Sara Vanin, LMT
Sara Vanin is an Illinois Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), a Shiatsu and Zen Shiatsu practitioner and instructor (Ohashi Institute NYC, 2001), an Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) Holistic Health Coach, a Himalayan Institute (HYMC) 200hr Certified Yoga Teacher, and a Certified Aromatherapist (PIA Institute). She has been practicing Shiatsu and healing arts since 1997.
Sara earned her massage therapy diploma at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in Chicago, in 2008. Marie-France Collins L.Ac. and Lori Howell, L.Ac. have been major influences in her understanding of Chinese Medicine and Tui Na.
After graduating from the Ohashi Institute in 2001, Sara became a Shiatsu instructor under the mentorship of Ohashi Sensei and his niece Kumiko Kanayama, in 2005. After graduation, she continued her shiatsu studies at Zen Shiatsu Chicago, at the Tao Shiatsu Center in Madison, WI and with internationally renowned shiatsu practitioner and teachers Clifford Andrews and Dinah Jones (Shiatsu College, UK) who had a major influence in her shiatsu studies and practice. She is also studying Clean Language Communication with “Words that Touch” author, Nick Pole (UK).
Sara is a Certified Aromatherapist with the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy of Kurt Schnaubelt, and completes several Continuing Education classes with the Aromahead Institute (including 100 hours Aromahead Aromatherapy Teacher Training Program) and the Tisserand Institute of Robert Tisserand
She has studied AromaAcupoint Therapy 1&2 and started the AromaAcupoint Teacher Training Program with Peter Holmes, L.Ac., MH and Tiffany Carole, L.Ac. She has also taken classes with Gabriel Mojay, L.Ac.
Sara is currently continuing her studies on the application of the Essential Oils on Acupuncture Points and Channels following the teachings of Jeffrey Yuen. Sara found strong resonance with the Chinese Medical Aromatherapy approach of Jeffrey Yuen whose practical, profound perspective would fit perfectly with shiatsu concepts of vibrational medicine and resonance.
Sensitive to the toll that mental and emotional stress have on the body, her work specializes in the application of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Zen Shiatsu meridian science to the treatment of chronic pain and emotional stress.
Over the years, Sara has worked with adults, seniors and teens. She has extensive experience working in her own bodywork private practice, in acupuncture clinics, hospital settings, integrative centers, including an emotional wellness center.
In addition to her clinical practice, Sara has been teaching Shiatsu, Ethics, East Asian Clinical Massage, and has been a Massage Clinic Supervisor at Pacific College since 2007.
During the years at Pacific College, she has also served as Clinic Manager, assistant to the Massage Program coordinator, and as Chair of the Massage Department.
She has also taught Shiatsu, Chinese Medicine and CE classes to massage and bodywork students and therapists extensively at Zen Shiatsu Chicago and other educational settings in the Chicago area.
Having taught Chinese Medicine to bodyworkers and massage therapists, having studied Aromatherapy with world renowned teachers, and having a special affinity with working on points, Sara brings together her knowledge and experience and shares it in a way that is practical, relevant and applicable to one’s bodywork method, style and perspective.
Kōdō means "incense" in Japanese. Following a suggestion from Kumiko Kanayama, Sara named her treatment style Kōdō Shiatsu. It is not another style of shiatsu, but describes a treatment where the Qi and Shen are supported back into balance and harmonized by treating points and channels in synergy with essential oils, according to Chinese Medicine principles.
Benefits of Receiving a Shiatsu Session
Although a regular maintenance program of shiatsu is an excellent way to maintain wellness and improve vitality, the schedule will vary for each person. Every person is different, their lifestyle, their stress level so one person may benefit by just one visit a month, another may require more sessions on a more regular basis. Depending on the goal of the session the effects may be stimulating and invigorating or calming and sedative or both preventative and remedial. Whatever the ailment the benefits are astounding, with little to no side effects, while enjoying a calming and restorative session.
Benefits of Receiving a Shiatsu Session
- Shiatsu is great for alleviating chronic pain and emotional stress
- Shiatsu can work the tension and spasms out of the muscles
- Shiatsu helps with migraines
- Shiatsu is also a non-invasive therapy that helps reduce stress, tension, anxiety and depression by leaving you relaxed and calm.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation of the body’s tissue and attacks the linings of the joints. Shiatsu helps to limber muscles, gives muscles nutrition by improved circulation and also helps reduce muscular pain.
- Helps stimulate circulation in capillaries of the skin’s soft tissues.
- Shiatsu helps to alleviate menstrual cramps.
- Shiatsu benefits the digestive system by allowing food to digest more easily and aides in waste elimination.
- Helps those who suffer from fatigue and weakness by restoring and maintaining the body’s energy.
Although a regular maintenance program of shiatsu is an excellent way to maintain wellness and improve vitality, the schedule will vary for each person. Every person is different, their lifestyle, their stress level so one person may benefit by just one visit a month, another may require more sessions on a more regular basis. Depending on the goal of the session the effects may be stimulating and invigorating or calming and sedative or both preventative and remedial. Whatever the ailment the benefits are astounding, with little to no side effects, while enjoying a calming and restorative session.
