LIT FROM WITHIN

Gail Kellstrom, MFA, LMT (New York), Dip. ABT (NCCAOM),
AOBTA® CP and CI
AOBTA® Board Member 1990 to 2023
Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure® Senior Authorized
Teacher and Registered Practitioner, 1985 to 2025,
NCBTMB Board Certified and Continuing Education Provider

by Deborah Valentine Smith, AOBTA® President Emerita, AOBTA®-CI, Dipl. ABT (NCBAHM)™ —

I first met Gail in the late '80s. Ever the mistress of laughter, teller of jokes, and tongue-in-cheek theatrics, Gail earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree at Pennsylvania State University and was a professor in the theater department of Marymount Manhattan College in New York City when I met her. She came to me for Jin Shin Do® for back pain, met a silver-blue dragon in the first session, fell in love with the work and the 5 Elements, and never looked back. She was a registered JSD practitioner and became an authorized teacher in 1994. To practice and teach legally in New York State, she then completed massage training at the Swedish Institute.

She was an ardent supporter of Asian Bodywork Therapy, working tirelessly with the coalition who lobbied for legislative recognition of non-massage practices in New York State. Those groups eventually formed the Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Practice Organizations (FTMBSP), an important ally of AOBTA® on the legislation front. Through that work, Gail became acquainted with the AOBTA legislation committee and received an award from them for her efforts. She served as the AOBTA® New York State Representative and then, starting in 1990, was on the board of directors until her retirement in 2023.

Gail was a gifted Jin Shin Do® practitioner and teacher and her wisdom, empathy and deep listening profoundly touched the clients and students with whom she worked. She saw the light of Shen in every being she met and was reverent in its presence. She studied spiritual and shamanic practices and embodied their wisdom.

She was an animal whisperer. Her relationship with them was personal and respectful with no trace of "owner" and "owned." She rescued many feral animals from the woods near her home. Two of my own furry companions, who were with me for many years, came to me through Gail's rescue of a pregnant cat. She was an authentic participant in furthering women’s health, empowerment, and sisterhood. She was a precious and loyal friend. She and I exchanged sessions, witnessed and supported each other's life passages through nearly five decades. I miss her in-body form, though she's still with me in so many experiences, revelations, and memories.

And jokes. Always with the jokes.

Gail was 80 years' worth of feisty joyousness when she passed. Wherever she is, I'm sure she's enthusiastically embracing the new experience and has everybody there laughing.

She is survived by her brother, Gary Kellstrom of New Jersey, her nephews Gary Jr., David and Craig Kellstrom, and her grand-nieces and nephews.

On April 2, AOBTA Maryland members met with AOBTA leadership and Legislative Director Victor Manuel to discuss how the Maryland general assembly was discussing legislation that would affect ABT practice in the state. Through the efforts of Tom Swiss and Barbra Esher, the bill was reworded and AOBTA was able to intervene on behalf of the Maryland members.

BRIDGING THE GAPS IN INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY

Pam Ferguson, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), AOBTA & GSD-CI, LMT

Read the article here: 

https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/39997-bridging-the-gaps-in-integrative-oncology

Jane Goodale, AOBTA®-CP, Rhode Island

Deborah Layton, AOBTA®-CP, West Virginia

Magdalena Groszfeld, AOBTA®-CP, Illinois

LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT

Thursday, May 28

12:00 to 1:00 Central Time (US and Canada)

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The Japanese concept of Shu Ha Ri as a pathway towards an integrative approach for bodywork practice

‘Honouring the fundamentals, even as you eventually move beyond the rules and structures once you have embodied them’ - Tea master Sen no Rikyū (1522 – 1591)

Like many of my colleagues, integrating the diverse modalities and techniques I've learned throughout my journey as a bodywork practitioner and teacher has been an ongoing quest. As practitioners, our aim is always to become more skilled so we can better help our patients. On my journey, this has led me to study, learn and integrate techniques from both Eastern and Western bodywork traditions.

My intention, in this short essay, is to introduce my understanding of the Japanese concept of ‘Shu Ha Ri’ and how it has offered me a framework for the integrated approach I use in my practice. It has helped me in my aim of bringing together East and West while embodying tradition, embracing innovation, and developing my own bodywork methodology: Shinzui Shuhō (真髄手法), or Core Bodywork.

