Who are you?

Who are you?  Can you answer this simple question in truth?  Are you afraid to accept who you are or might be?  Or do you not even have a clue about who you truly are?  If you do not know, don’t fret.  People can go years, sometimes their entire life, and never know who they are.  And while that sounds scary, it’s usually because they stop really looking. You first have to be willing to accept that there should be more in your life.  That is, of course, if that statement is to be true.  You answer that statement by asking “are you happy?”  If you pause with your answer... the answer is most likely no.  And that is alright.  There is always time for a change.  But “Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes.”

My change happened gradually.  I recently went on a business trip and on this trip I found the passion that drives me.  Though it wasn’t until I got home that I realized what that was.  I was able to reflect on what my truest passion is.  And I was helped to find that through the results of taking the “Strength Finder 2.0” test.  I HIGHLY suggest getting this book and taking its test.  Easily found at Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.

This test uses a very complex algorithm to sum up your top 5 personality strengths based on how you answer the given questions.  Everyone I know who has taken this test says it hit the nail on the head.  

After you take the 30 minute timed test, you see what your top 5 strengths are.  You read about these strengths.  And then it is your job to learn what those strengths mean and UTILIZE THEM!

For example, my number one Strength is Futuristic.  Simply meaning: I’m always focusing on the future and where it will take me.  And it has taken me to some amazing places and amazing adventures.  But it’s funny; while that is my number one Strength and I’m not shocked by it, it wasn’t until after the test and some important soul searching that I realized how powerful that Strength is.  I didn’t realize that that Strength has been running my life for a long time.  THAT and my other top 5 strengths alongside the first.

Here is my perfect example: two years ago I left a perfectly good job.  Good pay, good security, a consistent schedule, and relatively no fear in it. But there was something that was pulling me away.  No matter how hard I tried, there was this deep calling, yanking, luring me away from there.  I had taken everything I needed from this establishment.  I no longer had any use for them.  

Now, looking back to those days, knowing what my strengths are, I see full well why I needed to leave. While it didn’t make sense to some of my colleagues, it made complete sense to me. My colleagues have different strengths than I do. Good luck finding anyone who has three of the same top five strengths that you have.

Fast forward to the present;  I’m doing things that I never would have if I would’ve stayed at my d job. Sure, there was risk involved. Sure, I was scared out of my mind in many different ways. But the governing strengths that make up what I am directed me to exactly what I was supposed to do. And instead of fighting it, I relished in it.

Though, I found myself losing what I thought was my ultimate passion.  I love what I do but that same excitement was fading.  The same feeling that drove me away from my previous job. Until most recently when I finally realized what my strengths are begging for.  I finally realized what I’m supposed to do.  There is no question to it.  Looking back at my entire life it fits like a perfect puzzle piece. 

Now I know.  And I can’t wait for the second half of my life. It is going to be fun. It is going to be groundbreaking. And it is very much my expectation to change many people’s lives because of it.

So who are you? I suggest you figure it out so you can start living. Don’t deny who you are. Denying who you are is a struggle that  you will not win. Take hold of who you are and run with it.  No matter what it is. Give in to who you are.  I’ll see you on the other side!

Be Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

A New Path in Old Shoes

It has been many days since I have written here.  Life, whether you're ready or not, has a way of flying out of control in the most amazing ways.  How so?  Well...

March 2016:  I opened my first Shiatsu center: The River Stone Shiatsu Center in Kirkland, Washington.  One of my dreams had come true.  Lots of work.  Lots of preparation.  Lots of fear.  Lots of risk.   But there it was.  Built out and ready to go!

And just when you think you've planned for "everything", what you don't see coming are your enemies who'd been hiding in the tall grass, waiting to pounce.  Enemies that never had to be enemies to begin with.  Enemies drawn from power, greed, and selfishness.  Enemies apparently wiling to do everything in their power to stop your success.  To stop your happiness.  To make life immeasurably more difficult.

Well, I wasn't gonna have any of that.  I didn't care that I was financially outmatched.  I didn't care that I was outmatched through experience in this type of situation.  When you follow your dreams, nothing is supposed to stand in your way!  Nothing!  I did nothing illegal or unethical to start my business, this I knew.  Everything I had done was out of love for what I practiced and passion for what I saw as my future.  Nonetheless, that means nothing to those eager to stand in your way for fear of what you might bring to the table.

Never give up!  Never give in!  Your god will be with you always.  Lean on him.  Tell him what you want.  Don't be afraid to feel that you deserve success.  That you deserve joy.  That you deserve happiness!  In the end, you will come out on the side of success.  Even if that means swimming through alligator infested waters.  Even if that means more stress then one can imagine.  Even if that means willing to risk it all for what you believe is right.

In the end I did prevail.  In the end I bought an expensive bottle of champagne and celebrated.  It was the best bottle of champagne I had ever tasted.  Whether it was finally being free of my restraints.  Free of enemies who you'd figured had better things to do.  Or flat out just good champagne, I couldn't tell.  Nonetheless... it was good and it felt great with each sip!

And alas, The River Stone was underway.  And if you thought the initial speed bump was tough, no matter the size of the bump... it is nothing compared to actually running a business!

Over the first 6 months, I was predominantly on my own.  The few practitioners that I hired to start with me were only qualified to practice massage.  I thought that massage would be slower here but still something people would seek out.  I was wrong.  Massage wasn't very popular.  After all, we were a Shiatsu Center.  That was the draw.  So those practitioners weren't busy enough to keep on staff and a lesson had been learned.

I began working my tail off.  Those who knew me know this as nothing new.  But seeing 50 clients a week to make sure everything stayed moving forward, that was definitely new.  In the world of Shiatsu, 50 clients is a good week.  When you're not used to that load, it can be daunting.  And then, after a lot of patient waiting, my first Shiatsu Practitioner came on board and gave me new life.  Kacey, my amazing younger sister, finally came to work at The River Stone.  With a drive to support her family and passion for Sennin-So Shiatsu, she hit the ground running and hasn't looked back.

Personally, I'm not a micromanager.  Never believed in being one.  And hated being micromanaged myself.  If you want to be a true professional, I'll treat you as one.  If you can't be one, then there is no business for you here. I've known Kacey her whole life and this is the avenue she needed.  I knew this.  I also knew she was the professional that The River Stone yearned for.  And it has worked out beautifully.

The two of us directed The River Stone towards a path where only the sky's the limit.  Recently, a year and a half in, we have trained and hired our newest practitioner, Taylor Guske.  Taylor came to us as the younger brother of one of my Shiatsu colleagues, Kori.  Kori and I trained together in Shiatsu for 8 years and she'd talk about her brother, the collegiate running star, many times.  How he received Sennin-So Shiatsu to keep his body healthy while running.  So it is only natural that Taylor went to massage school to immediately turn around and learn shiatsu.  Taylor has been a joy to have in the office as he also wishes to have nothing but success in this field and has the drive to get there.  After all, if you've trained your body to run long distances like he has, doing this work is a piece of cake!

Since its inception, The River Stone has had a plethora of clients from all walks of life swing.  We see many doctors, physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists come and try this rare art.  Plenty of the working class in the technology field as well.  Boy do they ever need us!  We see children and the elderly.  Car accident clients are A MUST for us, as there is a major variable about car accident clients that most overlook.  We've also had the joy of helping professional athletes from football, baseball, basketball, and soccer heal from injuries and prevent them from the beginning.  In fact, I'll be flying cross country in the future to go see one of these very clients.  Sadly, Sennin-So Shiatsu isn't practiced east of Washington State.  So in order for him and his teammates to receive the benefits, someone has to travel.  This time... it'll be me.  He's done it plenty!

