Temporarily without an office, from August 5 to 25, 2024, I will be practicing Shiatsu at home, and only at home. What is normally an exception will become the rule. Because I am happy to travel when contacted for a “home massage.” But I ensure that the framework for a Shiatsu treatment is set up in advance and that the conditions are met. Let me explain.
Advantages of Shiatsu at home for the Jusha
Transport is a source of stress. Traffic in Tangier and parking difficulties at certain times in my neighborhood (Chellah) can negatively impact some people and not predispose them to receive a relaxing treatment.
During the first sessions, the Shiatsu office is a new place to get used to. This stimulates curiosity, and after all, why not… but also a reflex of vigilance. Shiatsu still works and helps the mind to let go. But this initial stimulation does not exist when the Jusha welcomes you in their environment, where they have all their references.
Some Jushas have reduced mobility. In Tangier, I work on the 5th floor with an elevator. But this elevator is not designed for a wheelchair user. And it sometimes breaks down. In Rabat, I work at the Vinyasa Yoga Center, which offers excellent conditions, on the 3rd floor without an elevator. Climbing these few steps is quite acceptable for most people but not for everyone. And our massage also, and perhaps even more so, addresses individuals in distress. Hence the need to go to them, at home.
Advantages of Shiatsu at home for the Shiatsushi
Changing the setting is always stimulating! I greatly appreciate my office in Tangier, which has continually evolved over the years with the help of my experiences and friends’ advice. It is becoming increasingly functional without appearing too “medical.” It took me a few years to get the right futon and to organize the room according to the flow of the session.
Stepping out of it means having to re-evaluate the organization of space in an unknown location and quickly find answers. The goal is to create calm and comfort for the Jusha and also for their own body.
Traveling forces me to work on my concentration. It is my turn to face congestion in the streets, then experience the curiosity of discovering a new place and a bit of vigilance. I must be efficient, set up quickly, respect the privacy of the Jushas who open their door to me, and then focus on the practice. I see it as an exercise.
Limitations of Shiatsu at home
Shiatsu is not just any “home massage.” If I insist on this point, it is not to devalue other forms of care and massages, but because I do not feel trained or legitimate to offer other types of services.
I always warn during the first contact that I am happy to travel to offer my services, but that it is Shiatsu and nothing else. This is what I call the framework, which helps avoid misunderstandings.
The space to work on the floor and the calm are the two conditions required for me to practice. I bring a floor mat with me and supplement with those found in living rooms and bedrooms, where I also gather some cushions.
I must be able to walk around the person on the floor, and if we are outside, we must be sheltered from the sun and wind. Naturally, no one should be expected to disturb us during the treatment. If these conditions are not met, there is no possible “home massage.”
The last limit is subtle and is detected over time. For some people, staying at home has become a reassuring but stifling refuge. The explosion of delivery services applied to all activities of life changes behaviors and reinforces some individuals in trends that confine them. Getting them out seems sometimes like the best service I can offer. And if initial home sessions are necessary to reduce their anxieties and make them more comfortable, the time comes to tell them: “Why don’t you visit me? You will discover what it is like to receive a Shiatsu massage in the office.”
François-Olivier Louail