24 & 25 november 2023

Shiatsu is not TCM and TCM is not Shiatsu. Nonetheless, we can benefit big time, if we integrate some aspects of TCM knowledge in our treatment. Shiatsu usually works with the Hara diagnosis. A wonderful tool. It tells us about the Kyo and Jitsu states of the organs and we try to balance them via the treatment of the meridians. This works great with some clients. But it doesn’t work with all clients. Because the information about Kyo and Jitsu is not enough, if we have to deal with certain patterns. If we integrate the most common TCM patterns into our shiatsu diagnosis & treatment it will make your shiatsu more effective / efficient. The TCM patterns that we’ll discuss are: Kidney Yin/yang deficiency; Liver Blood deficiency and Spleen Qi deficiency. We will focus on a fruitful synthesis between Shiatsu and TCM and how to deepen our understanding of energetic patterns and treatment strategies.

Seiki is heel in het kort de minimalistische variant van shiatsu ontwikkelt door Kishi Norbu San. De Vlaming Frans Copers heeft Kishi gedurende 20 jaar begeleid in zijn reizen en seminars in Europa. Frans is verder getraind in Aikido en heeft jarenlang een macrobiotisch restaurant gehad. In eerdere seiki behandelingen die ik zelf van Frans heb gekregen vond ik de rust die in een behandeling optreedt bijzonder. Vanuit die rust (vanuit de ontvanger, maar ook zelf als gever) gebeurt heel veel. Less is more!

Philippe Vandenabeele is a senior Shiatsu practitioner and teacher based in Fukuoka, Japan. He has specialized in Ampuku and wrote a book about it. His book ‘Ampuku Abdominal Acupressure: The Classics at the Heart of Japanese Bodywork’ is available at Amazon. Once a year he visits Europe to teach workshops. For more information: http://www.shinzui-bodywork.com. Ampuku is an abdominal massage that focuses on – but is not restricted to – the Hara.  Masunaga wrote: ‘Ampuku is a very important part of Shiatsu and can contribute enormously toward helping the critically ill and those patients who require calm but penetrating manipulation. Ampuku therapy not only allows the patient to remain tranquil, it also rehabilitates the patient’s internal functioning’.  In Japan and in the Japanese healing arts the belly or ‘Hara’ is seen as an important – even the most important – energetic centre of the body. This energetic centre is considered as a microcosm that has a huge impact on our overall wellbeing and vitality. In recent years, scientific research has deepened our understanding of the importance of the belly and the gut, and the enteric nervous system, on our overall health; the number of studies, articles and books on the subject increases every year.

The energy of the Water Element is the most powerful resource in our system. To really understand the water element, we have to understand the trigram Kan of the I Ching. Kan is the key to develop Qi, vitality, longevity, willpower and sexual drive. It can be the root of many diseases, from back pain to Tinnitus to Long Covid.  In these two days we will deepen our Shiatsu by developing an understanding of Kan which will help us with the treatment of many symptoms. Water is the root of Yin and Yang in our body, as the trigram Kan contains water and fire. So we have to ask ourselves the question if the Kyo has Yin or Yang character, if the Jitsu has Yin or Yang character and treat accordingly. But Kan (Ming = “destiny / calling”) has also a very deep spiritual meaning. Kan invites us, to walk our Ming through the power of our Shen, our spirit. Again: Water and Fire come together to create a unique power that can navigate us joyfully & meaningfully trough life.

Originally scheduled to take place in April 2020 but was postponed because of the consecutive Covid Lockdowns…

Frans Copers (Belgium) Seiki – part II, 8 & 9 June 2021 in The Hague