Shiatsu in the Moment
by Chris McAlister
‘The greatest challenge in diagnosis does not concern knowledge,
but openness of hear: getting ego and judgement out of the way. Nevertheless,
there is no excuse not to master the knowledge side of diagnosis. Apply
yourself to the scriptures!’
Neil Gulliver: ‘Diagnosis:
the Journey of a Lifetime’. Article, JSOBT, 1997.
‘A practitioner committed to learning will be open to other theories and discussions of human energetics, but ultimately will leave theory behind if the actual state of affairs demands a different understanding… if the patient’s body tells us something that is contradictory to the syndromes or patterns we have learned or the theories we have spent hours committing to memory, we must let go of our learning to be truly present at, and open to, the living event before us’. Mark Seem: ‘Bodymind Energetics’.
The above quotations have resonated in my mind for ten years or more. The lines which follow can be read as a meditation on or an exploration of the themes implicit in them.
The deciding factor in any therapeutic situation is the meeting itself.
There are three vital components in every such meeting:
- The receiver-patient
- The giver-therapist
- The moment
It may be interesting to bear in mind that the moment itself can include much that ultimately decides the nature of the ‘results’ of the treatment; such things as time and timing for example. It is invariably difficult to say why a particular treatment was more or less successful, and therefore important to remind ourselves that all phenomena have their own timing; each and every one has its own rhythm and speed of flowering and unfolding. We need only consider the cycle of the five elements to be reminded of this. All perceivable phenomena contain and are driven by a process of development which is closely associated with time. It is equally useful to occasionally reflect on the fact that every individual has their own pace in life, and that this pace is in turn affected continually by internal and external events.
The deciding factor in any therapeutic situation is the meeting itself.
Additionally, the moment includes the fat that we, as givers are endowed with a sensitivity which is intensely variable. That which occupied our whole attention this morning can appear a thing of the obscure past by the evening. Moreover, as therapists we are in continual development and open new channels constantly. Why not then allow the various possibilities embedded in each moment to reveal themselves within us and around us?
It is even said that the moment includes information. A steady stream of signals and impulses – more or less visible – flows continually through and between people and things. For example, we are all acquainted with body language; as infants we unconsciously learn to interpret facial expressions from our first contact with the nipple. We instinctively know all kinds of things about our fellow human’ mood from their stance and posture. Even a shake of the hand can deliver all kinds of subtle (and far less subtle) impressions. Given that we rely on this type of information transfer on a daily basis, how much more will we perceive if we begin to consciously give credit to the same kind of information sources in meetings with our patients?
Consciousness seems to be the key here. So what is consciousness? Clearly it involves a degree of focus and concentration. Awareness also. Perhaps a kind of relaxed openness as well, together with a complete absence of preconceived ideas. We would seem to have a clear advantage if we can incorporate these aspects into our treatments.
What is consciousness?.. it involves a degree of focus and concentration…a kind of relaxed openness as well, together with a complete absence of preconceived ideas.
Why should we be concentrated and focussed then? Those who seek us out do so primarily to receive our attention. Our attention is our gift and our treasure; a thing to be given with joy, but also with focus so that it finds its goal. As therapists we are also indisputably people with habits and flaws. In particular, those of us who are drawn to helping others have a tendency to give a little too much, too often. Best then to be focussed so that we do not simply empty ourselves, and even better to be focussed on the actual person in front of us rather than simply an idea of that person perhaps collected in the course of an earlier meeting or meetings. If we allow our first impressions to be continually renewed then they will remain true impressions.
In the ancient Chinese oracle ‘I Jing’ (Ching), it is taken as a fundamental principle that change is the sole constant. We can rely on this fact – that everything will change, and extremely rarely in the way that we had hoped or predicted. Which brings us back to expectations. It could be argued that expectations are a positive thing. They provide hope. They give courage and strengthen will. They do so, however, soley on the condition that the expectations in question are neutral. For the fact remains that if we harbour expectations that a certain thing will remain as it is or evolve in a way that we desire, then the result is invariably little more than wishful thinking.
