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...

Book: The Spirit of Shiatsu

Ivan Bel is one of a new generation of Shiatsu practitioners who are working hard on many levels to bring this noble art to new heights of professionalism and public visibility. One of the many assets Ivan brings to this creative endeavour is his experience as a...
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...

Newsletter

If you don’t want to miss any article, course, interview or information about Shiatsu, subscribe to our newsletter.

    By continuing, you agree to the privacy policy (link)

    Order Book

    The Spirit of Shiatsu
    The Spirit of Shiatsu
    By Ivan Bel
    Order
    ×