Iokai Shiatsu Massage Training

You can start the basic year 3x a year, in October, December and February. If you are new, you can start with a part of the basic year by taking a trial module. You will then follow 2 months of lessons and learn to give a complete treatment. After that, you decide whether to continue with the rest of the basic level. You can register for the Amsterdam, Delft or Amersfoort location. In Amsterdam, the lessons are on Monday evenings from 19:00 to 22:00. In Delft and Amersfoort on Sundays from 9:30 to 17:00.
The lesson schedule can be found here

People from various backgrounds start our training. You don’t need any specific massage knowledge or knowledge of Eastern medicine to start. Step by step, we ensure that you master the profession as a Shiatsu therapist.

Since you will receive a diploma at HBO level, we do impose certain requirements on your previous education. These requirements are at least HAVO, VWO or MBO-IV level. If you do not meet these requirements, you may still participate in the program under certain conditions. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.

No, you can start with a shiatsu trial module first and only after completing this trial module will you decide whether to continue with a subsequent module or the rest of the basic level (basic year). Also, after completing the basic level, you will only decide whether to continue with the meridian level.

After the basic year (basic level), you can already start giving relaxing shiatsu treatments. If you wish, you can also charge money for this. To ensure that you meet all legal requirements, you will then become a student member of the professional association and take out professional liability insurance.

If you choose to make Shiatsu your profession, the training takes 4 years and 4 months. Because we want you to master shiatsu at a high level, this length of time is really necessary. Because we teach at an HBO-compliant level of 240 ECTS (credits), you also meet the requirements the tax authorities require for the VAT exemption (so you don’t have to pay VAT). Furthermore, your treatments are recognized by the health insurance companies. During those 4 years, we teach you entrepreneurial skills as well, if you want to build a successful private practice.

In the first year, the study is perfectly compatible with a full-time job and a busy family life. You have an evening class once a week on average. You practice the material once a week with friends and people in your immediate environment. In addition, you have some assignments that you discuss and work out with a study group. In the later years, the workload gradually increases. You will be dealing with more topics and writing reports.

How many hours you actually study (or practice) varies from person to person. The important thing is that you see shiatsu as something you enjoy doing. Where your passion lies and what makes you happy. Spending time on something that makes you happy is nice to do.

What we generally see is that students in the third and fourth year experience that shiatsu becomes a part of their lives. Often, they choose to free up time for their studies by, for example, working half a day less a week or spending time on developing and expanding their own shiatsu practice.   

In the basic year you learn the foundation of Iokai Shiatsu; everything you learn in these modules is necessary for the rest of your studies. The focus is on developing good touch and being able to apply the basic techniques to the receiver’s body in different positions.

The first year is also an introduction to the basic principles of traditional Eastern medicine. The traditional Eastern way of thinking is fundamentally different from that in our Western society. During the theoretical classes, we introduce you to this way of thinking.

To improve your own body awareness, fitness and body control, we start every class with Do-In, Ki training, meditation or occasionally with Qi Qong.

In addition to the subject-specific shiatsu modules, you will also begin therapeutic training in your first year. You will learn how to give feedback to each other and how to take a neutral position during shiatsu treatments.

If you successfully complete all the modules of the basic level, you will receive a certificate. You can then give a deeply relaxing treatment to the people in your environment. You have learned to use your body in the right way and to touch someone in a way that is effective and pleasant to receive. Additionally, you have experienced personal development on a physical and mental level.

You can here find the costs.

You can pay for the entire basic level in 8 monthly installments.

We are primarily a practical training program. Our classes consist of 90% hours of practical training in the first year and about 70 to 80% hours in the following years. Shiatsu is a practical skill. Your skills determine a large part of the effectiveness of your treatment. Of course, your theoretical knowledge is also important, but our focus is primarily on the practice. The theory we teach is based on many practical examples and in a way that you don’t just learn the material from your head, but also understand it in its simplest form.

During the lessons, there are always multiple teachers/assistants present to support you and be there for you when you need them. We believe in a personal approach where every student feels comfortable.

We are a European organization that places high demands on the teachers and assistants who help you during your studies. Annual training sessions for the teachers take place and attention is paid to the proper teaching methods. The teachers undergo annual training sessions from, among others, Kazunori Sasaki. One of the most prominent shiatsu teachers in Europe and also one of the closest assistants to the late Shizuto Masunaga.