I can't begin to thank everyone who has supported this dream enough.  Countless of individuals who have been there from the very beginning to see each step take place.  One individual told me that she was very shocked at how fast The River Stone has grown.  I laughed and told her that it was anything but fast.  At least from my perspective.  In my experience, amazing dreams that come true don't happen quickly.  We'd never truly appreciate it if it did.

Now, while The River Stone continues to grow, a new and exciting opportunity is right around the corner.  I can't wait to share this opportunity with those who are eager to hear about it.  To achieve one dream in life is amazing enough.  To be on the precipice of achieving a second?  It's almost too good to be true.  In fact, to date, what I have seen in this opportunity as it has come to fruition... sometimes I need my wife to pinch me to make sure I'm not actually asleep.

From the ever grateful owner of The River Stone Shiatsu Center, I thank you all.

-Adam

Staying above the line... the 7.0 line!

A few years ago I had a talk with a Pharmacist about being too acidic.  I asked him if he knew anything about it and how it affects the medication distributions.  He looked at me, smiled, and with a hint of annoyance in his voice said to me, "The body doesn't get acidic.  It has its own ways of balancing the pH.  Don't believe any of that."

Just a few years later the medical world is being bombarded by sworn testimonies of individuals, many celebrities and other health care providers, who are using alkalizing methods to take care of their body.  Low and behold, the body can become acidic and the symptoms that arise there after are too numerous to count.

If you've read my blog before, you've seen that I am big on keeping the body alkaline.  My Shiatsu Master had introduced the concept to me shortly after starting my training with him.  Until then I had never heard of anything about keeping the body's pH at an alkaline level.  It is so life changing, understanding how important the body's pH is for the overall health of the body.  There are many things you can do to help your body's pH.  I've mentioned that my Shiatsu Master drinks baking soda every day to help combat the attack of the acidic variables.  This has been amazing for me, my family, and many of my clients.  You diet also plays a key role to how your body becomes acidic or stays alkaline.

Here is an article that was just written that comes from a perspective of a nutritionist/chiropractor who has seen his life change by focusing on an alkaline diet:  The Alkaline Life

Take the news and information about alkalizing your body seriously.  It is absolutely vital to balance your body's pH.  If you've ever had a hot tub, you know how important the pH of your tub is.  Your body is just a little more important... at least I hope so.  And your body, like your hot tub, is fluid based and needs to stay at a 7.4 on the pH scale to stay healthy.  Take this seriously and watch your body start to correct itself.  It is amazing!

If you have any questions on how to do this, shoot me and email and I'll be happy to inform you personally.  Until then....  Live Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

-Adam

Our Ultimate Path... and it's ok.

I have an announcement:  I am dying.  Yes.  Sad, but true.  But, I have good news:  It isn't because of Cancer, or liver failure, or due to some accident.  No, I am dying because that is what living entities do.  They live and they die.  I have been living for 33 years and my clock is ticking away as we speak.  Now... let us hope, myself especially, that the end of that clock is many years from now.  Because while I am dying, I don't plan to leave anytime soon.  I am dying, you are dying, everyone is dying... and that isn't a sad thing.  It is a part of living.  Please, watch this amazing video!



This amazing video looks at dying from a beautiful perspective.  We automatically think of dying as a bad thing.  And I don't blame our culture.  I have no interest in dying.  I like living.  I want to be here for my wife.  I want to be here for my beautiful daughters.  I enjoy listening to music, watching my favorite sports teams, laughing with friends, helping individuals get healthier and live a better life for the themselves.  I don't want any of these things to stop.

But what many of us do is fear what we cannot stop.  And that fear keeps us from really living.  Many times I get individuals who come into my office who are frustrated that their body isn't the same as it was 20 years ago.  Well of course it isn't the same.  No one's body is the same from 20 years ago.  Every time you injure the body you lose a percentage of physical integrity.  Your body is a machine.  You need to take care of it the best you can.  Give it the best fuel you can.  Take it out and exercise it.  Be happy!  Your body is the greatest instrument you have ever owned.

And... one day... your machine will be fully decommissioned.  And that is ok.  It was pre-destined the day you were conceived.  SO... until that fateful day... live life.  Be happy.  Strive to do great, and amazing things!  One more amazing video, a scene from Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium where one of my favorite actors, Dustin Hoffman, gives an absolutely beautiful scene with Natalie Portman.  The simplicity and beauty of Mr. Hoffman's character's words are inspiring.


Live Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

- Adam Hewitt

Do you really truly think about what you're being told?

Time to get healthy.

Ummm... where do you start?  Go to google, type the phrase "Let's get healthy" and it literally gives you 71,500,000 results.  No problem, just sift through the fads, gimmicks, and money making schemes and only focus on the real ways that work.

Good luck finding that.

So how do you wade through the greed, ignorance, and egos of the world trying to get you to buy their products?  First, you must wake up.  The vast in which you think about your health has been conditioned through media, word-of-mouth, and plain ignorance.  If you want to start seeing your health from a beneficial side, it is time you reflect on many popular beliefs that swarm our culture.  Time to question the relevance and lack of commonsense many are governed by.  Shall we take a look at a few???

-Let's start this smorgousborg with our good ole friend... milk.

When's the last time you saw a full grown cow, out in the pasture, politely ask Bessy if she'd tilt to the side so he could grab a quick drink?  When is the last time you saw a full grown ANYTHING drink milk in the wild?  And while I'm there... when was the last time you saw a full grown ANYTHING drink milk..... from another species???

In the animal kingdom, the animals get significantly higher amounts of calcium from the vegetation that they consume.  The carnivores, of course, eat the animals who in turn eat the vegetation.  Nice circle of life going on there.  Not once, though, do you see a full grown animal go and drink milk.  (If they only knew that they could use milk, flour, eggs, and so forth to bake a cake!  Oh how they're missing out!)

Studies are showing that not only is milk causing a plethora of health issues with the digestive system, but that the milk, hormones, and chemicals in the milk are acidic to the human body's pH, thus forcing the body to absorb minerals, like calcium from your bones, to help bring the pH levels back to a healthy alkaline state.  Did you get that?!?!  Drink milk, because they say it will help in preventing osteoporosis... but now independent researches are finding that it actually helps to speed up osteoporosis.  It's like an evil villian in a bad superhero movie.

Want calcium?  Put the milk down.  Toss the yogurt away.  Ditch the vitamins.  EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!!!

-For fun, since we're on the topic of diet, let's look at how we eat.

Name me an animal that eats multiple types of foods at one time.  And, just for fun, name me an animal that not only eats multiple foods at the same time, but each one of those multiple types of food is from different parts of the planet.  And while you search your brain for an answer, exclude any animal that is being fed either by human hands or the trash of human consumption.

Tough, isn't it?

We are the only species on this planet that mixes their meals with multiple types of food.  AND having the food come from all over the world, too!  I'd like to introduce you to Trophology, or "Food Combining".  It changed my world!

 Please, watch this video... it might blow your mind.

Now, I swear by the lives of my precious girls, this lifestyle of eating works.  I do it and have seen the amazing results.  It makes sooooo much sense that it is almost impossible to ignore it.  The funny thing, the Western Medical world has only done ((( 1 ))) study on food combining and have stopped since.  Showing, in their study, no such claims of quality health came from it.  (ask anyone who has done this for a serious amount of time and they'll kindly disagree!)  Find a cheap way to keep the body healthy... and science wont back it up for the most part.  Can't make money in the medical world if people are healthy.  (so sad)

-How about a topic about the body.  I get this perspective a lot:  "My hamstrings are tight because I run."

