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SHIATSU PRACTICE
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Headache
Headache is a very common ailment. Associated with many
illnesses, it occurs without specific cause as well. Most headaches
arise in tissues outside the skull. Headache is only a symptom. It can
occur with the common cold, flu, sinus trouble, toothache, allergies,
hay fever and other nose and eye diseases, and menstrual
irregularities, to name a few. There are several kinds of headache
which can be classified according to location of pain and
accompanying symptoms.
One type of headache is generally found in the front part of the
forehead and is of an acute nature, that is, it comes on quickly and
also occurs with other symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose and
swollen eyes.
Another type of headache is migraine. Migraines arise from irregular
changes (dilation and/or constriction) in blood vessels in the scalp,
temple, and face. It is usually one-sided, sudden, and very intense.
Many times visual disturbances such as blank spaces before the eyes
and blurred vision are present. Dizziness, nausea, and other
weakening symptoms can also be present.
A third type is the tension headache, which is caused by stress. It is
often accompanied by stiffness throughout the body. It occurs in the
temples or at the back of the head or neck.
Many simple home treatments are effective for headache. If you
have time, a full body shiatsu treatment is helpful to relax and calm
the receiver. The full treatment will also stimulate and balance all
the internal organs and is effective for all three types of headaches.

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As we work to alleviate the pain of headache, we must, at the same

time, be attentive to the cause. Many times the source of pain can be
traced back to diet. Expansive foods such as spices, coffee, sugar,
chemicals in foods (e.g., monosodium glutamate or MSG), fruit
juices, fruit, soft drinks, ice cream, and other junk foods can cause
dilation in the blood vessels and therefore pain. Contractive foods
such as beef and all red meats, eggs, cheese, chicken, too much fish
and seafood, poor-quality salt, and snack foods can cause the blood
vessels in the scalp, temple, and face to constrict, thereby creating
pain in these areas. Many people with chronic headache eat a variety
of both types of foods. A simple rule of thumb is: if you get a
headache after eating expansive foods (yin), then apply a cold
compress on the painful area (yang effect). If you get a headache
after eating contractive foods (yang), then apply a hot compress (yin
effect) where it hurts.
Headache Treatments

Palm Healing
Pounding

Scarf

Shiatsu

Foot Bath

Walk

Palm Healing
Place one hand on the forehead and the other hand at the base of the
neck. Ask the receiver to close their eyes. Have the receiver breathe
in and out slowly and deeply. The giver breathes simultaneously in
the same rhythm. Maintain this holding technique for several
minutes.

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Pounding
You can gently pound the top of the head with your fist many times.
Also pound at the hairline. This causes contraction and is effective
for expansive headaches.
Scarf
Tightly tie a scarf or headband around the head. This contracts the
blood vessels in the head and is effective for an expansive headache.
Shiatsu
Give head, shoulder, and upper-back shiatsu, and manipulate the part
of the head where there is pain. First lightly pound the head with the
fist. Always press the neck, shoulder, and especially the cervical
region (that part of the spine below the head) down to the shoulders.
One hand is placed on the forehead for stability and the other is
placed directly on the neck. The thumb presses from below the ear to
the shoulder. Repeat this several times. Do both sides of the neck by
changing your body position and your hands.
With a strong grip. knead the shoulder muscles between your thumb
and forefingers, pinching slightly. Then press with the thumbs across
the top of the shoulders.
Other specific points for treatment depend on the location of the
pain. In the case of front headache pain, press acupoints on the
forehead. For pain around the eyes, press acupoints in that area. For
temple pain, use the points in the temple beginning near the corner
of the eye and moving back toward the ear. For back of the head
pain, press firmly in that area.
With the thumb, press lightly over the entire head. Then press along
the midline of the head, going from the front to the back, that is from
the hair line toward the back. Especially press GV 20, the midpoint

