The Zen Shiatsu Alliance

What is

THE ZEN SHIATSU ALLIANCE?

We are an international affiliation of practitioners who recognize Zen Shiatsu as a unique healing arts practice. Practitioners associated with the ZSA recognize that the consistent cultivation of awareness and compassion rests at the heart of Zen Shiatsu practice.

As such they continuously engage in both personal and professional development. They conduct their practice using fundamental Shiatsu techniques and applications and work within the scope of their practice.

Members of the ZSA who are engaged in professional practice are given the designation of “Certified Zen Shiatsu Practitioner / CZSP.” A Shiatsu Therapist who claims to have this designation has fulfilled the requirements of membership with the ZSA.

WHAT IS ZEN SHIATSU?

Zen Shiatsu is a unique and gentle form of bodywork. As a physical therapy, its practitioners apply pressure to the meridian channels of the body using palms, thumbs, elbow and knees to facilitate a change on behalf of the patient’s ki. From a theoretical point of view, Zen Shiatsu traces back to traditional Chinese medicine, valuing concepts such as ki (qi), in (yin), yo (yang), kyo (deficiency) jitsu (excess) and the balancing of the meridian system of the body. At the heart of the practice rests the practitioner’s own development of awareness and compassion with the realisation that a simple technique coupled with a strong connection between patient and therapist can have profound therapeutic results.

DEFINING CERTIFIED ZEN SHIATSU PRACTITIONER

The ZSA is aware of the debates, concerns, and positions around what people constitute as “correct” Zen Shiatsu or “correct” Shiatsu. We have deliberately decided to not involve ourselves in these aspirations but instead to value the work of individual practitioners and to trust that they represent themselves and their teachers in an honest, ethical, and forthright manner. The ZSA is not a regulatory authority. We are a like-minded group of Zen Shiatsu Practitioners who are quietly doing our work.

In the spirit of recognizing Zen Shiatsu as “Life Treating Life”, the ZSA has determined to acknowledge the following routes to obtaining the CZSP (Certified Zen Shiatsu Practitioner) Designation:

1) A CZSP is a person who has completed a professional training program in Zen Shiatsu of a minimum of 500 hours. This person has provided documentation from their school to the ZSA and the ZSA has corroborated this with the school.

2) A CZSP is a person who has diligently submitted to apprentice-style training with a Zen Shiatsu Master. The applicant has made formal introductions between the ZSA and the teacher involved and has provided sufficient documentation to satisfy the minimum 500 hours of required training.

3) A CZSP is a Shiatsu Practitioner from another style of Shiatsu who has completed a minimum of 500 hours of training in Shiatsu but who conducts and approaches their practice in the spirit of Zen Shiatsu as a living practice where the heart of the treatment rests on the connection between the practitioner and patient. This person has been in contact with the ZSA and provided documentation regarding their training as well as information about their practice to satisfy these criteria.

They have received formal training from a Zen Shiatsu Instructor affiliated with the ZSA in the practice and technique of Zen Shiatsu. This instruction may take the form of a formal certification program (diploma etc) or traditional apprenticeship (minimum 500 hours).
They have received formal Shiatsu Training and have shown evidence of conducting their practice in the “spirit” of Zen Shiatsu.
They strive to conduct their practice in accordance with the practice guidelines of the ZSA.
They are engaged in continuous self-development and practice.
They are engaged in continuous professional growth.

PRACTICE GUIDELINES.

1. Practitioners recognize that the practice of Zen Shiatsu is a life practice and one of continuous growth and development for their own benefit and the benefit of their patients, families and broader communities. Knowledge and wisdom of the practice strengthens and deepens from daily and diligent practice and not from theoretical study alone.

2. Practitioners of Zen Shiatsu recognize that they are part of a lineage of teachings, passed down to them by their teachers and their teacher’s teachers. They realize that they are a part of this larger tradition and so honour the teacher-student relationship through which the fundamental teachings are transmitted.

3. The practice of Zen Shiatsu is a practice of service that gives each practitioner the daily opportunity to develop self-awareness and empathy for the suffering of themselves and of others.

PURPOSE OF THE CODE OF ETHICS:

1. This Code of Ethics serves to enable Zen Shiatsu Practitioners to uphold the highest values of our practice: to be of service to others; to engage in continuous growth and development; to do no intentional harm; to respect our students, teachers and patients; to honour life.

2. This Code of Ethics serves to clarify the expectations of ethical conduct for Zen Shiatsu Practitioners and the public alike.

THE ZEN SHIATSU PRACTITIONER’S CODE OF ETHICS:

#1: I treat my parents, partner and children with respect for their individual needs and values.
• I value my partner and family members supporting my life’s path and my supporting theirs.
• I value honesty and integrity in relationship.

#2: I treat my patients and students with respect for their dignity, individual needs and values.
• I work to the best of my ability without prejudice regarding age, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, physical abilities, or socioeconomic background.
• I value the sacred trust that exists between me and my students and patients by refraining from exploitation involving power or sexual misconduct.
• I refrain from using my position as a Zen Shiatsu Practitioner to begin or to intimate future sexual relationship with a student or client.
• I allow sufficient time to truly change the roles of each party (powerdynamic) before envisioning a romantic or sexual relationship with a student or ex-patient.

#3: I respect a patient’s right to choose their own forms and path of healing and a student’s right to choose their teachers.
• I respect my Zen Shiatsu client’s faith in their own doctor or primary care provider.
• I support my students and patients without allowing my personal judgments to interfere. If I am unable to do this I will recommend that the student or patient work with another Zen Shiatsu Practitioner.

#4: I hold confidential all information about a student or client.

#5: I maintain my awareness.
• I refrain from abuse of alcohol and drugs.
• I am aware that my judgment and professional conduct may be impaired by my use of alcohol and drugs. I abstain from these substances during professional activities.

#6: I continually enhance my professional qualifications, knowledge and skills.
• I recognize my own capabilities and limitations and state them accurately and fairly.

I continually seek to engage in opportunities for further development on personal and professional levels and recognize the vital need for continuous practice enhancement.

#7: I maintain my trust in Zen Shiatsu and my community.
• I cultivate conscious and clear communication and the qualities of loving kindness and honesty. I speak what is true and useful and refrain from speaking what is not.
• I value my relationship to a process larger than myself, recognizing that healing is something I can give to myself, and can learn from but never control.
• I support life rather than avoid death.

#8: I respect the property of others, maintain my professional integrity and refrain from the misuse of money.
• I refrain from professional misconduct including plagiarism, inappropriate omission of information, and making false or deceptive statements.
• I refrain from using other people’s methods and disciplines professionally before I have my own deep experience with them. I acknowledge their source.

#9: I acknowledge and respect other disciplines and their practitioners.
• I endeavour to work in cooperation with other Zen Shiatsu Practitioners or practitioners of other disciplines and I refrain from slandering, criticizing or otherwise denigrating them.

#10: I take responsibility and accountability for all my decisions and actions as a Zen Shiatsu Practitioner in society.
• I realize that all my actions and choices in behaviour and communication have a potential effect on others; I teach by my own example.
• I promptly resolve actual or potential conflicts of interest.

Drawn up on 7 October 2016 in Toronto, Canada.
With gratitude to The Reiki Alliance who gave approval for the use of their Code of Ethics as a source document for this text.
If you wish to receive a copy of this text, please send use an email!

MEMBERS OF THE ZSA