.

I just love it! And I think humanity needs more touch, more of this kind of touch with deep awareness.

18/10/2025

I've recently started a patreon, simple because I wanted to write and share more about Shiatsu, Sei-Ki and Forest Bathing. It's free - please go and follow if you are interested.

Here is a short article about why Shiatsu sessions can help ease you shoulder tensions and pain.

Get more from GaiaShiatsu on Patreon

13/10/2025

As the sun stands lower in our sky, the days get shorter, the trees are turning inward, letting go of their leaves and the cold is creeping into our houses we are moving deeper into the Metal phase of the chinese 5 element phases. ​​​​​​​​
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The Metal phase is associated with the organ lungs and large intestine. We are also encouraged to let go of people, situations, patterns and thoughts that no longer serve us.​​​​​​​​
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Metal is also the phase of grief. Grief for the warmth of the sun, long days, growth and yang spirit. But of course also people we have lost - not just through death but also through break ups, losing connection or being abbondante. ​​​​​​​​
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Be gentle with yourself at this time, seek support and help if you need it. (telling this to myself too!) ​​​​​​​​
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26/08/2024

The Heart Protector often comes up in the Hara Diagnoses when I work on someone for the first time. In the light of this energy being the one that is protecting your innermost self it makes total sense.
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In Shiatsu Hara Diagnosis is a two way energy exchange. I pick up on the imbalance that you want to show me and you want me to work on. It strikes me that a huge amount of trust is required to reveal those imbalances. So potentially first time receivers feel the need to protect themselves - as a result the Heart Protector energy comes up in the diagnoses.
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Once the trust has been built we can dive into the ‘real work’ of balancing your energy flow.
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22/08/2024

Shiatsu College, Manchester Teacher Hannah Mackay - Shiatsu and creativity collected quotes on one thing you love about Shiatsu from practitioners, students, teachers and receivers.

Here is one thing The Shiatsu College founder Carola Beresford-Cooke loves about Shiatsu.

What is one thing YOU love about Shiatsu?

15/08/2024

The Heart is carrying our awareness which is seen as ‘the divine spark that is within all sentient beings which is unique to each individual, yet is a part of the greater radiance of universal awareness.’ (Caraola Beresford-Cook).
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Therefore the Heart needs protection and a network of helpers that carry out its work all over the body. The Small Intestine, which is only assimilating what is healthy, the Heart Protector, which has a protective function but also carries some of the Heart’s workload, and the Triple Heater, which spreads the Heart’s fire throughout our body, are all part of the Heart network.
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Interestingly the Heart shows itself very rarely in the Hara diagnoses in my Shiatsu treatments. As is shown it is a very protected energy and therefore hard to reach. The energies of Heart Protector and Small Intestine do appear fairly regularly when I am diagnosing. Through working with them Heart energy can be reached and nurtured.
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13/08/2024

Often during searching for content to write about I am fascinated by the connections and similarities between TCM and other spiritual ideas.
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Fascination also overcame me today reading up on the Shen. TCM describes that we have five spirits - each inhabiting one of the five phases and their corresponding organs.
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Shen is the one that is associated with the Fire Phase and the Heart. It is said to be the conscious awareness - this is a part of the divine light that is in us.
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‘In Taoist tradition, it is said that when the yang and yin essences of the parents unite at the moment of conception, the star seeds of the shen are scooped up in the ladle of the Big Dipper and poured down into the heart of the developing embryo. In the alchemical vessel of the heart, this pure light mixes with the essences of earth and eventually becomes the stuff of awareness, intelligence, and consciousness as well as the basis of our own unique sense of self.’ - Lorie Eve Dechar in ‘Five Spirits’
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This reminded me of the spiritual idea of our soul coming from the universal light. Therefore we carry the divine light in us and are part of the divine light.
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I love that I made this connection today via reading about the Shen. It makes the ‘divine light in me’ idea somehow more tangible.
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So, be yourself and shine your unique light! ✨
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📸 .at

01/08/2024

Joy is the emotion associated to the Fire Phase.
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🌞the joy of sun shine
🌲the joy of a forest walks
🌻the joy of flower blossoms
🥕the joy of fresh vegetables from your garden
💞the joy of a heart to heart with a loved one
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there is a lot of joy around in the Summer months.
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It can be hard to find joy in times of war, violence, and climate crises.
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But I do believe we should try to find a balance - feeling joy and open our heart to love without forgetting the sorrows of the world.
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18/05/2024

Ever thought about learning how to give Shiatsu?

Check out the Shiatsu College London Branch at which I am teaching regularly.

We have an open drop in day on Saturday, 15th June at University of Westminster, Cavendish Campus.