From the Founder: Why “Five and Two Shiatsu”?

There is no magic in the tea or the teacup—what matters is the connection. It's about relationship, bonding, and being present. And there is no spell in the massage or the Tiger Balm—but there is something sacred about human touch. We are created to connect and to be touched. Just as a newborn instinctively reaches for its mother, we all carry a natural, healing desire for connection. With genuine compassion and a pure heart, simply holding or touching someone can be profoundly healing.

I don’t mean to compare massage therapy to the miracles of Jesus, but I often reflect on how many of His healings in the Bible happened through touch. Jesus—being the most compassionate being to ever walk this earth—chose touch as a way to show love and bring healing. His actions were intentional, physical, and deeply human. He chose to communicate His divine love through something even we, in our limited understanding, can grasp: the power of a loving touch.

How Did Five and Two Shiatsu Come to Be?

To put it simply—and with no intention to offend—without Jesus Christ, there would be no Five and Two Shiatsu. Without His providence, guidance, and encouragement, I wouldn’t have found the courage to walk this path that’s different from the norm. It’s okay to be who God created me to be and to stay the course. Becoming a healer, and offering massage therapy, is exactly what I was meant to do. My training began as early as age five, when my grandmother first taught me massage.

But I didn’t always feel this sure. In the early years of my career, I often found myself doubting. At family gatherings, acquaintances would ask—sometimes with a hint of pity—“So, are you still doing massage?” as if it weren’t a real profession. Their concern was genuine, but their words made me feel like an oddball, as if something were wrong with me for finding such joy, peace, and closeness to God in this work.

That clarity came to me one day like a bolt of lightning while watching the movie Chariots of Fire. In the film, Eric Liddell says, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” I’m not comparing myself to him, but I understand what he meant. When I obey Jesus and live out my calling as a healer, I feel God’s presence. It’s as if I’m floating in the pure river of life in Heaven—at peace, in perfect accord with God. Perhaps that’s what Liddell meant by feeling God’s pleasure.

For me, the best part is getting to sense God’s presence through my hands. I am fully convinced by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is pleased I continue this work—changing and improving lives through touch, one session at a time. Five and Two Shiatsu has now been serving clients for 14 years—not just growing in numbers or revenue, but in love, trust, and depth.

If the Lord is willing, He will continue to renew our compassion, strengthen us in this healing profession, and use us as vessels to bring His peace into a world full of uncertainty.

A friend once said to me, “Connie, you’re so good at what you do—but when we get to Heaven, you’ll be out of a job! There won’t be any stress or pain.” And I believe that’s true. There won’t be a need for massage therapy in Heaven. But I trust that God will give me something else to do—something that still allows me to use my compassion and love for beauty and stillness. Maybe I’ll tend the Tree of Life. Maybe I’ll learn every healing herb. Or maybe I’ll finally brew the perfect cup of tea.

The Heart Behind Five and Two Shiatsu

The name Five and Two Shiatsu comes from the story in John 6:9, where a boy offers five loaves and two fish—and Jesus multiplies them to feed thousands. I believe God asks the same of us: not to be extraordinary, but to surrender what we have, no matter how small. He looks at the heart, not the size of the offering.

Our skills don’t define who we are, nor do they determine what God can do through us. He asks for obedience. He asks us to build relationships, to love others well, and to use what we’ve been given to draw people closer to Him.

That is the spirit of Five and Two Shiatsu. It is an honor to serve others through this deeply personal work. We are grateful that God allows us to build trust with our clients and walk with them in their healing journey. And most of all, I am grateful to be walking in obedience to the call He has placed in my heart—even when it’s hard.

I can’t wait to see what Jesus continues to do with Five and Two Shiatsu.

What about you? What are your five loaves and two fish? Whatever they are, offer them to God—and see what He can do.

With love and gratitude,
C.J. T
Founder, Five and Two Shiatsu