Japanese Sotai and Chinese Medicine
Japanese Sotai is one treatment method used by Jeffrey Russell. In the tradition of East Asian medicine, Jeffrey uses various treatment modalities together. One such combination is Sotai and acupuncture. In the Japanese tradition, acupuncture and hands-on bodywork have historically been paired, perfectly complementing each other. Sotai is a core philosophy and practice at our clinic.
Gentle Movement and Light Resistance
Japanese Sotai uses gentle movement performed against light resistance. Because there are many systems of bodywork that use sometimes painful techniques to release neuromuscular problems, Sotai’s gentleness often surprises. Sotai practitioners use light touch and simple movements to diagnose and treat. A Sotai treatment is generally described by patients as relaxing.
Sotai’s Origins
Sotai was invented by the Japanese surgeon, Dr. Keizo Hashimoto (1897-1993). His
integrated knowledge of East Asian and Western medicine provided the foundation for its development. It is grounded in the philosophy that the body naturally moves toward balance and away from pain. Therefore, healing involves restoring the body’s optimal alignment and relieving strain.
Re-educating and Integrating the Body
Sotai is said to ‘re-educate’ and structurally integrate the body which leads to health. Health is restored by releasing muscular patterns causing imbalance and physical distortions. The Sotai method aids in healing dysfunctional patterns across a range of bodily systems such as the circulatory, nervous, endocrine, and neuro-muscular.
Dr. Hashimoto believed that broader life principles, the Four Pillars of Health, were embraced by this treatment method. He saw that people were designed to lead healthy and productive lives using four essential functions of life: eating, breathing, moving and thinking. People also naturally move in the environment, making use of resources, relating to others, and living within a gravitational field. If not in balance in this dynamic scenario of life, our bodies distort and deteriorate. Sotai releases distortions, restoring health and balance in the self and consequently, between us and the environment we live in.
Some Uses of Sotai
Sotai is widely applicable. Some uses include the treatment of:
- Acute back, neck and shoulder pain
- Arthritis
- Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain
- Discomfort in pregnancy
- Emotional imbalances
- Flexibility improved
- Headache, migraine
- Health maintenance
- Joint pain, rigidity
- Menopausal symptoms
- Menstrual pain
- Mobility improved
- Neuralgia
- Post injury rehabilitation
- Preventive medicine
- Relaxation
- Range of motion improved
- Sciatica
- Sports injuries
- Sports performance improvement
To contact Jeffrey Russell for consultation and treatment, call or text (502) 299-8900.
Text is always more convenient and responded to more promptly.
