SeiKi in Hamburg: Touching Inner Movement

SeiKi is a ‘unification with the mind of the universe … supported by natural vitality.’

Kishi Akinobu

SeiKi is not a technique – it is resonance. Perhaps it is the closest we can now get to real Zen Shiatsu. This is reflected in the subtitle to Kishi and Alice Whieldon’s book, The Secret Art of Shiatsu.

In SeiKi, although we work primarily with the subconscious, the emotions and the body, we always point to the universal, to the aspect of being human that is eternal.

On a SeiKi workshop you will be instructed in ways to develop your observational ability, feel more deeply and develop skill in your hands. You will experience the depth of connection that is possible when we stop adding techniques and ideas. We discover what happens when we expand our attention and open to what is beyond form. SeiKi takes us to a place beyond ‘therapy’ to where the ordinariness of simple, safe touch becomes a Zen discipline.

The founder of SeiKi, Kishi Akinobu, was Masunaga’s top disciple. He was a well-travelled, vibrant and sometimes controversial figure in Shiatsu, working in Europe and North America since the early 1970s. He influenced many who went on to found schools all around the world. In 1980, a satori experience transformed his work which he then called, SeiKi Soho, to mark the start of a new lineage. It is rooted in Japanese culture, reflecting the purpose and aesthetic of the Japanese Arts. Rather than working from theory and applying techniques, it emphasizes feeling, experience and presence.

If you are a Shiatsu practitioner, we invite you to come along. You do not have to abandon Shiatsu to appreciate and be inspired by SeiKi. You can catch a flavour of the Japanese roots of Shiatsu through the lens of SeiKi. For students of SeiKi, since the Way of Touch is grounded in beginners mind, whether you are a newcomer or old hand you will find much to enjoy and learn.

Dr Alice Whieldon has presented SeiKi workshops for over 25 years. She worked closely with Kishi Akinobu until his death in 2012 and co-authored, SeiKi: Life in Resonance (2011, Kishi and Whieldon).

Alice is the Director of SeiKi Hub, founded with two colleagues (Alexandra Gelny and Maria Kokori) and dedicated to furthering SeiKi as a profession and community. She also wrote, Clearing: the key to mindfulness mastery (2016). Additionally, Alice has degrees in Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology and taught in Higher Education for many years. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), in recognition of her expertise in teaching and learning. She brings a unique combination of skill in touch and forensic understanding to her workshops.

Teaching approach:

Demonstration is crucial to catching the ‘feel’, qualities and basic form of SeiKi through active observation and, where possible, experiencing the direct touch of the instructor or assistant.

Practice is central to learning SeiKi. Guidance in the form of kata (exercises/form) will be given, as well as time to freely explore with the benefit of gentle supervision.

Discussion in the form of Q&A sessions and short talks to help students understand core principles in SeiKi.