Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Barefoot Shiatsu: (Oriental Foot Massage)
Barefoot Shiatsu: (Oriental Foot Massage)
Thanks to:
Serena Silva, from whom I first studied Barefoot Shiatsu at IPSB in San
Diego in 1980;
Minakshi, for the initial collaboration in Watsu trainings in the early 90’s;
Shizuko Yamamoto, for helping me to understand what I like and don’t
like in the work;
Theri Thomas, for her playful creativity and contributions in putting this
sequence into its present form.
Contents
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Barefoot Shiatsu 2
The Sequence 8
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Barefoot Shiatsu
Sea of Chi,
flow through me!
Mother Earth,
I return to Thee!
Sky of Light,
set me free!
Father,
Thou art my Destiny!
Gravity
In the science of physics, gravity is understood as the attractive force generated by a
celestial body upon objects at or near its surface. If, however, we dare to believe that
the Earth is a conscious entity, gravity could also be seen as an elemental expression
of love, in the same way that a mother likes to be close to her offspring, pulling them
to her and embracing them. Indeed, the Earth is as a mother to every creature upon
her surface. Our bodies take birth from her substance, receive their nourishment from
her during life, and return to dust after physical death. We are her children.
Barefoot Shiatsu is a celebration of our relation to Mother Earth, a way of
honoring source and of returning to source. The giver becomes an agent of her
gravity, her love force. He gives flesh to the friendly downward pull of gravity,
falling with his own body weight to create a constant, vertical pressure that the
receiver instinctively accepts. He offers the receiver to the Earth, returning him to her
and restoring their oneness.
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characterized by a brain alpha rhythm of 8 Hz. (cycles per second). This
approximates the Schumann Resonance Frequency (SRF) of the Earth at 7.8 Hz.
The Earth participates in another way, as well. Her currents of energy flow
through the receiver, subtly strengthening him. This effect can be enhanced by
aligning the receiver’s head and feet to the North and South, the direction in which
this streaming subterranean chi flows. According to traditional Chi Kung teaching,
lying on the Earth in this polar alignment extends the life span.
Breath
There exists a common thread between Chi Kung, Barefoot Shiatsu and meditation.
Each is characterized by a connection to Earth and Heaven, by channeling of energy,
by relaxation and by conscious breathing. Of all these elements, breath is the key.
There is a power in the breath that may never be trivialized. Morihei Ueshiba, the
founder of Aikido, taught that the Breath of Life, once discovered by the aspirant,
would connect him with all living things. Conscious breath is an indispensable part
of the technique and philosophy of Barefoot Shiatsu. Practicing conscious breath,
the giver remains a relaxed and open channel, he absorbs energy from the cosmos in
order to pass it on and feel an empathy with the receiver. In effect, he breathes for
two. His goal is to synchronize breath, pressure, movement and energy into a single
intuitive phenomenon beyond rationality.
Barefoot Shiatsu
The extensive use of the feet is the prime factor that distinguishes Barefoot Shiatsu
from its sister disciplines. The feet afford a deep and powerful pressure capable of
opening up frozen, atrophied areas of the body. They address meridians more so than
points (tsubos), as their pressure is broad rather than specific. As explained above,
Barefoot Shiatsu takes advantage of a head to foot contact with the Earth, which both
clears energy and channels earth currents through the receiver and giver alike.
In flowing through the sequence, we pay special attention to posture and how
movements are generated, mostly through sinking, leaning and rocking with our
body weight, in contrast to using muscular force. Performing the sequence is like
doing a yoga routine, full of stretches and poses that are beneficial to the giver.
Dance is incorporated into the body mechanics to keep the energy light and to refresh
the giver during the course of the treatment. Fatigue may be experienced at certain
points in the classroom learning process, but this is natural as the movements are new
to the body, and fatigue passes away as strength is gained through practice.
