Janet Attwood
MoorMums has spoken to local Shiatsu practitioner Janet Attwood to find out more about Shiatsu and its benefits in pregnancy, birth and beyond. Janet is based in Guiseley and used to be a midwife. She offers classes and private consultations locally.
MoorMums: What is Shiatsu?
Janet Attwood: Shiatsu is a traditional Japanese healing massage, developed over thousands of years. It is based on the belief that vital energy (known as Ki) flows throughout the body in channels called meridians. This energy affects everything about how we function and is integral to our health.
Shiatsu uses different types of touch (eg. pressure, holding, stretching, work on specific points) to connect with and improve the energy flow.
The theory behind shiatsu is similar to that of acupuncture (Traditional Chinese Medicine), together with a body of understanding developed by the Japanese practitioner Masanaga, in the 1950′s.
MM: What are the benefits in pregnancy?
JA: Shiatsu has many benefits in pregnancy -
- It helps mother to tune into her pregnancy, learn to look after herself and trust in herself for birth.
- Alleviates nausea, sickness, backache and most other ‘complaints of pregnancy’.
- Is very effective in alleviating symphysis pubis dysfunction (or pelvic girdle pain) and other musculoskeletal difficulties
- Increases energy
- Can turn breech babies.
It is a very safe practice in pregnancy, because shiatsu works with the body and what it wants to do. So it supports the mother in supporting the baby.
There are contra-indicated points in pregnancy, but these are easily avoided and come into their own as points for encouraging labour in the last weeks (after 37 weeks).
MM: Can Shiatsu also be used in preparation for labour?
JA: Prior to labour shiatsu helps to prepare for and encourage labour, and in labour strengthens the contractions, relieves pain and can help with other difficulties if they occur.
The partner can learn about connecting with the mother and techniques to use to encourage labour and to give pain relief. These are then tools that can be used to support the mother and significantly help her to cope with and have a positive experience of labour.
MM: How about following the birth?
JA: Shiatsu is hugely beneficial to aid recovery and breast-feeding and renew energy through what is often an exhausting time.
MM: What is baby shiatsu?
JA: Baby shiatsu is a wonderful way to connect with your baby. It uses the principles and understanding of shiatsu to add a new aspect to baby massage. By encouraging and developing the parent’s instinctive touch it deepens the bonding between parent and baby, and increases the baby’s trust and ability to explore its world.
It can be taught to parents or given as a treatment by the practitioner. It is helpful with colic, problems from difficult births, sleep, feeding and generally for settling babies.
Baby massage groups can be arranged to teach shiatsu with baby massage.
Further information
For more information, visit Janet’s website.
Ante-natal classes
Janet runs ante-natal classes. Please ring the Bradford Birth Resource Centre on 0845 230 1381 or Janet on 01943 877218 for more information.