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on the top of the head. Any sore or tender spots are to be pressed
lightly at first, then with more pressure as the receiver can tolerate it.
Go back and forth over the top of the head many times.
To heighten the effect of shiatsu, press the point in the hand (LI 4,
located in the webbing between thumb and index finger) which
affects any problem in the head. Strongly manipulate this point for
30 seconds, at least twice on both hands or until the headache
subsides. Massage other acupoints on the arms and legs such as
heart governor 6 (HG 6), Stomach 36 (ST 36), and Spleen 6 (SP 6).
Press the soles of the foot. Asian medicine recognizes a top/bottom
relationship in the body. Pressure on the bottom affects the top. Press
here for several minutes.
Foot Bath
A hot foot bath brings blood circulation down to the lower parts of
the body, away from the head. Soak feet for up to twenty minutes.
Walk
When you feel a headache about to come on or a mild one is already
present, go for a walk in the fresh air. The air and movement will
increase body circulation and eases the tension brought on by
headache. Walk for a minimum of five to ten minutes.

Headaches II
Western Medical Perspective
Headache occurs in various diseases in modern medicine. Internal
organ functional problems such as menstrual irregularities and
hypertension; after-effects of surgery; neurological disorders
(including intracranial diseases); psychosis; diseases of the sense

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organs (ear, nose, throat problems); drug reactions; and stress are but
a few causes. There are migraine, vascular and functional headaches.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective
The head is where all the yang meridians (pathways of body energy)
of hand and feet meet. Attack of endogenous (internal) or exogenous
(external) factors may cause headache due to derangement of Qi and
Blood in the head and a sluggishness of circulation of Qi in the
meridians that traverse the head.
There are Six Types of Headaches
1. Vertex (Top of Head)
2. Back (Occipital)
3. Frontal
4. Side (Temporal)
5. Deep Inside
6. Generalized
Headaches Come in Two Styles
Excess (Shi): Violent boring pain may be accompanied by dizziness,
irritability, bitter taste in mouth, nausea, suffocating feeling in chest,
rib pain, sticky tongue coating and wiry pulse.
Deficiency ( Xu): Onset is mostly due to stain and stress. The pain is
insidious. It may be agitating or mild and responds to warmth and
pressure. The accompanying symptoms and signs are usually
lassitude, palpitation, insomnia, pale tongue and weak pulse.

Causes and How to Treat Them

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Each headache type has both food remedies and acupoint listed.
Acupoints used in this treatment can be found at the end of this
report. (Check acupuncture charts for locations of all acupoints.)
1. Vertex (Top of Head)
This type is caused by strong upward moving Qi and strong yin
foods often combined with yang foods.
Remedies
Avoid extreme yin and yang food (e.g. meat and sugar) and eat
whole grains and vegetables.
Acupoints: GV 20, BL 60, LV 2

2. Back (Occipital)
This pain can be caused by taking strong yang foods, or particularly
it arises after stopping the habitual intake of strong yin foods
(coffee, etc.). The nature of the pain is more dull, squeezing or
viselike, and non-throbbing. The pain has a tendency to worsen in
cold surroundings.
Remedies
Internal: apple juice; orange juice; Ame-Kuzu; mix 6 grams of the
white part of scallion with 3 grams of ginger, and boil this in 1 cup
of water; Ume concentrate.
External: apply heat.
Acupoints: GV 15, BL 10, BL 60

3. Frontal
This headache can be caused by using sugar, fruit juice, birth control
pills, aspirin, honey, chocolate, wine, etc. These are all extreme yin
products. The pain has a different nature from a backside headache:

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it can be typically throbbing, or sharp, stabbing, or explosive. It

worsens in warm surroundings.
Remedies
Internal: Sho-Ban, Ume-Sho-Ban, Sesame salt, Kuzu tea, Yannoh
coffee.
External: Cold applications: tofu plaster, chlorophyll plaster
(especially cabbage), rub in apple juice or radish juice at the painful
area, or rub in sesame oil or sesame oil mixed with ginger-ginger oil.
Acupoints: GB 14, Yintang, LI 4

