Easing Anxiety and Headaches with Shiatsu

Sarah Griffiths
October 22, 2025

What is a case study?

A case study explores how a specific therapy can make a real difference in someone’s life through genuine experiences and outcomes. In this case study, “Easing Anxiety and Headaches with Shiatsu by Sarah Griffiths,” you’ll read how shiatsu therapy supported Laura in reducing anxiety, easing tension headaches and finding a greater sense of calm and balance in daily life. The case study shared here is an example that reflects the kind of situation Sarah Griffiths sees in her shiatsu practice. It is designed to illustrate how shiatsu can support a concern. Every person’s experience is unique, and outcomes vary.

The situation

Laura, a 36-year-old mother of two, contacted me for support with anxiety and ongoing tension headaches. She described feeling constantly “on alert,” with racing thoughts in the evening and a sense of tightness across her shoulders and temples. She often found herself lying awake, worrying about work and family responsibilities, and waking up unrefreshed.

Laura explained that she had tried yoga and short relaxation apps in the past, but struggled to maintain them alongside family life. She was looking for a therapy that could both calm her body and give her tools to feel more in control of her anxiety.

The treatment phase

We agreed on a course of four weekly sessions. The sessions focused on soothing the nervous system and releasing tension patterns associated with anxiety.

Meridian work: Focus on the Heart and Pericardium meridians to settle restlessness, and Gallbladder/Bladder channels along the neck and shoulders to ease headaches.
Hara connection: Gentle palming and holding the abdomen to encourage grounding and support Kidney energy, often depleted by long-term stress.
Relaxation support: Shoulder rotations and soft stretches to relieve postural holding.
Grounding techniques: Work on the feet and legs to draw energy downward, reducing the sense of being “stuck in the head.”
Self-care tools: Breath awareness practice, with emphasis on slowing the exhale; suggestions for short pauses during the day; and an evening wind-down routine.

The outcome

After the first session, Laura noticed she felt unusually calm and “a little lighter in my head.” By the third week, her headaches had reduced in intensity and she reported sleeping more soundly. She also found she was more patient with her children at bedtime, using the breathing techniques herself before guiding them to sleep.

By the end of the fourth session, Laura described her anxiety as “less overwhelming.” She still experienced stressful moments but felt able to catch them earlier and soften her physical response. She decided on monthly top-up sessions as a way of “resetting” and preventing old patterns from returning, and to give herself a monthly maintenance ‘treat’.

Conclusion
Through four weekly sessions followed by regular monthly treatments, shiatsu helped Laura reduce her tension headaches and manage her anxiety more effectively. The combination of meridian work, grounding techniques, and simple self-care practices gave her practical tools as well as deeper relaxation.

About the author

Sarah Griffiths is a seasoned Shiatsu practitioner with over two decades of experience, professionally registered with the UK Shiatsu Society. Since 2003, Sarah has helped clients address a variety of physical and emotional concerns, with particular focus on supporting well-being during menopause, enhancing digestive health, and alleviating anxiety and low mood. Her approach honours the body as a powerful vessel of information, allowing each session to guide clients into a deeper, more intuitive relationship with their physical and emotional selves.

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