The Japanese Concept of Shu Ha Ri

In the Japanese arts, including bodywork, the principle of Shu Ha Ri describes three developmental stages that foster craftsmanship. Shu (守) is the first stage: where the novice respectfully observes and mimics the teacher - to learn the fundamentals and proper body mechanics. Through dedicated practice, the committed novice eventually becomes an apprentice in the Ha (破) stage: expanding beyond rigid interpretations of the fundamentals. At this stage, the budding practitioner acquires more fluency and expertise as they mature. Through continued study and focused practice, the practitioner eventually transcends technique - by fully embodying the principles of the art. This is when they enter the Ri (離) stage. Ri is not an end in itself, but a stage where the practitioner becomes a skilled craftsman, ultimately providing the potential for virtuosity or ‘mastery’ to emerge. This virtuosity then allows for the integration of other modalities into one’s practice, since mastery enables us to stay true to the fundamentals while yet adapting to ever-changing conditions, and allows us to look beyond traditional form and technique.

The Creation of Modern Shiatsu

In an endeavour to create a more unified bodywork practice, the principle of Shu Ha Ri helps us to grasp how Japanese culture and Japanese arts have remained deeply connected to tradition while also welcoming innovation. This has been true in the development of Shiatsu, and Shu Ha Ri shows us how Tamai Tenpeki and Kaisen Tanokura, who coined the term ‘Shiatsu’ in the 1930s, were greatly influenced by Western anatomy and bodywork techniques while remaining firmly rooted in the Japanese Bodywork tradition. Tanokura explicitly states, in his groundbreaking book ‘Shisho Ryoho Hiroku’ (指掌療法秘録), that his practice combines ‘oriental therapy with American osteopathy and chiropractic approaches’.

Advancing a Deeper Understanding of Shu Ha Ri

For the Western mind, Shu Ha Ri might appear as a linear progression towards mastery - the goal to be attained. Although this view holds some truth, it is not the sole way to interpret Shu Ha Ri. Perhaps more accurately, some have described Shu Ha Ri as a circular or spiral process rather than the way to reach a final endpoint. This view recognises that after reaching Ri, practitioners enter a new phase of Shu, where they continue to hone their skills in an ongoing cycle.

As a third way of understanding Shu Ha Ri, I have come to view it as a concentric path - with Shu at its core. For me, this core represents the fundamentals that are always present in my treatment. I’d like to emphasise that I have no objection to seeing Shu Ha Ri as a circular or even a linear path. It all depends on the perspective we choose to take, and our own stage of development as we work towards cultivating craftsmanship and mastery. The linear, circular, spiral and concentric perspectives can all coexist and guide us along our path.

The Trinity of Fundamentals

Through my personal journey and practice of East Asian bodywork - including meditation and Qi Gong - I have come to identify what I see as a ‘Trinity of Fundamentals’ which serves as a guiding framework for the journey through Shu Ha Ri. This trinity comprises Hara, Yin & Yang, and Communication. As I see it, these three pillars are not isolated from one another but are intrinsically intertwined, corresponding to the developmental stages of the practitioner: developing a strong physical foundation (Shu); deepening the understanding of East Asian medical principles (Ha); opening oneself to the ever-changing nature of reality through connection and communication (Ri).

This trinity elegantly mirrors the classical concept of Tian Di Ren (Heaven, Earth, and Human), symbolising the harmonious interconnection of all levels of existence.

In the concentric model of Shu Ha Ri, Shu forms the central core: the fundamentals that remain present in every moment of practice. In East Asian bodywork, this core is embodied in the Hara, or lower Dantian, which serves as our connection to the Earth and is the reservoir of our Jing (Essence). Mastering the Shu stage requires learning to work from the Hara and maintaining a relaxed, expanded, aligned posture rather than relying on muscular force. Without this physical grounding, it is impossible to realise the art’s full healing potential. A stable Hara also protects the practitioner’s vitality, anchors the practice of Ting—listening with the whole being—and creates a safe space where the receiver feels truly held. To truly embody Shu also requires the practitioner to pursue dedicated internal cultivation through meditation and Ki exercises. This is essential and cannot be over-emphasised! It is only when we, as practitioners, are sufficiently settled in our own Hara that we can accurately observe the receiver's Ki dynamics, providing the necessary stability eventually to explore the multifaceted maps of Ha and the intuitive freedom of Ri.

