ShinzuiDo is a unique whole body manual therapy which integrates the practices of East Asian bodywork, in particular Ampuku, with the latest developments in Western anatomy and advances in the fields of therapeutic bodywork. Firmly rooted in East Asian medicine, ShinzuiDo uses the methodology of this ancient healing tradition to treat the body-mind-spirit. It is taught as a postgraduate course open to all bodywork practitioners.
Postgraduate Education
Shinzui (真髄) is the Japanese term for 'essence’ or ‘core’, and (道) Do (Dao in Chinese) can be read as ‘practice’ or ‘way’. In ShinzuiDo, the Do also relates to Daoism, and places ShinzuiDo clearly in the Daoist healing tradition. Daoism teaches us, in a practical way, that the microcosm of the body is inseparable from the macrocosm of nature. This understanding opens the way to a genuinely holistic approach to maintaining or restoring health. Over the millennia, experience has shown that this can be achieved by resolving blockages and restoring harmony - by connecting and working with the body’s inherent ’intelligence’ and its intrinsic healing capability.
ShinzuiDo (真髄道) is a further evolution of the East Asian bodywork tradition, developed by Philippe Vandenabeele after more than 30 years of practice, study and teaching. Born out of his hands-on experience - giving tens of thousands of treatments - it fuses different treatment modalities into one comprehensive system. Enriched by Philippe’s research into the roots of Shiatsu and Ampuku, ShinzuiDo brings the essence of these East Asian bodywork traditions to the modern clinical practice of the art of therapeutic touch.
To understand, listen and communicate with the innate body intelligence, the Daoist tradition teaches us the science of Ki. Ki offers us a multi-layered map to understand the workings of the body’s inner landscape. At the core of this multi-layered matrix of life is Wuji or ‘stillness/emptiness/potential’. It is further expressed through the polarity of Yin and Yang, the three Dantien, the Five Transformations, the Six Greater Meridians, and the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. This sophisticated all-inclusive mapping of the human body helps us to appreciate the interconnectedness of the body and to make our treatments more effective. As well as learning new techniques, ShinzuiDo training offers the practitioner a holistic perspective that allows them to build further on what they already know.
ShinzuiDo is an integrated way of working with the following major body systems:
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Energetic system: Wu-Ji emptiness/potential, 12 organ meridians & 5 transformations, 6 greater meridians & 3 families, 8 Extraordinary Vessels and Bagua, 3 Dantien
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Visceral system: Zang Fu organ network, visceral anatomy, visceral neural and vascular system
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Cardiovascular system: heart, blood vessels, and mesentery
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Craniosacral and Neural system: brain, skull, spine, spinal fluid, and nerves
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Myofascial system: fascia, muscle chains, diaphragms, and tendons
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Skeletal system: bone structure, postural alignment
Inner Cultivation
Cultivating and embracing ‘stillness in action’ is the basis for true mastery of any art - including the art of touch. That is why, in the ShinzuiDo curriculum, we give ample time and space for Inner Cultivation. The Daoist practices of Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan are at the core of our work.
Harmonizing the three Dantien (丹田)
In the ShinzuiDo curriculum a special focus is placed on the three Dantien.
In East Asian medicine the 3 Dantien, or ‘Elixir Fields’, are the main energetic centres linked to the Abdomen, Heart, and Brain:
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Lower Dantien - Abdomen
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Middle Dantien - Heart
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Upper Dantien - Brain
Each of the three Dantiens has its own rhythm or ‘tide’ and in the ShinzuiDo training, we take time to connect with these. In the Lower Dantien, we work with the ‘Visceral Tides’; in the Middle Dantien, we work with the ‘Cardiovascular Tides’; in the Upper Dantien, we focus primarily on the ‘Craniosacral Tides’.
Working with these rhythms or tides was, until now, mainly seen as the exclusive domain of Osteopathic, Craniosacral, or Visceral practitioners. However, in ShinzuiDo we look at them through the lens of East Asian medicine and recognise them as Yin and Yang body movements. This adds a whole new dimension to understanding and working with the subtle tides - which can then be combined with other techniques to address the different body systems.
