Shiatsu Society

Shiatsu Society Sponsors NCT DVD

The Shiatsu Society is sponsoring a new DVD, produced by The National Childbirth Trust, showing birth as it has never been seen before. The film combines information and real life stories from real women – including top TV presenter and mother of three, Davina McCall, who tells her personal home birth story.

The new Happy Birth Day DVD is designed to show how women and their partners can help themselves to have the best birth possible. Featuring Alison Hammond, presenter on ITV’s This Morning, it follows two very different women and their midwives through pregnancy and birth, and shows how the choices they make about their care influence the birth they have and the way they feel about it.

The DVD provides parents-to-be with answers about what really makes a difference and why.  It explains the options available when making key decisions, such as how to choose where to give birth and who can provide support.  These, along with the other choices discussed, are known to have an effect on the sort of birth a woman has.  The DVD also discusses how to improve the chances of a straightforward birth.

As one of the 13 organisations sponsoring the DVD, the Shiatsu Society has produced a short advertisement, which appears on the DVD in between the documentary-style footage about how parents can prepare for the birth of their baby.

Dh Prasannavira, Communications Director, the Shiatsu Society said: -
“I am very pleased that we have been able to collaborate with the NCT in this exciting project. Shiatsu can be both wonderfully relaxing and life-affirming at any stage of life.  Pregnancy and child-birth are one of the biggest life events for mother and baby, and Shiatsu is particularly supportive and nourishing at this crucial time.”

Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the NCT said: -
“We are thankful for the sponsorship and support of the Shiatsu Society in the making of this DVD, which provides genuine, accurate and well-presented information to help parents-to-be make the right choices around the birth of their baby. There is too much existing TV material showing birth as an overly dramatic and traumatic experience, and with labours appearing to last only 5-10 minutes. We want to ensure accurate, evidence-based information is available for women to understand their options. That’s why, the NCT is giving away a limited number of DVDs free with its Bumps and Babies magazine, to make sure all mums have the best chance possible of a Happy Birth Day.”

TV presenter and NCT home birth ambassador, Davina McCall, said:
"I was lucky enough to talk to a good friend when I was expecting my first baby. She talked about birth in such glowing terms that I thought how lovely it sounded so I decided home birth was right for me. My labour and births were very straightforward and really really amazing. Having choices is so important. Whatever your choice is, it's the right one for you.”

The DVD and magazine are available free-of-charge to any mum to be in the UK.  Its production is part of the charity’s aim to enable all parents to have a life-enhancing experience of pregnancy, birth and being a new parent.

To order your copy of Bumps and Babies please contact NCT Enquiries on 0870 444 8707 or order online at www.nct.org.uk. Alternatively, if you have any specific enquiries, questions or concerns relating to pregnancy and birth, you can call the NCT’s Pregnancy and Birth Line on 0870 444 8709 (Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm)

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For further information about the NCT, to order a preview copy of the DVD, or to arrange interviews with the mothers or experts in the film, please contact Anna Gardner or Emily Shelton in the NCT Press Office on 0870 770 3238 or email press@nct.org.uk  (Out of hours, please call 07722 839428 or Belinda Phipps on 07976 272305)

To see an exclusive preview clip of the DVD journalists can visit www.nct.org.uk/happybirthdaydvd

Notes to Editors:

• The NCT is grateful for the sponsorship and support of the following organisations for the production of the Happy Birth Day DVD: Bright Horizons, Britax, Ceuta Healthcare, Federation of Holistic Therapists, Ford, Foresters Friendly Society, Kamillosan, Ocado, Philips, Shiatsu Society, The British Humanist Association, The Children’s Society. These organisations have had made no contribution to, nor have had any influence on the content of, the programme, which is exclusively provided by the NCT based on research, evidence and the experience of parents

• The DVD is set up to allow viewers to skip to sections of interest. 

• All advertising on the DVD meets the WHO code on the marketing of breastmilk substitutes. 

• Run by parents for parents, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is the largest and best-known charity in Europe supporting people making the transition to parenthood. It is the voice of parents on pregnancy, birth and life as a new parent.  The charity provides a range of quality educational and support services for parents across the UK. Established 50 years ago, the NCT has successfully campaigned for improved care during pregnancy and childbirth and better support for parents of new babies.  The NCT now champions the principle of informed choice for women and their partners.

• NCT provides a range of services for any new parents including antenatal classes, postnatal discussion groups, support on baby feeding with breastfeeding counsellors and a network of over 300 local branches for new parents. For further information, please visit the NCT website at www.nct.org.uk or call the NCT Enquiry line on 0870 444 8707, 9-5 Monday-Thursday and 9-4 on Fridays. 

• The NCT is a registered charity (reg. no. 801395). All services are available to all parents. The work of the NCT is part funded by 70,000 members who support the work of the charity and provide services to parents as volunteers.  To join the NCT or to renew your support for the charity please visit www.nct.org.uk/join

European Shiatsu Week 2008

This September sees the fourth annual Shiatsu Week taking place from 15th – 21st September, and with a series of events taking place in and around the UK it’s the perfect time to try something different. Events will include free taster sessions, workshops, talks, demonstrations plus lots more. The week aims to increase awareness of Shiatsu as a complementary therapy and highlights the range of benefits that the treatment can offer.

Why not try Shiatsu yourself? Contact us for details of your local practitioner.

Shiatsu (literally meaning -‘finger pressure’) is a practical hands-on therapy, where the recipient remains fully clothed throughout, and is rapidly gaining in popularity. The roots of the Japanese art of Shiatsu can be traced back many centuries and its base of knowledge in Chinese medicine makes it a dynamic and practical therapy that can help to reduce the stresses and strains of everyday life. Shiatsu is a therapy that works on the individual as a complete being - not just the physicalbody but also on an emotional and/or mental level.

Practitioner’s train for a minimum of three years and the philosophy underlying Shiatsu is that vital energy (known as Ki in Japanese) flows throughout the body in a series of channels called meridians. For various reasons Ki can stop flowing freely and this may produce certain symptoms. Shiatsu practitioners use a variety of techniques to improve energy flow to relieve symptoms such as pressing with palms or fingers and, when appropriate, more dynamic rotations, and stretches.

Dh Prasannavira - Shiatsu Society says “We will be running a variety of events around the UK to mark Shiatsu Week.  During the week we are hoping to encourage people with an interest in health and wellbeing to try Shiatsu and enjoy the benefits first hand.” 

For more information on the events taking place during Shiatsu Week or to find your nearest practitioner please call the Shiatsu Society on 0845 130 4560 or visit www.shiatsusociety.org.

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Notes to Editors

The Shiatsu Society

Established in 1981 the Shiatsu Society, part of the European Shiatsu Federation and Shiatsu Regulatory Group, was set up by a small group of Shiatsu practitioners and teachers. Since then the Society has grown to form a network linking interested individuals, students, practitioners and teachers, and fulfils the role of the Professional Association for Shiatsu Practitioners. Currently there are nearly 2,000 members of whom a third are on the Register of Professional Practitioners of the Shiatsu Society (MRSS).

Shiatsu can help many conditions including:

• Back pain
• Sports Injuries
• Stress
• Joint Pain

+ many more. See the Research page.

Key Shiatsu Benefits

• It relaxes mind & body
• It restores & balances energy
• It eases tension & stiffness
• It improves breathing
• It can be beneficial to circulation
• It promotes motivation

It is compatible with other medical treatments

New Scientific Research showing that Shiatsu is a safe therapy

We are pleased to announce that the results from the 3-year European Research Federation has now been released showing that Shiatsu is a safe therapy. Click here for further information.

 

 

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