Shiatsu Bodyworks Blog 

Sciatica can make everyday life difficult, with pain travelling from your lower back or buttock down your leg. Could shiatsu help? In this article, I explore how shiatsu may help ease associated muscle tension and support comfort, alongside the traditional Chinese medicine perspective on the body and its meridians. Discover how I approach sciatic pain in my Cheltenham clinic, what to consider before trying bodywork, and how shiatsu may complement your wider approach to managi

Shiatsu after surgery can be a gentle way to support your body as it recovers from the physical and energetic effects of an operation. From scar tissue and restricted movement to fatigue, tension and post-operative discomfort, shiatsu works with the body rather than forcing it. Discover why supporting your meridians, nervous system and overall energy can be an important part of recovery, and why regular shiatsu may help keep your body stronger and more balanced before surgery

Your back is telling you more than you think. From muscles and fascia to your nervous system, emotions and the Chinese medicine meridians, there is far more going on than simply back pain. In this blog I explore what I've learnt over many years of practising Shiatsu; why listening to your body matters and how a Shiatsu treatment can help you understand what your back may be trying to tell you.

When I first booked a physical therapy over thirty years ago, I simply wanted someone to fix my aching back. I never imagined it would begin a lifelong journey into Shiatsu, Chinese medicine and understanding the remarkable connection between the body, the nervous system and fascia. Discover why Shiatsu is about so much more than pain relief; it can change the way you listen to your body and view your health.

Shiatsu and acupuncture share the same roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine; working with meridians and acupuncture points to restore health and wellbeing. Discover how Shiatsu uses therapeutic touch, gentle stretching and whole-body assessment to reduce stress, ease pain, improve mobility, relieve stress and create a deeper long lasting relaxation in mind and body.

Discover why joint injuries are more common in spring and how to prevent sprains, strains, and stiffness with simple, natural, holistic tips from Andrea at Shiatsu Bodyworks Cheltenham

This month I’m exploring a question I’m often asked in clinic: What’s the difference between cranial osteopathy and shiatsu — and which should you choose? Having received cranial osteopathy for over ten years before becoming a shiatsu practitioner, I’ve experienced the benefits of both firsthand. In this new blog I share why cranial osteopathy helped me enormously — but why it was shiatsu that finally resolved my long-standing knee pain and supports me emotionally too.

Trauma isn’t always dramatic – it’s how your nervous system responds to stress. If you live with chronic pain, anxiety, poor sleep or unexplained tension, your body may be holding unresolved trauma. Discover how nervous system regulation and gentle therapies like Shiatsu can calm dysregulation, release stored stress and restore resilience, helping you feel safer, stronger and more at ease in everyday life.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in modern health, supporting immunity, bone strength, energy levels, sleep quality and hormonal balance. Deficiency is widespread due to lifestyle pressures, environmental toxins and depleted nutrient reserves. This holistic, evidence-based article explores why vitamin D matters more than ever, how it works throughout the body, and how personalised supplementation can support resilience, balance and long-term wellbeing.

Tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo are common yet distressing symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. This blog explores how Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine understand these symptoms as signs of fatigue, stress and energetic depletion rather than isolated ear issues. Learn how a holistic approach can support balance, reduce symptoms and restore energy, with insights from a menopause specialist at a Cheltenham-based Shiatsu clinic.