What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is both a form of physical manipulation and a means towards the growth of body, mind and spirit, combining a finely tuned intuition, understanding of oriental diagnosis, posture and breathing. The unique quality of Shiatsu is that it emphasises efficient bodily movement and perception from one's true physical and spiritual centre.

Shiatsu technique involves stretching, leverage and leaning your weight into various parts of the recipient's body to encourage greater harmony of energy, circulation, flexibility and postural integrity. Many of the techniques are applied to the same system of energy channels or 'meridians' as used in acupuncture, although in Shiatsu each channel is felt to cover a greater area of the body.

Studying Shiatsu will your allow mind, body and spirit to come into greater harmony so that you can look, feel and be healthier, as well as help others.

Why Study Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a method which allows us to give and receive care, warmth and healing through non-intrusive touch. Its potential role within society is forever increasing as we become more divorced from direct personal communication and tactile human contact. The role of the European Shiatsu School (ESS) is to help promote the awareness and application of Shiatsu, and thus contribute to a more harmonious society.

Studying Shiatsu does not mean you have to become a practitioner and develop a new career. Some students learn Shiatsu primarily because they wish to improve their own health and because they enjoy giving Shiatsu to family, friends and colleagues.

The Japanese character for human; each stem is clearly supporting the other. Mutual support is achieved by leaning and relaxing, an essential part of Shiatsu

Who Studies Shiatsu?

A complete cross-section of people with a common interest in health and consciousness study with us. We operate a non-discriminatory school offering equal opportunity to all.

Our courses are designed to take those of you with no previous knowledge of the healing arts up to Practitioner level through graded levels of study. Those of you who are already established in other areas of health care will find our courses highly complementary to your existing skills, mainly because we strongly emphasise the principles of: efficient use of the body, the use of support & connection rather than force, continuity and fluency of technique and empathy.

Many people are drawn to the programme simply because it offers a means of inner awakening and self-transformation through the development of vitality, along with a profound sense of greater connection with others and with the environment. Shiatsu offers an enjoyable and satisfying experience in itself, without necessarily taking it to professional level. The Foundation Course is designed not only to form Stage One of your practitioner training, but to provide this basis, and to enable you to effectively relieve stress and minor ailments amongst your friends.

For those of you who wish to deepen your skills and gain further experience in detecting disharmony within yourselves and others, and effectively help achieve optimum health, we recommend continuing into Stage Two of our professional practitioner training programme. Graduates of the full Practitioner Course are equipped with the necessary experience and confidence required to treat members of the public.