Shiatsu and Massage Individual sessions with Suzanne Yates
I am based in France for much of the year and sometimes work in Bristol and London. For some of you, live on line sessions, which I started offering in March 2020 may still be the best option. My daughter, Rosa Lia, also offers sessions in Bristol. I offer guidance on exercises, meditations, and then either connect with you or guide you through self shiatsu and massage. They work well for partner sessions too e.g. birth preparation and I have found them to be surprisingly effective. These last usually around one hour and quarter hour and I am offering them on a donations basis with a guideline of £55.
Contact me if you are interested.
I’ve worked as a shiatsu and massage therapist since qualifying with the Healing Shiatsu Education centre in 1988 and the Maitri Foundation. I work with clients at all stages of their lives from babies and pregnant mums to the elderly. I specialise in women’s health but I also work with men. I run sessions for couples teaching how to support each other through touch. This can for any reason but I often run sessions on birth preparation, supporting fertility, pregnancy and postnatal support.
To the right is a video of me teaching pregnancy massage: it gives some idea of me and how I work. I hope to post a shorter one soon with shiatsu more relevant to all stages of life.
To read more about my story please click here.
I include shiatsu or massage as appropriate to the client. I specialise in women’s health, from puberty to post menopause, including menstrual issues, fertility, pregnancy, birth and postnatal support. I am also qualified in sports massage. I love teaching self help techniques for shiatsu and massage and exercise and breath awareness. I can teach you baby and children shiatsu and massage. I also love doing partner sessions. These offer an opportunity to connect with your partner and support each other. They can enhance your relationship but are especially useful if you are trying to conceive, are preparing for birth or want to offer postnatal support.
MORE ABOUT ME
I have written several books on Pregnancy and birth and am currently working on a new book about some of the lesser known channels of acupuncture which can support everyone at all stages of their lives.
I teach shiatsu and massage therapists and midwives world wide.
I am fully insured and registered with the Shiatsu Society and French "Union francophone des professionnels de shiatsu therapeutique".
How I work
Shiatsu and massage individual sessions
I always begin by building a picture of you and what you want from the sessions. Some people come as part of supporting their emotional and physical well being. Others want to focus physical symptoms such as backache or a more complex issue like fertility issues, recovering from surgery or cancer. Others want to focus more on their emotional state. People come for help with coming to terms with changes in their lives, such as becoming a parent, children leaving home, bereavement or ageing. They also come for support with depression, loneliness or relationship issues. I am very much guided by what you want.
Whether you choose massage or shiatsu, I work with the image of the body as a garden needing to be tended. I understand that the body holds the memory of all the experiences we have lived. Working through touch can enable us to release physical tension but what people often don’t realise is that they can also help us process our emotions too.
I usually include some breathing and exercise, or at least body awareness, as an important part of the process. I want to empower you to understand your own body and become self-reliant.
Together we will work out what you need in your life. It could be more of a connection with nature, with space or with being on your own or with others. From this, we can work on creating specific visualisations or activities to support you.
What to expect from a session
The main focus of the session is usually either shiatsu or massage or a combination of the two. However sometimes people come more for exercise guidance.
- You can choose to receive either fully clothed or directly on your skin. Shiatsu is usually clothed.
- I mostly work on a futon on the floor but I can offer treatments on the table if that is what you prefer.
- I begin by asking some questions to find out what is going on for you and how I can help you.
- Then we might do some breathing or exercises before we start the hands on work.
- We create a calm space and an awareness of your body.
- After this, you lie down, relax and the shiatsu/massage part of the session begins.
- Some people like to receive in silence.
- Sometimes people verbalise what they are experiencing while receiving the treatment.
- The hands on part usually lasts about 40 to 50 minutes.
- Afterwards we may talk about what emerged and I may recap the breathing/exercises or suggest a focus to support the session
If you are coming as a couple, once we have talked about what you would both like, I usually begin with some breathing together to relax and get you tuned into each other. Then I will teach you some simple touch techniques you can do together. I also can teach you exercises you can do as a pair if you want.
How often you should visit really depends on what we are working with and what you hope to achieve at the end of our session/s. We work together to understand what achieving your outcomes would be and agree on a how often you want to come..
Some clients might come weekly for short periods of time. A lot of clients come every 3 or 4 weeks, but some clients only come every few months. It is good to start with a few sessions close together.
Prices
Massage and shiatsu: £55 (one hour and fifteen minutes)
Partner sessions: £60 (one hour and fifteen minutes)
Self help techniques and baby/children sessions: £50 (one hour)
Sessions take place in Bristol.
Home visits within a radius of 5 miles from BS3 can be arranged for an additional fee of £15. Longer distances may be possible.
On line sessions also available: exercise, meditation guidance and things to do yourself as well as connecting with shiatsu/massage. This involves me working with you through connecting and guiding you through points and holds you can do. Normally £50 for one hour, but in current times donations based.
Book a shiatsu or massage appointment
To check availability and book a shiatsu or massage session please contact me.
+447727059629 
suzanne@wellmother.org