Well... that makes sense.  Doesn't it?  But if that is a true statement, then quite simply your body is telling you to never run.  Tension in a muscle is a warning sign that your body is not in the position to be as physically active as you would normally want at that present time.  A warning that if you take the muscle and ask it to stretch or fire too quickly you could tear it.  So why would running or using your muscles, since a muscle's job is to create movement, be the reason you are tight?

What about the back?  Many believe their back is tight because they've been using it all day.  So does that mean we just lay down forever and not move?  If movement creates tension then, just like the perception of our tight hamstrings, our body is simply telling us to not move.  How many times have you assumed that your dominant arm is tight because you use it?  Many people do.  And the funny thing is that many don't even question the thought nowadays.  If you'd like to know why your hamstrings are tight and why your dominant arm is tight and why your back is tight, I'll be more then happy to show you during a shiatsu session.

But one thing I can promise you right now:  Muscle movement is NOT the culprit!


How about "good posture"?

"Oh, come on Adam, you can't attack "good posture"!  Everyone in the country knows having "good posture" is important."  Let's diagnose this proper posture while sitting.

This is how they want you to sit at your desk.  THIS is what our culture believes to be "good posture".  And it is!  This IS good posture.  Sitting like this allows joints and muscles to work without impinging nerves, "over stressing" muscles, etc..  There is only one problem with what our culture deems to be "good posture" and how it is good for us:  the focus of "good posture" to prevent back pain (for example) and all the other problems that most deem to be due to "bad posture" is a one dimensional perspective on the body.  To stay in this "good posture" you must limit your movements and constantly contract muscles throughout the body to hold this posture.  And while many believe that firing these muscles all the time helps to "stabilize" the core, guess how many people can do this for more then a few hours at a time without pain, stiffness, and prone to multiple other problems?  Zilch.  Nada.  Cero.  Zero!  Your body was never meant to sit for long periods of time.  It doesn't matter the posture you're in.  You're doing something you were never meant to.  And that always comes with consequences.  How long would you survive sitting for 10 hours a day when we didn't have all of our technology that allowed us to make a living doing very little movement?  

When you put your body through this type of movement... or lackethere of... you shut down the natural and healthy flow of circulation to the entire body.  It is in that circulation that you will find your relief from the vast majority of muscular problems that exist today.  Again, that is what we do in Shiatsu.

Quick thought... when you sit at a desk or in a car too long... how do you feel when you finally get up?  If you think the body enjoys not moving for long stretches of time... ask yourself how well that would work for the animals in the wild.  They wouldn't be living very long if they didn't move at all.  Understand though, that rest is not the same as sitting for long periods of time.  Though resting in one position will cause your body to be stiff.  Believe it or not, a healthy sleeper tosses and turns over 200 times a night.  This is how our body keeps the blood flowing while we sleep.  Your body wants to move!!!

And our society's paranoia with movement of the spine!

Everyone in our culture is afraid, it seems, to move the spine.  "Keep the spine stright up and down", is something many of my clients tell me they've been instructed to do.  Keep from bending over, it will cause your back to go out!  I've never seen that problem with dancers, performers, gymnasts, etc. as they are performing.  In fact, back problems only seem to kick in when someone ISN'T moving a whole lot and then ask the body to move suddenly.

The spine has 33 bones, and depending on how you want to define how these bones moves as joints, you're looking at roughly 30 joints.  What are joints meant to do?  MOVE!  So to ask the core of your body to be straight up and down (which in itself is silly because a healthy spine has four major natural curves) is flat out crazy.  The spine is meant to twist and move and shift and contour all day long!  Your body wants movement... plain and simple.  Trying to find the right way to sit at a desk is like trying to find the right way to eat glass.  Or trying to find the right way to cross the street blind folded.  Just because it can be done, doesn't mean you were meant to do it.

If you HAVE TO sit at a desk for your career, understand that as you sit, you pool the blood throughout your entire body.  Might as well be as relaxed as possible while you sit.  Why do you think people naturally slouch and don't realize it?  The body is saying, "oh, we're not moving... ok, let's rest."  If you have to be at a desk, get up and walk around as much as possible to help the blood circulate.  Read emails as you walk around the block for a few laps.  Shake your body out.  Get shiatsu to help de-constrict what you have constricted.  If you don't take care of your circulation... well, let's just say your body has plenty of fun things in store for you as a reward.

I don't have all of the answers to life and I never will.  And I don't want to sound like I don't believe anything the Western World of medicine or way of thinking is saying.  But what I have learned has taught me that the vast majority of our society has been conditioned to believe in specific ways of living and thinking and as such, because it has been shoved into your subconscious, you don't even question them.  But if you really start to think about what you inherently believe in, you just might realize how crazy some of it is!  

START QUESTIONING IT!!!  

The only way things change is if we, collectively, notice there is a problem and demand a change.  Nothing changes if nothing changes.  Our culture is dealing with epidemic problems involving back issues, muscle pain, headaches, cancer, sinus problems, digestive issues, and fertility inefficiencies... just to name a few.  But nonetheless you are being bombarded by the same 1 dimensional thinking that brought these symptoms to the forefront.

Simplify your life.  Simplify your diet.  Eliminate Sugar, caffeine, drugs, any type of chemical that isn't natural from its natural source.  Eat basic and smart (look up trophology for a graph on what goes with what when you eat).  Get enough sleep.  Decrease your stress... I repeat... DECREASE YOUR STRESS!  You can't live a healthy life if your stress never comes down.  And that's on you.  You have to make that choice.

Your body is your guinea pig.  Listen to it and listen longer then a few days.  Making changes in your life takes time for your body to clean, adjust, and repair the damages of your previous lifestyle.  There is no fountain of youth out there nor a real quick fix without side effects.  Make the changes in your life and let your body fix itself!  That is the true nature of what Shiatsu is all about.

Don't be afraid to question what you see, read, or hear.  Even what I say.  If it doesn't compute with your way of thinking, questioning it is ok.  Learn more about these things.  Don't just take people's word for it.  Don't just take my word for it.  You are the only one who can truly help your body to be healthy.  Take responsibility for it.

On a side note, I have been away from the blog for a while, but that is going to change significantly.  I now have the time needed to really keep the blog updated now that I am transitioning into a new and exciting time of my life.  More on that to come!  Until then... Live Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

-Adam

The Revolution has begun!

Ever since I started learning Sennin-So Shiatsu and my Shiatsu Master explaining the relevance and importance to having a alkaline pH (7.4 to be exact.), I've noticed that more and more publications, news syndicates, and even doctors are letting people know just how important it is to be alkaline.  Here is another article that I found that is a good read.

BAKING SODA... Guess what else it does?!?!?!

Live Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

Happy... what a powerful state of mind!

Pharrel's highly played and horribly addicting song, "Happy", makes it almost impossible to not dance, clap, bob, duck, dip, twist, jive, juke, or even give a little jiggle to it.  There is a reason it has sparked a national and international sensation.  Because being HAPPY is horribly beneficial to the human body.



During one of my training courses whilel learning Sennin-So Shiatsu from my Shiatsu Master, Michael Kazunori Shimizu, one of my colleagues asked him how he stayed so healthy and young looking at the sprite age of 72. (Also he's been practicing Shiatsu for over 50 years!)  He smiled, looked at my colleague, and simply stated: be happy.



If you were to ask the average person how they are feeling, most of the time they'll reply, "I'm ok." or "I'm fine."  When in reality, most people are on the opposite side of "I'm ok." or "I'm fine.".



