Shiatsu Society

What does the MRSS assessment consist of?

2 x 20 minute practicals, 10 minute interview, Points location test, 2 Case Histories, Self Development Essay and 100 treatment records. The current fee is £110+vat. The assessments are usually held on Mondays in May/June and also October/November. The deadlines being 14th March and 14th August. Keep your eyes open in the newsletters and on this site for confirmation of the dates. Contact us for an application pack or go to the downloads page and click on 'Assessment Application' and 'Assessment Guidelines'.

Why don’t we market Shiatsu more?

Money! In 2006 our marketing budget went up from £17k to nearly £100k which is why we increased your membership fees so this is progressing Shiatsu further. Every penny of the budget is spent each year. The budget is being spent on advertising/editorials in many magazines & newspapers, business exhibitions, health exhibitions, marketing workshops, MKM promotion, schools liaison visits, regional forums, sponsorship of DVDs and many more marketing projects. Please advise if you have any good marketing ideas or can spare a few hours to join the Sub Committee.

Who runs the Society?

The Board of Directors, Office Manager, part time office assistant and quite a few members who are involved with the numerous Sub Committees. Please contact us if you would like to join a Sub Committee and be involved with the running of the Society. You can put in as little or as much time as you can spare.

I have no face to face contact with the Society.

Then come along to the regional forums, AGM/EGM, Meeting of Friends, Congress or join the mentoring scheme. The Office Manager is also visiting all students & teachers in schools to answers their queries and provide support.

What is the MKM Promotion?

The Society has teamed with MKM promotions to get Shiatsu a household name. Companies to have linked with us so far are Weight Watchers, Littlewoods Finance, Proctor & Gamble (Oral B), Tampax / Alldays, Hills to name but a few. This offer is open to all qualified practitioners of the Society with current insurance. The companies offer their customers a free Shiatsu treatment which is where you come in. Hopefully, this will encourage clients to come back to you for further treatments and thus also build you client base. Contact us for an application form or visit the downloads page.

Do you know of any stars who have Shiatsu?

Yes, but we are not allowed to release names as none of them have officially given permission. If you treat a famous person then please ask if we can use their name in advertising. Get them to sign a form saying they give their permission. Even better if they agree to be interviewed by the media!

What is the Training Record Card?

This is a card which should be completed throughout your training so you can present it with your MRSS assessment application. The minimum signatures you will need are the three from your three main teachers – the ones who have taught you the most hours. If you have any visiting teachers or attend worksops then make sure you get those teachers to sign your card that day.

Can students attend Congress and the AGM?

Of course, all congress workshops are designed for all levels of membership. These workshop hours count towards your training and can be CPD hours for practitioners. All members are encouraged to attend the AGM and have a say as to how the Society should be run in the future.

What is Associate membership?

This is a ‘catch all’ category. This is for members who are taking a year out, maternity leave, ill, finishing off studies, sabbatical etc. This category entitles you to all the usual membership benefits but practitioners are not listed on the public registers. You are still entitled to the Society's block insurance scheme under this membership.

How often are the practitioner listings updated?

Every day on the database and weekly on the website so let us know if you have any change of details. The practitioner booklet is printed only once a year in January.

Do you know when I have graduated?

No – not unless you tell us! Please visit the Document Downloads page for a Student to Graduate Upgrade form. This will upgrade your membership and insurance.

Do you recommend futon / table suppliers?

The only company we know of which sells good quality futons is Futon Pacifika who advertise in your newsletter. We used to have a few other companies on file but many members complained about the quality of the products. The only table store we have been recommended is The Table Shiatsu Company.

Can I work abroad?

Each country has their own rules so we always recommend that you contact a Shiatsu Society in the country you intend to work to get the up-to-date information. Other countries do not currently recognise the MRSS but most know that the UK has a very high standard of training and will accept you into their country. Some may ask you to undertake a practical assessment. Our insurers usually only cover you for one month abroad so it would be best to talk to your insurance company about this. Visit the Document Downloads page for a list of Society's we know about overseas.