This particular sequence and approach is not diagnostic; it does not treat specific
conditions. It is a general sequence addressing all meridians with a preventative more
than curative effect. Receiving Barefoot Shiatsu confers numerous benefits. It will
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promote relaxation, satisfy the need for touch, release tension and holding patterns,
increase flexibility, and strengthen energy flows. However, all these gains will be
only temporary and superficial unless a person’s lifestyle is healthy. This would
include balancing work and rest, time alone and time with others, caring for body and
caring for soul. Fortunately, the work is educative, showing the way through an
experience of greater well being that creates a motivation to live more in harmony
with self and nature.
This approach to Barefoot Shiatsu is “hot”, or warm-hearted, as opposed to “cold”
or technical. It emphasizes an empathy with the receiver rather than the mere
application of techniques. In this sense Barefoot Shiatsu is more closely allied to Zen
Shiatsu than to the more mechanical schools of mainstream Shiatsu. The relation to
the receiver remains uppermost in importance, and our role is one of service,
manifesting universal love.
Pressure
Gravity is so natural, so familiar to the body, something it understands and is adapted
to from birth. In the technique of Barefoot Shiatsu, we endeavor to exert a pressure
like the Earth, mirroring her gravity. Body weight is channeled through the giver’s
skeleton, that is, the bones and joints. This and not muscular force provides the
impetus. Our pressure is perpendicular and constant, blending into the solidity of the
ground. Our pressure is firm and deep, but gentle, increasing and diminishing
gradually. The hands and feet remain soft and mold to the body’s contours. We
respect the body’s comfort limit for pressure and stretch.
The Feet
Pressure from the feet is broad and powerful; the legs are far stronger than the arms,
enabling them to channel the full weight of the body. The hands can exert a pressure
of 30 kilos. The added force that the feet can bring to bear easily more than doubles
the pressure possible with the hands, allowing them to introduce movement into
locked tissues. According to Shiatsu tradition, vertical pressure applied down into the
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body is said to promote health. This perpendicular pressure is both easier and more
natural for the legs to administer than for the arms. In addition, the feet, in contrast to
the hands, are more heavily padded in proportion to the extra weight they must bear.
The massaging contact of the feet on the body is uniquely pleasurable. With practice,
the sensitivity of the feet can approach that of the hands. Their soft pressure is
reminiscent of the security of the final days in the womb and the passage through the
birth canal. It also reminds us of the tremendous strength our parents seemed to
possess in our childhood.
The Techniques
Among the Shiatsu techniques forming this sequence are vertical pressure, rocking,
traction, vibration and stretching. Add to these joint mobilization, brushing and
Polarity Balancing. Like Zen Shiatsu, the approach is clearly eclectic. Let us touch
upon the effects of each of these techniques:
1. Joint mobilization techniques of shaking, bouncing, and rocking confuse patterns
of muscular holding originating in the central nervous system by returning an
overwhelming sensory feedback. In the face of this overload, holding patterns are
abandoned and the area releases.
2. Range of motion techniques demonstrate to the nervous system the capacity for
movement in a joint, as well as an effortlessness.
3. Deep pressure brings movement and circulation into parts of the body that have
become atrophied and shut out from awareness. The influx of circulation and the
resumption of afferent feedback re-admits the area to body consciousness.
4. Polarity Balancing, through placing both hands or both feet on the body, creates a
strengthened circuit. It balances energy flows by providing two points, one that
feeds in energy and another that attracts it. Both blockages and depletions are
resolved. A variation of Polarity Balancing unique to Barefoot Shiatsu involves
the earth in the energy loop: one foot only is on the body. The earth current passes
through the giver’s body from his grounded leg to a single contact on the receiver,
then through her body into the earth to complete the circuit.
5. Vertical palm and foot pressure approximates the receiver to the Earth, exposing
him to her energy currents. With the influx of energy that occurs through the
connection of haras, kyo conditions are tonified and jitsu blockages are dissolved.
