Shiatsu became a reality in my life in 1992. I was a marathon runner and my body was in constant pain, out of alignment despite chiropractic treatments, and having trouble functioning physically. I met a man in Atlanta, Georgia who did Shiatsu and within minutes of receiving his treatment, I knew I would learn how to do the work.

I had worked with athletes throughout high school and college doing massage, but never got a formal education in the field. I began taking a series of courses in Shiatsu in 1993. I received a formal certification from the Ohashi Institute in New York City, in October 2000 and my license from the state of North Carolina in December 2000 as a licensed bodywork therapist.

Shiatsu is done along meridians, energy lines, in the body. These meridians are directly related to our organs that take care of our bodily functions. Each organ is related to our emotions such as anger, fear, anxiety, worry, joy and happiness amongst others. I use both hands to provide a direction for the energy to flow so the body can achieve and maintain a balanced state. Energy becomes stagnated and causes pain in our muscles and bones so the acupressure applied to these areas will relieve the discomfort.

The typical client who comes to me for treatment is someone who has excessive tension in their body, used supplements both herbal and vitamins, taken various pharmaceutical prescriptions and is mentally/emotionally frayed. They are aware that they are out of sync, do not know why and simply want to feel better. Lack of energy is prevalent in their life and the desire to change it is low.

My approach is to emphasize what WE do together is the most efficient way to change the situation. Shiatsu is a team effort and it begins in the breath. As I work, I am listening to what the body's messages are saying. The organs and nervous system tell me what I want to know because "the body does not lie". I assist the client in learning new and efficient breathing techniques. As they accomplish this simple task, their confidence escalates as they realize they are capable of healing themselves.

One of the most effective uses of Shiatsu is to teach people to listen to what their body is saying to them, open up their intuitive power, and express their creativity. Once the body opens up the memory cells, the tension is manageable, and we are willing to ask for what we want, things change quickly.