4. Side (Temporal)
This is caused by the over consumption of oily and greasy foods, or
other foods casing a disorder in the liver-gallbladder function. The
pain is usually dull, sometimes sharp.
Remedies
Grate 2 tablespoons of daikon, add a cup of hot water, simmer this
and add a little tamari soy sauce.
Prepare kuzu with barley malt - Ame Kuzu and add a little ginger.
Miso soup with scallions or onions.
Acupoints: Taiyang, GB 20, TH 5

5. Deep Inside
This is caused by the over consumption of animal food, especially
salted meat, eggs, caviar and salted fish. It usually is a condensed,
pressure-type pain located in the depth of the brain.
Remedies
Take cooked apples.
Or heated apple juice.

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Or hot water mixed with 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar or 1 teaspoon of

barley malt or rice honey.

6. Generalized Headaches
Sometimes headaches don't fit neatly into any classification. From
the above information you should be able to discern if the symptom
is contractive or expansive. If it feels contractive apply expanding
foods (apple juice, etc.) if it is expansive, apply contracting foods
(miso soup, etc.).
Acupoints: GV 15, Yintang, LI 4, TH 5
ACUPOINTS

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STOMACH
Conditions
All of the following conditions are related, therefore understanding
them as a whole can be useful. The treatment is the same for all.
o

Stomach ache
Nausea

Overweight

Lack of Appetite (anorexia)

Indigestion

Ulcer

The stomach is the principle organ of digestion. It is the largest and

most expansive part of the digestive tract. Located in the upper
abdominal cavity, the stomach receives and digests food. It is lined
with mucous membranes which protect the stomach itself from the
strong digestive acids like hydrochloric acid which it secretes.

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Stomach ache, which usually is pain in the abdomen not the

stomach, can have a variety of sources. Nausea is the feeling which
usually comes before vomiting, and is often described as "feeling
queasy." The sensation of nausea may be accompanied by a sinking
feeling in the stomach, by a feeling of weakness, by dizziness, by
perspiration, and by excessive salivation. The person will often look
pale and sweaty. Nausea may also be part of motion sickness.
Modern medicine says that nausea can arise from a disorder in the
vagus nerve, which runs from the head down the side of the neck to
the front of the chest. Traditional Chinese medicine recognizes the
relationship between the the pancreas and the stomach. Pancreas
disorders can effect the stomach, causing problems with that organ.
Shiatsu Treatment
With the receiver lying on the back, manipulate the neck muscles
from below the skull to the shoulder with the thumb. Treat each side
of the neck holding each point several seconds. The abdomen, both
above and below the belly button, should be pressed. First, with the
heel of the hand, massage in a circular direction, giving as much
pressure as the receiver can comfortably take. Then, with the
thumbs, press along the edge of the ribs and from the pit of the
stomach to the belly button. Hold each point for 3-5 seconds; repeat
several times. Then place one palm of the hand directly on the belly
and the other hand on top of the first hand. Breathing in and out at
the same time as the receiver, press down on an exhalation. Repeat
at least 10 times.
On the leg, press acupoints ST 36 and on the inside of the forearm
press acupoint HG 6. Both these points are extremely effective for
stomach and nausea complaints.
Have the receiver turn over. On the back, press the back acupoints
from thoracic 9 to thoracic 12 (the center part of the back).
For detailed information get The Shiatsu Handbook