6. Brushing meridians encourages their flow, acting in a similar manner to Polarity
Balancing to promote energy circulation.
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• The hands begin and conclude each segment in order to humanize the touch.
• The hara, face and scalp receive touch from the hands alone.
• An emphasis is placed on freeing the sacrum.
• Symmetrical, bilateral work precedes and follows unilateral work.
• It is as easy as possible for the giver; lifting and transitioning between sitting and
standing are minimized.
• All meridians are addressed.
Holographic paradigm
The holographic model of the universe recognizes that the whole is present in the
smallest constituent part. The relation between the Earth and the human body bears
out this truth. The electromagnetic field of the Earth is mirrored by the human aura.
Her atmosphere and its gaseous exchanges correspond to the human respiratory
system. The currents of the oceans and the molten flows of the core parallel the
circulatory system. Her network of lei lines is the equivalent of our meridians and
nervous system. In truth, the body of the Earth is reproduced in miniature in our
bodies. It could be said that we are an integral part of the system of the Earth, the
part that has the capacity to feel and think, and ultimately to attain to spirit.
This shared identity of the Earth and the body is part of the miraculous beauty of
the creation. Every cell carries the DNA blueprint of the entire-body. The electrons
and nucleus of every atom reveal the structure of the solar system with its planets
circling a central sun. In the divine energy animating the tiniest of subatomic
particles we may feel the presence of the Creator of All, Who dwells in glory at the
very center of all universes.
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General Information and Guidelines
Barefoot Shiatsu is practiced on the floor, with the body aligned north to south if
possible. The receiver lies prone on a mat to start, then supine to finish. The hands,
feet and head all initially lie completely on the mat. A thin but wide futon is ideal.
Additionally, the receiver may need a rolled up towel across the top of the chest
(above the breasts) to reduce the sideways range of motion required of the neck. A
pillow across the abdomen will take pressure off the lumbar region of large breasted
women or where lower back problems are present. Pillows beneath the ankles and
insteps take stress off the lower back and provide extra cushioning beneath the feet
for when they are walked upon. We may take the initiative to offer and even suggest
these aids if we perceive the need.
When you, as the giver, are much heavier or bigger than the receiver, or the
receiver is sensitive of structure, adapt as follows:
Givers who are small and light will want to learn how to stand on the receiver
with both feet at the same time, using a chair for balance. A thinner mat and a greater
use of the knees will also maximize the amount of pressure they can bring to bear.
As in any form of massage, not all techniques will be appropriate for every
physique. This holds especially true when the receiver is sensitive to pressure,
limited in joint range of motion, or injured. Techniques may be size-graded,
flexibility-graded, intimacy-graded or age-graded. Foot pressure is never
administered to the face, throat, hara, lumbar spine or backs of knees.
A thorough pre-session interview screens for counter-indications, especially
spinal injuries. These include contagious illness, pleurisy, peritonitis, appendicitis,
pyelitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers, liver cirrhosis, twisting of the
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bowels, intestinal obstruction, cancer, high fever following surgery, extreme physical
debility, and infectious skin ailments.
No oil is used; the client remains fully clothed. He only removes shoes, belts and
metal jewelry, as these constrict and interfere with circulation of blood and energy. A
nearly empty stomach is recommended.
The environment needs to be clean; dust from the floor can be more easily inhaled
than if the receiver were elevated on a massage table. A warm space is also
important--cool air sinks, making the floor the coolest part of the room. So vacuum
first, air out the room, then heat it well.
Candles, incense, fountains, and music when used to enhance the atmosphere
should all be acceptable to the client. Non-rhythmic Zen flute music or recordings of
natural sounds support relaxation.
At the end of the session, a blanket may be placed over the client and the lights
dimmed. Ten minutes of rest gives the client time to integrate the touch, pressure and
movement she has received.
If partner is lying on a sheet, “The Mummy” becomes an option. Fold the bottom
of the sheet over the feet, then the sides over the rest of the body except for the face.