Ha - Yin and Yang: The Maps of East Asian Medicine

If Shu is the root, the Ha stage represents expansion: the practitioner breaks through any rigid interpretation of fundamentals to navigate through the multifaceted theoretical landscape of East Asian medicine. In this stage, the practitioner continues to develop a deeper understanding and inner knowing of how the Primordial Unity differentiates into the ‘myriad of things’. The practitioner learns to navigate the ‘maps’ of the tradition—beginning with Yin & Yang and unfolding into the 5 Transformations, 6 Divisions, and 8 Forces (Bagua)—as a compass for discerning patterns of change, both in oneself and in the receiver.

Ri - Communication: The Art of Touch

In Ri, the practitioner moves beyond strict forms to the embodiment of the core principles of the ‘Art of Touch’ - turning technique into profound communication. This phase emphasises listening with one’s whole being, engaging in a silent dialogue that addresses both the practitioner's and the receiver’s entire being. Importantly - in the context of Shinzui Shuhō - Ri allows for the seamless integration of other modalities without losing the original essence. By drawing on the fundamental concepts of East Asian medical theory, the practitioner skilfully navigates various maps and techniques. As a result, the treatment becomes natural and effortless. The art remains rooted in Shu and continues to be cultivated in Ha, while it flourishes in Ri.

Bringing it all Together

In summary, the principle of Shu Ha Ri goes beyond a linear progression towards mastery; it offers a crucial framework for the practitioner to embody tradition while yet embracing innovation and adapting to evolving times. Whether seen as a spiral, circular, or concentric path, the journey requires that the fundamentals remain as the stable core of one’s practice.

True craftsmanship, ultimately, is about remaining faithful to the foundational principles of our art while adapting to changing conditions - transmuting all our technical skills into a genuine, intuitive healing art.

Philippe Vandenabeele AOBTA®-Certified Instructor (Fukuoka, Japan)

Drawing on over thirty years of clinical practice and international Shiatsu teaching, Philippe Vandenabeele developed the Shinzui Shuhō postgraduate program.

His courses combine his long clinical experience with continued practice and studies in manual therapy, anatomy, and his ongoing research into the roots of Shiatsu and Ampuku.

Philippe is the author of ‘AMPUKU Abdominal Acupressure: The Classics at the Heart of Japanese Bodywork’ (2020) and co-author of ‘The Essence of Shiatsu: The Masters View’ (2025).

For more information about the Shinzui Shuhō postgraduate program: www.shinzui-academy.com

Philippe will be the presenter for our Spring Connect and Learn. See the AOBTA Calendar for more details.

This month, the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) is proud to shine a spotlight on the individuals whose dedication, service, and leadership have helped shape our organization and advance the integrity of Asian bodywork therapies across the country and beyond. Our Veteran members (25+ years) and Trailblazers embody the values at the core of AOBTA—commitment to excellence, respect for tradition, and a passion for education, advocacy, and professional growth.

Celebrating Our Veteran Members
Our Veteran members are the foundation of AOBTA. Their years of involvement reflect a deep commitment to preserving authentic Asian bodywork traditions while supporting their thoughtful integration into modern practice.

Through mentorship, volunteer service, and active participation, they have supported fellow practitioners, strengthened educational standards, and helped AOBTA grow and evolve through changing times. We are deeply grateful for their continued presence, wisdom, and steady leadership within our community.

Recognizing Our Trailblazers
We also proudly recognize the Trailblazers among us—those who have led with vision and courage to expand awareness and understanding of Asian bodywork therapies. These individuals have introduced innovative programs, advanced professional standards, and opened new pathways for education, certification, and public recognition. Their pioneering efforts have strengthened AOBTA’s role as a leader in the field and inspired future generations of practitioners and educators. Truly, we are all trailblazers, every one of us! Thank you for continuing to trailblaze as an AOBTA member... wishing you continued success and trailblazing in Fire Horse year 2026 and beyond.

Why Your Contributions Matter
Together, our Veteran members and You, our Trailblazers, play essential roles in sustaining a strong, ethical, and forward-looking organization. Your contributions honor the rich roots of Asian bodywork traditions while ensuring these practices continue to thrive in a modern professional landscape.

To all the 25+ year Veterans and all of the Trailblazers we celebrate this month, thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and your lasting impact on AOBTA and the broader bodywork community. Your work continues to uphold the integrity, accessibility, and future of Asian bodywork therapies.

