Shiatsu Bodywork Academy

Shiatsu Bodywork Academy Shiatsu Bodywork Academy offers courses in Shiatsu - the Art of Japanese Bodywork. Intro to Diploma.

07/11/2025

This simple self-hold signals safety to your nervous system. According to polyvagal theory, your vagus nerve responds to cues of calm — warmth, touch, and steady rhythm — helping shift you out of “fight or flight” and into a state of rest and repair.
Just a few quiet minutes like this before sleep can settle your whole system and deepen your rest. Try it tonight — and notice how your body softens when it feels safe.

Join us for a free Shiatsu Evening exploring the Hara — the body’s energetic centre.In Japanese and Chinese traditions, ...
06/11/2025

Join us for a free Shiatsu Evening exploring the Hara — the body’s energetic centre.
In Japanese and Chinese traditions, the Hara (belly) is the source of life energy. When we move and touch from this centre, energy flows with ease and both giver and receiver feel grounded and connected.
You’ll learn simple hands-on techniques, give and receive Shiatsu, and enjoy herbal tea and conversation to close.
No experience needed — just curiosity and an open heart.
🕯️ 25th November | 6–8pm | Numi Yoga Space, Kerikeri
💫 Free event — RSVP essential. Message us to reserve your spot.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1163749611804757

Kati's message is the essence of our Shiatsu Weekend Retreats — a chance to slow down, reconnect, and learn through touc...
05/11/2025

Kati's message is the essence of our Shiatsu Weekend Retreats — a chance to slow down, reconnect, and learn through touch. Each weekend offers a blend of hands-on practice, self-care, and embodied learning that leaves you feeling refreshed, inspired, and more at home in yourself.
It’s amazing what a weekend of presence can do.

Shiatsu isn’t designed for quick fixes — it’s a practice that honours the body’s natural pace of healing. While one sess...
04/11/2025

Shiatsu isn’t designed for quick fixes — it’s a practice that honours the body’s natural pace of healing. While one session may bring relief or clarity, real transformation unfolds over time. Each treatment layers new awareness into the body, encouraging deeper balance and resilience. In Shiatsu, we don’t chase symptoms; we listen to what lies beneath them. True wellbeing takes patience, presence, and care — not shortcuts. When we allow time for the process, the results reach far beyond the treatment room, rippling into daily life and lasting change.

We Retreat with the Seasons - Aligning our lives with the rhythms of nature brings balance, vitality, and deep connectio...
02/11/2025

We Retreat with the Seasons - Aligning our lives with the rhythms of nature brings balance, vitality, and deep connection.

Living in Rhythm - Each season carries its own energy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Retreating with the seasons helps us tune into these natural cycles.

Seasonal Focus
*Spring – growth & vision
*Summer – joy & connection
*Late Summer – grounding & nourish
*Autumn – reflection & letting go
*Winter – rest & restoration

Benefits of Seasonal Retreats - Support body, mind & spirit - Learn practices rooted in TCM & Shiatsu - Build resilience by moving in harmony with the seasons

Join us:
Stay connected to seasonal wisdom and be the first to hear about upcoming retreats.
👉 Join our seasonal retreat mailing list today.
https://shiatsubodyworkacademy.nz/contact/newsletter/

"The Spring wind is howling while I’m bursting with laughter — wishing for flowers"春風に吹き出し笑ふ花もがな haru kaze ni fukidashi ...
02/11/2025

"The Spring wind is howling while I’m bursting with laughter — wishing for flowers"
春風に吹き出し笑ふ花もがな haru kaze ni fukidashi warau hana mogana
by Matsuo Basho, Spring, 1668

This haiku by Bashō captures a moment of playful longing: as the spring wind blows wildly, the poet bursts into spontaneous laughter — wishing there were flowers around to share in that joy.
It speaks to that childlike delight inside us that wants nature to witness our happiness… and blossom with us.

31/10/2025

Today, as we honour the Day of the Dead, we pause to reflect on the beautiful cycle of life, death, and renewal — a rhythm deeply understood in the philosophy behind Shiatsu.
While this is rarely discussed as a topic within Shiatsu, death is not an ending, but a transformation — a return to the earth, the air, and the great flow of energy that connects all things. Through touch, we acknowledge not just the physical body, but also the spirit — the Po, Shen, and Hun — that weave together life, memory, and continuity.
Read more about the Shiatsu approach to death in this article we found by Tamsin Grainger, who has written books and many articles on the topics of death and grief in general, and also in relation to Shiatsu, as a shiatsu practitioner herself.
👉 https://www.tamsingrainger.com/blog-all-posts/2019/05/16/the-shiatsu-approach-to-death

