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History of Zen-Touch™ Shiatsu & Founder Seymour Koblin
Zen-Touch™ Shiatsu:
Innovative approach to acupressure/shiatsu massage was created by Seymour Koblin, the director of the International School of Healing Arts. It combines Eastern energetic and intuitive methods and evokes deep health regeneration effects by balancing the body's life force energy.
Macrobiotic Shiatsu:
Shizuko Yamamoto is the "official" pioneer of Macrobiotic Shiatsu. She represents the origins of Macrobiotics as begun by Georges Ohsawa (Yukikazu Sakurazawa) and his predecessor Doctor Sagen Ishizuka. She was one of the 5 disciples (including Michio and Aveline Kushi, Herman and Cornelia Aihara ) sent to America (around 1950) to spread Health and Healing to the West. She has been inspiring students and clients including Seymour Koblin for almost 50 years.
Throughout the 1980's Seymour had the opportunity to study with Shizuko. She was on the panel of examiners who certified Seymour as a Shiatsu teacher in 1984 at the Kushi Institute. Most of Seymour's time then was spent studying and apprentice training Tai Chi and Nui Kung with Master CK CHU, graduate of Ohashi Shiatsu, taking Macrobiotic classes at the Kushi Institute, assisting and scribing for Macrobiotic consultations with Michio Kushi, Shizuko, Bill Tara and other Senior Macrobiotic counselors. He took cooking classes with Aveline Kushi, Anne Marie Colbin and many other Macrobiotic pioneers. Seymour was also fortunate to have met Lima Ohsawa and attended a lecture she gave when she was in her 90's.
Seymour was also developing at that time his own style of Shiatsu, now called Zen-Touch, that incorporates the origins of Macrobiotics into a modern day perspective that integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and other traditional healing practices.
Seymour Comments:
People too often seem to categorize "box" and JUDGE different theoretical perspectives. When the energy principles underlying the words are understood, all contradictions in books fade away. I sometimes hear statements like " that's not Macrobiotic".
Macrobiotics means Big Life, a place where there is no good /bad or right/wrong - only energetic influences that bring us further from or closer to our Dreams. Over the years substances, foods and practices from blue green algae, bread, tomatos, fruit , donuts, milk to certain meditations, exercises and way of life practices were questioned. "Michio, is it Macrobiotic" Michio used to say "whatever works for you - any food or any practice that supports health and the path to one's dreams is "Macrobiotic".
When I hear statements like "she is too Yin or Yang" I feel such sadness because most of the time these words are used inappropriately and too often so misunderstood. My teachers had so much to share in person that got lost in books. Some have passed away, some are getting older and are teaching less. I am finding myself so motivated to share their words and wisdom with anyone who desires to feel the essence of Macrobiotics as taught to me and that I am dedicated in preserving.