Too few or too much? Back to balance with shiatsu

AShinmon Shiatsu article

 

How to get rid of bad habits thanks to Shiatsu

 

In a previous article we discussed the bad effects of sugar on health. In the meantime National Geographic (August edition) published an article « Sugar : why we can’t resist it », describing the bad effects of sugar consumption and also… production (on environment, life of local people….). Always a pleasure to share thoughts :-).

Sugar is but one thing in our lives in which we overindulge. We can also name tobacco, alcohol, coffee…There are food imbalances like too much salt, too much meat, too many desserts…. But also physical imbalances through sport, laziness, sexual addiction… Emotional and mental imbalances as well.

Pyramide de Maslow

 

Lack is typical for humans, and the answer is excess. I am not talking about the basic needs of the Maslow pyramid which have to be fulfilled to survive (eat enough, sleep enough…). But it goes like this, once the basic needs are fulfilled. If we don’t have a house, we want one, and when we have one, we want two, and so on, endlessly, with things, relationships, feelings. That makes me think of imbalances on shiatsu meridians. You have KYO/Empty/lack of energy somewhere and then JITSU/Full/Excess on some other part. So, if we apply that energetical principle on us, can we use shiatsu techniques for more satisfaction and less excesses? Most certainly.

Let’s observe how it works. In the first place, you are lacking something. Lack comes from “the inside” and cannot be satisfied with things from “the outside”. If you are desperate about being loved, even thousand partners won’t help you. Projections to the outside world create a fertile soil for that process to settle. Lack leads to excess. And excess leads to lack again, for instance in the case of sugar (see previous article)

How can we transform that vicious circle into a virtuous circle? There are lots of methods, hundreds of books have been written on that topic… What can we do with shiatsu, just by putting our hands on someone?

The way of the Mind

Before you put your hands, there is a whole life frame going together with shiatsu. People practicing shiatsu (giving and receiving) think and live in a different way. Let’s try.

It is said : it’s more important to work on KYO/Yin/lack of energy than on JITSU/Yang/symptoms. When a symptom disappears, we have a point but healing is effective when Yin/hidden things/lack has been solved. Excess then fades away and lack is fulfilled.

Eastern practices are influenced by Buddhism and often use the Middle Way. So we will have to work on excess and on lack, knowing lack must disappear at the end.

Here are some possible ways to do that:

1. Become conscious of what is not good for you, observe yourself, gnôthi seauthon. In case of food addictions the body knows what’s good or no good for it. How do I feel when I exaggerate ? What is exaggeration in your case ? A regular shiatsu practice cleans the body and makes it sensitive to excess, whatever.
2. Don’t feel guilty. Guilt is a Western concept and it only makes symptoms worse. When we « sin », let’s hope we enjoyed it. Seeing how this process works can help avoiding it.
3. Decide and start immediately. This is a strategy to catch the mind telling us that we will start tomorrow (and tomorrow after tomorrow, meaning “never”)? There has to be a clear start and a strong sign. Dispose of the addictive things, for instance.
4. Reduce progressively : stopping everything immediately means getting unhappy and only makes temptation stronger. By working progressively, you make progress. At the end, the lack has gone and you haven’t even noticed.
5. Frugality and simplicity as a lifestyle. Being always a little empty is a way to get energy. Saturation makes heavy. Being frugal can also mean eating better quality and smaller amounts. Buying more expensive things, you might be obliged to consume less.
6. Break habits. Lots of addictions come through bad habits that have become automatisms. Going to the coffee machine during breaks is one of those social habits. Change your habits, but remain social.
7. Identify lack and breathe. Lack has also a time dimension, fear for tomorrow and compensation for yesterday. While reading this, for instance, you are lacking nothing, just sitting, breathing, feeling safe… Living in the present moment, we are not lacking anything. Meditation can give such insight.

The way of the body: work on meridians
That’s when you think of methods to bring balance back in your daily life, applying a shiatsu (or Eastern) background. Then you can also practise shiatsu and work on lack and excess, by pressing some meridians. This will reduce or suppress the imbalances and the needs. Sugar is related to Spleen/Pancreas, thoughts as well, salt to Kidneys, each organ has its emotion… Diagnostic is the only way to know, as everybody is unique. Every lack and excess will have its meridian(s) with specific points to treat. So have a shiatsu to get rid of bad habits.
That will work as a whole as well. Feeling good, relaxed, deeply connected to life energy makes you more quiet and joyful. Shiatsu brings balance back and connects us to joy through Heart energy. From then on you are lacking nothing, every day, every minute is a satisfaction.