·       Robert Onne — Registered 1990 — Middlesex, VT — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Joyce Goldberg — Registered 1990 — Holland, PA — Shiatsu

·       Christine Hoffman — Registered 1990 — Geneva, NY — Shiatsu

·       DoAnn Kaneko — Registered 1990 — Pacific Palisades, CA — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Patricia Kramer — Registered 1990 — Richmond, VA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Alix Keast — Registered 1990 — New York, NY — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Lumini Merced — Registered 1990 — Boone, NC — Zen Shiatsu

·       Mark Berland — Registered 1990 — Somerville, MA — Acupressure, Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Margaretha Churchill — Registered 1990 — Camden, ME — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Pati Stillwater — Registered 1990 — Florence, MA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Ken Robertson — Registered 1990 — Greenwich, CT

·       Misako Sasamori — Registered 1990 — Natick, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Rosalie Dornstein — Registered 1990 — Merrick, NY — Shiatsu

·       Maureen Miller — Registered 1990 — New York, NY — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       David Lowenstein — Registered 1990 — Phoenix, AZ — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Haruo Iso — Registered 1990 — Amherst, MA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Yoshie Iso — Registered 1990 — Amherst, MA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Patricia Meyer-Peterson — Registered 1990 — Charlottesville, VA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Cindy Banker — Registered 1990 — Brookline, MA — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Robbee Fian — Registered 1990 — New York, NY — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Steven Schenkman — Registered 1990 — Huntington, NY — Amma

·       Faye Schenkman — Registered 1990 — Huntington, NY — Amma

·       Anneke Young — Registered 1990 — Huntington, NY — Amma

·       Ruth Dalphin — Registered 1990 — Cherry Hill, NJ — Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Reginald Ceaser — Registered 1990 — Long Island City, NY — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Kathleen Chace — Registered 1990 — West Palm Beach, FL — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Beck Stephens — Registered 1990 — Longmont, CO — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Saul Goodman — Registered 1990 — Pipersville, PA — Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       J. Vernon Smith — Registered 1990 — Baton Rouge, LA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Iona Teeguarden — Registered 1990 — Hemet, CA — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Deborah Valentine Smith — Registered 1990 — New Paltz, NY — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Denise Shinn — Registered 1990 — Voorhees, NJ — Shiatsu

·       Juliette Hoffman — Registered 1990 — Altadena, CA — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Mary McAlister — Registered 1990 — Worcester, MA

·       Janet Harrison — Registered 1990 — Glenview, IL — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Deborah Overholt — Registered 1990 — Mt. Laurel, NJ — Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Kim Purdy — Registered 1990 — Quincy, MA — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Kamala Quale — Registered 1990 — Eugene, OR — Acupressure

·       Rebecca Smith — Registered 1990 — Eugene, OR — Acupressure

·       Noel Taylor — Registered 1990 — Victoria, BC

·       Michelle Woods — Registered 1990 — Grand Junction, CO

·       Winter Jade Forest — Registered 1990 — Evanston, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Dean Hutcherson — Registered 1990 — Wilmington, DE — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Emil Grancagnolo — Registered 1990 — Verona, NJ — Tuina

·       Steve Schumacher — Registered 1990 — Louisville, KY

·       Grazia Della-Terza — Registered 1990 — Brooklyn, NY — Shiatsu

·       Ted Thomas — Registered 1991 — Vancouver, BC — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Yolanda Asher — Registered 1991 — Stone Mountain, GA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Annabel Mackenzie — Registered 1991 — Vancouver, BC — Shiatsu

·       Cari Johnson Pelava — Registered 1991 — Minneapolis, MN — Japanese Shiatsu, Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Virginia Connors — Registered 1991 — Flushing, NY — Amma

·       Mark Duhamel — Registered 1991 — Port Orchard, WA — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       William Dunbar — Registered 1991 — Twin Lakes, WI — Tuina

·       Rosemary Scavullo — Registered 1991 — Baltimore, MD — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Richard Warner — Registered 1991 — Oakland, CA

·       Gene Edwards — Registered 1991 — Kalispell, MT — Okasaki Restorative, Shiatsu

·       Jeffrey Pascal — Registered 1991 — Jackson Heights, NY — Acupressure, Medical Qigong

