Steph Francis Shiatsu

01/07/2023

Due to changes in my schedule, I am taking a hiatus from my Friday clinic at Melbourne Shiatsu. My last day in the Forest Room pre-hibernation is Friday 7 July - take the opportunity to book in. Otherwise, please stay well and warm until the next time :)
https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

07/06/2023

Winter is the season associated with the kidney and bladder organs/meridians, and the water element. Read my latest newsletter for tips on how you can stay healthy and happy this winter. bit.ly/Winter23Tips

28/05/2023

Every year since I first did a silent Insight meditation retreat, I try to do one annually.
This week I'm heading off once more into the land of communal silence, for fresh insight, focus and clarity (well, that's the plan). I won't be in the clinic Friday 2 June, but book for 9 June and experience the effects. https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

25/05/2023

If you've never had the experience of a shiatsu massage, it's often described as a feeling of 'coming home to yourself'. The attunement to what your body-mind needs to get itself back into a healthy state creates the best environment for healing whatever ails you, or has you feeling out of sorts. There are 2 spots left for this Friday 27 May, at 2.30pm and 5pm. Take your space :) https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

18/05/2023

Start your weekend purrfectly! I have a couple of spaces available tomorrow (19 May) at Melbourne Shiatsu in Fitzroy. Bookings: https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

09/05/2023

For women with or eating yin-nurturing food like this porridge is 1 way to ease 'empty heat' symptoms like , , and . Oh, and we want our porridge to be delicious!

What we have here are:
*goji berries - tonify liver yin, tonify kidney yin, moisten lung yin
*raspberries - tonify yin
*black chia seeds - tonify kidney yin
*apple - tonifies qi, yin. Clears heat
*oats - sweet and warming; restorative to the lung, spleen, stomach, large intestine, and kidney systems - grounding for anxiety
*honey - soothes, moistens and nourishes lungs, large intestine, spleen and stomach; qi tonic and prevents dryness.

I use a pinch of cinnamon in cold weather and walnuts, which are both warming (good for the kidney yang deficiency symptoms that can co-exist with yin deficiency - like feeling cold, sore back, frequent urination) Walnuts are also so good for brain function!

My favourite bowl by ceramicist extraordinaire

04/05/2023

'The change of life' can be a challenging time for women, with 'yin deficiency' symptoms like hot flushes, disturbed sleep, night sweats, irregular periods and irritability.

How can I help? Shiatsu + diet + lifestyle changes can support you to deep rest and reset. Read more in my May newsletter: bit.ly/SFShiatsuMay23

Friday bookings available in Fitzroy: stephshiatsu.square.site

Dear  As many of my friends and clients are women in their 40s and 50s, I hear a lot about perimenopause and menopause, and am often asked to address these symptoms in clinic, While it's undoubtedly a euphemism -  akin to 'women of a certain age' - it's hard to imagine a more ne...

26/04/2023

I'm feeling rejuvenated after an Autumn break in the High Country and ready to give replenishing shiatsu massages on Friday at Melbourne Shiatsu, Fitzroy. Book a treatment: https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

18/04/2023

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12/04/2023

It's autumn where I'm practising in Naarm (Melbourne) and in the traditional Chinese medicine framework that underpins shiatsu, this season is associated with the lung and large intestine meridians, which run along the forearm and back of the arm, respectively..

In this video, I'm demonstrating a stretch for the lung and large intestine meridians, one of a series of meridian stretches known as 'makka hos'. First, link your thumbs and align your index fingers. With hands in this formation, put your arms behind your back, breathe in, and lean forward, breathing out while stretching your arms and pointing index fingers up to the sky. Stay here for a few more slow deep breaths. Then come back up, interlink your thumbs the other way and repeat...

This is a great exercise to start the day in autumn, to strengthen the lungs and large intestine for their job of taking in the good and eliminating what's not necessary, and setting clear boundaries.

Book in for your Autumn shiatsu massage treatment, at Melbourne Shiatsu in Fitzroy. I'm there on Fridays: https://stephshiatsu.square.site/

21/03/2023

It's Autumn Equinox, one of 2 days of the year when day and night are of equal length. I didn't realise it was the equinox when I went for a walk this morning with my cat, Neko, in his backpack. We stopped at the Merri Creek Labyrinth and along came a group of women, who had arrived to walk the labyrinth for equinox and to hang a wish on the nearby Wishing Tree.

One of the women spoke of the ancient significance of labyrinths and the Autumn Equinox in letting go, and gratitude for the harvest that will see one through the winter. Autumn is also associated with letting go in the traditional Chinese medicine framework that underpins shiatsu - and the lungs/large intestine organs and meridians associated with removing what we don't need from our bodies.

I joined these lovely women in walking the labyrinth, taking my time, noticing my breath, the smells of the surrounding trees and grass, my footfalls, and pondering what I wanted to let go of and what I want to foster in my life. Neko was with me, quiet in his backpack, occasionally looking up at me to give me slow blinks. I'm not a 'Wiccan' but I am drawn to what heals; who knows what's at play when serendipity comes to call, leading me to walk a labyrinth in the footsteps of my Celtic ancestors, with a group of friendly women, and my dear little cat?

03/03/2023

Time for a shiatsu? There’s 2 more Fridays to take advantage of my introductory offer for March.

I’m away 10 March but have space for you in the Forest Room at Melbourne Shiatsu on 17th and 24th. Reserve your spot: stephshiatsu.square.site 😌