Place a towel over the eyes, leaving space for the nostrils to breathe freely. The
Mummy provides not only warmth, but also a sense of security and separation from
the external environment. Receivers tend to go deeper into their internal process
within the cocoon of The Mummy.
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The Sequence in Detail
FACE DOWN
When the receiver indicates readiness to begin, invite her to lie face down on the mat.
Let it be thick enough to soften your standing pressure. Further ensure her comfort
by offering a rolled towel under the chest or a pillow under the abdomen. Place a
pillow under the feet so that you may stand on them with your full weight. To
introduce your touch and align receiver correctly on the mat, use your hands to brush
up one side of the back and down the arm. Use the “Big Hand “ and “Waterfall”
techniques, sometimes brushing down the top of the arm, sometimes encompassing
the arm in both hands by slipping under the arm with your outside hand. Turn the
palm up at a slight distance from the hip to leave space for the coming hip rocks.
Then brush from the lower back down the back of the leg to the foot. Traction the leg
off the ground, rotating the leg medially at the hip so that the sole of the foot presents
upward on the pillow. As with the arm, you may give encompassing touch, in this
case by slipping under the lower leg with your inside hand. Let your touch flow,
sculpt to the body's contours and catch and integrate the body's energy.
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• Watch the hips for a big, slow, soft rock. They will assume a watery or Jello-like
appearance in movement. A pillow under the hips tends to restrict the rocking
motion, so in this case feel free to rock from the sacrum for a better leverage.
• Let the rocking subside to stillness with the foot still on the back; wait another
breath cycle and then remove it imperceptibly, like a bird flying away, as you
breathe in and lift your arms to the side.
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4. Rocking from waist to thigh with pressure
This section looks to address deeper muscular tensions that might block meridian
flow. It begins to free the sacrum and spine, as well, which will continue later in the
sequence.
a) Stand in Horse Stance with your head foot once again opposite the lower ribcage.
Using “The Crane”, transfer your weight and lift the foot foot. Using its heel and
ball, rock rhythmically into the boneless gap between the twelfth rib and the iliac
crest. Rock in a transverse direction at about a 45° downward angle. Bend the
knee of your standing leg to lower your hips and get a more horizontal force
vector for the rock. The heel will be nearly on the mat. Direct your pressure first
into the most superficial obliques and transversus abdominis, then shift medially
into the underlying quadratus lumborum muscle; next slide up to isolate the
iliocostalis. In reverse order work back to the waist. Then, by way of transition,
brush your foot down onto the hand and stand on it before stepping with your
head foot up opposite the shoulder.
b) Standing facing the head, use the sole of your foot foot to sculpt to the curve of the
near iliac crest, rocking it obliquely across at a 45° angle toward the feet. Your
leg will be off to the side in the “doggy at the fire hydrant” position. Without
putting weight onto the ball of the foot, pivot the heel in an arc from there with
each rock. This rocking will stretch the waist musculature and the iliolumbar
ligament. Again, on completion, brush down onto the palm and stand on it, to
enable you to smoothly step with your head foot to opposite the waist.
c) Stand on your foot foot opposite the upper thigh and use your head foot heel to
rock deeply into various sites on the near gluteals. As you rock, locate the border
of the sacrum and the greater trochanter of the femur for the coming point work
into the muscles. Now, work the origins of gluteus maximus along the border of
the sacrum. Then, referencing the greater trochanter of the femur with the ball of
your foot, rock into the belly of piriformis along its length with your heel. This
requires a deeper pressure, through the belly of the overlying gluteus maximus.
