The first year is split into two parts: the Shiatsu-Acupressure for Health Course, which is a seven months course, laying the foundations for Shiatsu-Acupressure practice. This is followed by the First Year Completion, which is a six months course and has exams at the end as well as continuous assessments. Both parts have a very practical focus.

The second year introduces Zen Shiatsu theory and muscles, the third year Traditional Chinese Medicine, Physiology and Pathology. Each year builds on the knowledge gained in previous years. By the end of the course you will have satisfied all the requirements laid down by The Shiatsu Society.

At the beginning of your training we introduce tutorials. You work on Teachers to help us assess   where you are with all aspects of the training.

Homework and practical assessments are spread throughout each year. They cover subjects like anatomy, pathology, case studies and character profiles. The homework is marked and the marks contribute to the end-of-year result.

Our course has been ratified by The Shiatsu Society. All students completing this course are automatically placed on the register of the Shiatsu Society.

 

The work in the first year gives a good grounding for anyone interested in complementary health or growth work.  The subjects introduced in the Shiatsu-Acupressure for Health Course are:

• Full body Shiatsu Treatments
• wide variety of Bodywork Techniques
• Pathways of 12 meridians & their associations 
• Location and use of major points to help peoples health
• Yu (back) points
• Hara diagnosis
• Facial diagnosis
• Voice diagnosis
• Five Elements Associations and Cycles
• basic dietary advice (individualised)
• Do-in Self Shiatsu (self treatment)
• Working with Energy and sensing it
• Qi Gong & Healing
• Growth work
• Anatomy (bones & joints)

The First Year Completion course curriculum will introduce the following topics.

• Governing Vessel and Conception Vessel (final two meridians)
• Touch-based ways of working with the 5 Elements 
• Full and Empty diagnosis (focus of treatment)
• Food and Health (to enhance your treatment with recommendations)
• Anatomy (overview of organs and physiology)
• Visualisation techniques
• Recommendations (lifestyle)
• Facial diagnosis

The Second Year of the course will strengthen your practical abilities by deepening your knowledge and experience of Zen Shiatsu, Chinese Medicine and the 5 Elements.

We will broaden your repertoire of techniques, helping you to feel energy and work with it more precisely. You will be diagnosing and giving advice to clients which will enhance and focus your treatments.

By the end of the year you will have learned the location and usage of all the acupuncture points that we teach.

Besides consolidating and extending the knowledge gained in the first year, we add the following topics:

• Zen Shiatsu
• Zen Meridian associations
• Completing our study of acupuncture points
• Recommendations (a more detailed look at diet, exercise and lifestyle)
• Muscles
• Bone & Muscle Pathology
• Listening skills and Self Development
• Zen Hara diagnosis
• Zen Back diagnosis
• Zen Meridian stretches
• Development of Touch
• Qigong
• treatments on the public

 

The Third Year course fills out your understanding of Shiatsu with Traditional Chinese Medicine theory. This will provide you with a solid core of knowledge upon which to base your treatments and recommendations to clients. It will also support your faith in your energetic diagnosis. We will study Physiology and Pathology to increase your awareness of the types of conditions that people may ask you to work on and ensure that you recognize when you may need to refer them to another specialist or doctor.

You will study some diseases at home and present your findings to the rest of the class: the emphasis will be on how conditions feel and how we can treat them with Shiatsu and other remedies. We will look at how you work with Qi and help you to develop your practice, refining the advice you give and improving the results you achieve with your treatments.

You will also prepare a short dissertation to show how Shiatsu Acupressure relates to another subject which you choose.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

• Yin & Yang
• 8 Principles
• Fundamental Substances
• Causes of Disease
• TCM foods
• Tongue diagnosis
• Meridian associations
• Direction of Qi

Physiology & Pathology

• Respiratory system
• Cardiovascular system
• Endocrine system
• Digestive system
• Lymphatic system
• Nervous system
• Reproductive system
• Urinary system
• Sensory organs

Personal Development

• Basic Counselling
• Self Awareness

Practical Shiatsu

• Broadening your skills
• Enhancing Qi work
• Qigong

Recommendations

• Medicinal foods
• TCM and food
• Lifestyle

Practice & Ethics

• How to run a practice
• Dealing with clients
• Case studies
• Treatments on the public