Training overview

Is Zenthai for you?

The best way to decide is to perhaps dip your toes into the experience through our preliminary Level 1 four-day intensive.

Dates for the Level 1 intro courses around VIC can be found on our CALENDAR. For other Level 1 intro courses across other states in Australia and at the Zenthai home base Ninderry Healing Center in QLD, dates can be found via the Zenthai Shiatsu Website.

If you’ve completed the Level One intro course, and find you’re interested in deepening your practice, our therapist program is a wonderful immersive learning journey for the year!

The VIC Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist course runs from April until November, and is made up of seven four-day modules plus student clinic/graduation. Most of these modules are taught by Sally, with a support team of co-teachers and assistants. Zenthai founder, Gwyn Williams facilitates some modules, and we have some guest teachings from other senior therapists/facilitators of the Zenthai Shiatsu community.

Completion of a Level-One 4 day intro course is the pre-requisite.

Each module of the therapist program focuses on aspects of structural and energetic bodywork, aligned with Traditional Chinese Medicine and the 12 Threads of Zenthai Shiatsu. We begin each day embodying qualities through movement-based practice and each class is a combination of delivery of theory and practice.

Elements One –  Principles of Zen Shiatsu

This module introduces Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and 5-Element theory into the art and includes:

EARTH • METAL• WATER • WOOD• FIRE 

• Introduction to Oriental Medicine (TCM) 

• 5 Elements and Zang Fu organs

• Signs and symptoms of Elemental imbalance

• Meridian / Point location and key release areas

• Diagnostic tools and identifying imbalance

• Specific treatment and gestures to heal disharmony

• Recommendations – lifestyle support and foods that heal

Elements Two  –  Psychology, mind-body counseling and 5 elements in daily life

‘To see it is to free it.’

This intensive addresses the psycho-emotional factors that relate to the 5 Elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We identify the key emotions of each element and address how to balance them through the 5 element cycles. This module also recognises that honest self-exploration, and development of caring and supportive relationships with clients, is an essential component of a successful therapist practice. You will challenge yourself in the art of honest self-inquiry, unraveling the conditioning that might be preventing you from living to your potential. This looking-within to find the answers creates a therapist who is a far more present and effective listener, thus encouraging others to dissolve the emotional and mental blocks that are part of a healing journey. Module topics include:

EARTH • METAL• WATER • WOOD• FIRE  

• Know thy self – recognise, acknowledge and observe 

• See these emotions and patterns in with non-judgment

• Practice compassion and loving kindness – metta

• Gestures and sequences to restore balance and harmony

• Learn how to heal emotional aspects through the 5 elements

• Listening practices, receptivity and self-enquiry

• Meridians, extensions, points and moxibustion

Advanced One and Two

12 THREADS OF ZENTHAI SHIATSU • FOCUSED INTENTION • FREEDOM 

Two practical and innovative intensives, offering a wealth of gestures developed from Zen Shiatsu, Traditional Thai Massage and Osteopathic techniques. Zenthai is inspired by the integration of structural and energetic bodywork. 

MOVEMENT • TOUCH • CONNECTION • LOVING KINDNESS• OPEN HEART 

• Gestures and sequences to restore balance and harmony 

• Addressing common areas of stagnation and disharmony

• Refining the quality of therapeutic touch

• Offering and receiving deep, effective therapy

• Self-inquiry and healing practices

• Connection to self, tribe and nature

Remedial One and Two

PRACTICE INTO THERAPY • ALIGNED INTENTION• THEORY AND PRACTICE

Visiting the structures of the human body to understand how posture and lifestyle affect our movement, joints and their energetic relationships. Addressing a variety of musculoskeletal imbalances and conditions.  Aligning treatment intentions to client needs, whilst addressing a variety of musculoskeletal dysfunctions and conditions. 

STRUCTURE • ANATOMY • PRECISION • EFFECTIVE THERAPY 

• Anatomy Lab: Theory class and movement exploration 

• Our structure: bones, joints, posture, movement and dysfunction

• Soft tissue imbalances and injury – muscles, tendons and fascia

• Relationship of Chi → Blood → Organ

• Alignment of TCM Meridians and myofascial structures

• Understanding other body systems and internal organs

• Zenthai gestures, techniques and sequence to restore balance

• Movement-based therapy for self healing

Traditional Therapies

THEORY AND PRACTICE • ORIENTAL APPLICATIONS • EXTRA TOOLS • 

Eastern approaches to health and healing are “holistic” in nature. Traditional Therapies delves into other therapeutic tools that can be applied during or in conjunction with Zenthai Shiatsu. These potent remedies are effective tools for balancing aspects of TCM. 

BALANCE • TONIFY • DISPERSE • HEAL 

• Cupping and moxibustion 

• Poultices and herbal compresses

• Thai foot massage

• Wat Pho Thai massage applications

• Refining diagnostic skills – pulse, tongue, hara

• Client interactions and aligning treatment intentions

Student Clinic

OPEN CLINIC • SUPERVISED & SUPPORTED • DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT 

You will be guided and supported in offering multiple sessions including client consultation, TCM diagnosis, planning and providing treatment and offering lifestyle support to your clients. Supervision will be offered with feedback from supervisors and other qualified Zenthai Therapists. This valuable experience will integrate your learning from throughout the year. 

INTEGRATION • REFINEMENT • FULL POWER • HEART CENTRE 

• Aligning client needs, diagnosis and treatment 

• Offer full heart sessions with Focused Intention 

• Integrating content and context

• Coming home – full circle of healing and transformation

Includes acroyoga as therapeutic flying … offerings throughout the final modules.

General Information

• All classes run from 830am to 430pm

• A regular movement practice outside of class time is encouraged as well as extra Zenthai practice time (optional extra tutorial/revision classes will be on offer throughout the year).

• 30hrs of logged clinic practice time is required to graduate. This works out to be about 1hr per week of logged bodywork practice outside of class time. Be sure to allow time for this weekly, as well as reflective journaling tasks you will be assigned. (about 3-4hrs per week outside of class time is sufficient for both clinic practice and homework tasks)

• An insurance cover is recommended at the completion of student clinic to begin practice as a therapist.

• Repeat of a module that is missed from absence, all assessments, and full course payment are required to receive qualifying certificate at graduation. Communication is key! Make up classes can be arranged for missed modules/content at an hourly rate. Please note that the Elements 1 and 2 modules must be attended, these cannot be made up.

• Graduated therapists are encouraged to be part of the growing community – There is now a Level 3 pathway made up of a variety of post graduate trainings. Check the main Zenthai website for details: www.zenthaishiatsu.com

• Zenthai flow teachers are now offering regular classes for students to gain competence and confidence. The classes include asana, partner yoga and bodywork woven together through the 5 elements of Chinese medicine.

• APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN. This course is normally very full, so entry is not automatic. Please express your interest using the form linked below.