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This course is appropriate for massage or bodywork professionals with little or no training in shiatsu. Following this course you will be able to provide shiatsu for general relaxation and wellbeing. You will also learn techniques that you can blend with your existing practice. However, please note that this course does not provide therapeutic level shiatsu training (that is a four year course!). If you are not a massage professional you are still welcome to join the course, but you may need to do a one day workshop in the weekend before to bring yourself up to speed (see the prerequisite list below).
Your teacher will be Sophia van Ruth. Sophia developed the course together with Jack Marshall the director of the Zen Renaissance College (where she did her shiatsu diploma graduating in 2002) and has delivered it many times before in a professional massage college in Australia. The course will be delivered in English, however, translations to Dutch can be provided as needed. You will receive a 58 page booklet as part of the course materials (included in the price)
We will work with the foundations of Zen Shiatsu as developed by Japanese Master, Shizuto Masunaga. You will gain a working knowledge of the location of each Meridian on the body and learn some tsubo points on each Meridian pathway useful for working with specific conditions. You will be provided with extensive course notes, complete with meridian diagrams and tsubo point locations. It is not required that you purchase additional course materials, however, you can find a reading list below if you want to go deeper into the theory. (in order of recommendation). At the end of the course you will be able to:
- Implement an effective general shiatsu treatment following the fundamental teachings of Zen Shiatsu.
- Work with the hara, developing an ability to move from the hara to affect a strong result which is not taxing for those giving treatments.
- Sense the force of the Ki Meridians and be familiar with their locations on the body.
- Have a basic understanding and some experience of health and wellbeing from the perspective of oriental medical practice.
- Locate some specific tsubo points and an be familiar with their uses.
practical details
Next intake: yet to be scheduled – join the mail list above to stay informed
Location: TBA
Investment: €390 (exclusive 21 % BTW, €471.90 including BTW)
Prerequisites: 1. Prior massage training where you have learned contraindications
2. You currently give at least one massage per month of an hour or longer
** If you do not meet these requirements you may be able to do a one day workshop in the weekend before the course starts to bring you up to speed.
Participants: Minimum 4, maximum 10
Testimonials from courses/workshops:
“Ik kan deze workshop warm aanbevelen! Goede uitleg, persoonlijke aandacht van een overduidelijk ervaren docent!”
…. and in English: “I can highly recommend this workshop! Good explanation, and personal attention from an obviously experienced teacher!”
Marco Tieleman, talking about a 1/2 day workshop
course outline
Lecture 1
Overview of Zen Shiatsu theory
‘Upper Back’ routine introduced
Lecture 2
Overview of all meridian locations and experience of some basic postures that allow you to feel the energy of each meridian
‘Lower Back’ routine introduced
Lecture 3
‘Lower and Upper Back’ routines combined
Discussion of Urinary Bladder and Kidney Meridians
Lecture 4
‘Side’ routine introduced
Discussion of Gall Bladder and Liver Meridians
Lecture 5
‘Side’ routine reviewed. ‘Neck and Shoulders’ routine introduced
Discussion of Small Intestine and Heart Meridians
Lecture 6
‘Neck and Shoulders’ routine reviewed, ‘Front of Legs’ routine introduced
Discussion of Spleen/Pancreas and Stomach Meridians
Lecture 7
Review of routines for back of body
Discussion of Lung and Large Intestine Meridians
Lecture 8
Review of routines for front of body
Discussion of Heart and Heart Protector Meridians
Lecture 9
Review of all meridian locations
Identifying patterns of Meridian disharmony, emphasis on facial diagnosis and the ko and shen cycle
Lecture 10
Putting the theory into practice, working with Kyo / Jitsu and specific Meridians during a session.
suggested reading list
Shiatsu Theory and Practice, Carola Beresford Cooke, 3rd edition 2011, Churchill Livingstone
Zen Shiatsu, How to Harmonise Yin and Yang for better Health, Shizuto Masunaga with Wataru Ohashi, 1977, Japan Publications
Tsubo, Vital Points for Oriental Therapy, Katsusuke Serizawa, 1998, Japan Publications
The Natural Way of Zen Shiatsu, David Sergel, 1989, Japan Publications
Chinese Medicine, The Web that has no Weaver, Ted J. Kaptchuk, 1983, Rider
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