These are the two muscles that originate on the posterior and anterior surfaces
respectively of the sacrum. With a light pressure, position your sole over the
sacrum and thereby rock the hips sideways. As in the previous two moves, brush
the foot off the hip to stand on the hand.
d) Facing the head, kneel on both knees against the thigh. Locate the near ischial
tuberosity with your inside elbow. Lean your body weight down at a 45º degree
angle with a steady pressure medially in the direction of the apex of the sacrum
into the sacrotuberus ligament. (This ligament anchors the sacrum to the ischial
tuberosity.) Your other hand soothes at the lower back, a 'mother hand', and your
thigh presses against the receiver's thigh. Remain for three breaths. “Easy out” of
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the pressure and brush your forearm and hand down off the back of the thigh to
finish.
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6. Kneeling on the buttocks
In this section you get to rest your legs, kneeling on the buttocks to provide a
sustained “mother” presence while preparing the back and arms for deeper pressure.
a) Stand astraddle the thighs just above the knees. Sway your knees sideways so that
the insides of your ankles rock the body. Think of playing catch with the body
between your ankles, tossing it across from ankle to ankle. Take tiny sliding steps
headwards just up to the pelvis, all the while rocking the body rhythmically. This
“telegraphs” the next contact.
b) Request permission before kneeling carefully on the buttocks. Tuck your shins
inside of the thighs. Place your hands with empathy on the lower back and pause
to breathe with partner. Brush up both sides of the back and down the arms.
Repeat another brush up the back and bounce down beneath the shoulders and
arms to the hands. Repeat both brushes.
c) Ask your partner to inhale and inhale with her. As she exhales, exhale with her,
rocking forward onto your hands placed on both sides of the spine at the level of
T12. Continue to rock back and inhale with partner, rock forward and exhale,
shifting your hand placements up the back by overlapping half hand-widths to
between the shoulder blades. Do not advance higher than T6 with your hand
pressures as this will compress the neck.
d) Grasp the superior border of both trapezius muscles, and rocking side to side,
knead these muscles. The rocking alternately intensifies the pressure on the
gluteals. Because you lean with your weight, your grip on the trapezii keeps you
from falling off the buttocks. This is a size-graded move, difficult to do if your
arms are short and receiver’s back is long. Let this movement morph into
alternately lifting and dropping the shoulders onto the mat, then flopping them up
and down.
e) Bracing your hands on the upper arms, lift your feet up and rock forward to make
a sharper pressure on the buttocks with your knees. Check in to see that the knee
pressure is acceptable. Be creative with circles and rocks as you massage deep
into the gluteals with some fancy knee work. Finally, rest and breathe in
synchronicity with your partner, your head resting on the lower back and your
forearms across hers; her palms cradle your elbows, your palms cradle her
elbows. To transition into the next move, brush down to the hands and spread
open the thumbs away from the index fingers.
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hands direct your upper body weight down into your thighs while you incline
slightly forward to maintain your balance. Breathe in as your weight transfers;
breathe out as you sink onto either hand.
b) Stand still with your weight evenly divided and administer Polarity to the hands
as you did earlier to the feet. Breathe deeply into your hara, tanking up with
energy to become a reservoir of chi that your partner may tap into.
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circling the foot. To exit, transfer your weight back over your standing leg and
withdraw your foot.
b) Still between the legs, face in the direction of the head. Brush the ball of your
foot three times down along the spine and off the sacrum. Sculpt to the shape of
partner’s body even in these strokes, your forefoot becoming soft like a
paintbrush.
c) Fit the sole of your foot over the sacrum. Ask your receiver to breathe in and on
the exhale press perpendicularly down toward the mat. Give an extra downward
traction toward yourself with your heel at the end of each pressure. Repeat three
times. You may place your hands on your thigh to direct your upper body weight
into the pressure on the sacrum. Finish with a final vertical pressure down on the
sacrum. As a variation do the Coffeegrinder here: both your hands guide your
knee in circles so that the foot pressure rotates around a circle on the sacrum
without actually sliding your foot. Then without pressure, remain for some
breaths in stillness to allow the warmth and energy from your foot to suffuse deep
into the pelvis. This is a Polarity including the earth in the energy loop.