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Lower Dantien - Yin and Yang Visceral Tides
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Middle Dantien - Yin and Yang Cardiovascular Tides
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Upper Dantien - Yin and Yang Craniosacral Tides
THE SHINZUIDO CURRICULUM
The core curriculum is divided into three modalities:
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Ampuku Visceral Therapy (AVT) - focuses on the Abdomen / Lower Dantien (下丹田)
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Ampuku Cardiovascular Therapy (ACT) - focuses on the Heart / Middle Dantien (中丹)
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Ampuku Neural Therapy (ANT) - focuses on the Brain and Nervous system / Upper Dantien (上丹)
The three modalities are then each presented at two Levels, providing two levels of certification:
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Foundation Certificate - Level 1 AVT, ACT, ANT
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Advanced Certificate - Level 2 AVT, ACT, ANT
All modules are in hybrid format, combining in-person and online studies. The online lessons and videos support the in-person courses and are available for students to access at any time.
Foundation Level:
In-person: AVT 1, ACT 1 and ANT 1 are 2 days each = 6 days of hands-on training.
Online: AVT 1, ACT 1 and ANT 1 are 10 hours each = 30 hours of online lessons.
Advanced Level:
In-person: AVT 2, ACT 2 and ANT 2 are 2 days each = 6 days of hands-on training.
Online: AVT 2, ACT 2 and ANT 2 are 10 hours each = 30 hours of online lessons.
The full post-graduate program is a total of 132 hours.
All modules can be taken separately at your own pace.
Certification requirements
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Each level requires successful completion of the related modules – both in-person training and online lessons (e.g. Foundation Level: AVT 1, ACT 1, ANT 1)
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Submit ten (10) case write-ups following the required format
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Successfully complete an online practical/oral/written exam
Who can best benefit from the ShinzuiDo training?
The training is open to all professional bodyworkers seeking to develop and deepen their practice. Whether you are a shiatsu practitioner, chiropractor, osteopath, craniosacral therapist, physical therapist, or you practice any other form of manual therapy, ShinzuiDo can help increase the effectiveness of your techniques, plus add new techniques to your repertoire. The course also offers new perspectives and an integrated way of working – all the better to help our patients.
Prerequisites
This course is open to practitioners, and to students nearing the end of their studies. Participants are asked to provide evidence of over 200 hours of bodywork/manual therapy training.
About the Teacher
Philippe Vandenabeele is a senior Shiatsu practitioner and certified instructor (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia) based in Fukuoka, Japan. With over 30 years of clinical practice and international teaching experience, Philippe has consolidated his knowledge, insights, and practical experience to develop ShinzuiDo, a unique approach to bodywork.
He is also the author of ‘Ampuku Abdominal Acupressure: The Classics at the Heart of Japanese Bodywork’ a work which includes the first complete English translation of the Ampuku Zukai and the chapters on Ampuku and Fukushin from the Anma Tebiki.
Read Philippe’s articles:
‘Ampuku at the Heart of Shiatsu’ - Shiatsu Society UK Journal, Issue 160, Winter 2021
‘Touching the Tides of our Being’ - Shiatsu Society UK Journal, Issue 164, Winter 2022
Language
All courses are taught in English.
Private tutorial sessions are also available - at Philippe’s practice in Fukuoka - in the following languages: English, Japanese, French, Dutch and Swedish. Early booking is recommended (a few months in advance) as availability is limited.
