• you relax on a futon-style mat on the floor (not a massage table)
• you remain fully clothed
• there are no oils, lotions, or hot towels applied
• Shiatsu is applied by directly palpating the body surface (not long strokes like massage)
• it is a great massage and proven heathcare
• your body may respond in many ways
• the improvements may be permanent

The futon mat is new (May 2008), and has cotton filling with a foam core; it has a hypo-allergenic cover and several clean sheets.
I bring pillows or you may choose not to use them: they are hypo-allergenic foam or a Bucky brand U-shaped face pillow filled with buckwheat pellets. If it happens to be raining when I arrive, my mat cover/carrying bag is waterproof. All you have to provide is a comfortable place for us to work. If it is summertime, this may include air conditioning.

Many treatments vary in how they are actually applied. The following is an example of a session, a basic starting point- shown here so that you can imagine what a treatment might be like. Not all Shiatsu treatments are exactly like this one.

Unless there is discomfort for you when lying flat, we will begin in Prone position (face down) and work from head to toe. We choose this downward direction specifically, because we are treating the Yang Meridians- which all flow downward like sunlight.
I will apply stress-reduction techniques and disperse any collected excessive energy (Jitsu, in Japanese) in neck and shoulders, upper and lower back. I will also move each limb around to assess your range of motion and open up the joints.

Most of the Yang meridians run along the back, and we will treat them all partially or entirely, from head to toe. There is an important series of Acupoints found parallelling the spine on either side, sometimes called the Yu points ("to transfer"). They are representative of every major organ, and their associated meridians; and are used for assessment as well as treatment. In every session, I utilize this powerful acupoint system as well as the nearby Huato Jia-Ji points, and what are known as "extra" acupoints (mostly discovered well after the ancient Traditional meridian system was developed). There are many point groupings used, just to name a few.

Throughout the entire treatment we also treat carefully chosen Acupoints. Some points are used simply because they are nearby where we are currently working, and would be appropriate for your condition- or have general benefic qualities; others are used in combination as a specific formula to address any concerns which presented during your intake discussion, or
the session's assessment techniques.

It is often during this time that your body's energy balancing really begins taking effect. When this energy balancing gets underway, it serves as a catalyst for moving and correcting the whole body's energy. The abdomen often emits sound(s) at this point, which are compared to hunger related belly noises. What is actually occurring however, is the Qi is changing and balancing.

Once the Prone segment is completed, we move on to the Supine position (face up) and begin the pulse and Hara assessment.
This decides the course of the rest of the session, and the body tells us with confirmation how to proceed by choosing 2 of the 12 meridians. The two meridians chosen are the ones not necessarily the most deficient or excessive, but the two which need to 'communicate' with each other the most; the two most imbalanced with each other. I usually do not treat all the Yin meridians during the supine segment. Zen theory demonstrates that an effective treatment is performed with the 2 meridians presented, and more may be overtreatment- keeping in mind that we've already addressed most or all of the Yang meridians.

We will do more limb movements and relaxation techniques, while proceeding with the treatment of the 2 meridians presented.
From this point, we work from the Hara outward: from the abdomen down the legs to the feet; from the abdomen
up to the shoulders and down the arms; lastly down from the head and down the arms to the hands.
I will often end the session with a few final acupoints, chosen from various diagnostic techniques.

It is important to communicate throughout the session if you are uncomfortable in any way. Some health conditions give rise to sore spots; there may be sites of injury; or there may just be sensitive areas. Sometimes people remember things after we have begun.
If we didn't cover something during our discussion, please feel free to mention anything during the session.
Conversely, if you prefer not to continue discussion, relax and enjoy the session, please feel free to let me know.