I mean, can one blame them?  Turn on the news and it is 98% negative information.  War this, death that, murder this, accident that, fall of the economy, no jobs, hatred here, protests there, cheating by him, stealing by her, so on and so forth.  And occasionally they'll throw in the feel good story... to be followed by another tragedy.  We've surrounded ourselves with a world that only finds interest in drama, and as such the only drama that is apparently news worthy is that of a negative state that it almost infects our society.  Even worse, if you tried to report the news of something good happening, like say for instance a man wins the lottery, most instantly think to themselves, "I wish I'd win the lottery, but I'm not lucky." or even worse "he'll spend it all and be broke before he knows it.".  We can't even really be happy for strangers because we're so focused on ourselves it seems.



Well I say it is time to break this path and it is time to break it now!



"But Adam, what's the point?  So what, we're negative, it isn't like that is causing my back pain or neck pain."



Oh, but it is!!! 



You see, when you become negative your body goes through all kinds of fun physiological events.  One of those events is that your body begins to produce adrenaline, which changes the pH of your body almost immediately.  It also causes your abdominal core to lock up just as fast.  When the abdominal muscles constrict, your brain immediately fires the muscles corresponding in your back, the same muscles that our society associates with back pain.  And not just negative thinking, stress in general is one of the main variables to the detrimental conditions our bodies go through.



It's easy to say that 99% of all of my clients that travel quite frequently, work horrendous hours, have massive expectations at work, or have a work load that is constantly grinding them down are susceptible to some of the tightest abdominal cores around.  And as a result... suffer from chronic ailments like chronic back pain, migraines, digestive issues, and so on.



But the other day, I met someone who fits in the ultra rare 1%. (1st person in 6 years who fits this %)  She was a popular hair styling company executive.  She said that her job is extremely challenging, extremely tough as her performance can dictate many jobs for other people and the income of a ton of money.  So there is a lot on her shoulders.  Oh... did I mention she travels all over the country on a weekly basis!!!  Ouch!  Before I worked on her I anticipated that the muscles down the sides of her spine would be tight and sensitive as would the obliques on the side of her abdominal wall.  While she was face down I checked these areas, like I always do, but to my surprise... they were as relaxed as one could ever ask for.  They didn't fire back at me showing sensitivity (pain or ticklish).  I stood there for a second and then checked again.  Yup... they were relaxed.



"Hmmm." I said.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Well, after what you told me you do for a living and your horribly hectic work schedule, I anticipated a completely different reaction in the muscles in your back.  They aren't responding anything close to what I expected."

"Is that bad or good?" she questioned.

"Well, generally good.  I've never seen this.  What makes this treatment so fun to perform is the consistency we see in how the body reacts.  I'm interested to see how tight your abdominal muscles are later." I said as I went to work on her legs and feet.



When I turned her over and went to check the tonicity of the muscles in her abdomen I was left again in shock.  This young lady had never recieved this Shiatsu, nor had it been recent that she received any other form of treatment.  She's never consumed baking soda or any other alkalizing agent.  She didn't do yoga religiously and didn't know how to properly breathe into her core to help stimulate the stagnant blood which is almost literally always there.  All of these things being factual and still... no sensitivity and no tension!



To say I was speechless was an understatement.  I stood there, trying to wrap my mind around what I was seeing and feeling.  The funny thing was that she was actually nervous coming in for the treatment because the client who referred her mentioned how sensitive the treatment can be, though really effective.  But alas, very little sensitivity throughout the whole body, especially where I anticipated the worst.



"How is this possible?" I asked myself.  And then like a brick to the face, it hit me.



"You really really really love your job, don't you?" I asked her.



She then began telling me how much she really did.  She mentioned how everyone she works for gets energized when she is around them, something she is told on a regular basis.  She mentioned how while it is challenging, she is excited to work every day, excited to meet challenges head on, excited to travel and meet more people, and excited to be amazing at what she does.



This wasn't a sales pitch.  This was true, honest, unequivocal emotion about something she truly loved to do.  It was quite apparent.  I told her that she is more lucky then she can understand.  Her mindset, her passion, the way she approaches her life and job is something that will not only keep her healthy, but will help her age beautifully and be absolutely successful to the highest degree in everything she takes on.



YOU have a choice in life.  You can't change what everyone around you thinks nor should you try to.  YOU are in charge of YOU!  Being happy, TRULY happy, is not an easy thing to do in our society.  It takes real awareness of the world around you and your present state of being.  It takes real tolerance, forgiveness, and patience.  You cannot live in denial.  You can't hide from it or pretend it will just go away.  If you want to be healthier in mind, body, and spirit, you need to find a way to start appreciating things you take for granted.



For example:

When trying to walk across a sidewalk of a busy street but seeing that multiple cars aren't stopping to let you go by safely, don't waste your energy getting angry or frustrated at them.  Whether they are chosing to ignore you or don't actually see you, it doesn't matter.  They pass you and you'll never know them if you see them again.  Put them out of your mind and out of your memory.  BUT, the one person who does stop for you is someone you can acknowledge.  You can show, even if for a moment, that you truly appreciate them for stopping.  A simple thumbs up and a smile can make that person's day and shows that you truly appreciate them stopping.  It'll also make you feel better.



You can find examples like this in your daily life on a regular basis.  Hey, just for fun, go out and start committing acts of random kindness.  Go to Starbucks and pull up to the drive-through.  When you go to purchase your order tell the attendant that you'd like to pay for the person behind you.  Or take someone's shopping cart back to the stall when they've unloaded their groceries in their car, especially if they have a child or two making it difficult for them.



Walk around your block and take witness that you just did that.  Your feet helped you walk.  Even if you've had surgeries on your feet, or knees, or hips, if they're still there thank them.  I have to do this all the time after having a blood clot damaged left leg.  It could be worse.  The leg could be gone or I could be dead.  But no... it's still there, holding on.  And if you don't have feet, then how about something to do with your hands, or your eyes, or your ears.  Anything that allows you to experience amazing things that we take for granted.



It really is true.  You never know what you've got until it's gone.  Don't realize this the hard way.  Many of us have to.  Love your family.  Love your friends.  One day they'll be gone.  Don't underestimate how important they can be for you.



Laugh at stand up comedy, even if the joke is crude.  Laugh at home made pranks on youtube.  When you trip over your own feet and everyone around you chuckles, just look at them and smile, saying "whoops, I just got these feet in the mail... still trying to get used to them."  Laugh at yourself, because we're all quite laughable.



Your job might be difficult.  It might be tiring.  It might be annoying.  It might be tedious, monotonous, disappointing, frustrating......... but you have a job.  There are people all over wishing they had a job, willing to do anything even if it was tedious or frustrating.  And if you don't like your job... find a new one.  You have that right.  Find something that makes you happy.  Why do that???........  Why not???



YOU are the only one who can make these changes.  So life has kicked you around, taken things from you, hurt you, taken advantage of your short comings.  Ok... join the club.  I've never met anyone who was and always will be able to dodge the sadness and difficulties that life has to throw at us.  No one is immune or impervious to the dredges of life.  Stop letting it dictate the rest of your path.



BE HAPPY!  It does SO MUCH MORE then brighten the world around you.  And if that was all it did... sounds like a pretty good reason to me.



Be Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

Nice to meet you.

So I was reading through my posts and other inserts and I felt that a nice, in-depth write up on myself was way overdue.  I get emails from many who don't know me or have received a treatment from me so I think it is only fair to give you an insight on me and my life.

