Shiatsu

What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a therapeutic massage in which the practitioner connects with the client’s body through the simplicity and depth of human touch to address imbalances in the flow of energy. 

Shiatsu has a long history, originating in China, evolving in Japan and popularised in western countries in the twentieth century. Shiatsu traditionally approaches the whole body in terms of Ki, Meridians and tsubos founded in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It can ease symptoms and reconnect the body with its natural healing response. 

Shiatsu can help release stress and its related symptoms as well as stimulate the immune system. Shiatsu allows the mind and body to deeply relax and promotes a renewed sense of physical, emotional and energetic well being.

Bridget’s Shiatsu

For me, the beauty of shiatsu is that, as Ki naturally flows through me and the receiver, it enables the receiver to reconnect with their own innate healing power.

Grounded in my traditional training here in Kyoto, I listen to the receiver with my whole being. Through touch, the receiver’s body and Ki respond and guide the direction of the session. Thus, each session is unique in its unfolding. As the body relaxes, the source of the Ki imbalance appears, to be discovered. Drawing on knowledge and experience, I relate to the relevant Meridians and tsubos. As the session concludes, I can witness the receiver with symptoms eased, a renewed sense of well-being and more awareness of their whole body.

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Ki/Chi/Qi — vital life force or energy flowing through the body.

Meridians — interconnected flowing pathways of Ki relating to the organs of the body.

Tsubo — a point on the meridian which can resonate when treated. There are also specific points in TCM, evolved over thousands of years, which are recognised to relieve symptoms.

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) — a model of holistic medicine based on Ki, Meridians and tsubos. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and moxibustion are an integral part of TCM.

Treatments

What to Expect

The shiatsu treatment takes place on a futon placed on the tatami floor of Bamboo Space. The recipient is fully clothed and maybe covered by a blanket as the body tends to cool during the treatment.

The session begins as Bridget observes and listens to the issues the recipient would like to address. Bridget makes an assessment through touch to decide the direction of the treatment. Then she performs a whole body massage with the receiver either lying on their side, back or front. Bridget discovers areas and tsubos that need treatment during the session. Then she makes another assessment and treats body parts, Meridians or tsubos relating to the symptom. Finally, Bridget tunes into the recipient’s whole body to evaluate the effects of the treatment.

The treatment pattern will vary with each client and each session as Bridget fine tunes her shiatsu to the presenting symptoms.

Before

Come to the session with the stomach neither empty nor full. If you are hungry, this may influence Bridget’s assessment of the body. If you are full, you may feel uncomfortable if Bridget palpates the abdomen.

Wear loose comfortable clothing, for example sports or yoga wear. These can be provided, but most people are more comfortable in their own clothes.

During

In the first session, Bridget will ask you some questions about your health history. In following treatments she will ask about any noticeable responses to the shiatsu.

Bridget’s touch is firm but gentle as she connects with the physical body and the Ki. She fine tunes the pressure to the best depth: if too strong the Ki closes to protect the body, if too weak the physical body is not satisfied.

Bridget sometimes checks in with the recipient to confirm the feeling of her touch. (It is not a zone out treatment, the aim is to be relaxed but engaged.)

Recipients may feel slight discomfort accompanied by a comfortable feeling of energetic release or resonance flowing from the area being treated. Many people describe it as “good pain”.

Bridget uses not only her hands, fingers and thumbs, but also her elbows and knees to connect with the body. She is grounded and balanced as she dynamically works around the body. She may also stretch and manipulate the body.

Bridget’s shiatsu is based on her theoretical knowledge and clinical experience of Ki, Meridians, tsubos and TCM.

After

The treatment is about one hour. However, please allow at least ten minutes to rest in the healing atmosphere of Bamboo Space. This will help you enjoy the full benefits of the session and ease back into your life.

Give yourself space to listen to your body. Some people feel energised while others feel exhausted. Whatever your response, try to have a light schedule the day of your treatment.

You may notice energy moving around your body for a day or so as the treatment settles into your system. After that, you may experience an easing of symptoms and a renewed sense of well-being.

Sometimes, as part of the natural healing process, old symptoms: physical, emotional or body memories may come up to the surface. These sensations may last up to two days and are relieved as the treatment deepens into the body.

