Seiki

Guiding the Internal Energy Movement toward Harmony

NEWS : Keith Stewart will host a Seiki Workshop in November 08 in Scotland

What is Seiki?

Seiki is a Japanese style of bodywork created by Akinobu Kishi – a famous Shiatsu Master.

Seiki means 'Way of Harmony' and the goal of practicing is to achieve a natural harmony within ones own body and mind, free of tension and stuck patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving and holding oneself. Effectively to become more alive and spontaneous in an authentic way.

At times the bodywork appears similar to Zen Shiatsu but it does not rely on a conceptual methodology or map of the body such as the Chinese Meridians to guide the touch and the role of the practitioner is more subtle.

The work contains three aspects :

- Gyoki:  Working and developing Ki / Qi or conscious energy. In Chinese culture this would be called Qi Gong. In Japanese culture this is often called Hara Work. This can take many forms, the simplest being breathing into the hands.

- Katsugen : Spontaneous Movements and Sounds which the body makes using its own intelligence to release tension and move towards a healthier balance. There is no form to this movement – it can be anything from a normal body response such as yawning or a change in breathing rhythm, to slow or fast body movements, laughter or crying etc.

- Seiki Soho : A two person bodywork in which the 'mirror' active person enters into a state of resonance with the 'passive' person by being empty and present and observing the breath of the person while maintaining contact either with the hands or even simply the eyes.

The role of touch is to make contact and guide consciousness to the place touched, not to stimulate the body with sensations or achieve any particular 'therapeutic' change. The focus is more on acceptance and recognition of the person. Touch can be very light, even off the body or firm but without pressure. The touch moves subtly away as the person breathes in and in deeper as they breathe out. The contact is more energetic than physical.

If the 'passive' person enters into Katsugen or simply needs space, then the 'doer' allows it but maintains focus and connection with the other from nearby. Allowing the space for the person to release and re-balance is important. Sometimes even a small amount of direct contact may be enough for a particular session. There is no requirement for the external busy'ness which is common to most therapeutic work.

The ideal session is when the 'doer' provides touch exactly in the 'right' places at the right moments assisting the 'passive' person's body intelligence in its natural movement towards greater harmony and balance.

The ability to do this comes from achieving greater consciousness and sensitivity within oneself and building up a trust relationship and connection to the archetypes within the unconscious which do know and will guide the hands.

It is not a conceptual skill, but one sees patterns or places of holding in the body and feel attracted to areas. Deeper breathing being a visible sign that a change of state has happened.  Senior practitioners experience the knowing of the hands as solid and beyond intuition.

What kind of people work with Seiki?

Seiki is a practice for developing sensitivity to the movement of internal energy and as such it appeals to people who work with their own energy as therapists such as Shiatsu practitioners, masseurs etc. It is equally relevant as a practice for those who work with Reiki and wish to further develop their sensitivity and ability to enter resonance with their clients.

Seiki also attracts people who work with their movement such as dancers and martial artists from Tai Chi and Aikido backgrounds along with other hara based martial arts.

Want to learn more?

Keith Stewart has been working with Akinobu Kishi for many years and will be holding a weekend practical Seminar on Seiki in November 08 in Scotland.