My name is Adam Hewitt.  I grew up in Tacoma until 5th grade, at which point my parents felt moving to the country was a safer place for us to grow up.  So we moved to Napavine, Washington smack dab in the middle of Lewis County.  If you've never heard of Napavine, don't worry, you're not alone.  After a tough middle school life (soccer players weren't welcomed with open arms and as such I was teased throughout my 7th and 8th grade years) I moved schools to WF West (Chehalis) for High School, which was an incredibly good choice.

While going to WF West, I excelled in a few different types of classes.  My favorites were art classes, including drawing for the school paper, and playing in the different types of band classes including Jazz, Symphonic, and Marching Band as a trumpet player.  I have many amazing memories from these classes. 

This is me actually drawing something for the school paper.

I would love to say that Health Class was a favorite of mine, but I'm not going to lie, I usually was asleep in the back of class during it.  Had no interest in it whatsoever.  Boy, how crazy the world can turn out.

After High School, I didn't really have any idea what I wanted to do.  I thought maybe I could get into art, music, dance, acting, playing soccer in college, or even photography.  Though when it came down to it I was afraid to make a specific choice for the fear of making the wrong one.  So, instead I became a Casino Dealer at the Lucky Eagle Casino.

Wow... what a wake up call to reality.  I felt, leaving High School, that when people graduated High School they were now filled with wisdom and commonsense.  What I learned while working at the casino was that adults are simply just older kids.  I got to see a tough side of the real world while working there.

My beautiful wife, Julia

Though thankfully I was working there, because after having a crush on a beautiful waitress in the restaurant for 4 years I finally got the courage to introduce myself to her.  It just so happens that this major crush ended up agreeing to marry a crazy guy like myself.  And this beautiful woman is of course my wife, Julia.

After 4 1/2 years of dealing at the casino I felt that it wasn't the path I was destined for.  So after talking with my sister who had just graduated from Massage School, I felt that that path might have been what was waiting for me, mostly because I was always the guy with the good hands for back and shoulder rubs.  What I didn't expect was that I was going to fall in love with learning how to help the body heal.  And this is when I realized that this is the job I was destined for.

I went to Massage School at Ashmead, which is unfortunately not a company anymore since it has since been bought out.  But while at Ashmead I fell in love with massage, the body, and learning how to help it.  Massage school was very successful for me as it seemed to have come naturally.  I was chosen by my colleagues to speak at our graduation (about 100 people graduating) and that was a pure joy.

Right out of school I got into the massage business as an independent contractor in a cute spa seemingly in the middle of no where in Centralia, Washington.  I was there for 6 months but it wasn't really working out and an opportunity to work for a local Chiropractor presented itself.  I worked there for 1 1/2 years but that also wasn't the right place for me.  I was then approached by the woman I rented my space from when I first was an independent contractor and was asked if I wanted to take over ownership of the spa since she was having a hard time running it.  This was an intriguing opportunity, though I definitely was nervous with how I'd be able to do it.  I learned a lot in the world of business while running my own spa.  We had some tough goings with some people outside of the business who wanted to take over and a nasty flood in the area decimated many of my clients houses and businesses and we had to shut our doors.  But the experience gleaned from that was invaluable and will help me in the near future unquestionably.

Right after my spa closed down I went to work for the Great Wolf Lodge as the lead massage therapist.  I was with a group of fun spa employees who opened the lodge, though we had a difficult job finding a capable spa director who would last for any length of time.  Our first director came and went because she just didn't mold well with most of the employees.  Our second director was great... until she got caught stealing.  It just so happened that this was an opening for me to become the third spa director.  I definitely had my work cutout for me.  Most of the staff was onboard and we worked well together.  Unfortunately... I said "most".  There were definitely a few that caused some issues but nothing I couldn't handle.

Rayven Alexis Hewitt

While I was knee deep in fixing a spa that was neglected from the previous director, I was also busy getting ready to become....... a FATHER!  On August 13th, 2008, my beautiful daughter, Rayven Alexis Hewitt was born.

While I knew becoming a father was going to be a journey all by itself, little did I know that I was going to experience something surprisingly more life changing.  The day after Rayven was born I started feeling an ache in my left thigh that over 2 weeks became worse and worse.  After the pain began, other bad symptoms followed.  Ultimately, after a trip to the Urgent Care facility, which led to nothing except a prescription for pain meds and anti-anxiety medication, I found myself in the Emergency Room with a life threatening DVT blood clot and a Pulmonary Embolism (clot in the lung).  Little did I know that I had a genetic blood clotting disorder and my entire life would forever be changed from this moment on.

I had to take some significant time away from work to heal up from the clot, at least to the point where I could stand again.  When I finally was able to go back to work they had found a new Spa Director, this wasn't a surprise to me.  I went back to my lead massage therapist position and it wasn't too much longer that I was working when I met a young lady who changed my life for the better.  She was a client who was visiting the lodge from the Seattle area.  Unfortunately, I can't remember her name but I'll never forget her nonetheless.  Truthfully, if it wasn't for her saying "you need to get up to Seattle" I might not be alive today.  After she felt I shouldn't be down in Lewis County I took that to heart and looked up the Pro Sports Club... saw they were hiring, put in a resume, was called for an interview and an audition, and next thing I know I was offered a full time job.  I commuted for a few months to make sure it was a place that I could support my family and found very quickly that it was just that.

Early on as an employee with Pro Sports Club, I heard that an amazing Japanese man was going to train up to 4 massage therapists in his family's rare form of shiatsu.  I've always loved oriental medicine so I applied.  I was one of the few lucky enough to be chosen and my career was reborn.

Mike Kazunori Shimizu worked on me on a early morning March day and blew my mind away.  I was still recovering from my blood clot and was scared to get worked on.  He told me not to worry, but after having a few doctors almost kill me it was hard for me to trust anyone fully.  That was until he started working on me.  I had never felt such a change with such simplicity in his technique.  I devoted my life to this technique from that very moment.

Over the last 4+ years while practicing the art of Sennin-So Shiatsu, plenty of stories, events, and adventures have come my way.  One amazing story was the birth of my second daughter, Jasmine Isabella Hewitt.  Unlike her sister who was calm, quiet, collected when she was born, Jasmine came yelling and fiesty from the very first moment oxygen hit her lungs.  To this day Jasmine has a fire inside her that makes me very nervous for all of the unexpecting young men who'll try and seek her out for a date on Saturday night.  She feels she can do everything her sister does... and I mean everything!

Julia, Rayven, and baby Jasmine

The world has brought me tough times and great times, just like everyone else.  I am a relatively simple man.  I am a Mariners, Seahawks, and Sounders fan.  I love soccer and can't wait to have my knee repaired (ACL is literally gone) so I can play my favorite sport again.  I love music and sing like crazy in my car.  Inspirational stories, pictures, and movies make me tear up.  My favorite drink is Bailey's on the rocks.

There are more fun stories involved and if you'd like to hear more, just come on down and see me.  I hope you have been entertained, if only for a little while.

Stay Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything.

My family

So it doesn't matter???

A new client I had yesterday mentioned that they have been told by medical practitioners that it actually doesn't matter what you eat and drink, for your body cleans everything and all the waste simply just leaves the body.  Thankfully not every medical practitioner is this ignorant.  Eating and drinking the wrong "fuel" will change many things in your body.  We all react in different ways to different foods and drinks, thus making it difficult to understand things if we look at them in a "black and white" perspective.  The world is gray... VERY gray.


I've talked about how important the circulatory system is.  I cannot stress the importance of this system.  EVERYTHING feeds off of it.  So with that said, I ask you to pick which circulatory system you'd like to have in regards to the pictures below.

This stream is to simulate a flow that is unhealthy... obviously.  Slow, congested, littered with junk.

