This course is designed to teach the profound techniques of Movement Shiatsu and leads to qualification as a Shiatsu professional. The first year can be taken as a self-contained, one year foundation in Movement Shiatsu. The course is modular and emphasises quality of touch and self-development as well as integrating Western Anatomy and Oriental Medical Theory in a unique way. No previous knowledge of Shiatsu or Oriental Medicine is assumed.

What is Movement Shiatsu

Movement Shiatsu is based on the idea that any organism has a naturally evolved ability to self-adapt and to heal itself, and that this self-adjustment is more sustainable than external intervention.

This ability depends on all parts of the the body being able to communicate effectively and being able to sense its environment correctly. So the capacity of self-healing is undermined if the communication channels are blocked or distorted.

Movement Shiatsu uses touch, movement and specific exercises to teach awareness of all the different aspects of the body and to help the different parts to communicate. So it does not focus on particular problems but believes that they will resolve themselves if the person is given the right awareness and tools.

It is therefore a specially effective approach to use with chronic issues where there is a resistence to intervention and also in situations like cerebral palsy and rehabilitation from strokes or injury, where the necessary adaptation may not follow a 'normal' path.

It is also provides clients with practical tools for dealing with emotional or physical issues through sensory intelligence and body processing.

The course focuses on the following areas:

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  Quality of Touch:
  Using specific qualities of touch one can focus the client's attention on very fine detail of their anatomy, so that they learn to distinguish individual muscles, bones, organs and connective tissues. This awareness helps their body to take care of itself and find new ways of adapting to change.
• 
  Developmental Movement
  Bill Palmer's extensive research into child development has shown that babies learn to use their bodies through movements which evolve precisely long the pathways of the traditional oriental meridians. The muscles, organs and other structures along the meridians are exactly those which need to work together to perform whole-body actions through which we not only learn to physically move, but also develop cognitive and emotional capacities. This gives a very satisfying explanation of meridians and also knits together western anatomy and oriental medical theory. It is the fundamental theory underlying Movement Shiatsu.
• 
  Experiential Anatomy
  Learning detailed anatomy in such a way that you can experiment with movement, finding new ways of moving and re-patterning old disfunctional habits.
• 
  Shiatsu
  Shiatsu uses touch on specific points and manipulation to open up channels of communication in the body. the theory of Movement Shiatsu links these channels to the development of movement in infants, so it is working with the pathways through which we learn to use our body in the first place.
• 
  Body-mind Exercise - Six Chennel Qi Gong
  Bodywork can shine a light on parts of the body that have been in shadow but it is through the exercises taught in the course that people can really develop and change. The exercises are very specific and help the body, breathing and intention to synchronise and work together.
• 
  Self-awareness
  Most people do not learn or change through advice but through copying. If the therapist explores themselves then they will be guiding the client from inner experience, not from external knowledge.

Year 1 Modules (Can be taken as a self contained course)

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  Oct 6-7 Introduction to Movement Shiatsu
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  Nov 10-11, Dec 15-16, Jan 12-13,Feb 16-17, March 16-17,April 13-14: The Six Forms of Touch
  - Learning in detail how different qualities of touch and relationship influence the elemental and energetic functions of the client.
• 
  May 18-19: Experiential Anatomy
  - Most of this is taught online with this weekend to fully embody the knowledge
• 
  June 7-9: Developmental Movement and Meridians
  - Open to people not taking the full course
• 
  July 18-21: Six Channel Qi Gong and Outer Rushen
  - End of year residential in Dorset.

Cost, Time & Location: