Shiatsu in Times of Turbulence

It was in times of trouble that many of us took up our pursuit of Shiatsu and its many magical avenues of connection. Perhaps we were ill, even chronically. We were maybe burnt out on our early career path and looking for a fresh perspective. Perhaps we were trying to...

1st symposium on traditional Japanese therapies in Florianópolis (Brazil)

On August 2 and 3, 2025, an unprecedented event took place in Brazil: the 1st Symposium on Traditional Japanese Therapies. The event brought together various teachers, professionals, and students (including those studying Shiatsu). The Symposium brought together...

Interview with Elaine Liechti: the lady of Glasgow

Elaine Liechti has been a Shiatsu practitioner and teacher since 1983, and has been teaching in Scotland since 1986. Don’t be fooled by her small stature and soft hands, because her whole career is a testament to her character as a Scottish woman and one-time Aikido...

The True Japanese Makkō-hō

In the world of Shiatsu, everyone performs stretches while naming the meridians being stretched. These exercises are called Makkō-hō and are often attributed to Shizuto Masunaga. In this in-depth article, Stéphane Cuypers follows the principle of “don’t believe what...

A Milestone: The 2025 ESF Symposium in Brussels

On February 22, 2025, history was made in Brussels. For the very first time, representatives of Shiatsu associations from all over Europe and key players from countries in which such associations don't exist yet gathered together. Hosted by the European Shiatsu...
Reflexions about Tenpeki Tamai’ Shiatsu

Reflexions about Tenpeki Tamai’ Shiatsu

Simplistically, we can divide the history of Shiatsu in a few chapters and name them in correlation with major historical events. Although we may find the ancient traces of Shiatsu in the incipient forms of Japanese bodywork, the first chapter in the history of...

Survey Results: Shiatsu and Cancer

Survey Results: Shiatsu and Cancer

Last year I launched a survey with the help of Fernando Cabo, on the perception of Shiatsu practitioners and schools of Shiatsu on a number of topics. We conducted the survey in French, English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Even if the number of answers is not as...

Hard work, soft work and much more in Shiatsu

Hard work, soft work and much more in Shiatsu

When Do prevails over Jutsu I have been practicing martial arts for 33 years now and 20 years just for Shiatsu. For years I have been obsessed with studying and learning, which is still the case, but to a lesser extent. I have sought and am still seeking approaches...

Shiatsu is based on the body

Shiatsu is based on the body

The study of Shiatsu is a vast undertaking that takes many years, and very often the standard 3- or 4- years course is not enough. Many students, including myself, go on to a second and sometimes third school in order to complete their course. This approach is...

Why study the deep path of a meridian?

Why study the deep path of a meridian?

Most Shiatsu practitioners know their meridians to their fingertips. But is this really the case? How many know that each of 12 the meridians follow pathways that can run either on the surface or deeper? The study of their deep paths greatly improves our...

Interview Chris McAlister: from Tibet to Sweden

Interview Chris McAlister: from Tibet to Sweden

As president of the European Shiatsu Federation, Chris McAlister is a personality in the world of Shiatsu. But apart from this official title, we don't know much about his life and his career. His life is like a novel of travel, adventure, martial arts and oriental...

Those Aikido masters who spread Shiatsu

Those Aikido masters who spread Shiatsu

The history of Aikido is sometimes mixed with that of Shiatsu, because many Japanese masters have spread these two skills around the world. While they were sent to different continents to disseminate Aikido, they were also great teachers of Shiatsu. Compared to the...

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