The Shiatsu Community You’ve Been Looking For  

Whether you are a Shiatsu practitioner, student or enthusiast wishing to connect with likeminded people who love Shiatsu, we have the perfect place for you. The Shiatsu Society UK has been on a mission to promote and support the highest standards of Shiatsu practice across all communities since 1981.  

In this article we explore how the Shiatsu Society can support you at each stage of your Shiatsu journey, what sort of membership may be suitable for you, how you can contribute to our mission, and the benefits of joining our Shiatsu community.  

Our non-profit organisation has gradually and steadily evolved over the years through the contribution of volunteers, members and supporters who have dedicated their time, energy and resources to making this happen.  

The evolution has not been linear or easy, but it was definitely worth it!  

Our ethos, values and beliefs, together with our commitment  to expand the awareness of this wonderful practice, has made the Shiatsu Society UK  the leading professional association for Shiatsu practitioners. 

We provide each member with a wide range of services to support and facilitate their Shiatsu development, including registers of practitioners, mentorship, a code of conduct and ethics, block insurance, and mandatory CPD (Continuing Professional Development). In a nutshell, our membership gives access to professional standards, a networking community, and business development tools and support to anyone with an interest in Shiatsu, regardless of experience, level of knowledge, approach or style of practice.  

Our membership packages are suitable for every part of your Shiatsu journey, and suit any budget or interest:  

• Student:  suitable for students of Shiatsu interested in accessing online resources, sharing spaces and being part of our Shiatsu community. With this membership you also receive our monthly newsletter, digital quarterly journal and exclusive discounts on books and professional equipment – starting from £6.50 a month.  

 

• Professional: suitable for qualified Shiatsu practitioners (MrSS, SrSS and FwSS) from ratified schools, interested in accessing the wider Shiatsu community. With this membership you get access to professional tools including a listing on the practitioner register, industry insurance, CPD workshops, website members’ pages, and marketing materials. You will also have a say in the direction of the Society’s resources and enjoy exclusive members’ discounts – starting from £18.75 per month. 

 

• Associate: suitable for people who have an interest in Shiatsu, are based overseas, are currently retired or are a 'resting' practitioner not needing insurance. With this membership you get access to our online resources including a digital quarterly journal, monthly newsletter and Shiatsu community – starting from  £8.00 per month.  

 

• Friend: suitable for people who want to support the Shiatsu Society and its work, including clients, former practitioners and those who want to stay in touch with our Shiatsu community. With this membership you get access to the digital quarterly journal and monthly newsletter – starting from £3.33 per month. 

 

• Wellbeing practitioner: suitable for those who have completed a 1-year certificate and offer treatments that are based on the principles, philosophy and techniques of Shiatsu but are practised for wellbeing and are not aimed at treating problematic conditions. With this membership you get access to a wellbeing practitioner listing on our website, plus professional and online resources – starting from £14.00 per month.  

Read more about the types of membership that we offer here.  

Now let’s explore some of the benefits of becoming a member of the Shiatsu Society UK, together!  

• Professional Standards.  

Since our early days we have acted for the Shiatsu profession as a whole entity. We ensure that our practitioners are properly qualified and compliant with our Code of Ethics. This framework has been developed by experts in the field for over 20 years to provide a solid foundation for safe and ethical practice. Read more about it here.  

Each of our members must hold professional insurance for practice. We work in partnership with Balens insurers to provide a highly competitive rate, negotiated on behalf of our members, while also giving members access to multi-therapy insurance at a discounted rate.  

As a Shiatsu practitioner, learning and development never stops. All Professional members (MrSS, SrSS and FwSS) – and Associates who have completed a Yr1 Certificate and are on the SSUK Register of Wellbeing Practitioners – are required to undertake and record annual Continuous Professional Development. Our membership allows them to easily document and reflect on their growth and learning through our CPD logging system.  

Additionally, we hold two registers of members:  

The Register of Professional Practitioners of the Shiatsu Society.   

Members on this Register have completed a 3-year training course, including knowledge and understanding of the theories and philosophies of East Asian Medicine and Shiatsu, Shiatsu techniques, anatomy, physiology and pathology, and are trained and insured to support people presenting with a range of health conditions as well as providing Shiatsu for general health and wellbeing. Practitioners have the initials MrSS (Member), SrSS (Senior Member) or FwSS (Fellow) to indicate their experience level.  

The Listing of Bodywork for Wellbeing Practitioners.  

Members on this listing have completed a 1-year training course. They provide treatments that are based on the principles, philosophy and techniques of Shiatsu but are practised for wellbeing and are not aimed at treating complex cases and conditions conditions. Their qualification may be called Certificate in Acupressure, or Certificate in Bodywork for Wellbeing. Some of these practitioners may be continuing their training in Shiatsu to become qualified Shiatsu practitioners; others may have chosen to practice at this level to promote relaxation and wellbeing. 

 

• Global Community & Networking:  

Community remains at the heart of our organisation and we truly believe that collaboration enhances the collective awareness of Shiatsu as a therapy and way of life. We facilitate relationships between members both nationally and internationally through:  

An interactive Facebook Community where members can share ideas, make new friends and meet other practitioners. Here you will also get notified about topical discussion, including news and views from practitioners from different areas.  

Regular support group meetings via Zoom that take place on the first Monday of the month, 10 times a year, covering a range of topics for personal and professional development.  

Your membership expands globally as we work in partnership with organisations including: the CNHC – Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council, The Integrated Healthcare Collaborative, the Research Council for Complementary Medicine, the Research Council for Complementary Medicine, the European Shiatsu Federation and the Shiatsu Research Network, to name just a few!  

Also, since we are a verifying organisation with the CNHC, you can join this government supported register without undergoing any further assessment. 

 

• Business Development: 

Our members are not alone in their professional journey, nor do they have to deal with technical bits and pieces by themselves! Professional practitioners (MrSS, SrSS and FwSS) are supported to create an extensive profile page on the website to promote their practice and link people straight to their page using a unique URL. Our team can help members set up their profile and assist with questions via email or a 1:1 call. 

We also provide marketing support and resources by encouraging members to download Shiatsu leaflets, access social media templates, borrow banners for events, or receive business guidance on how to grow a thriving practice.  

 

• Shiatsu Resources and Discounts:  

Our members stay up to date with the latest resources and news from our community through our monthly newsletter.  

In addition, every quarter we launch our digital Shiatsu Society Journal, full of interesting articles, insights and news from the Shiatsu Society community. Professional and Associate members can opt for paper copies at no extra cost.  

Our partnerships also include companies that are aligned with our values and ethos, so we regularly provide exclusive offers and discounts for Shiatsu equipment, books or further training.  

Your membership supports good practice, including in all aspects of education, enables us to have a greater voice, and contributes to our mission to promote and support the highest standards of Shiatsu practice across all communities.  

Did you know?  

Our Board of Directors is dedicating their time and resources voluntarily, and the team works really hard behind the scenes to raise awareness and maintain the highest standards of practice.  

No matter where you are on your Shiatsu journey, we are here to support you every step of the way. Join our Shiatsu community today! 

 

written by Antonia Hruscovschi