"....I like the family atmosphere. I especially appreciated the way I could develop my own way, of finding out for myself, of developing my creativity, in fact of finding my own power rather than being made to imitate someone else’s way."
Mr AW shiatsu therapist

QUESTIONS ARE LISTED AS THEY COME IN, THE MOST RECENT FIRST.
If when you have read through this page you still cannot find that answer, then please do click the email link. We will answer you personally and then publish it right here, so you will have helped everyone who might have a similar question.

Are shiatsu qualifications internationally recognized?...
We have graduates practising overseas in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and USA.At present each nation (and in USA and EU each state) has its own criteria. Efforts are in process to harmonise accreditation throughout Europe where, in certain states, complementary therapists are still required to work under supervision of a medical practitioner. (more info click)

When can I enrol?
Enrol 20 minutes before the start of any class, or sign up online here

I have completed a year or more at another school and would like to transfer. Do I have to start again from scratch with you?
No. Here at the Zen School we accredit your prior learning. You can join direct on our Shiatsu Practitioner (Advanced) Advanced Shiatsu Course. With the Continuous Enrolment system you can join at any time of the year. The Advanced Course is unique among Shiatsu Schools: you can review, refresh and reinforce any subject you like at Intermediate Level, by attending the Intermediate Tutorials, doing the Intermediate Assignments and joing in with the Intermediate Practice sessions, and none of this costs you a single penny extra. Its all included in the Advanced Shiatsu Course fee (see below).

The one thing we do ask of 'transfer students' is to complete our Basic Shiatsu Course.

Why? - For three very good reasons:

1. For you to be sure you can get along with us and our very different way of providing your learning-and-teaching experience,
2. For us to be sure that you are not carrying so much conditioning from the more mechanical styles that it gets in the way of your learning by intuition,
3. To refresh the concept of Mu-Shin, "Beginners Mind".

When you make the move to transfer, you pay only the Basic Shiatsu Course fee. Then, when we have found that we can get along just fine - which is nearly always the case - you pay the balance of the Advanced Shiatsu fee, less what you paid for the Basic.

And even before making that first move you are most welcome to come by and check us out.

What sort of living could I expect to make doing Shiatsu?
Many of our students, by the time they reach the final year of training, have already begun to make their living from Shiatsu.

Our School Administrator shares his thirty years experience of business development and management education in public and private sector schools and colleges.

Throughout your training at the Zen School we help you meet and treat potential clients, on school clinic days, at Exhibitions and Festivals, at your Out-Clinics and your Work-placements

As soon as you have the basic qualification of CPS (Certificate in Practical Shiatsu) and are continuing in training, we include you in our internet listings of teachers, practitioners and students and circulate job opportunities to you.

Practice Development is part of the training. The Advanced course includes specialist expert advice and training in Practice Development - how to find and make contacts, how to build you client-base, how to keep clients, how to find new ones...what business records and accounts to keep, and how to maintain them.

By applying all this learning to developing your own practice you can make a good living. Our Zen School accountant advises us that if you earn even a small amount within three years then you can offset the whole cost of your training against tax liability. There is a seminar explaining such mundane but important matters on the Advanced training, but the principle applies at all levels.

How much time/ study commitment does it take to qualify?

Basic in 8 weeks, Intermediate in 15 months, Advanced in one year, Combined in 2 years

Longest course completion times allowed are:
BPS two years from date of enrolment
INT three years from date of attaining CPS
ADV/COM three years from date of attaining CIS
Students who want to continue or resume training after elapsed completion time may re-enrol at 50% of the course fee prevailing at time of re-enrolment

Can you tell me what final qualification I will receive when I complete the full training?
Your qualification on completion of the full training is DipAS: Diploma Advanced Shiatsu accredited by Middlesex University, and LicZS - Licence to practise Zen Shiatsu validated by our professional body, the Zen Shiatsu Society for admission to the national Shiatsu Register of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.
Our Zen School Director and Principal Kris Deva North represents Shiatsu on the Professional Standards Board of the CNHC.

The Zen School is also represented on the Shiatsu Schools Forum which along with the Zen Shiatsu Society and other shiatsu organisations constitute the Shiatsu Representatives UK.

For practitioners in London practitioner membership of the Zen Shiatsu Society gives exemption from the special licensing requirements of the Association of London Boroughs and RB Kennsington & Chelsea.

Is there a minimum qualification to practice shiatsu?
Under English Law at present there is no minimum legal requirement for any qualification to practise shiatsu (nor acupuncture, herbs, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy etc etc). The practical requirement is that to practise shiatsu in, say, a clinic,the clinic management will generally want to see evidence of insurance, and most insurers want to see evidence of a qualification.

How do I obtain insurance?
The Zen Shiatsu Society has negotiated competitive rates for our students, practitioners and teachers. You can apply for membership and insurance coverage as soon as you have passed your CPS... and its worth knowing that the insurance deal we have negotiated also covers you for all other massage therapies, plus aromatherapy, reflexology - even hypnotherapy. And of course the Taoist Healing practices of Cosmic healing and Chi Nei Tsang.

How much do I need to invest to achieve the full qualification?
Your investment varies according to whether you want to:

• Pay for all three courses (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced;
• Pay for each course individually in advance;
• Combine payment for all courses on a monthly bankers order;
• Pay for each course individually by bankers order.

All options are explained in the Zen School Prospectus with info on Fees and Timings. The most cost-effective option is to combine payments for the three levels of training.

Must I do all three courses together if I pay them all in advance?
No. The discount is for the payment - you can complete the courses in your own time from Basic to Intermediate to Advanced. You go at your own pace (within the completion times shown above) and decide what's right for you