Elevate Your Expertise with the ShinzuiDo Postgraduate Education
Course Dates - Foundation Level training
Autumn Intensive 2023 in Fukuoka
6 days of hands-on training
AVT 1: Oct 28 - 29
ACT 1: Oct 30 - 31
ANT 1: Nov 1 - 2
Spring Intensive 2024 in Fukuoka
6 days of hands-on training
AVT 1: Mar 31 - Apr 1
ACT 1: Apr 2 - 3
ANT 1: Apr 4 - 5
Autumn Intensive 2024 in Fukuoka
Foundation Level: AVT 1, ACT 1, ANT 1
Advanced Level AVT 2, ACT 2, ANT 2
October - November 2024
Spring 2O24 in Europe
Helsinki, Finland: AVT 1: May 11 - 12
Gent, Belgium: AVT 1: May 18 - 19 – 20
Rapperswil, Switzerland: AVT 1: May 25 - 26
Athens, Greece: AVT 1: June 1-2-3
Please contact the organizers for more information about the courses in Europe:
Finland: www.shiatsuschoolhelsinki.com
Belgium: www.shinzui-shiatsu.be
Switzerland: www.ikt-institut.ch
Greece: FB Shiatsu World
FOUNDATION LEVEL - Details:
All modules are in hybrid format, combining in-person and online studies. The online lessons and videos support the in-person courses and are available for students to access at any time
Ampuku Visceral Therapy (AVT 1)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Lower Dantien (下丹田) - abdominal centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Three-dimensional listening and body reading
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Ampuku and Visceral techniques for Yang Ming (Stomach - Large Intestine) and Tai Yin (Lung - Spleen)
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Visceral Yin and Yang tides of the organs, the connective tissues
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The Bagua eight forces map and how to use it in bodywork
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Addressing specific health conditions – e.g., constipation and whiplash
Ampuku Cardiovascular Therapy (ACT 1)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Middle Dantien (中丹) - heart centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Three-dimensional listening and body reading
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Ampuku and Cardiovascular techniques for Tai Yang (Bladder - Small Intestine) and Shao Yin (Heart – Kidney)
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Cardiovascular Yin and Yang tides of heart and blood vessels, the connective tissues
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The Bagua eight forces map and how to use it in bodywork
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Addressing specific health conditions -e.g., hypertension, depression and anxiet
Ampuku Neural Therapy (ANT 1)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Upper Dantien (上丹) - brain centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Three-dimensional listening and body reading
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Ampuku and Craniosacral techniques for Ren Mai and Du Mai
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The Craniosacral Yin and Yang tides of the organs, the connective tissues
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The Bagua eight forces and the Micro Cosmic Orbit
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Addressing specific health conditions – e.g., chronic pain and PTSD
Certification
To be awarded the ShinzuiDo Foundation level certificate students must:
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Successfully complete AVT 1, ACT 1 and ANT 1 (both in-person and online lessons)
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Submit ten (10) case write-ups following the required format
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Successfully complete an online practical/oral/written exam
Evolution of the work
There may be minor adaptations to the curriculum to align it with any new developments or insights into the nature of the work. It is our aim to align our teachings with the practical application of therapeutic touch
in clinical practice
ADVANCED LEVEL - Details:
All modules are in hybrid format, combining in-person and online studies. The online lessons and videos support the in-person courses and are available for students to access at any time
Ampuku Visceral Therapy (AVT 2)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Lower Dantien (下丹田) - abdominal centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Ampuku and Visceral techniques for Shao Yang (Triple Burner - Gallbladder) and Jue Yin (Pericardium - Liver)
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Visceral Yin and Yang tides of the organs, the connective tissues, Mesentery
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The Bagua eight forces map and how to use it in bodywork
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Addressing specific health conditions
Ampuku Cardiovascular Therapy (ACT 2)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Middle Dantien (中丹) - heart centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Ampuku and Cardiovascular techniques for Tai Yang (Bladder - Small Intestine) and Shao Yin (Heart – Kidney)
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Ampuku and Craniosacral techniques for Chong Mai and Dai Mai
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Cardiovascular Yin and Yang tides of heart and blood vessels, the connective tissues
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The Bagua eight forces map and how to use it in bodywork
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Addressing specific health conditions
Ampuku Neural Therapy (ANT 2)
2 days in-person + 10 hours of online lessons
Focus: Upper Dantien (上丹) - brain centre - in combination with whole body treatment
Course content:
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Meditation, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Nei Dan
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Three-dimensional listening and body reading
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Ampuku and Craniosacral techniques for the Wei Mai and the Qiao Mai
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The Craniosacral Yin and Yang tides of the organs, the connective tissues
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The Bagua eight forces and the Micro Cosmic Orbit
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Addressing specific health conditions
Certification
To be awarded the ShinzuiDo Foundation level certificate students must:
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Successfully complete AVT 2, ACT 2 and ANT 2 (both in-person and online lessons)
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Submit ten (10) case write-ups following the required format
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Successfully complete an online practical/oral/written exam
Evolution of the work
There may be minor adaptations to the curriculum to align it with any new developments or insights into the nature of the work. It is our aim to align our teachings with the practical application of therapeutic touch
in clinical practice
Cancellations
Cancellation policy: in general, no refund can be given once a course has been signed up for and paid. For courses involving travel, we recommend that you take travel cancellation insurance when booking your trip.