Join us for a weekend workshop to study in depth the work Dr. Hashimoto. Sôtai was developed by the medical surgeon, Dr. Keizo Hashimoto, after 50 years of research. The fundamental idea behind Sôtai is that distortions in the locomotor system can be corrected by moving the joints in comfortable directions. This promotes healing in the circulatory, endocrine and nervous systems. This idea of movement in a comfortable direction is the key to avoiding danger in the world. All joints can move in eight different directions: they can move backwards and forwards, bend to the right and left, twist to the right and left, extend and contract.

In Sôtai, you move each joint in the direction you find by experiment to be the most comfortable. Hashimoto, felt that as the body’s musculature becomes imbalanced it impairs the flow of Qi disturbing the circulation and functioning of the channels and eventually their related organs. Conversely, a disorder of the organs or channels can result in patterns of hyper or hypo-tonicity of the body musculature.

With structural disorders, treating the disturbances that lie behind them is essential. Many factors are able to cause structural imbalances. Some of the most common factors are congenital abnormalities of skeletal structure, structural abnormalities from injury or disease, and imbalances resulting from unnatural postures, both habitual and occupational.

Benefits of Sotai Natural Movement 

• Helps correct the source of abnormal tension
• Instantly relieves most types of pain
• Helps correct structural misalignment and improves posture
• Facilitates the body’s natural healing processes
• Builds physical physical strength and increases muscle tone
• Develops a balance of strength, flexibility, agility and speed
• Enhances movement efficiency for refined performance and prevention of injuries
• Improves performance in specific athletic activities
• Develops awareness in movement and daily life
• Reduces accumulation of fat, reduces cellulite and helps with slimming • Increases thoracic capacity, improves breathing and increases oxygenation
• Balances the autonomic nervous system
• Synchronises movement, respiration & mental activity • Improves mental state and helps with depression 

Weekends 2 & 3 will be run on September 21/22 and November 30/December 1 and are a further exploration of the introductory concepts and approaches taught in Introduction to Sotai Workshop.

Participation in weekend two requires completion of weekend one (a reduced cost online learning version is available at https://australianshiatsucollege.edu.au/short-courses/introduction-to-sotai-therapy-online/) or its equivalent.

Weekend Three is a stand alone session that does not require completion of the prior weekends

What you can expect to learn:

• Quick Review of Sotai Principles
• Linked Motion Whole Body Treatment
• Functional Channel Diagnostics and Sotai Applications
• Channel Stretching
• Sotai for specific diseases and disorders
• The 4 Basic Distortion Patterns and Treatment Points
• Self Sotai
• Hara Developing Methods
• Mubon Ryu Hara Patterns and Treatment 
• Use of Manaka Hammer and Metronome with Sotai
• Use of Direct Moxa and Metronome with Sotai
• Use of Piezo and Sotai
• Body analysis:
  • Observing muscular, skeletal or postural imbalance. Assessing the back, the neck, shoulders, knees, etc. The importance of muscles and joints in balance. How to check effectiveness of treatments.
• Articular rotations:
  • Deciding the best direction, their effect on the body as a whole.
  • Correct posture for effortless rotations. Rotations at floor level (futon) and on a massage table.
  • Toes, ankles and hip rotations.
• Sotai exercises:
  • How to teach exercises for patients to do at home. Integrating exercises with other treatments: shiatsu, massage, reflexology, etc.
  • Exercises with and without therapist’s resistance.
• Therapist’s resistance:
  • When, why and how to apply resistance.
• Treatments:
  • Treatment protocol.
  • Observation of breathing patterns
  • Structured, step-by-step treatments for back pain, neck pain and conditions presented by students

Theory and demonstrations will include handouts as well as supervised practice.

About the presenter:

Paul Movsessian has been in practice since 1986, having lived and worked in Australia and the USA. His interest in the Japanese style of acupuncture and moxibustion lead him to be trained by many various teachers learning a wide range of treatment techniques. 

Paul has lectured for many years in the USA, Canada, and New Zealand and brought the foundations of the Japanese styles to Australia in 1997. 

Paul has had the privilege of studying in Japan over many years under the guidance of some of the greatest teachers in various styles. Training in the Toyohari system of Meridian Therapy under the guidance of such teachers as Akihiro Takai, Shuho Taniuchi, Koryo Nakada, Shozo Takahashi, and Toshio Yanagishita. Paul was instrumental in the founding of the Toyohari system in Australasia and was the past President of the Australasian Branch of the Toyohari Association, a Registered Academic Practitioner and a qualified teacher before retiring from the Toyohari Association.

He has also had the privilege of studying under Kiiko Matsumoto, Masakazu Ikeda, Fukushima Tetsuya, Takayoshi Ogawa, Yashikawa Masako, who has developed the Yin Yang Taikyoku method, Sugiyama Isao, a classical acupuncturist and various other teachers from Japan.

Currently, Paul is running a successful clinic in the Blue Mountains and lecturing extensively to practitioners sharing many new treatment strategies and skills to integrate within their practice and produce powerful clinical results.

Course details

Location

The Living Centre, 16 Trinity Place, East Melbourne, Victoria

Deposit

$100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place.

Refund policy

The deposit of $100 is non-refundable.

Balance refundable if cancellation is given 14 days before workshop commencement.

If the course is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances a full refund will apply.

Pre-requisite

Shiatsu practitioner, student or bodyworker

CPD&E points

14

Should you have any questions about this workshop please contact the college directly.