Shiatsu Training Schedule

  • The next Shiatsu Certification program is to be announced
  • The shiatsu training meets every Monday 5:30-8:30
  • Anatomy on the 4th Monday of each month.
  • In Level 3 of the Training there will be 70 hours of supervised clinic during weekends. See the schedule for Details

This is a 500-hour AOBTA certification program designed to be completed in 18 months. Shiatsu originates from Japan and emphasizes a style of body work with roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine, theory and practice. The literal translation of Shiatsu is “finger pressure”, however, one uses fingers, thumbs, knuckles, palms, elbows, knees and feet in the process of giving Shiatsu. In TCM, harmony of Qi within the human body is considered essential to health and is the aim of Shiatsu.

The Oriental tradition describes the world in terms of energy. Shiatsu creates harmony of our inner energies with that of the universe. To stay healthy a person must continually adapt to the changes going on within and outside the body. If these adaptations do not take place, illness or disharmony can manifest. Shiatsu helps facilitate this process of adaptation for the giver and receiver. Everyone responds to touch and has healing power within them, but to heal others you must first begin with yourself. This Shiatsu training helps you develop the tools to do this.

Program Objectives

  • At the completion of the three-level certification program, the student will be able to:
  • Execute a fluid and graceful full-body Shiatsu session in the 5-Element Style
  • Plan a treatment strategy after completing the 4 stages of evaluation and derive this strategy from the Generation and Control cycles
  • Trace and palpate the 12 meridian pathways and locate the required points on their partner’s body
  • List the 5-Element associations and use these associations to identify patterns of disharmony on their partner
  • Describe the basic concepts of Qi, Blood, Jing, and Shen
  • Palpate and identify areas of the Hara and evaluate for Kyo and Jitsu
  • Demonstrate a variety of hands-on techniques and positions including: prone, supine, side-lying, seated, barefoot, table, and a variety of stretches and transitions
  • Incorporate into their basic session a number of techniques to facilitate Tonification and Dispersal of Qi including: intention, breath, Generation and Control cycles, use of appropriate points, and amount and duration of pressure
  • Perform Shiatsu energetic corrective exercises and have a rudimentary command of meditation and visualization techniques in order to center self and prepare to work
  • Incorporate the elective material into shiatsu sessions, including: Moxabustion, Tui Na, Reflexology, Chinese First Aid, and Cupping techniques
  • Know the contraindications for pregnancy
  • Develop treatment strategies for various conditions

National Certification

The 500-hour program fulfills the educational standards set by the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA). *After completion of the program graduates will be able to practice within the state of Massachusetts, though if you wish to practice in other states you need to check about state regulations and additional certifications.

Karuna Yoga > Shiatsu Certification > Training Schedule