Jenny White - Shiatsu Connects

"Releasing any tension and bringing calm to your body is the first step in restoring wellness. You can’t heal your body if you don’t pay attention to it. Bringing your mind home to your body, you become established in the here and the now. You have a chance to be aware, without judgment, of any pain, tension, or suffering in your body. This is the beginning of healing."
-Thich Nhat Hanh (How to Relax)

Great to see some research about the benefits of Shiatsu being shared.

Thank you ESF - European Shiatsu Federation ttps://europeanshiatsufederation.eu/research/

The Benefits of Shiatsu

People routinely ask us what kind of benefits our art provides. We often get a little tongue tied for two important reasons:

One, there are so many benefits, it's difficult to know where to start and on which level to comment (Physical? Emotional? Spiritual?)

Two, as soon as we mention one thing, we think of another and another, and then it seems as though we are self aggrandising.

In truth, Shiatsu knows no limits. It will affect each individual in a particular way (individually!) based not only on their current state and constitution, but also on the particular practitioner involved and the energy of that specific moment in time.

How do we solve this riddle?

Everyone does it in their own way, of course.

Small pictograms like this can help initiate a many-sided discussion, at least.

Please make use of all the ESF graphics, which are available in a handy pack the moment you sign up for the newsletter on the website: https://europeanshiatsufederation.eu/

European Shiatsu Federation: Serving Shiatsu Since 1994

Three Life Skills and Anytime Anywhere Meditation: an introduction session this Saturday with Mingyur Rinpoche.

I'm currently in the midpoint of a Meditation teacher training course. I will be offering a range of Anytime Anywhere Meditation workshops when we graduate in August. Watch this space.

In the meantime, you can find out what it's all about at this half day, online retreat this Saturday afternoon.

🪷introduction teachings
🪷guided meditations
🪷Anytime Anywhere yoga
🪷discussions

https://events.tergar.org/events/detail/three-life-skills-Mjg5

https://events.tergar.org/events/detail/three-life-skills-Mjg5

Tergar Events This is the Tergar Events oficial Web site...

Day tripping

Sunday Self-Care. One of my favourite Sunday things to do is stroll around an art gallery. And in Edinburgh, we are so fortunate to have so many beautiful spaces to visit.

"According to a recent study, looking at art can light up the pleasure centre in the brain and release dopamine, the feel-good chemical – which is why visiting a gallery can be a valuable act of self-care, especially in the cold, dark winter! months"

The culture cure: how art can be a powerful healing experience Humans often find catharsis through creating art, while looking at paintings and sculptures can light up the pleasure centre in the brain and release dopamine

It's nasturtium pesto time of year in my house. Nasturtium, and the garlic in the pesto, are pungent flavours and great for the Lungs. Pungent flavours are good for opening up the airways, especially if you've got asthma or bronchitis. Or just if your breath is feeling a little tight with the changing season.

Gratitude to the Earth for this year's Harvest. Now, we have moved into the Autumnal energy of the Metal Element. The energy of the season is moving inwards and letting go. Can you feel it it in your mind and body?
Is there resistance?
A tightness in the breathe?

We can spend time connecting with our breath as it moves in and out. Connecting to the boundaries of our skin. Spending time to reconnect with ourselves and reflecting on what we might need to let in and what we need to let go off.

Sometimes this time can feel melancholic as the season shifts. Sadness and grief can come into awareness. So it can be a gentle thing to go outside and move amongst the trees, breathing some of the fresh forest air in, letting feelings come and move through.

Let nature support you through this season.

This is the beginning of a year long study & practice programme. Mingyur Rinpoche, Tergar guides, and neuro-scientists from Centre for Healthy Minds will be training us to deliver the Anytime Anywhere Meditation programme.

Close to my heart, this takes the simplicity of everyday meditation out into diverse communities.
"Help where help is needed" as Akong Rinpoche said.

It's my ten year Edinburgh anniversary. As soon as I landed, slightly bewildered, straight off the fishing boat from Holy Isle, I started work at Volunteer Centre Edinburgh. I was made to feel right at home. A super lovely team of people.

Today it felt good to be back, running a Community Shiatsu self-care workshop for women in the Ukrainian community.

Late summer harvest: Dehydrating tomatoes. Nourishing the Earth Element.

Are you having bursts of energy then feeling exhausted, and the need of a big rest? In this phase of Winter moving into Spring, we move between 'sap rising' and wanting to hibernate. Especially when the weather oscillates between mild days and cold snaps.
Take care of yourself in between energy bursts.
I've got some Shiatsu sessions available next week to help you through the last days of Winter.
Drop me a message.

Beautiful image by

How happy this makes me! Snowdrops dancing in the wind and signs of Spring arriving on the Croft.
Winter moving into Spring time. The cold wind bites, reminding us to be gentle, move forward slowly, and open the heart to what will become.

It is always good to hear how a client feels after a Shiatsu session!
Did you know that Shiatsu acupressure and EFT tapping can help relieve a lingering cough and cold?
Drop me a line if you would like to know more.

Evening Shiatsu sessions available every Monday evening at Santosa. It's time for a warming bowl of Shahana's dahl and roti before I roll my futon out.
Cafe is open until 7.30 on Mondays, so you can have Shiatsu and snuggle upstairs with a bowl of dahl after your session. A good start to the week!