If you have any questions after receiving shiatsu, please contact Bridget.

After initial treatments for specific problems, many people continue regular monthly sessions as part of their preventative health care.

If symptoms persist, don’t hesitate to seek the advise of a medical doctor.

Online Guided Self-Shiatsu Treatments 

Bridget has been trained in giving online guided self-shiatsu treatments as an alternative to a face-to-face shiatsu session. This includes an assessment, whole body treatment, working with specific tsubos and face shiatsu. Bridget may also suggest some exercises and general dietary advice. Offered online.

Booking Information

Read about the safety measures that Bridget takes to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Workshops

Shiatsu

Bridget offers shiatsu workshops tailored to your needs, whether working in a professional setting or between family and friends. Each workshop begins with some stretching and grounding to prepare for doing shiatsu.?
Below are some examples of previous workshop content:

tsubos: tsubos are the essence of shiatsu. How to find, touch and treat tsubos. Learn the location of some essential tsubos. Offered online.

Face shiatsu: The face is a microcosm of the whole body. Learn the location of and how to treat tsubos on the face to feel more relaxed and refreshed. Offered online. 

Whole-body forms: Working with a partner learn how to give whole-body treatment: lying on the back (prone), lying on the front (supine), lying on the side. Not offered online. 

Healthy Body Workshop

The aim of this workshop is to help participants maintain the health and well-being of their own body. Learn exercises to feel and experience the flow of Ki. Learn to ground and centre. Learn some key tsubos and face shiatsu. Offered online.  

Please note: During the pandemic, all workshops are offered online, except Whole-body forms.

For more details about Shiatsu Workshops, please contact Bridget directly.

Booking Information

Bamboo Space

Welcome to Bamboo Space

All shiatsu sessions take place in Bamboo Space. 
Bamboo Space is located in a quiet, village-like neighbourhood. Nestled between two Zen temples, a teahouse and a shrine, there is an ambience of a return to old traditional Kyoto. Guided along the narrow path through the houses, you will arrive at a secluded hanare*: this is Bamboo Space. As you enter the entrance way, take off your shoes and step up into the room. Feel the tatami underfoot, see the bamboo grove in front of you, and allow yourself to feel part of nature. Let your senses relax as you lie on the futon ready to receive shiatsu. 

How to Get Here

Bamboo Space is in the northeast of Kyoto in Ichijoji, Sakyo-ku about one minute from Shisendo Temple. On the first visit, Bridget will meet you outside Shisendo Temple to guide you to Bamboo Space. See map.

hanare — a detached room

tatami — a type of rush mat used as flooring in traditional Japanese rooms.

Testimonials

Bridget Scott, shiatsu therapist, has honed her craft for around 30 years.
With skilled hands (feet, knees and elbows!) she relieves bodily tensions, old-standing and new. Knots in the mind ease, emotions relax with movement of energy allowed free-flow after stagnation. Greater well-being results.

Years of dedication to shiatsu training, traditional Japanese dance, meditation and close contact with the earth as a gardener, make Bridget's shiatsu rock-steady. She listens to the patient's body with great sensitivity through all of her faculties. She asks for feedback and is very responsive. This gives a great sense of security in the patient, especially if wounded. She gives practical suggestions, is patient, non-judgemental and compassionate, with a happy dash of humour.

After more than 15 years of receiving shiatsu treatment from Bridget, she still has my heartiest endorsement as a healer, in opening healing channels and promoting wellbeing in body, mind and spirit.

The shiatsu studio is a contemplative pleasure in itself; in The Bamboo Space, one rests on tatami and gazes out at a bamboo thicket, an ever changing delight.

Ursula Maierl

As a long-time professional massage therapist I was looking to further and deepen my understanding of traditional shiatsu in an authentic setting with an authentic practitioner. I was looking specifically for an English-speaking teacher with many years of experience, a professional focus and a practical, hands-on approach. I found all that — and more — in Bridget Scott.

Over the course of 12 private classes I learned several forms of traditional Japanese shiatsu that are immediately useful to me in my day-to-day work, as well as some theory and philosophy of shiatsu, Ki (energy) and similar health-related topics.

As a teacher, Bridget is completely approachable, kind and encouraging with a generosity of spirit that made every class a wonderful learning experience.