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Special Foods
For nausea, lack of appetite, indigestion, and ulcer, you can prepare
Umeboshi-Kuzu drink. To get instructions for Umeboshi-Kuzu drink
go to last recipe in Teas and Beverages.
Treating Muscle Cramps
Many people suffer with cramps or muscle spasms on a regular
basis. Most cramps occur after exercising muscles that have not
been used regularly or from having eaten too many desserts or
sweets. Cramping occurs when there is a change in the potassium
and sodium content (electrolytes) within the muscle fibers. This
causes the muscle to contract and shorten thus bringing on the
symptom of cramp.
Dehydration from inadequate fluid intake or excessive sweating can
also affect the levels of potassium and sodium which initiates a
cramp.
Apply Pressure
Pressing the center of the calf muscle (BL 57) and the midpoint
above your upper lip and nose (GV 26) serve as antispasmodic
points.
Apply pressure until cramping stops, usually a couple of minutes.
You can also apply a hot ginger compress (about 15 minutes) to the
site with good effect.

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Barefoot Shiatsu Technique

Here are four simple barefoot techniques to get you started. Once
you practice a bit you will discover the ease of using your feet,
especially on the large leg and buttock muscles.
For further study see Barefoot Shiatsu by Yamamoto and McCarty.
1. Standing between the receiver's legs, facing
outward with your back to the receiver, walk
on the bottoms of both feet at the same time.
Walk from arch to heel several times. Do not
walk on the toes. Shift your weight from one
side to the other. Your toes are on the floor;
your heels do the pressing. This brings blood
down from the upper body.
2. Walk up the calf with foot. Stand to the side
of receiver. With your left foot press down on
the Achilles tendon. Then, starting close to the
heel, press the leg and calf muscles with the

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heel of your foot up to just below the knee. Never press on the knee!
This relaxes and loosens up legs.
3. Change feet and press buttock with right
foot. Then press the right thigh down to the
knee. Repeat several times. Effective for
relieving nervous tension.
Go to the receiver's left side and repeat same
procedures on this side. (Press the Achilles
tendon, then walk up the lower leg to the knee. Press the buttock and
walk down the thigh to the knee.)
4. Stand between the receiver's legs, facing
toward the head. Place the flat of your foot
with the heel on the tailbone (coccyx) and
gently press the muscles of this area.
Stimulation here relaxes nerve centers in the
body. Continue and press around the inner thighs of both legs.

Face Shiatsu
Have you ever wondered why most Asians have beautiful skin and
look many years younger than their biological age? The answer is
not merely genetics. It is diet and life-style. The average Asian
consumes many more vegetables and grains (moistening) and much
less animal foods (drying). Add this up along with avoiding direct
sunlight exposure and the natural skin texture and softness, traits
found in children and associated with youthfulness, remains well
into old age.
Following a whole-grain centered diet (macrobiotics) will bring the
same results to all. Remedial steps can be taken to make up for any
faulty eating choices (past consumption of beef, pork, chicken, eggs,
cheese, refined sugar, and flour products). Smoking is also linked to

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damaging the skin as it dries the moisture holding tissues leaving

wrinkles. In addition to dietary therapy, shiatsu can be added to help
the body rid itself of past toxins and increase blood circulation
directly to the face and other parts of the body.
One of the benefits of Face Shiatsu is that it feels so good. It is
amazing how having the head touched can relax the body and mind
so quickly. If you are stressed or overwhelmed, do yourself a favor
and receive Face Shiatsu. It will refresh not only your body but also
your mind.
STIMULATE EYES
1 With thumbs press bony rim above eyes. Continue
pressing until outer rim. Press temple area with thumbs.
Place index finger tips on solid rim near inner corner of
eyes and press. Hold for 2-5 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.
STIMULATE FACE
2 Press around cheeks and jaw . This increases circulation in gums
and teeth; and relieves sinus congestion.
STIMULATE CHIN
3 With thumb and finger tips press above and below jaw. This
stimulates salivary glands, lymph nodes, gums, and teeth.
STIMULATE EAR
4 Gently press and pull ears. Place index finger in ear and vibrate for
5-10 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times.

PRESS TOP OF HEAD

5 Press all over top of head with thumbs. Hold each point 1-3
seconds. Repeat as many times as you feel is necessary.
This relaxes whole body and balances nervous system.