·       Lisa Bouchard — Registered 1991 — Biddeford, ME — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Barbra Esher — Registered 1991 — Baltimore, MD — Shiatsu

·       Thomas Ryan — Registered 1992 — Lexington, SC — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Richard Gold — Registered 1992 — San Diego, CA — Traditional Thai Bodywork

·       Arlene Pantalone — Registered 1992 — Redding, CA — Tuina

·       Janet Dobbs — Registered 1992 — Hilton Head Island, SC

·       Bill Helm — Registered 1992 — San Diego, CA — Medical Qigong, Tuina

·       Matthew Sweigart — Registered 1992 — Nevada City, CA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Beth Wellwood — Registered 1992 — Portsmouth, NH — Acupressure

·       Rylen Feeney — Registered 1992 — Santa Fe, NM — Amma

·       Lili Simons — Registered 1992 — Richmond, VA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Jane Wollack — Registered 1992 — Hendersonville, NC — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Debra Howard — Registered 1993 — Ponchatoula, LA — Asian Bodywork Therapy

·       Marchia Oliver — Registered 1993 — New Canaan, CT — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Ronald Barron — Registered 1993 — Downingtown, PA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Maria Spuller — Registered 1993 — Winston-Salem, NC — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Tuina

·       Charles Beck — Registered 1993 — Bensalem, PA — Shiatsu

·       Gaynol Fales — Registered 1994 — Standish, MI — Shiatsu

·       Anna Shay-McEntee — Registered 1994 — Wellington, FL — Shiatsu

·       Stuart Watts — Registered 1994 — Albuquerque, NM — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Medical Qigong, Shiatsu

·       Faxiang Hou — Registered 1994 — Mt. Laurel, NJ — Medical Qigong

·       Katherine Powers — Registered 1994 — New York, NY — Shiatsu

·       Diane Hynes — Registered 1994 — Hope, NJ — Shiatsu

·       Teri Rogers — Registered 1994 — Laguna Beach, CA — Acupressure, Traditional Thai Bodywork

·       Shirley Scranta — Registered 1994 — Pipersville, PA — Shiatsu

·       Monica Eddy — Registered 1994 — West Point, UT — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Leo McElroy — Registered 1994 — Philadelphia, PA — Shiatsu

·       Patricia Bolger — Registered 1994 — Hamden, CT — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Debra Doricchi — Registered 1994 — Rehoboth Beach, DE — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Beverly Sonen — Registered 1994 — Asheville, NC — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Michelle Ruggiero — Registered 1994 — Saxtons River, VT

·       Betse Bernstein — Registered 1995 — Oceanside, CA

·       Angela Martinez — Registered 1995 — Oakdale, NY — Amma

·       KarenElisa Broyles — Registered 1995 — Saint Louis, MO — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Gisela Konrad — Registered 1995 — Ithaca, NY

·       James Larsen — Registered 1995 — Anchorage, AK

·       Lynn Henry Garvey — Registered 1995 — Smithfield, RI — Shiatsu

·       Lynn Rothermich — Registered 1995 — Branson, MO — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Isabel Balmaseda — Registered 1995 — Canton, MA — Acupressure, Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Teresa Patterson — Registered 1995 — Robert, LA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Pamela Ferguson — Registered 1995 — Austin, TX — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Nicanor Snow — Registered 1995 — Amesbury, MA — Tuina

·       Cassandra Wang — Registered 1995 — San Diego, CA — Tuina

·       Renee Joskow — Registered 1996 — Gaithersburg, MD — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Linda Haase — Registered 1996 — Cumming, GA — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Shelley McDonald — Registered 1996 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Karen Gardner — Registered 1996 — Boston, MA — Japanese Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Osnat Livni — Registered 1996 — San Diego, CA — Chi Nei Tsang, Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Marilyn Blough — Registered 1996 — Huntington, VT — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Glenyce Bean — Registered 1996 — St. Paul, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Charles Segard — Registered 1996 — Champaign, IL — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Georgiy Lifshits — Registered 1996 — Skokie, IL — Tuina

·       Shawn Neal — Registered 1996 — Bella Vista, AR — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Jaci Cappels — Registered 1996 — Astoria, NY — Shiatsu

·       Shirley Scranta — Registered 1996 — Pipersville, PA — Shiatsu

·       Catherine White — Registered 1996 — Palatine, IL — Medical Qigong, Shiatsu

