Life crisis

The term crisis describes a difficult, challenging situation or a dangerous development that inevitably leads to a decisive turning point. Life crises are drastic phases that are triggered, for example, by losses (of a partner, parents, job), profound disappointments (non-promotion, abuse of trust) and life-threatening situations (illness, accidents). The sudden external changes often lead to a loss of inner balance. You lose your feet on the ground. This loss of subjective “center” and grounding can trigger insecurity, deep fear, anger, and despair. Life crises are often also crises of meaning. Sometimes only one area of life is affected. The burden becomes significantly heavier when two or more areas are affected, and, for example, a separation is associated with the loss of a job and a change of residence at the same time. The simultaneity of several crises can lead to physical, mental, social and professional problems. Life crises drag on for a more or less long period of time.

In the energetic context, a crisis situation affects the phase of change (or the “element”) earth. Shiatsu supports the affected person to feel their “center” again and again, to find their inner balance and to get “the ground under their feet” again. If this good body feeling initially loses itself again, people who are severely affected can recover for a few hours and thus find more peace, serenity, distance, clarity and overview. Energetic blockages dissolve and allow an opening of perspective. This supports and facilitates letting go of the past and reorienting and realigning oneself. An important part of the therapy is the process-related support. The conversation helps to reflect on the personal situation, to activate resources and to find new solutions. Recommendations for nutrition and the provision of helpful exercises give the clients additional tools with which they can help themselves in critical moments.

Ms. K. was about to separate from her life partner. She was referred to Shiatsu by her doctor due to a psychosocial overload situation. Before the first treatment, she was sitting on the chair, both legs drawn up and her arms tightly wrapped around them. She wished that she could “come to herself more.” The old “middle” was lost – the new one wasn’t there yet. In the first few weeks, the topic of “grounding” was the main focus of treatment. The shiatsu therapist invited them to consciously feel gravity and – in connection with breathing – the ground while lying on their back. In a calm rhythm, lying on her stomach, she then treated her back and extremities with gentle but firm pressure. In addition, she always gave the client a perception exercise to take home, which she could use to help with her concrete steps in everyday life. After two months, the client began to realize the excessive demands that were destabilizing her. After a few more weeks, the “new center” and with it the turnaround in the energy report became noticeable. In the course of therapy, Ms. K. had to go through multiple existential changes in seven-league boots: First, she broke her arm. This was followed by arguments with the partner, which led to the separation. The result was a change of job and a move back to her home village. This brought old conflicts from the family of origin back to the table. Accompanying this demanding process with Shiatsu, conversation and exercises helped the client to center herself well, to ground herself, to resource and to master the challenges. In the midst of difficult circumstances, she was now powerful, joyful and life-affirming.