Shiatsu on the Face and Head

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There are a large number of different exercises and techniques, but at each time the giver must be relaxed and calm to enable the flow of ki to occur and thus make the Shiatsu work to full effect.

As an example, the following exercise on the face and head begins with the receiver's head being held firmly in one hand and, using the thumb of the other hand, pressing upwards in a straight line between the eyebrows towards the hairline. Each movement should only be quite small, about 12 millimetres (0.5 inch).

The fingers should then be placed on each side of the head and both thumbs used to press from the inner end of the eyebrows towards the hairline (see page 98, figure A). Again, holding the hands at each side of the head, the thumbs should then be used to press from the start of the eyebrows across the brow to the outside (figure B).

With the fingers in place at each side of the face, work the thumbs across the bone below the eyes, moving approximately 6 millimetres (0.25 inch) at a time (figure C).

Commencing with the thumbs a little to one side of each nostril, press across the face below the cheekbones (figure D).

Press one thumb in the area between the top lip and nose (figure E) and then press with both the thumbs outwards over the upper jaw (figure F).

Next, press one thumb in the hollow below the lower lip and then press outwards with both thumbs over the lower part of the jaw (figure G). The giver then puts all fingers of the hands beneath the lower jaw and then leans backwards so that pressure is exerted (figure H).