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TAP HEAD
6 Turn receiver's head to side. Make a fist and gently tap same side
and top of head. Reach across with opposite hand to tap. Turn head
to other side, switch hands and continue tapping. Tap with side of
open hand. Do both sides.
WAKE UP FACE
7 Gently slap face with open palms. This increases blood circulation
and makes more youthful skin.

Un Buen Masaje
Por aquello de la salud integral y la belleza, en la actualidad son
muchas las terapias que se pueden aplicar para alcanzar ese equilibrio
cuerpo-mente que favorece la salud del individuo y enriquece su
mundo interior.
En este sentido, los masajes reductores, antiestrs y la tcnica de la
integracin corporal representan alternativas slidamente cimentadas
que ayudan a las personas a estar en armona consigo mismas. Por eso,
si de verse bien se trata o se desea eliminar las molestias que produce
el agitado ritmo de vida cotidiano, ponerse en las manos de un buen
masajista no es mala idea.
Por otro lado, para quienes estudian y conocen el cuerpo humano, en
gran parte la alegra, angustia, tristeza, dolor, melancola y hasta el
nivel de libertad interior de una persona, se pueden identificar en su
expresin corporal, gestos y posturas, y por tanto, pueden tratarse con
una terapia de integracin corporal a travs del masaje.
A continuacin se explican cada uno de estos tratamientos, sin duda,
uno para cada necesidad.
UN TOQUE DE HEDONISMO
Los masajes estticos son aquellos que se aplican principalmente con
el objetivo de reducir los depsitos de grasa del organismo. Estos
masajes actan muy lentamente y su funcin es movilizar los

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depsitos de grasa para que haya mayor circulacin y la sangre irrigue

mejor.
Para que el masaje sea efectivo, es vital vigilar la calidad de la
alimentacin y la cantidad de ejercicio fsico que practica cada
persona. Adems, se recomienda beber mucha agua para favorecer la
eliminacin de toxinas.
Los masajes no hacen bajar de peso, sino que reducen el volumen
corporal. La grasa es volumen, y en la medida en que el masajista
trabaja una zona, moviliza sus acumulaciones de grasa, y es por ello
por lo que la persona comienza a reducir centmetros, aunque
mantiene su peso. De ah la importancia de combinar las terapias de
masajes con una alimentacin equilibrada y una rutina constante de
ejercicios, que no necesariamente tiene que desarrollarse en un
gimnasio, porque con el simple hecho de caminar se pone en prctica
uno de los ejercicios ms completos y sencillos para quemar grasas y
caloras.
Ante todo, la persona que opte por la terapia de masaje reductor o de
tonificacin debe ser consciente de que se trata de un proceso lento y
que requiere constancia. Por lo general, las sesiones de masajes se
aplican un da s y un da no, para que el cuerpo descanse, pero sin que
el proceso pierda continuidad. Por ejemplo, una persona que tenga
unos pocos kilos de ms y que por sedentarismo presente las
rugosidades propias de la celulitis en caderas y piernas, requiere de
una terapia de seis meses como mnimo, adems de cambiar sus
hbitos alimenticios y seguir algn programa de ejercicios.
Los casos de sobrepeso severo o de obesidad responden ante los
masajes, pero se requiere mucho tiempo para comenzar a notar
resultados.
En cuanto al dolor que muchas personas padecen durante la sesin de
masajes, debemos saber que trabajar sobre una zona con
acumulaciones de grasa produce dolor, pero sin exageraciones, porque
si el masaje deja moratones y lesiones en la piel es porque no fue
aplicado correctamente.
Los movimientos bsicos para aplicar los masajes son friccin, amasar