This stream is to simulate a flow that is clean, free flowing, and healthy.

-Which stream would you like to drink out of?

-Which stream would you like to bathe out of?

-Which stream would you expect to deliver healthy fish and nourish local plants and wildlife?

-If this was a direct comparison between you and your circulatory system, which would you rather have?

If you do not believe that what you eat and drink, as well as the impact of your lifestyle in regards to stress, causes any negative effects to your body, then you probably wouldn't mind swimming and drinking out of the first stream.  After all, according to my clients health care practitioner, we clean everything that we consume, so what's the harm???

I don't know about you, but just looking at the first stream makes me nauseous.  The idea that our body is a parallel to that just makes me sad.  We all have the ability to fix that.  But in order to do so you need to take responsibility of your body.  You need to take responsibility of your life.  Stop looking to others to create a drug that will fix it all and still allow you to live an unhealthy lifestyle.  THAT IS NOT LIVING IN REALITY!

Come back to the real world... we've missed you.

Stay Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything!

Our "Complicated" Health Path

We all started with a simple act between two people, hopefully in love, that turned into a 40 week adventure for our mothers.  We started in a form that was so small, so theoretically invisible, it's amazing what we became after those 40 weeks.  Then the day comes where we're born and brought into the brighter world.  What an amazing adventure just to get to that point.  Think about it... what our body went through just to get to the point of being born.  Now think about what our body does daily to keep us alive.  It really is amazing.  And just like in the first 40 weeks of your existence, most goes on without our knowledge.

Too often I am confronted with questions on "who's right" and "who's wrong" in regards to which treatments work and which are more gimmicks.  If you were to type in the phrase "Health Path" at Google's search engine you'd receive 764,000,000 websites you could look into.  Wow.  "Who's right" indeed.

After practicing Sennin-So Shiatsu for over 4 years now and learning more and more about myself and the human body, I have come to a simple conclusion:  We make it all too difficult.

We are all different.  Genetics and life styles play a vital role in our individual "Health Path".  But nonetheless, one thing we do on a daily basis is take a complicated machine like the body... and make it even more complicated.  Take this, don't take that, eliminate this, pump you with that, workout like this, but not like that, on and on and on.  It makes it impossible to fully understand what is needed to be healthy.

So through shiatsu and my training, I've tried to simplify it the best way I can.  What I have learned to be optimally healthy for my body is to:

1-Limit stress
2-Limit sugar
3-Limit dairy
4-Limit gluten
5-Eat more vegetables
6-Stay active in exercise but not overactive
7-Keep blood flowing
8-Keep the body's pH balanced and alkaline

That is about it.  The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th can theoretically be clumped together with a healthy diet style.  The 6th and 7th can relatively be worked in together, though "keeping blood flowing" in all honesty needs manual help and those, like myself, are the best way to help that.  The last has been shown to be possible with the consumption of the baking soda, like suggested by my Shiatsu Master.


That leaves number 1 left unaddressed.  This is probably the most difficult, to be honest.  There are SO MANY variables that cause us to be stressed.  Your adrenals are pumping adrenaline daily, hourly, sometimes by the minute, to handle our environment and the bombardment we're being hit with.  Most of us have no idea how to balance that either.  If someone makes you angry, doing whatever, that act will effect us for most if not all of the entire day, sometimes longer.  We, culturally, do not have any idea how to drop these stressful situations.  We don't know how to simplify our lives to make them healthier.  Until we can stop the craziness and simply just be simple, we'll be dealing with these symptoms forever.

One of my associates asked my Shiatsu Master how he stayed so healthy.  I was eager to hear his reply.  And I smiled once delivered.  "Be happy." he simply stated.  Nothing else.  "Be happy."  Seems way to easy.  Maybe it is... and that's our problem.  "There's no way it's that easy!"

You see there are millions and millions of things our body is doing without our intervention on a daily basis, so isn't it possible that in order to live efficiently all you need to do is ALLOW IT TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY?  Your body needs a specific environment, which in all honesty is easy to obtain.  It needs:

-Efficient sleep
-Fun, physical activities
-Healthy food
-Healthy fluids
-Good oxygen intake
-A balanced pH

The problem is is when we start throwing junk in replace of healthy food, junk in replace of healthy fluid, and figure that it isn't "that bad', it then creates an acidic pH throughout parts of the body.  When the body is too acidic, oxygen isn't delivered efficiently throughout the body.  This then makes life not as much fun and very stressful (Pain will do that)... which also effects your sleep.  It all comes full circle, always.  Every organ in your body works off each other.

Try and keep it simple.  Do you need to purchase hundreds and thousands of dollars in vitamins and supplements???  Last time I checked, most of these vitamins are in our vegetables, the foods we SHOULD be consuming.  Animals in the wild don't suffer from the same crap we do.  My foster brothers from Sudan, Africa didn't start having crazy health issues until they came to America... and they were living in extreme poverty while eating little.

I have a book, "The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity", written by Daniel P. Reid, and in this book (first of all it is an amazing book and I have a link at the bottom on how to obtain one.) he talks about a study that showed school children from a school in Michigan that were tested for their nutritional level with their daily meals compared to a homeless street beggar on the streets of India.  The astonishing results were that each child was technically considered malnourished, even compared to the beggar who so happened to have significant better nourishment.  I don't know about you, but that blows my mind.

Keep it simple.  Did nature intend for you to eat it?  That is the most basic and simple question to ask oneself.  Is a full grown human consuming dairy (another animal's milk) natural?  Yes???  If so... when's the last time you saw a full grown cow drinking milk out in the pasture from another cow???  "Excuse me Bessy, if you wouldn't mind leaning to one side... I'm a bit parched."  Silly as it might sound, I'm being very serious.  The only species meant to consume cow's milk... is a cow!  But they stop doing so when they have the ability to eat their own food.  This is the same across the board with all mammals.  But for some reason, we believe as a society that drinking milk is ok.  Why?...... Because you're told it's ok.  Good marketing strategy.  Drink milk or you'll suffer from brittle bones, osteoporosis, etc..  You "need the calcium".  What they don't tell you is that there is significantly more calcium in green vegetables then cow's milk... significantly more!  I personally haven't seen any cows suffering from osteoporosis... have you?

Your path is your own, never forget that.  I can't help you if you don't want me to, and that is not a frustrated statement, it is simply the truth.  If you're not willing to be helped, you wont be, by anyone... even yourself.  Nothing changes if nothing changes.  The majority of our symptoms are derived from lifestyle choices and how the body is adapting, or lack there of, to them.  There are many programs, stories, and information out there that talk about how people have eliminated, not lessen but eliminated, chronic symptoms and saved their lives from numerous diagnosed conditions by changing their life and their diet.  Most of these come from basic changes that bring their life back to simplicity.

It isn't rocket science.  If you put junk in your body expect junk as an output.  Our body doesn't just absorb freely whatever you put in it without some specific consequence.  "To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction." -Sir Isaac Newton.

Simplify your life.  Take care of that amazing machine that is your body... because throughout the majority of your entire life it has been taking care of you.  As far as we know you don't get another one.

Stay Happy, Healthy, and Ready for Anything.

Mike Kazunori Shimizu

The man who has humbled my life and who has shown me more in the past 4 years then any school could ever dream, has been written on a website that I absolutely have to share with all of you.  Mike Kazunori Shimizu is my Shiatsu Master.  This write up is great... except that the woman doesn't know there are those, like myself, who will live on and continue this amazing therapy when he is gone.  Please, jump onto the web site and take a look.  Read about someone else who has been touched, both literally and figuratively, by this amazing man.  (Be sure to click the "Read The Entire Article" link for the entire story!)

