Meridian TouchTM: the art of letting go, created by Darryl Aiken-Afam, is a new way to look at total health and wellbeing from a very old perspective. Thousands of years old in fact. Meridian TouchTM is a form of 'Japanese Yoga' that has 'no form'. That is to say that correct execution, alignment, and mimicking of postures, poses, or Asanas is secondary to one's being natural and assuming a shape or mental image that allows them to relax and let the body find its own way. These releasing exercises are based directly on the final work of the great Japanese Shiatsu pioneer Shizuto Masunaga, founder of the Iokai Shiatsu Center in Tokyo Japan and his work is directly based on the Chinese exercise system called Dao-In, the exercises that are the forerunner of Tai Chi Chuan. The exercises are simple and pleasant to do. They are based on the 5 elements of traditional Japanese medicine; Metal, Earth, Fire, Water, and Wood. Each element has its own exercises designed to stretch the meridians of the body creating and allowing better Ki flow. Meridians are the lines or rivers of energy that run throughout the body. On these Meridians are located the acupuncture/acupressure/shiatsu points used by therapists to treat people for many various reasons. Ki (or Chi in Chinese) energy, is the life-force energy said to flow in everyone and everything in the universe. It is the condition of this Ki that determines one's health, mental well-being, flexibility, emotional make up etc. The touch of Meridian TouchTM is a form of compassionate, symbiotic supporting touch that benefits both the giver and receiver. It helps each person relax and encourage releasing of tension and increased Ki flow throughout the body. Unlike other partner types of stretching, the touch of Meridian TouchTM is almost effortless as each person "melts" into the touch of each other. The effects of Meridian TouchTM are truly universal as they are based on the philosophy of the universal energy that creates all things, better known as the Tao (Pronounced Dao). In Oriental medicine, the forces of Yin and Yang are said to have come together to create everything in existence. Therefore, the dancer or athlete wanting more flexibility or performance gains, the arthritic housewife looking for some relief, the 30 something Wall Street trader stressed to the max, the post-surgery accident victim wanting to hasten healing, can ALL find some of what they need in Meridian TouchTM, because that desire comes from the same source, the Tao. And this is where we play in Meridian TouchTM. Compassionate Touch These exercises can be done alone, with a partner, or in groups and will help practitioners to become much more aware of themselves and others. They'll learn through the 5 elements which exercises to do when they have digestive problems, when they are overwhelmed by fear, when their joints ache, when they are always worried, etc. They'll also come to understand why they crave sweets so much, why they hate the color green, and why autumn is the only time of year they feel really good. The various correspondences of the 5 elements, which relate to every aspect of life, were discovered thousands of years ago by the Chinese. It's these same correspondences you'll learn while doing Meridian TouchTM which makes this a workout of the deepest kind. Where Yoga, Pilates, and other mind/body classes leave off is where the work of this Japanese form of exercise picks up. You'll truly gain the knowledge to "Create Your Health" Darryl Aiken-Afam has taught this amazing form of 'holistic fitness' internationally to collegiate athletes, professional dancers, TV personalities, Presidents of International corporations, people recovering from illness and injury, people overwhelmed or burdened with heavy emotions and stress, and many, many more... Read testimonials | Back to top