Jin Shin Do Massage

Developed by psychotherapist Iona Marsaa Teeguarden, Jin Shin Do combines gentle, yet deep, finger pressure on acu-points with simple body focusing techniques to release physical and emotional tension. The client determines the depth of the pressure. Jin Shin Do promotes a pleasurable, trancelike state during which the recipient can get in touch with the body and access feelings or emotions related to the physical condition. This body/mind approach, performed on the fully-clothed client, is a synthesis of a traditional Japanese acupressure technique, classic Chinese acupuncture theory, Taoist yogic philosophy and breathing methods, and Reichian segmental theory. The client lies on her back on a massage table while the practitioner holds “local points” in tension areas together with related “distal points,” which help the armored places to release more easily and deeply.

A typical session is about ninety minutes. Jin Shin Do acupressure is effective in helping relieve tension and fatigue, stress-related headaches and gastro-intestinal problems, back and shoulder pain, eye strain, menstrual and menopausal imbalances, sinus pain, and allergies. (With medical problems, the client is asked to consult a doctor.) Over a period of ten or more sessions, armoring is progressively released in the head, neck, shoulders, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvis, and legs.

After sessions, clients typically feel deeply relaxed and may even feel euphoric. If the client is responsive, there will be significantly less tension and pain together with an increased sense of well-being for hours or days. This response will tend to extend after further sessions. In the case of chronic fatigue, initially the client may feel more tired after a session, because the body is demanding rest. It is advisable to schedule sessions with time to rest and relax afterward. On the other hand, Jin Shin Do can be used before athletic events to improve performance, for horses as well as for people

These Practitioners can offer Jin Shin Do Massage in their Sessions:

Stacy Day

Stacy is a long-time bodywork practitioner, having been Nationally Certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork since 1994. Various trainings include: Swedish-Esalen, Deep Massage, including techniques for frozen shoulder, carpel tunnel, knee and hip concerns, Prenatal massage, Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Cranial-Sacral, Reiki, Ashiatsu DeepFeet Bar and Sarga Silks, etc., and a graduate of Wat Po Thai Massage school. UCSC graduate with Psychobiology major, SFSU M.A. in Holistic Health & Philosophy. Past work as a birth Doula and Yoga instructor. Stacy is an annual guest bodyworker at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. At the Well, she also enjoys doing special treatments such as relaxation facials, foot treatments, aromatherapy, and hair & scalp conditioning.