Weekday evening's at Santosa: Fancy an after-work Shiatsu or EFT tapping treatment to calm and relax your nervous system?
I have appointments available from 4-7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Drop me a line if you would like to book a session.

Saturday Shiatsu: a warming ginger shot made for me by Shahana at Santosa after my clinic.

Like many people, I got the lurgy over New Year. I'm well again but my ears are still blocked. It's a common thing right now, apparently.
Shahana's fresh ginger shots are helping due to their anti-inflammatory properties, as well as getting the circulation going and warming me from the insides.
A great remedy if you are recovering from a cold, or want to warm your body up.

Winter Blues getting to you? Immune system taken a battering with all the colds and flus going around?
Book in for a Shiatsu to help nurture, nourish and soothe you. Shiatsu touch therapy can help to boost your immune system and release feel good hormones to get your through the deep mid Winter. I can also incorporate EFT tapping into a session and give you tips and techniques to try at home.

I am back from my Winter retreat and calendar is now opening if you would like to book an appointment in January or February.
Link in the Bio to my schedule or drop me a message.

On retreat until early January. Wishing you all a bright and spacious new year.

Brrrr... baby! It's cold outside. What are your Winter warmer top tips?

Here are some mine - keep your kidneys warm (the kidney meridian travels along ankles, lower back, so keep your midriff and feet cosy and warm).
Fresh ginger/ spicy chai mix in hot drinks keeps me warm from inside.
Keep moving - some gentle stretches or a little walk around the block to keep circulation flowing.

And then snuggle under a heated blanket with a good book and a cuppa tea.

Stressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Or just plain exhausted as we come to the end of the year?
I still have some Shiatsu sessions available at Santosa to support you any feelings of fatigue, emotional exhaustion, aches and pains. Or if you feel like you just deserve some supportive, nourishing touch at this time of year.

"Shiatsu practitioners are not curing people. They are entering into a partnership that encourages the innate healing power of all involved to awaken. This is where we can set our intention and focus our attention. Energy follows focus."

Energy Follows Attention — Shin Tai International Shiatsu is a practice of balancing ki. We use our perception of energy and vibration to harmonize unequal forces of a receiver’s ki to improve their state of well being. We move ki, calm ki, activate ki, soften ki, etc. We do this with our intention and attention. Consciousness can be used to dire...

At the heart of Shiatsu Connects ethos is community connection.
We can connect to our own bodies and hearts through compassionate touch, and with heartfelt connections to others.

It was a joy to finish work in my Shiatsu clinic last night, and spend a cosy evening upstairs at Santosa's cafe with and TuFlamenco -The Search of El Duende-
Thank you! My heart is full.
https://www.facebook.com/Building-Bridges-723782688000997

Autumn energy and the season of Letting Go in Five Element theory.
Trees effortlessly let go of leaves. We often find it more difficult.
My teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche guides a beautiful meditation in this video which, using our body movement, helps us sense into letting go.

Tsoknyi Rinpoche | On Fundamental Happiness Download our latest Documentary Film about the Karmapa today and NAME YOUR PRICE 🙏 NURTURING COMPASSIONDownload: https://bit.ly/2RgKrYq. DVD: http://a.co/d/...

Flowers & leaves for tea. Nasturtiums are pungent in taste & good for the lungs, especially in Autumn, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Nasturtium pesto pasta... yum.

" The pungent vapours released when eating nasturtium are also wonderful for bronchitis and other infections of the lungs. Nasturtium flowers and leaves are particularly high in vitamin C, in the past theses were given to help cure scurvy."

Friday Shiatsu clinic: Breathing in fresh, crisp air... and Letting Go. Autumn energy and the trees along the Waters of Leith show us how effortless it can be to let go of what is not longer needed.

Are you clinging on to habits and thoughts that are no longer needed? Getting stuck in repeation even though you know you want to let go. Feeling breath shallow in your chest? Dry skin?
Issues with digestion?
Tightness, irritation and tension?

It's Autumn- season of Metal Element, main organs are lungs, large intestine and the boundaries of the skin.
Breathe in fresh energy, and letting go of what's no longer needed...physically, mentally, emotionally.
Shiatsu acupressure and EFT tapping can all help in this season.
Drop me a line if you want to know more.

Listen to your body…

Street food Santosa style - Lentil & methi roti. Love how Shahana fills my belly with love after my Saturday morning Shiatsu clinic.

How I discovered Shiatsu: I remember a time when I swallowed a few teaspoons of grief in quick succession over a few months (many years ago now).
And how heavy my body, how difficult to move one foot in front of another.
It was how I discovered Shiatsu as a body therapy and how I began to let go of the grief.
Grateful for these somatic practices, movement, meditation, and circles of trust which holds space to speak and release the grief rather than swallow it down.
"treat each other with great tenderness...we cannot see what anyone else has swallowed "

Therapeutic safe touch helps us :

🙏 Let go into Being - That which is causing stress, how we hold it softens & we are taken down the gears into deeper presence of wellbeing.

🙏 Building up energetic pathways within we become more alive and the nervous system regulates, and our Qi, our energy flow becomes more engaged and smoother..

🙏 We can go deeper into ourselves, with self enquiry safely held. And tap into our truth that just arises and begin to trust ourselves more around that.

🙏 Landing home inside : body, soul, mind, heart, spirit, wounded places and all parts of self.

With safe supportive touch we can build connection again to all of ourself .
Settle in.