The courses listed below are required to graduate with a Certificate of Completion from the Ohashi Institute, in addition to the activities listed in “Additional Requirements.” The Anatomy and Oriental Diagnosis courses can be taken at any time in the program, but must be completed prior to registering for the Advanced course (some exceptions may apply).

Beginning I — Inner Strength/Outer Grace
Be natural... be reverent... be present... be continuous... use both hands. Students learn the fundamental principles of Ohashiatsu/Ohashi Method as they apply to bodywork and, more importantly, to every aspect of life. You’ll learn how to work from Hara: your center and your source of inner strength and calm. You’ll learn:

As you near the end of the course, you will experience enhanced sensitivity as well as increased body awareness and grace, and by the end of the course, you will know how to give a full-body session.

Beginning II — Five Elements
Learning the principles and philosophy in the first course gives you the "how" to work with energy meridians. The Beginning II course provides the "why" to work with specific meridians by introducing the Five Elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. Our appearance, our habits, our likes and dislikes, our emotions and attitudes are examples of our effort to be in harmony with the Five Elements that are in Nature and within us at all times. You’ll learn:

Intermediate I — Hara Analysis, Stretching
This course demonstrates why Ohashiatsu is the best modality for givers. You will learn new techniques using your arms, elbows and knees, which increase body balance and grace, and gives the palms and thumbs a much needed rest. Using knees in conjunction with forearms, elbows or the hands allows the giver to make more than two connections with the receiver, resulting in a nurtured feeling. This is where Ohashiatsu as meditation can begin to be experienced. You will be introduced to:

Intermediate II — Physiology/Psychology & Meridian Extensions
You will be introduced to the Masunaga meridian extension system. Dr. Masunaga, a psychologist turned shiatsu practitioner and teacher, found that the psychological and emotional aspects of the meridians manifested themselves in other parts of the body than the traditional meridian system had shown. By learning the Masunaga meridian extensions, you will delve deeper into how physical situations can manifest in the emotions and psyche, and how unbalanced emotions can result in physical aches, pains and illness.

Advanced Course — New Techniques & TransitionsThis course expands the Ohashiatsu curriculum while also focusing on the essentials of Ohashiatsu: the difference between homologous and homolateral movement; how to perfect cross-patterning movement; use of mother/messenger hands. You will learn to make minor and major transitions during a session: from supine to prone, from side to prone, etc. smoothly and effortless. Other techniques and theory to be covered are a review of Masunaga meridians; sit-up position; neck techniques with and without the use of a scarf; bo and yu points; the four shins of observation; and analysis of body structure using kyo and jitsu theory.
One class is reserved for a Practical Application seminar, in which students demonstrate their ability on guests and are evaluated by the instructor. The course includes a written examination and a tutorial with the instructor.

Ohashi’s Oriental Diagnosis: Reading the Body
Ohashi compares Eastern and Western approaches with humor and sensitivity, and brilliantly draws out the precepts and seeming paradoxes of Oriental medicine in a language we can all understand. He covers 4 different ways to assess health: Bo-shin--observation; Setsu shin --touch; Mon shin --questioning; Bun shin --listening. Other topics are back diagnosis with bi-lateral distortion; supine position diagnosis; movement diagnosis, shoe diagnosis. This course helps you to view the human and natural worlds with new eyes and to discover physical, mental and spiritual conditions in yourself and others.

Note: This course will be offered online starting in late fall 2011.

Anatomy
An 18-hour introductory course that covers the musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology, cell and tissue structure, and the nervous system.

Note: This requirement can be satisfied by taking a comparable course at a community college or online. Consult the Registrar for accepted courses.
Those students who have already studied Anatomy for another discipline are exempt. Proof of the course, plus the number of hours, is required.

Evaluation for Graduation

After a student successfully passes Advanced Course, he/she will make a video of a 45-minute session and send it to Master Ohashi on a disk or USB key. Ohashi will evaluate the session, send comments to the student, and decide if the student passes. If a student does not pass, he/she must make another video after further practice.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

Practice Classes
Practice classes help students to improve the techniques they have learned in class. The instructor leads opening meditation and exercises and then assists students with technique and body posture as they work on each other. We recommend that students attend a minimum of 10 practice classes before the Advanced Course.

Tutorials
For the Intermediate and Advanced level courses, you will take a tutorial with 3 or 4 of your classmates outside of class time. The content is tailored to meet each student's specific needs and areas that need strengthening. Tutorials are recommended at any level and additional tutorials are sometimes required in the upper levels to strengthen the student's knowledge and comfort before moving to the next level.

Case Studies
To assist in developing a cohesive understanding of all the material you have learned, you will prepare one case study in the Intermediate II course, which will be evaluated by the Instructor with advice for future case studies. The Advanced Course requires that you write case studies for 2 clients that cover 4 sessions for each client, a total of 18 hours (which includes writing time). During the course, the instructor will read selected case studies for class discussion. The case studies for the Advanced Course are due 2 weeks prior to the first class.

Private Sessions
Receiving sessions from Certified Ohashiatsu® Instructors and Consultants is an important aspect of learning the Ohashiatsu technique. Sessions allow you to feel the work and learn directly through your body. Having various sessions with different people also enables you to experience different approaches. Students are required to have 8 sessions from a minimum of 3 different COIs or COCs before taking the Advanced Course.

The Ohashiatsu program can be usually be completed within 18-24 months. However, you may take longer as you need.