Shiatsu Practitioner Diploma Course

Years two and three (stages 3&4) of the Shiatsu Practitioner diploma course follow on from the shiatsu bodywork course will focus on improving on the practical skills learnt during that first year (stages 1 & 2) and on developing a sound understanding of Chinese medicine theory and diagnosis. Years two and three are each run over 11 weekends. The syllabus will include but is not limited to:

Year 2

Five Elements:

A large part of year 2 will be spent reviewing and expanding upon the Five Elements and their use in understanding illness and dis-ease in the body and assessment and treatment protocols based around this theory

Vital Substances:

Understanding the function and pathology of Qi, Blood, Jing and Body Fluids according to the principles of Chinese Medicine.

Eight Principles:

The eight principles provide a model for understanding the relationship between bodily signs and symptoms and the movement of Qi in an individual.

Causes of Disease:

The effect of the emotions and environment on the human body and how they are viewed by Chinese medicine.

Zang Fu patterns of disharmony:

Patterns or syndromes are a way of categorizing signs and symptoms into groups that reflect the underlying disharmony of the body which manifests as illness.

The Four Examinations – Diagnostic Skills

Looking, Listening, Asking and Palpation (touch). Ways to gather information including traditional Oriental Hara, pulse and tongue diagnosis.

The Therapeutic Encounter

Client-Practitioner skills, building rapport, how to take a case history, record keeping, ethics and practitioner development.

Meridians Revisited

Practical reviews of the meridians from a 5 Element and six division perspective. How to choose and pair meridians for a full body treatment

Point Location

Reviewing and locating all the points required for the final exams. There will be ongoing point location assessments and a point location test at the end of the year.

Regular practical feedback and evaluation:

One to one feedback on your technique.

Anatomy & Physiology Home study module:

If not completed in year 1

Practice treatments and case histories:

You will be required to complete 2 case histories and 50 recorded shiatsu treatments to complete this stage of the course

 Written Exams:

The Final theory exams will be taken at the end of year 2

Year 3

Year Three of the Practitioner Diploma Course is all about putting theory into practice and improving your practical and theoretical knowledge and abilities. You will gain extensive clinical practice in the student clinic, thorough integration of theory with practice as the theory curriculum is completed. enhancement of all practical skills, and the teaching of useful adjuncts such as moxibustion and cupping. Comprehensive instruction on patient management and ethics are given along with all that is necessary to help you set up a successful practice. Th.is final year of the course leads to full membership of the Shiatsu Society UK

During year three you will learn about the pathologies of the human body as viewed from both Oriental and Western perspectives and ways to treat them through shiatsu and Oriental medicine

Supervised Clinical practice:

There will be eight supervised clinical practice days during which you will take case histories and treat clients in a supervised clinic

Understanding Illness

Understanding how pathology and disease affect the body and looking at common physical problems and illnesses and how we can help them e.g. asthma, headaches, muscular skeletal problems, gynaecology, pregnancy etc.

Meridians Review

Practical reviews of the classical meridians, their deep pathways and interrelationships

Point Location

Reviewing and locating all the points required for the final school and MRSS exams

Regular practical feedback and evaluation:

One to one feedback and assessment of your technique.

 Moxa and Cupping:

Moxibustion and cupping are two useful adjuncts to treatment

Practice treatments:

You will be required to complete 100 recorded shiatsu treatments and 4 full case histories to complete this stage of the course

 Portfolio & Assessment:

There are no written exams during this stage however there will be ongoing assessments and essays to complete throughout the year. Students will be asked to build a portfolio throughout their three years and hand this in for marking prior to their practical assessments.

Practical Assessment and Point Location Exams

The last weekend will be set aside for the final practical assessments and point location exam

It is required that all students attend a recognised first aid course before final certification.

The Cost for the Shiatsu Practitioner Diploma course is £1950.00 per year

Self Study

All of our courses are part time with attendance over evenings, single days and weekends but for our certificated courses you will need to allow for 4 – 6 hours of self directed home study per week.