Shiatsu on the Face and Head
There are a large number of different exercises and techniques available to the practitioner. Here is a simple one that can be practised by you.
Hold the recipient's head firmly in one hand and, using the thumb of the other hand, press upwards in a straight line between the eyebrows towards the hairline. Each movement should be quite small, about 0.5 inch (12 millimetres).
Place the fingers on each side of the head. Use the thumbs to press from the inner end of the eyebrows towards the hairline. Holding the hands at each side of the head, the thumbs should then be used to press from the start of the eyebrows across the brow to the outside.
With the fingers in place at each side of the face, work the thumbs across the bone below the eyes, moving approximately 0.25 inches (6 mm) at a time.
Commencing with the thumbs a little to one side of each nostril, press across the face below the cheekbones.
Press one thumb in the area between the top lip and nose.
Press with both the thumbs outwards over the upper jaw. Next, press one thumb in the hollow below the lower lip and then press outwards with both thumbs over the lower part of the jaw. The practitioner then puts all fingers of the hands beneath the lower jaw and then leans backwards so that pressure is exerted.
Locating the Tsubos
Practising Shiatsu involves learning to locate precise points on the body, along the meridians or energy channels, and pressing them correctly, for the prescribed number of seconds. The duration and strength of pressure vary according to each tsubo's properties. The points are described below in abbreviated form; their names define, which meridian they are on. Most of the meridians are bilateral and therefore, involve pressing 'tsubos' on both sides of the body, legs, arms and so on.
Face and Head Tsubos
In Do: The In Do 'tsubo' is located between the eyebrows of the Governing Vessel meridian. Pressure technique: Press hard and inward for 7-10 seconds, 3 times, using both thumbs.
Tai Yo: This tsubo is placed at one finger's width to the side of the eyebrow, between the end of the eyebrow and the outer edge of the eye.
Pressure technique: Press with one thumb for 7-10 seconds.
Stomach 3 : The Stomach 3 is located lateral to the base of the nose, on a line directly below the pupils, when looking straight ahead.
Pressure technique: Press with one thumb, hard and inward, for 5-7 seconds.