Bridget’s place of work — the Bamboo Space — is an experience in itself that greatly aids the learning and the atmosphere of shiatsu.

I can only give my warmest recommendation to anyone — beginner students and professionals alike — who wants to learn about shiatsu in an authentic way.

Valentine Laage

Bridget really helped me out a few years ago when I had a nasty bout of sciatica — a treatment every week brought on a steady recovery and I do schedule a shiatsu session with Bridget once every couple of months to ensure that everything is ticking over. I've been pain-free for 4 years now — thank you Bridget!

Do yourself and your health a favour and book a shiatsu session with Bridget (the studio is also a delightful space — a great bamboo view from a tatami room.

Duncan Flett

Bridget is THE BEST!! if you are travelling to Kyoto and in search of truly relaxing, restorative, nurturing, healing shiatsu in a small tatami-floored studio beside a bamboo grove on a hill surrounded by temples then book in with Bridget. It's the first thing I do every time I land in Kyoto. Sets me up for work, rest and play!

Jane Lawson

Bridget's shiatsu treatment *always* makes me feel so much better, highly recommended.

Robert Yellin

I'm a massage therapist, and while I was in Kyoto I did some Shiatsu training with Bridget. She was a fantastic teacher, and I have been able to incorporate what she taught me in my massage treatment. Big thank you, Bridget Scott.

Marcia Greene

Whenever I am in Kyoto I receive a shiatsu treatment from Bridget.
I find her shiatsu treatment deeply relaxing and rejuvenating.
Her dedicated shiatsu space is a traditional tatami room which overlooks a bamboo forest.
This space is instantly conducive to relaxation.

Bridget works intuitively and knows where the most effective points can be found. Using thumb, elbow and knee pressure, she works on Meridians and points. She checks from time to time by asking me how I'm experiencing the points and pressure but mostly works silently so that I can relax into the experience and not have to think about it mentally.

As she smoothly moves around my whole body, firstly working on both sides and then facing down, I can feel myself deeply relaxing as I respond to her touch. I feel like my tight body and busy mind are starting to unravel and loosen. Recently I've had tendonitis of my left ankle and I was concerned that working on my foot would be painful. However, Bridget was attentive to my concern and she worked very empathically on the area, greatly relieving the tension in my ankle.

By the time the hour treatment comes to an end I feel like I have physically and mentally returned to a calmer and relaxed space. After the treatment she encouraged me to spend time just relaxing in the peaceful setting and to remain in that calm place, taking my time to slowly prepare to leave.

I am grateful to have received deeply effective shiatsu treatment from Bridget. I hope many people can benefit from this shiatsu treatment as I have.

Brid Murphy

For me, my shiatsu treatments with Bridget are a time of luxury in my daily life. Actually, my grandfather was an acupuncturist and as a child I received his treatments. I know acupuncture works, but I couldn’t stand the extreme stimulation from the needles. So, in anticipation of the reaction, I just couldn’t relax. I have also received general massage, but I felt it didn’t reach the depth I was hoping for. When I first received Bridget’s treatment, I felt at last I had found what I was looking for. I can totally relax during the treatment and I can also sense that it is working at a deep level. Somehow, Bridget always finds the pressure point where I want to be pressed and gives exactly the right amount of stimulation. I’ve been receiving Bridget’s shiatsu on a regular basis for the last ten years. My chronic symptoms of shoulder pain, headaches and backache have been greatly relieved and in some cases have totally disappeared. I hope more people can experience Bridget’s shiatsu so they can understand what I’m talking about.

Shigeko Tsukada

I would whole-heartedly recommend Bridget as a very gifted shiatsu practitioner. I think she has a particular combination of gentle strength and sensitivity that guide her to give very effective treatments. I received a treatment from her recently when she was able, without my telling her, to detect shock in my body from some kind of trauma. I had actually fallen down some stairs a month previously, and was still feeling the effects. Bridget’s style is very assured and also quietly intuitive, and I could relax totally and absorb the treatment while feeling confident that she was able to attune to my body’s particular needs. As a result of my one-off treatment I felt a heightened awareness throughout my body, as if I had had a total energy workout, and was much better in touch with my physical being. The next day I felt a little tired, but with a greatly increased sense of equilibrium restored. I’m sure further treatments would have increased benefits, but I was just passing through Kyoto. I think the shiatsu treated my acute problem — an aching neck — and also boosted my whole system, kicking my body’s self- healing mechanisms into action. Receiving shiatsu from Bridget in her beautiful studio in the eastern hills was definitely one of the high points of my recent visit to Kyoto.

