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Courses in 2025

Facial Guasha for Self-care*
Saturday 22 February 2025

Holographic Guasha workshop*
Sunday 23 February 2025

Hara Diagnosis - the basics*
Saturday 1 March 2025

Moxibustion - a practical workshop*
Sunday 2 March 2025

Intro to Thai Tok Sen massage*

Saturday 29 March 2025

Intro to Korean Hand Therapy *

Sunday 30 March 2025

Recorded Courses

Interpreting the zangfu 臟腑 organs
of Chinese Medicine*
learn about the Chinese characters which form a semantic cloud around each organ

 - a great way to deepen your understanding of organ functions

An afternoon with a Jiao*
look at the tripartite division of the trunk - and learn more about acupoints in each jiao

Twenty four Solar fortnights*
these 12 separate 2 hour recordings are applicable to one month or a full year - including astronomy, astrology, food, ceremonies, acupuncture channels, acupoints, seasonal exercises and more

*open to students or anyone with an interest in this area *

Hara diagnosis - the basics

Entry requirements Anyone interested in using abdominal palpation for diagnosis.

Hara Diagnosis: The Basics
Palpation, the art of physical examination through touch, is widely recognized as an essential diagnostic tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, despite its importance, this skill is often under-emphasized and rarely taught in a hands-on, practical manner. This workshop seeks to address that gap by offering an immersive and interactive learning experience, focusing specifically on the foundational techniques of palpation—particularly belly (hara) palpation.

In TCM, the hara (abdominal region) serves as a vital area for assessing the body's overall health and energy flow. By learning to detect subtle changes and patterns in the abdomen, practitioners can gain valuable insights into their patients' conditions, complementing and enhancing other diagnostic methods. This is especially beneficial for practitioners of acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine who wish to deepen their diagnostic capabilities. Adding hara diagnosis to your clinical practice provides an additional layer of information that can validate or refine findings from pulse diagnosis, leading to more precise and individualized treatments.

One of the key advantages of hara diagnosis is its versatility. It can be seamlessly integrated into any acupuncture style, making it a valuable tool regardless of your preferred approach. Whether you follow traditional, five-element, or modern acupuncture techniques, hara palpation can enhance your practice by providing a more comprehensive understanding of your patients' energetic and physical states.

This workshop is designed with a strong emphasis on practical application. Participants will engage in hands-on practice, learning to perform hara palpation techniques on each other under the guidance of an experienced instructor. This interactive approach ensures that you not only grasp the theoretical aspects but also develop the necessary tactile skills and confidence to apply hara diagnosis effectively in your clinical practice.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental principles of hara diagnosis
- Develop proficiency in key palpation techniques for the abdominal region
- Integrate hara diagnosis into their existing diagnostic toolkit
- Enhance their ability to confirm and cross-reference findings from pulse and other diagnostic methods.

Whether you're an experienced practitioner looking to expand your diagnostic repertoire or a student of TCM eager to deepen your understanding, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to develop a crucial skill that can significantly enhance your practice.

Recommended reading
Hara diagnosis: Reflections on the Sea - Kiiko Matsumoto and Stephen Birch 

John Jaarsveld originally learned hara diagnosis as part of his training as a shiatsu therapist, and later studied to incorporate it within his acupuncture speciality.

John has been a student of Kiiko Mastumoto sensei for 15 years, in the Netherlands and abroad. He applies the method in his own clinical practice on a daily basis: palpation and critical thinking, alongside the Neijing and the Nanjing, are the basis of his clinic. Before studying acupuncture, John held a black belt in Bujinkan Budo Taijitsu and studied and practised shiatsu and qi gong for about 10 years. After graduating from acupuncture school, and first meeting David Euler and then Kiiko Matsumoto sensei, he has so far spent over 1000 hours with Kiiko sensei .

         Date          Saturday 1 March 2025

        Time         10am - 5pm
        Cost          £100
        Spaces      Max 12
        Tutor         John Jaasrveld