Would you like to schedule an appointment?

Should you wish to schedule an appointment with me in Evanston, please contact the front desk at Zen Shiatsu Chicago at 847-864-1130. Zen Shiatsu Chicago is located upstairs at 825 Chicago Avenue, right across from the Main St Purple Line stop. Sessions are $75 an hour.

Meditative vs meditation

In the study of Iyengar Yoga (which I began in 1998 and largely informs my shiatsu practice) “meditation” is a fairly specific act which one can begin to study only after one has “mastered” pranayama (breath work), which itself can only be safely practiced after one has “mastered” asanas (yogic posture exercises). In other words, meditation is very powerful; it can do great things for your mind but you must be ready for it.

I don’t want to downplay this reverence for meditation, which is why I like to use the word “meditative” for the more casual approach to daily life that we could all use a nice dose of. Slow down, sit tall, breath deep, look inward, relax. Move with intention, think through your actions and thoughts, try to be harmonious. Take a few minutes each day to “just be.”

If you want to try real-deal meditation, there are many methods of meditation worth checking out. Many classes are offered for beginners. I emphasize classes because it really is a discipline that can be learned. Techniques have been developed -- some old, some new -- that bring the mind to different states. Classes also let you hear what obstacles others are facing, and they help keep you practicing during the often difficult initial stages.

As a practitioner and receiver of shiatsu, I find the practice to be very meditative. I am able to focus where appropriated and everything else just melts away. As a receiver, a major component is having someone’s hands on you -- your consciousness shifts from the dialogue in your head to the sensory event of the bodywork.