Professional Shiatsu and Sotai course programme.

    First Year contents: Characteristics of Shiatsu, working on a Futon, learning how to work with the weight

    of the body. Therapist's posture: basic position, seiza, lateral position. Position of the hands. Types of

    pressure. Basic Yasuragi form: prone and supine.

    Shiatsu on a massage table: type of table needed. Side form. Onsite (quick) form. Traditional meridians in

    Chinese Medicine.

    Basic Sotai Ho exercises. Articular rotations. Sotai exercises with therapist's resistance. Anatomy for

    Shiatsu.

    Second year contents: Revision of Yasuragi forms, structural (body) analysis, concept of balance in 

    shiatsu, how to feel kyo and jitsu, differences in kyo and jitsu finger pressure, synchronised shiatsu, bo-

    ketsu and yu-ketsu points, hara diagnosis. Advanced sotai exercises and articular rotations.

    On the second year we also teach about thirty structured treatments, explained step by step, including low

    back pain, sprained ankles, diabetes, shiatsu for pregnancy and stress-related conditions.

    These treatments are applied in the class on other students to see their effects. For a sample of

    structured treatments click on: shiatsu for lower back pain or shiatsu for pregnancy.

    Third Year contents: The third year is a very practical year in which the students learn how to treat 

    patients under the teacher's supervision. The students learn how to follow the principles and ideas of

    Western physiology and TCM when treating patients.

    At the beginning of the year students observe the teacher treating patients. As the course 

    progresses, students carry out the treatment, with the help of the other students, and under the 

    supervision of the teacher.

    Students also learn about twenty advanced treatments and further sotai ho exercises.