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y golpeteo. Los buenos masajes se realizan con las manos, porque los
diversos aparatos que existen en el mercado para tal fin resultan
ineficaces para movilizar los depsitos de grasa y sirven,
principalmente, como complemento de los masajes antiestrs. Los tres
movimientos bsicos se aplican durante las sesiones de masajes
reductores, y en la medida que transcurren los das se incrementa la
presin y la fuerza en la zona, para que el cuerpo se adapte al
tratamiento. Los pellizcos estn absolutamente contraindicados,
porque no ayudan en la movilizacin de las grasas y rompen los vasos
capilares.
Las sesiones de masaje reductores, cuanto ms rpidas mejor, de modo
que deben oscilar entre 20 y 30 minutos, ya que se aplica mucha
fuerza y es necesario que los msculos y la grasa se calienten. Si la
sesin se prolonga demasiado se pierde efectividad y la persona puede
no soportarlo.
Algunos masajistas prefieren utilizar glicerina pura en lugar de
cremas. La glicerina lubrica la piel para que al aplicar la fuerza del
masaje no se lesione la misma. En lo que respecta a las cremas
reductoras, hay profesionales que las ponen en tela de juicio, aunque
tambin consideran que los medicamentos lipotrpicos, ya sean
inyectados o consumidos va oral, pueden ayudan en el proceso de
eliminacin de grasas.
ALTERNATIVA ANTIESTRS
El estrs es un proceso somtico acumulativo que puede afectar las
funciones orgnicas y producir tensiones musculares. En estos casos,
los masajes ayudan a eliminar las contracciones que genera el estrs,
aunque si ste no es tratado en base a su origen, el masaje slo aliviar
el dolor y la incomodidad momentneamente. La espalda, el estmago
y los pies, son los puntos donde mayoritariamente se acumula el
estrs. Con el masaje se busca liberar a los msculos de los nudos que
genera la tensin y, por ello, el masaje debe ser suave.
En primer lugar, se procede a aplicar friccin para calentar la zona, y
luego se "amasa" con suavidad. Cabe destacar que en este tipo de
masajes el tiempo de la sesin lo determina la condicin de la persona,

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es decir, hasta que se liberen los msculos (normalmente se alarga

entre los 10 y los 40 minutos).
EL CAMINO DEL RELAX TOTAL
La integracin corporal es una tcnica que busca la armona total, y
para ello se vale de la manipulacin muscular, que sera el masaje. El
masaje dentro de este tipo de terapias es sumamente importante
porque lleva a la persona, a travs del contacto fsico, a tener
conciencia de sus tensiones y dolores corporales. De esta manera, con
el masaje, el terapeuta busca despertar el verdadero ser que hay en el
cuerpo de su paciente, porque con la manipulacin muscular lo
sensibiliza hasta iniciar ese proceso de concienciacin.
Cuando una persona est muy tensa se encuentra, por lo general, muy
alejada de s misma y de su cuerpo. La idea de la terapia de
integracin corporal es hacer que la gente tenga conciencia plena de su
cuerpo a travs de sus sentidos, hasta llegar a su mundo emocional.
El cuerpo es un resumen de la historia, de la vida de cada cual, por eso
es el vehculo idneo para acceder a la interioridad de la persona,
donde se alojan sus miedos, dolores, rabia, amor y alegra.
Cuando un experto masajista corporal toca al cuerpo y aplica el
masaje, a la vez toca todas estas emociones. Por esta razn se
considera que el trabajo de este tipo de especialista es mucho ms
complejo y completo que el del masaje fisiolgico.
BUSCANDO INDICIOS
Los mnimos gestos del cuerpo son indicios para descifrar cmo se
siente la persona, muy tiles sobre todo cuando ni el mismo afectado
sabe qu le oprime. Bsicamente, el terapeuta corporal se fija en la
respiracin, en el grado de contraccin de la musculatura, en
manifestaciones verbales que revelen alguna conciencia de s y en la
mirada del individuo. Con esta lectura del cuerpo se orienta para
intervenir en los conflictos de esa persona.
En la medida que transcurren las sesiones, el paciente comienza a
descubrir, sobre la base de sus respuestas a la terapia, sus problemas.
Con esas mismas respuestas el terapeuta sabe hasta dnde puede

