A colleague told me he was getting Shiatsu massages from Louis. I decided to give it a try and called Louis for a session. I knew almost nothing about Shiatsu at the time. I’d been dealing with neck and back pain for quite a while due to long hours working at the computer, and RSI symptoms had started to show up as well.
What I didn’t know about Louis’s massage style was the use of pressure on specific points of the body — he does this to help energy flow. He also uses the more familiar kneading techniques. In addition, he taught me a few exercises I could do on my own.
I really liked the massages. First of all, they’re very relaxing, and I noticed a real improvement in my symptoms. The massages are quite firm — both the kneading and the pressure work. You definitely feel it, and sometimes it’s even a bit painful, but that gives you the sense that something is actually happening. The day after a massage, my symptoms could temporarily get worse, but then they’d improve beyond how they were before. I honestly didn’t even remember what it felt like to walk around without that nagging feeling in my back — but after a few sessions, that was exactly what happened. And beyond just relieving symptoms, it feels good to take that time for yourself.
The atmosphere during the massage is also really pleasant. You can have a nice chat with Louis, but sometimes you just enjoy the silence while he works. After a good number of treatments, I stopped because I went on vacation. Louis gave me some exercises to keep things in check. Now I know better what to pay attention to and how to make sure things stay on track.