·       Nobuko Pyle — Registered 1996 — Tucson, AZ — Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Michael Casper — Registered 1996 — Minneapolis, MN — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Carolanne Oller — Registered 1996 — Needham, MA — Acupressure, Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Stacey Berkheimer — Registered 1996 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       John Perron — Registered 1996 — Wake Forest, NC — Amma

·       Teina Barrett-Wells — Registered 1996 — Truth or Consequences, NM — Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Joanne Christophers — Registered 1996 — Huntington, NY — Amma

·       Kelly Sanches — Registered 1997 — Golden Valley, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Kathleen Dombroski — Registered 1997 — New Hampton, NY — Shiatsu

·       Leah Savage — Registered 1997 — Portsmouth, NH — Acupressure

·       Janice Schilling — Registered 1997 — Woodbury, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Jill Alleyne — Registered 1997 — Little Canada, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Patricia Lowrance — Registered 1997 — Amado, AZ — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Martha Ritter — Registered 1997 — West Hartford, CT — Shiatsu

·       Lianne St. Remy — Registered 1997 — Newington, CT — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Ruth Wood — Registered 1997 — Doylestown, PA — Shiatsu

·       Linda Kinnunen — Registered 1997 — Brimson, MN — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Jim Donak — Registered 1997 — Berkeley, CA — Tuina

·       Susan Cousineau — Registered 1997 — Jamaica Plain, MA — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Donna Boucher — Registered 1997 — Madison, WI — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Kara Esborg — Registered 1997 — San Francisco, CA — Acupressure

·       Pamela Grosam — Registered 1997 — Saint Paul, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy, Tuina

·       Glenn Ponthieux — Registered 1997 — Marksville, LA

·       Susan Scott — Registered 1998 — Stillwater, MN — Shiatsu

·       Karlo Berger — Registered 1998 — Providence, RI — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Shawn Trepanier — Registered 1998 — Perham, MN

·       Melanie Amara — Registered 1998 — Brooklyn Park, MN — Zen Shiatsu

·       Mihoko Takahashi — Registered 1998 — Lexington, MA — Shiatsu

·       Lori Chapman Unrau — Registered 1998 — University City, MO — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Randall Cummins — Registered 1998 — Chicago, IL — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Barbara Brodeur — Registered 1998 — Bulverde, TX — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Tom Banasiak — Registered 1998 — New York, NY — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Daren Johnson — Registered 1998 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Nancy Web — Registered 1998 — Pawtucket, RI — Chi Nei Tsang, Traditional Thai Bodywork, Shiatsu

·       Wayne Mylin — Registered 1998 — Glen Mills, PA — Acupressure, Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       James Hill — Registered 1998 — Owings Mills, MD — Acupressure

·       Christian Goldberg — Registered 1998 — Missoula, MT — Shiatsu

·       Kay Dennis — Registered 1998 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu

·       Joy Mandler — Registered 1999 — Stow, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Margaret Chojin — Registered 1999 — Andover, MA — Traditional Thai Bodywork, Shiatsu, Tuina, Zen Shiatsu

·       Benjamin van Leeuwen — Registered 1999 — New Orleans, LA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Cheri Haines — Registered 1999 — Madison, WI — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Tiffany Marascalco — Registered 1999 — Biloxi, MS

·       R. Yera Gonzalez — Registered 1999 — New Orleans, LA — Shiatsu

·       Patricia Ruge — Registered 1999 — APO, AE — Shiatsu

·       Hannah Fuller-Boswell — Registered 1999 — Montague, MA — Shiatsu

·       Alison Day — Registered 1999 — Seattle, WA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Edie Snow — Registered 1999 — Boston, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Brian O'Dea — Registered 1999 — Berkeley, CA — Acupressure, Asian Bodywork Therapy, Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Roger Wood — Registered 1999 — Cambridge, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Marie Oliver — Registered 1999 — North Haledon, NJ — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Shawn Wicks — Registered 1999 — Idaho Springs, CO — Acupressure, Medical Qigong, Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Karen Marshall — Registered 1999 — Cape Coral, FL

·       Ivy West — Registered 1999 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Tricia Kloeckl — Registered 1999 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Robert O'Brien — Registered 1999 — Columbia, MD — Traditional Thai Bodywork, Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Joann Jalkiewicz — Registered 1999 — Newtown Square, PA — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Katie Hahn — Registered 1999 — Anchorage, AK — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Gabrell Carroll — Registered 1999 — Swoope, VA