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trabajar en cada sesin para desentraar el conflicto. Poco a poco, el

paciente comienza a experimentar alivio ante la descarga emocional.
En la terapia corporal se respeta el ritmo de desbloqueo de la persona,
por eso es muy difcil hablar del tiempo necesario para observar
resultados. Sin embargo, unas 10 sesiones, aplicadas una por semana,
normalmente ya muestran algunos avances.
Masaje sensitivo o antiestres
El masaje sensitivo est dirigido,
principalmente, a una persona
sana, que no sufre una lesin
concreta o fatiga muscular por
sobresolicitud. Su propsito es
aliviar las consecuencias
psicofsicas, (las fsicas y las
emocionales) que genera el estrs, termino est ultimo
complejo y de persistente actualidad, esencial a la vida y del
que forma parte sin reservas. Consiste en la capacidad de
adaptacin del organismo a la dinmica de la vida cotidiana.
Se puede distinguir entre estrs beneficioso o eustres; y
estrs nocivo o distrs: por lo que tambin a esta tcnica se
le denomina "Masaje antiestres". Partiendo de esto hay que
puntualizar que el tratamiento, ya sea por masaje o por otro
medio teraputico, se clasifica y define con relacin a la
indicacin y al propsito.
Se aplica mediante movimientos suaves y
armnicos, evitando los cambios bruscos de ritmo y la
perdida de contacto (este ultimo tema es muy controvertido
dentro de la aplicacin purista del masaje, ya que en
ocasiones es necesario dejar reposar al cliente para que se
desahogue y reorganice, por lo cual, hemos de dejar el
contacto un instante). El propsito de este tratamiento es

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proporcionar relajacin general, por ello el masaje se destina

a todo el cuerpo. Asimismo resulta ms eficaz s se combina
con tcnicas de Drenaje linftico manual, movilizaciones
articulares pasivas y estiramientos suaves.
Sus objetivos se clasifican bsicamente en dos:
Uno es proporcionar mediante el tacto la sensacin de
integracin de cuerpo y mente, aportar seguridad y
aceptacin, favoreciendo la liberaracin de las tensiones
fsicas, mentales y emocionales.
El otro es desplazar los desechos metablicos hacia la
sangre y la linfa, y que estos dos fluidos lleguen mediante las
maniobras de masaje a sus respectivos centros de reciclaje.
Para conseguir estos objetivos se necesita una tcnica que
proporcione deslizamiento, a la vez que presin suave y
firme, pero no excesivamente fuerte. Ya que un exceso de
presin puede provocar malestar y deja el cuerpo dolorido y,
en cambio si la presin es insuficiente puede provocar
ansiedad. El ritmo debe ser lento-medio y, que las maniobras
abarquen grandes reas musculares.
Se ejerce mediante presin con toda la palma de la mano y/ o
los antebrazos. En el caso de requerir mayor presin, se
aade un componente de roce y deslizamiento. El propsito
de trabajar con los antebrazos es que estos permiten dirigir el
movimiento en direcciones opuestas y calibrar la presin con
el peso de nuestro cuerpo, al tiempo que se abarcan grandes
superficies (elemento esencial de este masaje), a la vez que
su uso nos permite descansar los pulgares.
La intensidad de la presin es media-profunda y el ritmo
lento-medio. Lo cual permite preparar el cuerpo para aceptar

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de manera agradable tcnicas de mayor presin, en las

zonas que la requieran.
El masaje sensitivo o antiestres se caracteriza
principalmente, por:
calibrar bien la intensidad y que est sea empleada con
suavidad,
cambios armnicos de cadencia o ritmo,
contacto consciente y extenso (maniobras amplias),
regulacin del tiempo (es un masaje de desarrollo lento) y
trabajar en silencio