Mike Kazunori Shimizu, by Elana Zaiman

Let me know what you thought.  I found it interesting, for she knew things about him I never did.

Logical and Factual

logic |ˈläjik|noun1 reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity : experience is a better guide to this than deductive logic | he explains his move with simple logic | the logic of the argument is faulty.• a particular system or codification of the principles of proof and inference : Aristotelian logic.• the systematic use of symbolic and mathematical techniques to determine the forms of valid deductive argument.• the quality of being justifiable by reason : there's no logic in telling her not to hit people when that's what you're doing.• ( logic of) the course of action or line of reasoning suggested ormade necessary by : if the logic of capital is allowed to determine events.2 a system or set of principles underlying the arrangements of elements in a computer or electronic device so as to perform a specified task.• logical operations collectively.

fact |fakt|nouna thing that is indisputably the case : she lacks political experience—a fact that becomes clear when she appears in public | a body of fact.• ( the fact that) used in discussing the significance of something that is the case : the real problem facing them is the fact that their funds are being cut.• (usu. facts) a piece of information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.• chiefly Law the truth about events as opposed to interpretation : there was a question of fact as to whether they had received the letter

When our society is confronted with a problem and we don't know the answer, we generally fall back to two forms of problem solving tools:  Facts and Logic.  I mean, after all, that is the intellectual thing to do, yes?

Well, I'm here to tell you that our body, unfortunately, takes our ideas of "facts" and "logic" and laughs at them.  After all, we, as a species, are very simple minded creatures working to try and understand an extremely complex, but surprisingly simple, machine.  That machine of course is the human body.  Now there is a flaw in the way most look at the human body, and if you've been worked on by me you might recall I've spoken on this.  That flaw is:

-We focus so much on symptoms, we forget that they're symptoms.

When your sink is clogged, do you blame the water that is sitting, unwilling to drain, in the tub of your sink?  Of course not, that would be foolish.  Do you blame the dog for soiling your living room carpet when he's been inside all day and not let out?  Again, no, It'd be foolish.  If you solely focus on a symptom, you're being foolish.  Now, if you're not understanding where I'm going with this, then I ask you,  "In order to have a symptom, you need what?"................ a Problem.  Now do you want to know the funny thing about problems and symptoms, there are different levels of them.  It rarely, and I mean RARELY is just one problem causing one symptom.

For example, I'm going to explain a symptom I see on a regular basis, and as such I'll explain what I look for and how it effects the body, as learned through Sennin-So Shiatsu.

(Many might recognize this example)

-A Client comes in complaining about low back pain.  "Low back pain"= SYMPTOM!  No matter how much it hurts, you must remember that it is a symptom!  One might debate though, "but the disk has herniated, that is a problem".  That is actually true.  A herniated disc could very easily be categorized as a problem.  But it is actually, in this case, a Tertiary (3rd) problem.

You see, a primary, or root, problem and symptom creates a secondary problem and symptom which creates the tertiary problem and symptom... and it continues to go until you address the Primary Problem.  Let's take a look at the chain in a favorite client of mine. (her name will be anonymous and go by Jane as in Jane Doe)

-Jane's Symptom-  Back Pain.  Muscles in the back are extremely tight creating tension and torque as she goes about playing volleyball, making it very difficult to perform at her normal level.

-Adam's findings-  Stomach Tension and extreme sensitivity.  Muscles in abdomen are extremely tight and sensitive, thus stimulating the brain to fire the balancing muscles which are all in the back.

-Back is in pain because the muscles in the back are extremely tight.  Symptom to Problem.
-Back is tight because stomach is tight.  Symptom to Problem.
-Stomach is tight because circulation is poor throughout the abdomen.  Symptom to Problem.
-Circulation is poor throughout the abdomen because: ??? (and here is where the real work of prevention kicks in since there are always multiple variables!)

After 2 sessions we were able to release the tension in the abdomen and the back pain was gone!  Now Jane found me after going to 5 doctors, physical therapists, a chiropractor, massage therapy, and nothing was helping her.  Do you know why?  Because they went straight to "logic" and "facts":

-Client's back is in pain
-Client's back is extremely tight

So, they of course focused on the back.  Doctors scan the back for abnormalities, breaks, strains, fluid retention, you name it.  But what happens if they find nothing?  I've actually had clients tell me that doctors have told them the pain is all in their mind because they can't find anything wrong with them.  Wow... talk about a cop out!  That is code for: RUN!

Now when pertaining to back pain and Physical Therapy, most physical therapists, (I say most because I cannot obviously speak for all PT's) go on the theory that if the muscles in the back are too tight and causing pain, the problem is that the core muscles in the abdomen are too weak.  Thus they have you strengthen those muscles to try and balance out the two.  Yes, this is absolutely logical.  Except, logic doesn't always guarantee success no matter how right it seems.  For example, it was logical that the earth was flat, and for many years it was believed to be true by countless individuals both peasants and scholars alike.  Well, they were unfortunately wrong.  And in the case of the PT's theory on back pain, it is flawed.

Now, I have talked with a few PT's and get the same type of reaction when I explain to them their back theory and its flaw.  Mind you that I don't approach them like "you should know better" or "how could you not know".  These, in most cases, are great people wanting to make a difference and doing what they can to help, using methods they've been taught.  Not to mention just because the back theory is flawed doesn't mean EVERYTHING they do is flawed.  All medical practices have their flaws, even Shiatsu, and they all have benefits.  Some just more then others.  

With the PT's, I first ask that isn't it true that the only clients who see back pain relief are those who live and die off their abdomen workouts, and the answer has always been yes.  Whereas those who do their exercises only every now and then continue with the consistent back issues.  What I've learned through Sennin-So Shiatsu gives me the ability to explain this.

You see, like mentioned above, when the abdominal muscles have poor circulation, due to multiple variables, they contract.  Your brain senses this and fires the counter balancing muscles in the back to keep you upright.  If the brain did not do this, you'd be bent over at the waist all the time.  You couldn't protect yourself if all you did was look down at the ground.  So we fix this in Sennin-So Shiatsu by increasing the blood flow through the abdominal core and down to the feet.  WITH EXERCISE you also increase the circulation, but since you never addressed why the blood stagnated in the stomach to begin with, something we do in Shiatsu, the root continues to come back and only gives you little amounts of relief when you're doing the actual exercise.

If you took the theory that one group of muscles could under-develop through sheer lack of strengthening, thus causing an imbalance in the body where the opposite muscles would then be in pain because they were over developed, simply look at your arms for the best example.  Ever see guys at the gym walk around like they're gorillas?  Their biceps are significantly more developed then their opposite acting triceps, thus giving the impression that they're carrying jugs under their arms.  When's the last time they've talked about how bad their biceps are killing them in comparison to the amount of people suffering back pain on a regular basis?  Like I said, it's logical, just not what is actually happening.  And because the PT's have seen results with their theory, they stick to it, not realizing that they are just doing what we do, inadvertently, and at a slower pace.

A Migraine is the same type of situation.  Here are two Migraine definitions according to New Oxford American Dictionary and the second being from Wikipedia :

migraine |ˈmīˌgrān| (also migraine headache)nouna recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision.

