Shiatsu Bodywork Academy

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

Meridian of the Month: Pericardium MeridianHonouring the heart’s guardian — the boundary between deep feeling and the ou...
11/01/2026

Meridian of the Month: Pericardium Meridian
Honouring the heart’s guardian — the boundary between deep feeling and the outer world.
The Pericardium, also known as the Heart Protector, shields the Heart from emotional overwhelm and shock. It governs how we connect and relate, allowing warmth and intimacy while maintaining healthy boundaries.

When the Pericardium Meridian Is Imbalanced, signs may include:
– Emotional exhaustion or withdrawal
– Over-sensitivity or lack of boundaries
– Feeling guarded or disconnected in relationships
– Heart palpitations or anxiety
Balancing this meridian supports open-hearted connection without losing your centre.

Self-Connection Point – Pericardium 6 (Neiguan)
Located on the inner wrist, about three finger-widths above the wrist crease, between the tendons.
Gently press or hold this point to:
– Calm the mind and open the heart
– Relieve anxiety or nausea
– Ease tension in the chest
A beautiful point for centring when emotions feel intense.

Cultivating Pericardium Qi
– Practise loving-kindness meditation or heart-focused breathing
– Spend time with people who feel safe and supportive
– Create rituals of self-care that nourish your emotional body
– Use touch, warmth, and breath to reconnect with your heart space

The Pericardium teaches us to love with wisdom.
When it’s balanced, we can connect deeply while staying grounded in self-awareness.

‘Believe in people, but believe in yourself a hundred times more.’ — Osamu Tezuka, Japanese manga artist and storyteller...
11/01/2026

‘Believe in people, but believe in yourself a hundred times more.’ — Osamu Tezuka, Japanese manga artist and storyteller.
Tezuka’s words remind us that trust and faith in others are important, but the deepest source of guidance and strength always comes from within. When you cultivate belief in yourself — your intuition, your abilities, your values — you navigate life with confidence and clarity, even amidst uncertainty.
In bodywork and healing practices, this is especially true: trusting your own hands, your sense of touch, and your instincts allows you to offer more presence and care to others. Belief in yourself amplifies your ability to connect, support, and make a meaningful impact.
✨ Today, notice one area where you can trust yourself a little more — what might shift if you believed in your own wisdom first?

09/01/2026

Autumn is demonstrating a gentle self-Shiatsu practice along the Heart meridian, which runs from the armpit down the inner arm to the little finger.
In Shiatsu, the Heart meridian is linked with circulation, emotional balance, and our capacity for connection and joy.
A few mindful strokes each day can help soothe the nervous system and bring awareness back to the heart.

Hands-On Learning & Connection Curious about Shiatsu? Come try it in a relaxed, welcoming space.Our free event, Pathways...
08/01/2026

Hands-On Learning & Connection
Curious about Shiatsu? Come try it in a relaxed, welcoming space.
Our free event, Pathways to Joy: Heart & Small Intestine Meridians, offers guided exercises, pair work, theory, and group discussion — perfect for beginners.
13 January 2026, 6–8pm, Kerikeri (location TBC).
A hands-on evening to explore touch, connection, and the Fire element.
Everyone welcome. Refreshments included.

“Really loved it. Amazing food. A great introduction to Shiatsu.”Our retreats are designed to nourish you — body, mind, ...
07/01/2026

“Really loved it. Amazing food. A great introduction to Shiatsu.”
Our retreats are designed to nourish you — body, mind, and spirit.
They’re a gentle entry point into the world of Shiatsu, where you can learn simple techniques, reconnect with your body, and experience the beauty of mindful touch.
And yes — the food is part of the medicine too. Fresh, seasonal, and lovingly prepared to support your journey.
If you’ve been curious about Shiatsu or looking for a weekend to reset and reconnect, join us for our next retreat.

New Beginnings – Inviting balance, learning, and community into the year aheadEvery new beginning carries the energy of ...
06/01/2026

New Beginnings – Inviting balance, learning, and community into the year ahead
Every new beginning carries the energy of possibility. At Shiatsu Bodywork Academy, we welcome the year with open hearts — ready to learn, share, and grow together. Shiatsu teaches that transformation happens through rhythm, presence, and connection. As we move into a new cycle, we invite balance and curiosity to guide us, both in practice and in life. Here’s to new friendships, deeper learning, and a community built on touch, trust, and the flow of Qi.

Yin-Yang, Qi, and the Five Elements – simple, visual, and easy to understand.Yin and Yang are complementary energies in ...
04/01/2026

Yin-Yang, Qi, and the Five Elements – simple, visual, and easy to understand.