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f) With the sole of your foot, progress distally by overlapping half foot widths down
to the elbow. Press sensitively as the arm is not in an ideal presentation for this
pressure.
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13. Standing above the head
Turned 90° to the body’s longitudinal axis, reach with your foot closest to the head
down to the sacrum.
Getting into it in the same way you did the rocking traction at T12, transfer half of
your weight onto the foot on partner's body and traction the sacrum in the direction
of the feet, adding small transverse rocks without losing the traction. “Rock the
traction.”
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b) Slowly, luxuriously and heavily roll down to the hips and return up to the chest.
This move has the apt nickname of “The Steamroller”. Repeat.
c) Finally, roll all the way down to the feet and beyond, avoiding pressure into the
backs of the knees and the ankles.
d) Administer Polarity to the feet, kneeling with your arms crossed to bring your
right palm to the left sole (Pericardium 8 to Kidney 1). Or sit facing away from
the feet (Billiard Polarity) with right to left, left to right. As a variation, lean back
on your elbows and place your soles on partner’s soles.
e) Rest.
FACE UP
Partner rolls over on her own. Or, if space on the mat allows, kneel on the side
opposite to which partner’s head is turned. Place the near arm overhead, grasp the far
wrist and ankle firmly and pull them to roll partner over toward you. The main
leverage is from the ankle rather than the wrist. Finish the roll by bending the knee to
the chest, then lay it out on the mat. Do “housekeeping” to ensure partner’s comfort,
such as offering a pillow under the knees.
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lean forward to flex the ankles. In both these stretches use your body weight
rather than muscular force.
e) Hold the insteps, applying Polarity.
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palm. Also emphasize pulling the thumb and the 4th and 5th metacarpals in the
circling pattern.
d) Secure the hand in the “solidarity handshake” between your palms, as if you were
praying fervently, (fingers interlaced), and press it firmly with syncopated circles
in a grinding action. Hold the hand close to your chest for a greater pressure.
e) Kneel on one knee to lift the arm from the mat and rock your body in order to
swing the arm sideways and up. Focus on the weight of the elbow.
f) Swing the arm sideways from each finger, squeezing them between your
forefinger and thumb, working distally to focus the movement and traction on the
MP’s, PIP’s and DIP’s in that order. Sustain the swinging rhythm while
transitioning from one finger to the next.
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the legs to the ground, one by one, supporting each ankle in your forefoot on the
descent. Anchor your heel into the ground and rock the leg as it rests in your
dorsum, then toss it lightly onto the mat.
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more, asking her to breathe higher up into the neck even, to engage the SCM and
scalenes as secondary muscles of respiration. Gradually release the stretch.
Using the towel under the neck, roll the head from side to side, then remove the
towel.
c) Leaning back on your forearms, “go for a walk” on the shoulders, alternately
pressing them down in the direction of the feet. Start at the sides of the neck like a
collar, working out to the shoulders and back. You may direct some pressure onto
the chest, as well. Finish by brushing your lateral arches down the upper arms.
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• Governing Vessel and Bladder---With the thumbs give Shiatsu along the sagittal
suture and one body inch lateral to it on both sides.
• Gall Bladder---Circle with palm pressure on the sides of the head.
FINISH
In the delicacy of feeling at the end of a session, finish wishing health and happiness
for your receiver. Honor the space in your own way, silently feeling gratitude to the
receiver for empowering you with her surrender and receptivity, for giving you the
opportunity to serve. Thank also the living elements that participated in the
equation: the earth and spiritual energies. Step outside the auric field of your
partner and cut the energy between yourself and her by any of the following
techniques: waving your hands in front of your hara, spinning on your axis, shaking
your joints, affirming “I am I, you are you." and breathing more deeply. Finally,
kneel seiza alongside partner to re-center psychologically. Calm your energies and
place your hands on the ground to pass any excess energies back into the earth.
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