What is Zen Shiatsu?
'Shi' means 'finger' and 'Atsu' means 'pressure', and so Shiatsu literally means 'finger pressure', although in the actual work almost every part of a practitioner's body is used to give Shiatsu to the receiver. Zen Shiatsu is a gentle, yet highly effective, traditional Japanese body work technique that follows the philosophical ideas and teachings of Shizuto Masunaga Sensei.
It is rooted in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the concept of Qi/Chi (energy) which is it's heart. Its objective is to improve health and to balance disharmonies by stimulating the natural healing power of the body, physical contact being the primary form of communication with the receiver. Zen Shiatsu is as much a physical work on anatomical body structures and meridians (energy lines) as it is an energy-based technique that accesses deeper layers of the body, creating essentially a holistic therapy which affects all levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. In this sense Zen Shiatsu for me is an art form, an experience that touches body and mind both. Zen Shiatsu is deeply rooted in principles of concentration and meditation, awareness and sensitivity, empathy and compassion, unity and flow, listening and feeling, intuition and instinct, spontaneity and simplicity, connection and support, trust and surrender, breath and hara (tan tien), an empty mind and unconditional giving. All these qualities are developed and enhanced in the Zen Shiatsu therapist, thereby raising the effectiveness of the healing experience while giving a very relaxing and pleasant bodywork session.
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Integrated Zen Shiatsu Program
This is a full, comprehensive and intensive program for those interested in a complete and holistic learning experience encompassing approximately 300 hours. The program includes - Knowing Touch, 3 levels of Zen Shiatsu, Wu Xing (5 Phases/Elements), Clinical Week. Integrated in the program are practices of Qi Gong, Yoga, Do In and Meditation. Knowing Touch and Wu Xing, are both courses which are intimately linked with the foundations of Zen Shiatsu, focusing on experiential rather than theoretical learning. The Clinical Week is a holistic integration of the complete program. The program is meant to be studied as one learning unit, a complete course, one segment building up on the previous one and leading into the next one. The continuous and intensive format serves and benefits the learning process.
- Schedule: Teaching is on average 5 hours daily, with break days every 3 or 4 days, some weekend breaks and an extended practice break in the middle of the program. One more practice break is just before the final Clinical Week. These breaks are meant for individual practice, review of the subject matter and integration of what has already been learned.
- Review & Extra Practice: During the review and practice periods there will be a pre-set schedule for both supervised and unsupervised shiatsu practice. Participants will have the opportunity to use the dojo for individual practice sessions and review of study material. The previous Integrated Zen Shiatsu Course, November 2012 to February 2013 had the following schedule :
Arrival & Orientation November 3-9
Knowing Touch November 10-15
Zen Shiatsu Level 1 November 17 - December 1
Zen Shiatsu Level 2 December 3 - 18
Wu Xing (5 Elements) December 21 - 30
Practice & Review December 31 - January 6
Zen Shiatsu Level 3 January 7 - 26
Clinical Week & Summary January 30 - January 8
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All together it is a 12 weeks of training, including the following segments. Knowing Touch - developing your ability to Listen, See, Feel and Know through the physical contact with another; communicating without speaking, using our hands, our hearts and our intuition to receive the information we need. Knowing Touch enables us to give precisely what is needed and requested in the present moment. The aim is to develop a touch that is highly sensitive and aware, firm yet gentle, kind and compassionate. A touch that listens and therefore knows all that is there to be known, through the sense of intuition, transcending the limitation of the five senses and the spoken word. It is to Know how to Touch and to have a Touch that Knows! We explore and work with one main theme every day, using a variety of exercises, practices, meditations and dynamics to raise the theme to the surface and work with it.The themes we will approach and work with are: Grounding, Listening & Feeling, Trust & Surrender, Connecting & Knowing, Guiding & Following, Awareness & Emptiness, Compassion & Empathy, Heart Energy, Unity & Oneness, Flow & Intuition. Zen Shiatsu Level 1 - Introduction to the basic concepts of Zen Shaitsu, Traditional Chinese philosophy on health and concepts of Qi (energy). Developing sensitivity and awareness to our body's energy and to working with Qi from the Hara (center of instinct and intuition). Learning how to give a holistic, deeply energetic treatment to harmonize body and mind, focusing on connection and feeling. Learning a general treatment of back and legs, arms and shoulders, chest, neck, head and face. This level emphasizes correct bodywork (body mechanics) and energy techniques of the practitioner. Qi Gong and Dao Yin practice are part of the daily program. Zen Shiatsu Level 2 - Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts of Yin/Yang. Deepening and refining your awareness of energy and working with principles of Kyo and Jitsu (empty and full). Learning general treatment in side position, abdominal work, rocking technique, and additional neck techniques. Integrating all that has been learned so far into a balanced holistic, flowing and harmonizing general body treatment. This level emphasizes the holistic aspect of the treatment and deep energy work from the Hara. Zen Shiatsu Level 3 - Learning about the dynamics that create health and disease, the Biological Clock and practical application of these in daily life. Learning about the system of the 12 classic meridians (energy lines), their location in the body and some primary acupresure points. Working on the meridians to release blockages and harmonize the energy flow through the concepts of full and empty (Kyo and Jitsu). Hara and Back diagnosis - diagnosing imbalances of the body's energy through corresponding areas in the abdomen and the back. Learning how to balance the empty and full areas in the Hara and their corresponding meridians. Enhancing your ability to work with energy and follow your intuition. The level emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical bodywork, focusing on Hara work, intuition and feeling. Qi Gong and Dao Yin are part of the daily program. Wu Xing - Learning some basic theory of Wu Xing, nutrition, and practices that can complement your knowledge for therapy and personal cultivation. We experience Wu Xing through a variety of practices and exercises, visualizations meditations and dynamic activities using all 5 senses and nature to enhance the experience. Clinical Week - taught at the end of the Integrated Program. This segment is aimed at integrating all the subject matter learned in the program. Participants have an opportunity to put all the practical and theoretical aspects together in a simulated clinical environment of role-playing, receiving a 'patient', diagnosing, creating a treatment plan and giving recommendations for lifestyle changes. This is a practical summary of the complete program.
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Next Integrated Zen Shiatsu Program -
When:December 5, 2013 – March 6, 2014
Where: Arambol, Goa (south India)
- Advance registration for full or partial participation is recommended due to limited number of participants. The complete program will take place with a minimum number of 6 participants. In case of less than 6 participants, all or part of the segments will be taught, to be decided by the teacher if relevant.
- Partial participation: Participation in specific segments of the program is possible, pending space availability and individual consideration and suitability. Registration for the full program commences early, and the number of places is limited. In order to make the necessary arrangements to reserve a place in the program, got to the Contact page at www.oda-courses-treatments.com (see link below).
