The vital role of the Hara in Shiatsu practice

In the practice of Shiatsu, the Hara is profoundly significant, serving as the

foundational core of both technique and philosophy. As the lower of the three

Dantian, the Hara represents more than simply a physical region of the body. It is

the reservoir of vital energy and essence fundamental for life and wellbeing, since it

houses our Jing (精), the substance that sustains life, and the Genki (元氣), or primal

energy, that animates our being.

The Hara represents our connection to the Earth, our grounding, and the main seat

of our inner strength and potential. Shiatsu emphasises the profound role of the

Hara, not just as a physical centre but as a hologram of health, vitality, and

grounding. This is why Ampuku abdominal acupressure techniques are so central to

Shiatsu practice. They allow the practitioner to diagnose, nurture, and harmonise

the receiver’s energy by working directly on the Hara. This offers the possibility of

restoring balance to the whole body from its very core. With the Hara as a focal

point in the treatment, the practitioner can open and regulate the flow of Ki

throughout the body's channels, addressing physical, emotional and mental

ailments, and restoring communication and harmony within the body’s

interconnected systems.

Cultivation of one’s own Hara is essential for the practitioner. This can be achieved

by endeavouring always to work from the Hara while giving treatments. In this way,

Shiatsu becomes a path to connect with and to strengthen one’s own Hara, for the

benefit of both giver and receiver. The profound strength of Shiatsu lies in this ability to work from the Hara. Without the fundamental principles of using a relaxed, aligned posture and good body mechanics - working from the Hara - it is impossible for the practitioner to reach the full healing potential of Shiatsu. This cannot be over-emphasised! It also makes it

crucial to find a teacher or school which truly emphasises the importance of laying

these essential foundations. Equally vital for the serious student of the art of Shiatsu

is dedicated practice, focused on acquiring the fundamental skills.

Beyond this, it is highly recommended for practitioners to become proficient in the

art of internal cultivation by establishing a regular practice of Nei Gong. This internal

practice enables the practitioner to develop a strong and stable Hara, which in turn

brings inner balance, clarity, strength, vitality, and character. These are precious attributes for Shiatsu practice. They not only benefit and strengthen the practitioner’s own wellbeing, but also enhance the ability to communicate with the receiver from a place of presence and clarity. A strong Hara fosters a clear, respectful therapeutic environment and the sacred space conducive to integration and healing.

With the deep grounding acquired through cultivation of the Hara, practitioners will

then be able further to deepen their skills by working with the different maps that

East Asian medicine has to offer, such as Yin and Yang, the Five Transformations or

the Six Divisions. My work with the Hara and study of Ampuku has shown me that

the map of the Bagua, or eight forces of nature, is one of the most useful approaches to bodywork practice. The hologram of the Hara holds the map of those eight forces - Earth, Heaven, Fire, Water, Mountain, Lake, Thunder and Wind - in

their pre-heaven and post-heaven arrangements. The post-heaven arrangement has the Water trigram below and the Fire trigram above. This represents the polarities at work in the microcosm of our body, directly related to the forces in the macrocosm. The pre-heaven arrangement has the Earth trigram below and the Heaven trigram above - giving us access to the primordial unity. Together they represent and connect all aspects of our being with the cycles of change found in and around us.

The therapeutic value of the Bagua can be understood through its direct connection

with the Zàngfǔ and the eight Extraordinary Vessels, since each of the eight forces

directly relates to one of the Extraordinary Vessels. These Vessels constitute the

primordial matrix of our being. Therefore, they also form the basis of Nei Gong

training, which helps the practitioner access and connect with that matrix.

This offers the practitioner a way directly to engage with those forces, which can be

understood as the dynamics of the eight transformations of Ki: arising (升),

descending (降), entering (入), exiting (出), opening (开), closing and conserving

(合), gathering and storing Jing, Qi and Shen (聚/藏), spreading out and dissipating

(散/放). As movements of transformation, they are bound to all of life, from the

macrocosm of nature to the microcosm of the human being.

Understanding them is crucial to Shiatsu since they are related to the cycles and

movements in our bodies, from the Ki of our emotions to the visceral and

craniosacral tides, and to movement in the twelve Organ Meridians and eight Extraordinary Vessels. These dynamics provide the practitioner with a powerful and

effective approach to treatment, balancing the body from the Bagua around the

umbilicus, connected to and encompassing our whole being.

Working from this map of the eight forces of nature, reflected in the centre of the

Hara, reveals the profound interconnectedness between the human body and the

universal forces that govern existence. Central to this practice is the Hara, not

merely as a physical locus but as a gateway to vitality and healing. By aligning with

these transformative movements of Ki, the practice of Shiatsu transcends technique

and itself becomes a transformative journey of inner clarity, presence, and balance.

Shinzui Shiatsu School Belgium

Shinzui Bodywork International Institute