Shiatsu Society of Ontario

If you need any assistance or have questions regarding membership, please contact the SSO office and we will be happy to help you.

Our phone number is  (416) 765-2008; this is a voice mailbox which is checked twice weekly for messages.  

Your support and participation in the development of the Shiatsu Society of Ontario is necessary and appreciated. We look forward to working with you for our mutual prosperity.

 Best regards,

Keane McMillan
Membership Director

Please see the "Practitioner Level Membership" sample curriculum.

Therapist Level Membership: Minimum 1100 hours of training

Designation: Shiatsu Therapist (ST)

Membership fee: $50 per year, with renewal on
January 1st

Please see the "Therapist Level Membership" sample Curriculum.

Student Level Membership

Designation: Shiatsu Student (SS)

Membership: $15

Membership is granted to students currently enrolled in a program that fulfills the requirements listed in the 500-hour curriculum.

Support Level Membership

Designation: Supporting Member (SSup)

Membership Fee: $15 per year with renewal on
January 1st

Anyone who believes in the art of Shiatsu and desires to see it develop is welcome to become a Supporting Member of the SSO. Your membership is greatly valued.

Each application is reviewed individually. Clinical experience and training such as apprenticeship will be considered. If your training differs from the requirements in the curricula, please do not let that deter you from applying for membership. The SSO is working towards bringing unity amongst the differing styles of Shiatsu in Ontario, so your training will be reviewed to see if membership can be facilitated.

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Practitioner Level Membership: 500-hour Curriculum

Please note: This is a sample curriculum and is provided as a guideline.

Membership is granted to graduates of a 500-hour training program comparable to that listed below.

CHINESE MEDICAL THEORY (125 hours)

I. General Theory

1. Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2. Basic Cosmology
   1. Chi: Definitions, functions
   2. Concepts of Tao, Chi, Yin/Yang, 10,000 things
   3. Five elements
3. Comparison of Eastern & Western medicine: including the basic concepts of disease and treatment in each.

II. Yin/Yang

1. Concepts of Yin/Yang -- properties and principles
2. Yin/Yang relationships
3. Yin/Yang imbalances in the body

III. Five Elements (Five Phases)

1. Description, historical basis and context within Chinese philosophy
2. Laws of the five elements (Creation and Control Cycles)
3. Five elements related to the body
4. Correspondences

IV. Fundamental Substances of the body (descriptions, formation, circulation, functions and relationships among them)

1. Qi (Ki)
2. Blood (Xue)
3. Jing (Essence)
4. Shen (Spirit)
5. Fluids (Jin Ye)

V. Meridians and Channels

1. 12 Master Meridians
   1. Description and Anatomical Location -- Practical
   2. Function and Relationship to Organs -- Theory
   3. Paired Relationships
   4. Main Pathological Signs
2. 8 Extraordinary Meridians
   1. Description and Anatomical Location -- Practical
   2. Functions and Relationships -- Theory
   3. Main Pathological Signs
3. 12 Linking Meridians
4. Channels -- 15 Main Conjunctive, Medium, Small, Superficial Channels

VI. Organ Theory - (functions, description and typical signs of imbalance of disturbed functions)

1. The five Zang (Yin) organs (viscera) plus the pericardium
2. The six Fu (Yang) organs (bowels) including Triple Warmer theory
3. The Curious organs (Brain, Uterus, Gall Bladder)

VII. Points

1. Effective Points
2. General description
3. Anatomical location and main indications

1. Twelve general points (LI 4, ST 36, SP 6, SI 10, BL40/54, GB20, GB 21, GB 30, LV 3, CV 4, CV 17, GV 20)
2. Tonification and dispersion points
3. Source points (Yuan points)
4. Connecting points (Luo points)
5. Front Mu (Alarm points)
6. Back Shu (Associated points)
7. Beginning and Ending points

VIII. Evaluation by Observation - the four examinations

1. Looking
   1. Spirit
   2. Complexion
   3. 3. Body appearance
   4. Tongue
2. Listening/smell
3. Questioning
4. Palpating (touching)
   1. Hara -- 5 Element
   2. Channels and points
   3. Mu and Shu Points

IX. Pathology - causes and patterns of disease or imbalance

1. Etiology - cause of the imbalance
   1. Exogenous causes -- the six exogenous pathogens
   2. Endogenous causes -- the seven emotions
   3. Miscellaneous factors -- blood stagnation, phlegm, infections, injury and lifestyle
2. Patterns of imbalances and assessment
   1. The Five Elements
   2. The Four Levels (Defense, Qi, Nutritive, Blood)

SHIATSU DISCIPLINE TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE (250 hours)

A.     Correct and effective use of body, weight, breath and posture

B. Techniques:

1. Palm
2. Thumb
3. Finger
4. Fist
5. Elbow
6. Knee
7. Other techniques

C. Full body routines:

1. Sitting
2. Prone
3. Supine
4. Side position

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE  (100 hours)

1. Supervised clinical practice.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT- (25 hours)

A.     Legal considerations and ethics (10 hours)

B.     Shiatsu treatments received from instructor/therapist.

C.    Treatments given to instructor (2 hours)

D.    Basic CPR

E.     Students will be required to log 60 treatments given as well as 30 treatments received as part of their course work

F.     Special diagnosis workshop

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Therapist Level Membership - 1100-Hour Curriculum

(1)   Advanced Diagnosis -- Pulse, Tongue, and Masunaga Hara Diagnosis

(2)   Taoist Embryology

(3)   Masunaga Meridians -- Theory

SHIATSU PRACTICAL (125 hours)

(1)   Masunaga Meridians -- Practical

(2)   Advanced Zen Shiatsu Technique

CLINIC EXPERIENCE (100 hours)

SELF DEVELOPMENT (100 hours)

(1)   Qi Gong (15 hours)

(2)   Tai Ji (40 hours)

(3)   Yoga (45 hours)

ALLIED THERAPIES (50 hours)

(1)   Moxibustion (15 hours)

(2)   Sotai (15 hours)

(3)   Macrobiotics (10 hours)

(4)   Feng Shui (10 hours)

TREATMENTS (10 hours)

(1)   Treatments given to an instructor (2 hours)

(2)   Treatments received from an instructor (8 hours)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (40 hours)

(1)   Business Fundamental (40 hours)

WESTERN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (125 hours)