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Sotai Ho: Physical Exercise Programme
(No pain treatments for back or neck problems, tendinitis, sprained ankle, etc)
Japanese Postural Alignment or Reeducation, SOTAI HO, is one of those exercises or treatments that
are very difficult to explain in words, but very simple to perform.
The results, visually obvious after a few exercises, are even more amazing.
Sotai is a Japanese form of muscular or movement therapy which was invented by Dr. Keizo Hashimoto, a
Japanese medical surgeon (1897–1993). Through his knowledge of Oriental and Western medicine he
developed a model of treatment that was based on returning natural body alignment by moving joints in a
comfortable way rather than adjusting towards pain. Sotai Therapy provides a method for neuromuscular
re-education and promotes healing in the circulatory, nervous and endocrine systems by untwisting
muscular holding patterns.
Sotai Ho is a systematic form of exercise using active and passive exercises to correct imbalances in the
structural integrity of the body. It is a clear, methodical way to improve one’s health. The goal is to see
where one’s body is out of alignment and to practice specific exercises to alleviate each disorder.
The exercises and techniques are very gentle, equalise muscle tone and can correct postural distortions.
The aim of a Sotai treatment is to eliminate pain in the back, neck or shoulders, line up bones when they
are misaligned and release muscular stiffness or pain anywhere in the body.
The two main principles behind Sotai are: 1) Follow the line of least resistance. If you have difficulty, or
it is painful to move a muscle to the left, then you should do the exercise in the other direction, away from
discomfort, pain or stiffness.
These stretches in only one direction (i.e. only to the right, or only to the left), the direction in which the
movement doesn't hurt, or feels the most comfortable, lead to principle number 2) NO PAIN.
Following these two principles gives us the most important characteristic of Sotai: we can alleviate,
reduce or make disappear muscular pains with exercises that are not painful at all.
The results are amazing because the flexibility, the extent of the movement in the opposite direction (the
one not practised) improves considerably, and the pain diminishes or disappears completely.
Created by the Japanese neurologist Keizo Hashimoto, and developed by students Yoshikazu Nemoto and
Arturo Valenzuela, the fundamental idea behind Sotai Ho is that distortion in the locomotor system can be
corrected by moving the joints in comfortable directions. This promotes healing in the circulatory,
endocrine and nervous systems.
This form of Postural Alignment is used to improve suppleness and to alleviate or eliminate muscular
aches and pains and treat sports, and other types of injuries, such as sprained ankles, tennis elbow,
tendonitis, etc, and to improve health in general.
Technically explained by the Stretch Reflex, Autogenic Inhibition and Reciprocal Innervation, Sotai
Ho has some similarities with PNF stretching, and, as PNF, it increases the range of motion of muscles.
But there are important differences too. The most important one is found in its philosophy. Sotai Ho is
a holistic therapy, so it views the body as a whole. This means that it is not necessary to work on the
affected muscles or areas. If we correct imbalances in the body as a whole, all the muscles will benefit.
Working away from pain means that we can improve the range of motion, and reduce the pain, without the
exercise being painful at all.
References: Hashimoto, Keizo (November 1983). Sotai Balance and Health Through Natural Movement
Nemoto, Yoshikazu (2005). 新編 臨床家のための連動操体法. Home exercises. RENDOU SOTAI HO.
Valenzuela Serrano, Arturo (2006). Sotai: Reeducación Postural Integral
Wilson-O'Toole, Fiona, Gormley, John, and Hussey, Juliette (2011). Exercise Therapy in the Management of Musculoskeletal
Disorders
The benefits of practising these simple, and painless exercises for just 5 minutes a day are truly
remarkable.
“To treat a patient for an illness without correcting distortion in their frame is like bailing water with a bottomless bucket.” – Keizo Hashimoto
To see more Sotai videos click here
Shiatsu Yasuragi Centres
Greenwich / New Cross
Shiatsu Yasuragi Greenwich
6 Tanner's Hill SE8 4PJ
Phone: 0208 694 6064.
Soho
Piccadilly Circus / Oxford Circus
Shiatsu Yasuragi Central London
4 Regent Place W1B 5EA
Phone: 0207 292 0300.
Shiatsu Yasuragi School
Phone: 0208 694 6064
For all other enquiries please contact us at:
yasuragi@shiatsu-london.net
or phone: 0208 694 6064
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