Dutch School for Classical Shiatsu 

 Dutch School for  Classical Shiatsu    

  Dutch Institute for Oriental Therapy studies 

The School

The N.S.K.S. (Nederlandse School voor Klassieke Shiatsu) was founded in 1987 and offers a four-year vocational education to become a Classical Shiatsu therapist. The school is certified and accredited as a vocational and  postgraduate education institute by the professional accrediting institute K.T.N.O., and by the professional organisations,B.A.T.C., the ZHONG T.C.M., C.A.T., S.V.N., L.V.N.G., V.B.A.G. and the N.V.S.T. (see PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS). 

The philosophy of the N.S.K.S. is based on a number of core values, which are listed and described below. In addition to these core values, the school also aims to provide students with a firm basis which serves to qualitatively improve their own lives and that of their patients. In this complex and high-paced society, in which new developments never cease, a craving for inner peace, stability and warmth is clearly growing. Studying, practicing and receiving Shiatsu and Do-In en Shiatsu provide that basis. 


1. Quality

The N.S.K.S. aims to provide high quality education, tuned to the reality of the wishes and needs of the therapist and society. Evaluation and adaptation of the curriculum take place continuously and regularly. 


2. Health

By educating therapists to function at a qualitatively high level, the school aims to contribute to health care and gezondheidszorg en het maatschappelijke welzijn van de mens. 


3. Traditional and modern values

The N.S.K.S. employs the traditional norms and values of Oriental medicine, while at the same time keeping up with developments in society, and aiming to meet the modern demands. 


The profession of Shiatsu Therapist                                                                              
The primary objective of the N.S.K.S. is to train students in the profession of Shiatsu Therapist. This means that students are educated to become full-fledged therapists who can practice their skills. The N.S.K.S employs a number of professional competences (described on this page) which students need to develop. These pertain to the ways of working with patients and other professionals in health care and society.


The level of this education is the same level as the fully integrated level of Shiatsu which is incorporated in the health ministry of Japan. 


Accessibility of Shiatsu

The origin of Shiatsu begins with 'the common people'. To this day, it is part of everyday life in rural China. The N.S.K.S. aims to make Shiatsu accessible and known to a large audience, by keeping costs low and by employing modern communication technologies. The fees for the education have not been raised in years and it is the most economical higher level vocational education in the Netherlands. This way, the N.S.K.S. aims to ensure that anyone interested in the art of healing themselves and others can learn to do so.


Vocational education status 
The N.S.K.S. is certified and accredited as a higher vocational education (H.B.O. in the Netherlands) by several professional organisations. For parttime education, there is no clear guideline for what is considered a higher vocational level. The N.S.K.S. optimalises the status of higher vocational level based on the following description:

"The student has at her and his disposal a number of qualities that enable functioning at the level of higher vocational education:

"The student has at her and his disposal a number of qualities that enable functining at the level of higher vocational education: Analytic capacity. This enables arriving at a diagnosis independently, based on information gathered, which will be used for formulating a plan of treatment.  In addition, the student has the capacity to work in a solution-focused and structured manner. The student has the capacity to  integrate knowledge and insights from different disciplines to arrive at a professional result. The student is aware of options and limitations. When not capable of offering a solution, referral(s) to other professionals will be made. The best interest and well-being of the client is of the utmost importance at all times."