Yin and Yang are complementary energies in everything.
🌿Yin: cool, restful, inward, nourishing
🌿Yang: warm, active, outward, energising
Balance between Yin and Yang = harmony in body and mind

Qi is the body’s life force, flowing through meridians.
🌿Supports movement, circulation, and vitality
🌿When Qi flows freely, we feel healthy and balanced
🌿Blocked or weak Qi = tension, fatigue, or imbalance

The Five Elements represent natural cycles in the body and life:
🌿Wood: growth, flexibility, Liver
🌿Fire: warmth, energy, Heart
🌿Earth: nourishment, stability, Spleen
🌿Metal: structure, clarity, Lungs
🌿Water: depth, storage, Kidneys
Each element interacts with the others, supporting balance and health

Why It Matters
TCM concepts help you:
🌿Understand your body’s patterns and energy
🌿Recognise seasonal and emotional influences
🌿Make choices to support harmony and wellbeing

TCM is a framework for understanding body, mind, and nature.
Follow to explore how Yin-Yang, Qi, and the Five Elements can guide self-care and balance.

Which element do you feel most connected to? Comment below!

‘Words are not meant to stir the air only: they are capable of moving greater things.’ — Natsume Sōseki, Japanese noveli...
04/01/2026

‘Words are not meant to stir the air only: they are capable of moving greater things.’ — Natsume Sōseki, Japanese novelist.
Sōseki reminds us that communication is never just about sound — it carries energy, intention, and meaning. In bodywork, this is especially true: touch is a language of its own. A hand on the shoulder, a gentle stretch, a supportive hold — these gestures can move emotions, release tension, and create deep connection.
Just as words can resonate beyond their literal meaning, touch in bodywork speaks to the body, mind, and heart all at once. Every session becomes a conversation, not with voices, but with presence, care, and awareness.
✨ How has a simple gesture or touch moved you in a powerful way?

02/01/2026

Shiatsu isn’t just something I do for others — it’s a practice that continually brings me back to myself. Every time I work, I’m reminded to centre, to breathe, to return to presence. It’s a moving meditation that anchors me in my own body while staying deeply connected with the person in front of me.
There’s a rhythm to Shiatsu that teaches awareness: noticing when I drift, noticing when I soften, noticing when I come back to centre again. That simple act of returning — to myself, to the other, to the moment — is one of the greatest gifts this practice offers.
It supports my wellbeing just as much as the people I work with. And it keeps me grounded in the quiet, steady joy of being present.

Seasonal Focus & Fire Element Summer invites us to expand, connect, and nourish the Heart.Join us on 13 January 2026, 6–...
01/01/2026

Seasonal Focus & Fire Element
Summer invites us to expand, connect, and nourish the Heart.
Join us on 13 January 2026, 6–8pm in Kerikeri (location TBC) for Pathways to Joy: Heart & Small Intestine Meridians — a free introduction to Shiatsu exploring Fire element wisdom.
Learn simple self-Shiatsu, try gentle partner techniques, and understand how these meridians support joy and mental clarity.
All welcome. No experience needed. Tea and snacks provided.

“Awesome holistic experience – for mind, body and soul.”There’s something special about returning to the same course a s...
31/12/2025

“Awesome holistic experience – for mind, body and soul.”
There’s something special about returning to the same course a second time.
Many of our students discover that each retreat brings new layers of understanding — the theory lands more deeply, the body remembers more easily, and new insights emerge.
Each season also offers a different quality to explore through Shiatsu — and that rhythm of learning with nature keeps the practice alive and evolving.
Here’s what Alex shared after attending our Introductory Course for the second time:
“Awesome holistic experience! – for mind, body & soul.
Doing the intro course for the 2nd time, I feel more confident in my touch… it’s good layering the knowledge and practice, plus I learned new stuff too! I think more things resonated with me the second time around, it’s given me a deeper understanding.
Also, I appreciate and notice the different seasonal approaches – it makes me curious for the (other) courses..”
Join us for the next retreat and see what unfolds for you — whether it’s your first time or your return.

New Year’s Eve – Flowing Forward – Entering the new year with awareness, ease, and gratitudeAs the year draws to a close...
30/12/2025

New Year’s Eve – Flowing Forward – Entering the new year with awareness, ease, and gratitude
As the year draws to a close, Shiatsu invites us to reflect with softness rather than pressure. Instead of resolutions, we can choose awareness — acknowledging how far we’ve come and where energy wants to flow next. Like Qi, life moves best when it’s not forced. So as midnight approaches, breathe deeply, release what’s complete, and welcome what’s emerging. Flow forward into the new year with ease, gratitude, and the quiet confidence that balance begins from within.
Happy new Year to all our friends and followers. May the year ahead bring blessings of magical sorts!

#2026

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Old Valley Road
Okaihau
0475

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

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