Jeannie Donald-McKim

I recommend Bridget’s shiatsu treatment to everyone.

If you are visiting Kyoto and have any sort of discomfort in your body, I would go and see Bridget. She can relieve your pain and you will have a better trip. She can also give you a few tips on how to improve your general wellbeing, which is indeed the best souvenir you can take back home.

If you’ve had a health issue for a long time, I would go and see Bridget. She will look at it from a wholesome point of view and will focus on what is causing the problem. Together you will treat the root of the issue and you will see your well-being grow with every session.

If you are a woman and would like another woman to help you manage your health, I would go and see Bridget. You will feel safe with her and you will look forward to spending time in her beautiful space, which is clean, quiet, minimalistic and very relaxing.

And lastly, if you are healthy and happy, I would still go and see Bridget. I believe that health maintenance is the key to a long life. Regular sessions will ensure that you make the most of your life, keeping you strong and aware of what is going on in your body.

So, basically, go and see Bridget. You will be happy you did!

Audrey Flett

Shiatsu History

Shiatsu can be traced back to a synthesis of native Japanese anma (hand massage) and early cultural imports in sixth century of written texts of a healing system from China. These early texts recognised the existence of Ki, Meridians and methods of diagnosis using touch. During Japan’s isolation, from mid seventeenth century until early nineteenth century, palpation was refined as an important part of a medical approach to the body. As Japan opened up to Western medical ideas, anma fell out of favour and was regarded as folk medicine.

The term “shiatsu”, meaning finger pressure, was coined by Tamai Tempaku in 1920’s, who integrated his understanding of traditional methods of bodywork with the Western view of the body. Tokujiro Namikoshi, one of Tempaku’s gifted students, created a method of shiatsu based on Western scientifc ideas and separated from traditional beliefs. In 1940, he founded the Japan Shiatsu College, the first school recognised by the Government. It was from here that a number of pioneering teachers were nurtured. Toru Namikoshi, inspired by his father, took shiatsu to America and published numerous books in English. In the 1970’s Shizuto Masunaga, created Zen Shiatsu and reconnected the practical method of shiatsu with the traditional system of Ki and the flow of Meridians. His death in 1981 inspired many of his students, notably Wataru Ohashi, Pauline Sasaki, Akinobu Kishi, Ted Saito and Ryokyu Endo to develop Masunaga’s theory and disseminate shiatsu around the world.

Bridget Scott trained in Kyoto with Ryokyu Endo from 1992 to 2001. Since qualifying as a shiatsu practitioner, she has been giving shiatsu treatments and teaching shiatsu classes and workshops at Bamboo Space in Kyoto.

Booking Information

Contact Me

Please contact Bridget to arrange a mutually convenient time for your treatment.

Business Hours

Mornings: 9 am to 12 pm
Afternoons: 2 pm to 5 pm

Location

All shiatsu sessions take place in Bamboo Space, in the Ichijoji neighborhood of Kyoto. 

Treatment Cost

¥7,000/hour

Covid-19 Safety Measures

  • Bridget wears a mask when giving shiatsu and expects the client to wear a mask.
  • Hand sanitizer is placed in the entrance way to be used on arrival.
  • Bamboo Space is well ventilated. The windows are fully opened between sessions to completely change the air. 
  • The room is cleaned and surfaces are wiped between sessions.
  • Fresh and clean bed linen is used for each client.
  • Bridget is accepting fewer clients.
  • Bridget gives shiatsu using a tenugui, a traditional cotton cloth, so she doesn’t directly touch the skin.
  • Bridget is fully vaccinated.

In order to help prevent the spread of Covid 19, please contact Bridget to reschedule your treatment in the following situations:

  • If you are unwell with a cough, cold or fever.
  • If you have had recent contact with someone who has tested positive or may have Covid-19. 

For bookings and enquiries:

Contact Me

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