Markus Heimpel

My Shiatsu approach is influenced by my love of free and expressive movement. I marvel at how the gentle form of Shiatsu touch can help us to free old patterns of pain and restriction to reconnect with the feelings of wellness and ease. This is a little video clip from the Shiatsu Society UK, explaining the benefits of Shiatsu

I registered with the Shiatsu Society as a Shiatsu teacher and Shiatsu practitioner (FwSS) I am a senior teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu, where I have been teaching since 2006 I have worked at Penny Brohn Cancer Care as a Shiatsu practitioner from 2009 to 2022 Diploma of Shiatsu with the European Shiatsu School - 1995 Further Shiatsu studies with Nicola Pooley, 2 year post graduation course with the Shiatsu college - 2001 Several courses on 'Movement Shiatsu' and a 1 year course on 'experiential teaching' with Bill Palmer, Recent studies with Tamsin Granger, Gabriella Poli, Sandra Reeve and Nicola Ley My work is influenced by an ongoing practice of 5 rhythm dancing, yoga and Qi-Gong

- Working with tension in the body, developing a deeper sense of ease and awareness - Working with emotional issues - Supporting people with cancer and their supporters using Shiatsu touch. Over the past 15 years I have supported many people during their experience of cancer diagnosis, treatments and afterwards to help integrating the impact of this. The caring and nurturing aspect of Shiatsu touch can be a real antidote to the hospital experience. Shiatsu can offer deep relaxation and help to restore the body's natural healing system in a very stressful life situation. It can offer support during and after treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During these times the physical system goes through a lot of stress and the gentle touch of Shiatsu can help the body to restore, to soothe and to relax. It can help with the integration of the emotional and mental impact of a cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatments. Often emotions can be overwhelming at the time and sometimes are stored away in the body. This can lead to tension and discomfort later on. Life after cancer treatment can look very different and sometimes there will be a loss of identity, of direction and purpose. Shiatsu touch can offer a safe environment to explore these issues.It's gentle, listening touch offers a space where emotions can be witnessed, felt and released. Thus bringing more harmony to the whole energetic system. It can offer respite and support for the carer and allow for time and space to attend to their own physical, emotional and mental wellbeing during these trying times in supporting a loved one with the cancer experience.

I bring a holistic and person centered approach to my practice. In my experience a Shiatsu session is as a partnership where the wisdom and engagement of a persons energy system is as important as the skills I bring to the meeting. It is an opportunity to co-create a safe space for deep set patterns of tension held in the body to emerge, to be witnessed and acknowledged and subsequently released.