About the Shiatsu Society

Welcome to the Shiatsu Society ! 

Who we are:

Founded in 1981, the Shiatsu Society is the UK’s leading professional association for Shiatsu professionals, practitioners, and enthusiasts.  

What we do:

Our mission is to promote and support the highest standards of Shiatsu practice across all communities. We act as the main professional body for Shiatsu within the UK by ratifying schools and developing educational practices. We support registered members through all stages of their journey, networking and providing political liaison where needed, and promoting evidence-based clinical research into Shiatsu.  

How we do it:

We focus on five interlinked areas of activity that contribute to our mission. Each area falls under one of our committees, which oversee operations and ensure that resources and support are readily available to our members and the public. 

Why we do it:  

Our vision is to establish Shiatsu as an officially recognised form of therapeutic bodywork and ensure that all members are recognised as essential healthcare workers in the promotion of positive health and wellbeing.

Our purpose is to foster an ethical, professional and compassionate environment for Shiatsu practitioners and enthusiasts. 

Aligned with the ethos of Shiatsu, our values are the guiding pillars for our vision.  

• Ethical & Transparent.
• Respectful & Compassionate.
• Professional & Reliable.
• Friendly & Approachable. 

Our team:

Our Board of Directors is made up of Shiatsu professionals who voluntarily dedicate their time to our mission. They are responsible for overseeing the Shiatsu Society’s operational decision-making and provide strategic direction on behalf of the Shiatsu community within the UK. Each member can serve on the Board for a maximum of 6 years.  

Our committees:  

• Education: the Education Committee focuses on developing the educational curriculum and overseeing ratification processes for Shiatsu schools and practitioners.
• Ethics: the Ethics Committee oversees the codes of professional conduct and ethics and ensures that all registered practitioners are compliant.
• Audit & Finance: the Audit Sub-Committee provides proportionate financial oversight to ensure the organisation manages funds responsibly, ensures that it doesn't incur unreasonable or disproportionate expenditure, applies appropriate controls to honoraria and fees, and files accurate annual accounts. The Committee reports to the Board, which retains ultimate responsibility.
• The Journal: the Journal Committee curates, develops and distributes the only Shiatsu magazine in the UK.