What is CBShiatsu
CBShiatsu is a training and research facility for the Shiatsu profession. CBShiatsu promotes the practice of Shiatsu as a form of meridian therapy based on the classical principles of oriental medical theory.

I founded CBShiatsu in 2004 to promote the understanding of the core principles of Oriental Medicine within the Shiatsu profession. I also wish to encourage the clinical use of the classical meridian system, classical diagnosis and treatment principles, as laid down in the classic texts, in the practice of Shiatsu. CBShiatsu is also designed to acts as a focal point within the Shiatsu profession for practitioners to foster the understanding of health, disease and therapeutics based on these principles and practices.

If you are interested in Shiatsu whether as a student who is just finished your training and are about to enter the profession, or are a Shiatsu practitioner with several years of practice behind you or an experienced Shiatsu teacher, CBShiatsu is there to provide support, ongoing professional training in Shatsu as a classically based meridian therapy, and research for your professional development.

Our courses, support groups, research programs and study material are designed to help the Shiatsu practitioner to integrate as much of this expertise as they wish into their own style and practice of Shiatsu, working in their own way and at their own pace. Courses are conducted in a relaxed and fun environment and aim to build on and develop the practitioners own skills and technique. Emphasis is always placed on skills that are both patient centered and clinically effective.

The "Classics" and Why Return to Them

When we refer to the classics we are referring to three things:

• Classical Channel System
• Classical Diagnosis
• Classic Texts of Oriental Medicine

The Classical Channel System

This is the complete system of the flow of Qi as described in the Classics of Oriental Medical Theory. It includes not only the surface pathways of the main channels but also their internal pathways and their interconnecting branches. This is the complete meridian system and it gives the practitioner a comprehensive and three dimensional working model of the Qi-flow in the body. It allows us to see the channels as an integrated system, which unites all the different parts of the human body into an organic whole.

Most of the meridian charts used by the Shiatsu world today, although based on this classical model, are simplifications of it and generally consider only the surface pathways. This gives the practitioner only a two dimensional picture of the body-mind, which can give the appearance of the channels as being separate and unconnected. These models are not articulate enough to allow us to fully understand the clinical realities of our patients.

An example: you see a patient with digestive problems affecting the stomach and bowels and come up with Lung Kyo in your diagnosis. You may wonder what is the connection between this palpatory diagnosis and their symptoms and how the tonification of this channel will affect their digestion.

Through the understanding of the complete channel system, you will know that the Lung channel emerges from the stomach and that it's internal trajectory descends into the abdomen, connecting with the intestines, then ascends through the diaphragm into the chest and the Lungs themselves before surfacing at Lu-1, where the superficial part of it's pathway starts. This allows you a deeper understand the relationship between your channel diagnosis and the patient´s symptoms. Furthermore, the knowedge of the complete pathway of the main Lung channel will guide you to making the appropriate Shiatsu connections between the channel and specific areas of treatment in the epigastrium and abdomen thus deepening the effect of the Lung channel tonification with regard to the patient´s digestive system and their body as a whole.

The complete channel system offers us numerous possibilities for connections like this throughout the body (head, throat, chest, torso and limbs), giving the practitioner multiple treatment opportunities and increases the expression, precision and effectiveness of their treatments. The practitioner gains a fully rounded understanding of the energetic dynamics of the human body-mind deepening our understanding of:

• The interrelationship between the surface of the body and the interior.
• How the channels and the Organs function together.
• How the channels interconnect with each other.
• How the channels connect with and influence the parts of the body not described on a surface map of the meridians.
• How feelings sensations, signs and symptoms migrate between the channels.
• How seemingly scattered signs and symptoms can be understood and treated within the context of a clear Kyo and Jitsu diagnosis.

The clinical use of the classic channel system allows the practitioner to:

• Expand the breadth and extent of the channel selected for treatment.
• Expand and vary the range of techniques applicable to a given channel.
• Interact between the Kyo and Jitsu channels more fluently and effectively.
• Move freely between channels without loosing diagnostic focus.
• Connect with the different depths of qi-flow within a channel.

Tsubos (Points) and the channels:

Shiatsu as a Meridian therapy focuses on the channels. Tsubos are points of qi concentration within the channels. They are access-points into the patient´s energetic system and provide diagnostic and treatment opportunities by connecting the practitioner with the patient´s qi. We at CBShiatsu regard tsubos and channels from a classical viewpoint and as such see them as being inseparable aspects of the qi-dynamic. Both are used to the full in our Shiatsu practice.

Classical Diagnosis

The Classics also give us a unique diagnostic process consisting of a variety of procedures. Each procedure allows us to perceive the body-mind each from its own different vantage point. These diagnostic points of view make sense in relation to each other and bring the practitioner, through moment to moment precision, to an awareness and understanding of the whole.

Human awareness takes place through the prism of the senses and classical diagnosis calls on the practitioner to utilise all of our sense faculties to diagnose the patient. Any one of the senses is not complex enough in itself to fully appreciate the different aspects of the dynamics of the body-mind. The sum of the senses is greater than its parts and when the senses are focused together, through the consciousness of the practitioner, they form the centre piece of a diagnostic system that is profound, astute and clinically significant.

Classical diagnosis is based on the four pillars of:

• Looking
• Listening and smelling
• Asking
• Palpating

(The sense of taste is considered within the context of the five flavours, which, although having diagnostic relevance, will be dealt with elsewhere).

The integration of classical diagnosis into Shiatsu practice will enhance the practitioner´s clinical skills allowing them to:

• Deepen and clarify their touch diagnosis.
• Place the touch diagnosis within the context of the wider diagnositic perspective of the patient.
• Identify and understand the clinical relevance of what is being palpated.
• Understand presenting symptoms within the context of the whole.
• Understand seemingly contradicting diagnostic factors.
• Understand and identify serious conditions.
• Improve diagnostic accuracy.
• Effectively monitor the progress of the patient.

Classical diagnosis guides the practitioner through the landscape of the body-mind whilst connecting us therapeutically with the patient´s energy. Classical diagnosis is therefore an essential part of the therapeutic process itself.

The Classic Texts of Oriental Medicine

The root principles of Oriental Medical Therapy are laid down in the Classics. They define meridian therapy. The written part of the tradition starts with the Yellow Emperor´s Inner Canon and continues in an unbroken line until today. We define the Classics primarily as the main root texts of the tradition, including:

• The Yellow Emperor´s Inner Canon (Simple Questions and Spiritual Pivot)
• The Classic of Difficulties
• Discussion on Cold-Induced Diseases
• Essentials of the Golden Cabinet

Later texts, which are either commentaries of the root texts or developments of the tradition defined by them, are also considered.

Shiatsu has seen many developments in the theories used by the modern day practitioner. These include influences from Western medical models and other therapies, as well as variations on the meridian system developed by individual practitioners. We at CBShiatsu believe that no matter which style of Shiatsu they practice, the study and understanding of Oriental medicine (which is the root of the various styles of Shiatsu) can help any practitioner:

• To deepen their understanding of Meridian Therapy and the classical view of health, disease and therapeutics as applied to Shiatsu.
• To expand their knowledge of the meridians, improve the depth and accuracy of their diagnosis and increase the effectiveness of their treatments.
• To effectively and accurately monitor the patient´s progress.
• To communicate and work with other practitioners of the other branches Oriental Medicine.

The core principles of palpatory diagnosis and treatment are to be found at the heart of nearly all of the main classic texts of oriental medicne and so we as Shiatsu practitioners can confidently look to these texts as a source of knowledge and expertise.