31/10/2025

At the change of season, when life stirs again after winter’s stillness, the Liver energy begins to rise. Spring is the season of the Wood Element, and the Liver governs the smooth flow of Qi — movement, vision, and new beginnings.
Liver 14, known as Qi Men, translates as Gate of Hope or Gate of Cycle. It sits just below the ribs, in the 6th intercostal space, at the edge of the chest — a place where the Liver Qi transitions to the Lung. When this area is open and free, we feel expansive, inspired, and ready to take a fresh breath into life.
In Shiatsu, working with LV-14 helps release stagnation in the chest and diaphragm, freeing emotional tension, frustration, and stuck creativity. It supports the natural upward, outward movement of spring — helping Qi flow from deep inside toward expression and growth.
When you feel held back, tense in your ribs, or uncertain about your next steps, take a moment to breathe into this area. Feel the space open — your own Gate of Hope.

Our free Shiatsu Evening on Tuesday was a beautiful gathering — a small, warm group coming together to explore the art o...
30/10/2025

Our free Shiatsu Evening on Tuesday was a beautiful gathering — a small, warm group coming together to explore the art of touch, presence, and connection. We focused on the giver’s posture and how essential it is to stay comfortable, centred, and in flow when offering Shiatsu.
In Shiatsu, giving isn’t about “doing” something to someone, but being with them. When the giver relaxes, grounds, and lets their energy flow naturally, the touch becomes full, alive, and deeply nourishing for both people.
We practised moving from our centre — aligning posture, allowing the ground to support us, and transferring weight through the heel of the hand instead of using muscular effort. This shift transforms the experience: the giver’s body softens, movements become fluid, and the receiver feels safe, supported, and open to deeper healing.
Working along part of the Bladder meridian on the back, participants discovered how even the simplest techniques can balance energy and restore ease. The room felt calm, grounded, and quietly alive — a reminder that Shiatsu is more than a massage technique; it’s a way of being present.
We ended the evening sharing herbal tea, snacks, and conversation — reflecting on what we learned and how nourishing it felt to connect through mindful touch.
We enjoyed it so much that we’ve decided to host another one! Our next free Shiatsu Evening will be in November, focusing on Hara (the belly) — the body’s energetic centre.
Join us for an evening of learning, giving and receiving Shiatsu, and discovering the depth that comes from working from your centre. No experience needed — just curiosity and an open heart.

"Feeling connected through touch."Sometimes the simplest words say the most. Shiatsu isn’t just about techniques—it’s ab...
29/10/2025

"Feeling connected through touch."
Sometimes the simplest words say the most. Shiatsu isn’t just about techniques—it’s about presence, connection, and the power of touch to bring us back to ourselves and each other.

Shiatsu has deep roots in traditional Eastern philosophy, yet it continues to grow and adapt in our modern world. Some b...
28/10/2025

Shiatsu has deep roots in traditional Eastern philosophy, yet it continues to grow and adapt in our modern world. Some believe we must preserve its original form; others see evolution as essential to keep it alive and relevant. At Shiatsu Bodywork Academy, we honour both — respecting the wisdom of tradition while allowing practice to evolve through experience, research, and contemporary understanding. True Shiatsu isn’t static; it’s a living art that responds to the needs of the times while staying grounded in its essence — touch, connection, and balance.

Top Herbal Allies for Each Season: Discover nature’s wisdom through the herbs that best support your body throughout the...
26/10/2025

Top Herbal Allies for Each Season: Discover nature’s wisdom through the herbs that best support your body throughout the year.

Spring: Renewal & Movement
🌸Dandelion – supports the Liver and gentle detox
🌸Nettle – mineral-rich tonic for vitality
🌸Peppermint – uplifts energy and clears stagnation

Summer: Joy & Heart Health
🌸Hawthorn – nourishes the Heart and circulation
🌸Lemon balm – calms the spirit and eases tension
🌸Hibiscus – cools and refreshes body and mind

Late Summer: Nourishment & Stability
🌸Chamomile – soothes digestion and calms the mind
🌸Ginger – warms and supports the Spleen
🌸Licorice – harmonises and strengthens Qi

Autumn: Protection & Letting Go
🌸Astragalus – supports immunity and resilience
🌸Thyme – clears the lungs and fights seasonal bugs
🌸Sage – soothes throat and digestion

Winter: Rest & Replenishment
🌸Ginger – warms and stimulates circulation
🌸Licorice – harmonises and strengthens energy
🌸Rehmannia – deeply restorative kidney tonic

Want to learn more?
Seasonal recipes, herbal wisdom, and practical tips await you.
👉 Sign up to our newsletter and receive seasonal herbal inspiration straight to your inbox. https://shiatsubodyworkacademy.nz/download-herbal-giveaway/

Address

Old Valley Road
Okaihau
0475

Website

https://shiatsubodyworkacademy.nz/contact/newsletter/, https://shiatsubodyworkacademy

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