For the fact remains that if we harbour expectations that a certain thing will remain as it is or evolve in a way that we desire, then the result is invariably little more than wishful thinking.
Once more: all processes contain an internal dynamic, which is variable according to outside influences over time. Our wisdom is probably then to foresee possible changes within certain boundaries and, subsequently not judge or be disappointed when events turn out to be otherwise than we had allowed for. In other words: expect nothing. Expect everything. Or, as people say on a daily basis in India: everything is possible. Everything. This is usually offered with shining eyes and an optimistic smile, but by the very same measure, the fact that everything is possible implies and requires the equal possibility of a whole spectrum of less than desirable outcomes.
In the west we often say: you never know. Stated in another way, we could say that it is always impossible to foresee with accuracy. Even those in possession of the gift of clairvoyance habitually express themselves in terms of tendencies with room for possibilities and directions rather than concrete events with specific dates. In our treatments we never ever know what will happen in the next moment. So: expect nothing. Expect everything.
What kind of practical tools do we possess for perceiving that which arises? First and foremost our five senses, of course. Touch is the one we shiatsuists trust most. While we are treating we can make it a habit to continually scan the quality of our contact. Does it feel right at the moment? Is the pressure too hard? Too loose? Am I really in contact with the person receiving? Do I need to renew the contact in any way? What is included in my touch? Is there room for dialogue? In that case, how is the dialogue being played out? With what kind of signals? We need not be timid and afraid of interpreting these signals in our own individual way. A yawn can be just the clue we were waiting for. A suggestion of movement in a point, a finger, an arm coud be a cautious attempt to communicate with us.
We can try to remain open to the varying ways different people communicate with us. For some people visual signals are paramount. An eyebrow spontaneously lifts. Lips hang down or suddenly and briefly rise. A tear falls and we are there to witness it. Which micro-emotion rose to the surface there? Perhaps that little drop of emotion would draw you into the depths of its ocean. Are you available for the voyage?
Certain people and bodies express themselves primarily through sound. A slight cough could be the most powerful tool that a particular body (or soul) has at its disposal for the moment. Did you hear it? Did you acknowledge? In that case, perhaps it will be able to express itself more clearly, more confidently, more directly next time. A person lying prone suddenly sighs. Did it sound resigned or elated? Which point were you holding just then? Which element were you thinking about at that precise moment? Which meridian were you planning to treat when that little sigh escaped? Which part of the body were you intending to visit? Our thoughts are also energy.
A sudden awareness of a memory is exactly that – if we do not recognise it as one of our own, then perhaps it belongs to the receiver and is coming up to the surface to communicate.
A soft and delicate fragrance arises. What were you doing in the few moments beforehand? You are working away in the small of the back somewhere and the room is invaded by the smell of urine. Could this possibly mean something? The odour of the breath tells its inexorable tale, in the same way as sweat odours and the delicate perfume of, say, feet. However, these things are not constant. They come and go, they materialise and vanish, manifest and dissolve; sometimes strong and at times scarcely detectable. What causes these variations? What changed? What did we do to influence them?
And then it can be said that there are huge variations in the kind of observable phenomena. At one end of the spectrum we have belching, hiccups, and other forms of gaseous release, as well as spontaneous jerks, shakes, cramps and spasms of the arms, legs and facial muscles.
Just as important, however, are fleeting, barely graspable sensations of sadness or disappointment, joy or nostalgia. As important and as reliable. A sudden awareness of a memory is exactly that – if we do not recognise it as one of our own, then perhaps it belongs to the receiver and is coming up to the surface to communicate.
With this range of available data, the art seems to be to actually believe what you perceive.
Then comes the decision: how to use this information, this energy, this clue?
Or not use it? For both are equally valid.
Expect nothing. Expect everything!
Shiatsu
Society (UK). PO Box 4580,
Rugby,
Warwickshire. CV21 9EL tel: 0845 130 4560 fax: 01788 555052