·       Linda Larkin — Registered 2000 — Pottstown, PA — Five Element Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Valerie Coleman-Palansky — Registered 2000 — Bronx, NY — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Liselle Vigna — Registered 2000 — Queenstown, MD — Shiatsu

·       Jocelyn Lorenz — Registered 2000 — Havre De Grace, MD — Shiatsu

·       Irene Fernandez — Registered 2000 — Tucson, AZ — Shiatsu

·       Sarah Aiken-Felling — Registered 2000 — Eau Claire, WI — AMMA Therapy, Amma

·       Brandie Redinger — Registered 2000 — Boise, ID — Shiatsu

·       Jeanne Bredestege — Registered 2000 — La Mesa, CA — Tuina

·       Niya Werts — Registered 2001 — Baltimore, MD — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Carol Baker — Registered 2001 — Vinalhaven, ME — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Dell Fisher — Registered 2001 — New Orleans, LA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Joan Hurst — Registered 2001 — Boise, ID — Amma

·       Michael Basdavanos — Registered 2001 — Silver Spring, MD — Medical Qigong, Shiatsu

·       Melinda Franceschini — Registered 2001 — West Hatfield, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Wayne Lapinski — Registered 2001 — Eastham, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Adriana Martins — Registered 2001 — Austin, TX — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Peter Davis — Registered 2001 — Encinitas, CA — Jin Shou Tuina, Tuina

·       Pedro Yee — Registered 2001 — Clifton, NJ — Tuina

·       Susan Atwood — Registered 2001 — Newburyport, MA — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Zen Shiatsu

·       Holly Thistle — Registered 2002 — Winooski, VT — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Jeannette von Johnsbach — Registered 2002 — Manhattan Beach, CA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Brian Skow — Registered 2002 — Scottsdale, AZ — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Carrie Stone — Registered 2002 — San Francisco, CA

·       Stephen Markman — Registered 2002 — Philadelphia, PA — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Phyllis Wolf — Registered 2002 — Hayward, WI — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Benjamin Frucht — Registered 2002 — Boston, MA — Shiatsu

·       Julia Chavira — Registered 2002 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu

·       Miroslawa Perogine — Registered 2002 — Leland, NC — Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Tim Dunn — Registered 2002 — Tucson, AZ — Tuina

·       Amara Franko Heller — Registered 2002 — Harrisonburg, VA — Jin Shou Tuina, Tuina

·       Susan Grace — Registered 2002 — Aston, PA — Shiatsu

·       Andrew Mathey — Registered 2002 — Colrain, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Kerry Grundhoefer — Registered 2003 — Minneapolis, MN — Shiatsu

·       Ryan Nickerson — Registered 2003 — Bristol, PA — Shiatsu

·       Kiiko Matsumoto — Registered 2003 — Natick, MA

·       Michelle Ditter — Registered 2003 — Eugene, OR — AMMA Therapy

·       Carlene Banister — Registered 2003 — St. Rose, LA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Joan Wardwell — Registered 2003 — Gloucester, MA — Shiatsu

·       Diane Cahalane — Registered 2003 — Walpole, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Brooke Nesset — Registered 2003 — Brooklyn, NY

·       Daniel Halpain — Registered 2003 — Lakeside, CA — Tuina

·       Linda Charnley — Registered 2003 — Chaska, MN — Shiatsu

·       Thomas Swiss — Registered 2003 — Baltimore, MD — Shiatsu

·       Russell Jones — Registered 2003 — Laconia, NH — Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Anne Armstrong — Registered 2003 — Schnecksville, PA

·       Terry Norman — Registered 2003 — Mansfield, TX — Tuina

·       Asami Suzuki — Registered 2003 — Kailua Kona, HI — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Daniel Wunderlich — Registered 2003 — New York, NY — Amma, Tuina

·       Kathleen Davis — Registered 2003 — Berkeley, CA — Acupressure, Tuina

·       Louis Knox — Registered 2004 — Austin, TX — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Jennifer O'Hara — Registered 2004 — Chicago, IL — Acupressure

·       LeeAnn Marie — Registered 2004 — St. Paul, MN — Shiatsu

·       Roger Jahnke — Registered 2004 — Goleta, CA — