| CONTACT INFORMATION |
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| Contact Name | Kristie Dunn |
| Address | WellBeing Centre, Abbotsford Convent
1 St Heliers STREET
Abbotsford
Victoria 3067 |
| Mobile | 0403 778 863 |
| Email |
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SERVICES
What is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is a Japanese form of bodywork that promotes health by restoring the body’s natural harmony. Through gentle pressure, moving and stretching the body and holding acupressure points, Shiatsu helps to unblock, nourish and balance the flow of qi (energy), allowing healing to take place.
Based on the holistic approach of Chinese medicine, Shiatsu treats not only the symptoms but the causes of disease. It is a safe and gentle form of treatment that can assist with many common conditions including stress and anxiety, chronic pain including back pain and sciatica, fatigue, headaches and migraines, digestive disorders, PMT and menstrual problems, respiratory problems and musculo-skeletal conditions.
Shiatsu is particularly effective at shifting and resolving blocked or suppressed emotions which can lead to tension and illness.
Shiatsu is performed on a futon on the floor, with the client remaining fully clothed.
A little about me and how I work
I am a graduate from the Australian Shiatsu College, and have a diverse background in law and communications as well as experience in yoga, meditation, qi gong and other body awareness practices.
My main practice is located in the peaceful WellBeing Centre at the Abbotsford Convent. It is a warm and tranquil place graced with the sound of bellbirds. I also work at the Australian Shiatsu College in Brunswick, which is the heart of Shiatsu in Melbourne.
My approach to Shiatsu is to work gently, with compassion and without forcing. In my sessions I aim to create a safe place for my clients to allow them to deeply relax and let go. My experience has shown that when we feel safe, deep changes can take place, both physically and emotionally. I am continually amazed at the power of Shiatsu, and at what can happen when we stop pushing and allow ourselves to be guided back into balance through gentle touch.
I welcome the opportunity to establish ongoing relationships with people who are living with chronic conditions or wanting to change old patterns. I enjoy working with my clients to establish treatment plans, and to incorporate lifestyle and dietary recommendations to support the treatments.
I am trained in the use of moxibustion, cupping and Japanese needle therapy which are excellent adjuncts to Shiatsu and which I incorporate into sessions where appropriate.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like any further information about Shiatsu or my approach.
Treatments
1 hour $70/60
1.5 hours $85/75
Health fund rebates apply.
I recommend an initial session of 1.5 hours to allow adequate time for consultation and diagnosis. It is helpful if you can wear loose comfortable clothing and not eat a large meal immediately before the session.
Gift vouchers are available and make a great present. Please contact me to arrange payment.
Locations and times
Tuesdays - Wellbeing Centre, Abbotsford Convent, 1 st Heliers St, Abbotsford
Wednesdays and Thursdays - Australian Shiatsu College, 103 Evans street, Brunswick
Autumn newsletter
Dear all
Welcome to another seasonal newsletter.
The equinox has passed, and we are well into autumn. We can feel the change from the outward movement of the yang seasons (spring and summer) to the turning inward of the yin seasons (autumn and winter) as days shorten, nights lengthen and the air grows crisper and cooler.
It is harvest time, when all that has been ripened and brought to fruition is preserved and stored for the winter. We can think of this not only in relation to the natural environment, but in relation to other aspects of our lives, where we take stock of what we have learnt and experienced over the past year and distil its essence into something we can store and incubate in the winter months ahead, ready for the next flowering in springtime.
Part of this process of distilment is the letting go of what we no longer need. Just like the trees that let go of their leaves in preparation for winter, we can do well to let go of those things we no longer need, so that our precious energy can be focussed on the things we really wish to nurture in the womb of winter. In Chinese medicine terms, the less baggage we carry through winter, the less prone we will be to allergies, hayfever, colds and flus in spring which are all a sign of the body trying to clear residue from the system.
The Lungs
In Chinese medicine, the Lung system is the organ system associated with autumn. It is responsible for the process of taking in and letting go of breath, qi and life. Life is dynamic, fluid and constantly changing, and our ability to be present to these changes, to feel our shifting emotions and to allow them to move through us without holding on to them or to the past are a sign of healthy lung qi. When we have trouble letting go we often see this show up in problems such as sinus infections, skin problems or constipation. Weak lung qi shows up in low energy, poor immune function and a tendency to low self-esteem.
Nourishing the Lungs with the breath
Focusing on breathing deeply and fully will help the lungs and allow you to move more fluidly through this season.
The breath connects us to our bodies, our emotions and to the present moment. We all tend to restrict our breathing in a subconscious attempt to protect ourselves from feeling pain, sadness or other uncomfortable emotions. The problem with this is that we hinder the natural flow of life, and limit our ability to feel pleasure as well as pain.
Practices such as qi gong, yoga and meditation and other forms of mindful exercise all help us stay connected with our breath, and so stay present in our bodies and our lives. They not only allow us to take in more of what life offers, but to let things move through us without contracting or holding on.
Just pausing a few times each day to remind ourselves to breathe deeply into our belly, and to let go of physical and mental tension as we breathe out, will support the lungs and help us stay connected to the natural flow of life.
Nourishing the Lungs with food
We can also support our lung system through what we eat in autumn. Our bodies tend to be parched after the heat of summer, and so we are drawn to foods that moisten the body. Pears and apples, particularly when stewed, are great lung tonics and help repair some of the dryness from this long hot summer. Soups and broths are also a great source of moisture and nourishment for the lungs. Fresh, seasonal foods are rich in qi and will help the lungs stay healthy. Pungent foods such as onions, garlic and peppers are helpful at clearing residues in the lungs and sinuses, as are watercress, mushrooms, horseradish, daikon, radish, coriander, broccoli and other greens.
Foods to avoid, particularly in this first part of autumn, are rich, fatty foods, such as fatty meats and excess dairy, which can lead to a build up of residue in the body that will hang around through the dormant months of winter. As the season progresses, our focus turns more towards slow-cooked, nourishing foods such as pulses, meat and root vegetables, all of which provide warmth to the body and support the turning inward that naturally occurs in winter.
In conclusion
Autumn is a time for reflection, discernment and for cultivating our ability to let go. May this season bring us all clarity, wisdom and the grace to allow life to move us, and to move through us.
With love,
Kristie
QUALIFICATION DETAILS
Diploma of Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies - Australian Shiatsu College
Post-graduate certificate - Manaka Protocols: Japanese Needle Therapy
Member of the Shiatsu Therapy Association of Australia
Current First Aid Certificate
Service Categories
Shiatsu
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