Migraine is a chronic disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headachesoften in association with a number of autonomicsymptoms. The word derives from the Greekἡμικρανία (hemikrania), "pain on one side of the head",^[1] from ἡμι- (hemi-), "half", and κρανίον (kranion), "skull".^[2]

Typically the headache is unilateral (affecting one half of the head) and pulsating in nature, lasting from 2 to 72 hours. Associated symptoms may includenausea, vomiting,photophobia (increased sensitivity to light),phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound) and the pain is generally aggravated by physical activity.^[3] Up to one-third of people with migraine headaches perceive anaura: a transient visual, sensory, language, or motor disturbance which signals that the headache will soon occur.^[3]

Migraines are believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors.^[4] About two-thirds of cases run in families.^[5] Fluctuating hormone levels may also play a role: migraine affects slightly more boys than girls before puberty, but about two to three times more women than men.^[6][7] Propensity for migraines usually decreases during pregnancy.^[6]The exact mechanisms of migraines are not known. It however is believed to be a neurovascular disorder.^[5] The primary theory is related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of painneurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem.^[8]

Now I want you to read them both and highlight some key words in there that, for whatever reason, the medical society has COMPLETELY over looked.  I have taken them from the definitions and they are:

-"throbbing" and "pulsating"

-"nausea"

-"disturbed vision"

-"vomiting"

-"photophobia" and "phonophobia"

-"believe to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors"

Now take a look at that last sentence from the Wikipedia definition:  

The primary theory is related to increased excitability of the cerebral cortex and abnormal control of painneurons in the trigeminal nucleus of the brainstem.^[8]


Uhhh.... what???

Sadly, the truth is that they are looking so close to their "facts" that they are missing the big picture all together.  Have you ever tried putting a puzzle together, but did it using a magnifying glass glued to your eyes so you'd have to look at the pieces so close and only as individuals?  If you were lucky enough to finish one, it'd take months, maybe years to complete it.  Sometimes you need to take a step back and look at the entire object to better understand what and why things are happening. As in Occam's Razor principle, "In explaining a thing no more assumptions should be made than are necessary."  The shorter version sound somewhat like "when confronted with a problem, the simplest answer is usually the best answer."

So looking at the keywords mentioned above, does anything strike you as interesting?  How about the words "throbbing" and "pulsating"?  In order to throb and pulsate (like pulse), you need what?  Pressure from fluid, yes?  So, right there you know that circulation has to play a vital part.  How about two other words directly associated with each other:  Nausea and vomiting.  Are they just side effects of the migraine or... could they mean more... hmmm.  How about, "believed to be due to a mixture of environmental and genetic factors"?  That is medical jargon for "we think there are actual reasons for them, but not sure what they are and why they effect the body as such."  Again, tough to figure that out when looking so closely at the body... and in this case... so closely to the head.

Here is what we do with Sennin-So Shiatsu.  A Migraine, in most cases, is simply a circulatory build up of pressure.  It really is a simple explanation, though to release it can be tricky sometimes.  In other definitions of Migraines it is said that during a Migraine the blood vessels in the head dilate.  This, of course, should be obvious.  There needs to be a place for the extra pressure to move to.  So, to help the body eliminate the symptom of the Migraine, you need to release the pressure.  We release specific parts of the body to help the blood flow move more balanced and freely throughout the body.  When this is properly achieved, the pressure is then relieved and the Migraine is gone.  Funny thing... one of those areas is the stomach.  In fact, it is debatable that it is the most important area to release.  You see, the stomach, in most cases, has literally become a tourniquet, slowing the blood flow through the lower half of the body significantly and thus causing the heart to pump harder to get through the congestion.  When that happens, BOOM, Migraine baby!  Especially if the blood flow through the feet and arms is slow, then it is really bad.  So it isn't a shocker that the words "Nausea" and "Vomiting" are used in the definition of what a Migraine is... or properly deciphered, what the "Symptoms of a Migraine is", because neither definition has explained the root of a Migraine.  

Nausea and Vomiting play a SIGNIFICANT role in Migraine symptoms.  Like a fever when you get an infection, Nausea and Vomiting are the body's own selfdefense mechanisms to the build up of pressure effecting the head.  Think about it... what happens when you vomit?  The stomach purges all contents within itself.  What do you think that does to the stomach's size?  It shrinks it.  When you eat, the stomach, on average, can expand anywhere from 1 liter to 4 liters worth of space for food.  That can be quite big.  So if blood is trying to get through the abdominal core and it is having a hard time doing so because the circulation in the abs is poor, causing them to constrict, a great way to make more room in the abdomen for the blood to pass through would be to purge the stomach organ and shrink its size.  THUS taking pressure off the upper body  And there you have why Nausea and Vomiting are involved with Migraines.  It's the body's way of saying, "If you're not going to fix this, WE'LL fix it for you!"

My wife, Julia, is the prime Guinea Pig for this understanding.  She has had Migraines her whole life and it isn't until vomiting that they go away.  If I can get to her in time, I can release it and she doesn't need to be sick.  That's if she tells me before it is code red, something she rarely does!

Now, when involving the environmental factors like they were talking about, I can explain those as well.  If you ask anyone who has suffered from Migraines for long stretches of time and has sought out doctors on ways to either prevent or lessen them, you'll get the key word "trigger".  I've read up on many "triggers" on Migraines.  ALL OF THEM are on the list of the most acidic things you can do to your body.  And when you become too acidic, your gall bladder is effected, your stomach organ is surrounded with blood, the blood stagnates, tightens... and it's game on.  Popular triggers are Wine, Cheese, Chocolate, Caffeine, and Processed Foods, just to name a few.

A few years ago my wife and I went to my work's Christmas Party.  She was wearing a beautiful dress and looked amazing.  She is also someone who can't drink a lot of alcohol because it is very acidic to her body and as such her body doesn't let her go with much of it in her system.  Well, halfway through the night I was with a friend and looked over at my wife and saw she was as pale as they get.  I went to ask how she was doing and she told me a Migraine was kicking in, and kicking in fast!  We left for the car and unfortunately she couldn't make it without losing everything she ate for dinner.  Her body purged 3 times before we got home, leaving nothing in her stomach.  She told me she only had 2 drinks and thought it wouldn't be that bad.  To my surprise, as I helped her get undressed and ready for bed, she was wearing a corset under her dress.  I almost laughed as I connected the dots!  Though knowing her she would have probably knocked me out, so I chose not to.  What she did was almost quite literally taunt her own body's circulatory system by not only creating an acidic reaction in her stomach because of the alcohol and deserts at the party, but also by creating an EXTERNAL tourniquet with the corset.  Quite simply her body couldn't get a sufficient amount of blood to the lower half so it was going through emergency purge to decrease the pressure.

I helped an associate with somewhat of the same problem one day.  She was a hairdresser who was starting to have a Migraine.  I took her to my room to work on her for 10 minutes.  I didn't realize until she was taking it off, but she was wearing a belt around her abdomen as nothing but an accessory to her fashion statement.  When I saw that I about cried.  I told her that that was why she was having the Migraine.  When I released the congestion it caused in her abdomen, the Migraine was gone and she couldn't believe it.

Ladies... say no to tight things around your waist if you are easily prone to headaches and Migraines!!!

Many people have their own theories about their bodies and the pain they experience through life.  Pain in your shoulder makes you believe it is because of work, or that you slouch at the computer, or because you play sports, or because of this or that or the other thing.  I've heard countless theories on why people think they're hurt.  But rarely do I get to hear a perspective that has factored in that the body's symptoms aren't the root and thus they know the real problem lies elsewhere.  It is never one thing, either.  There are always multiple factors.  And if you wanted to know what is the closest to the "one thing" that is causing all of your issues, you can say blood flow or your circulation.  There are multiple variables as to why your blood flow starts to slow down, but it still comes down to your circulation.

Fix your circulation and it will fix you!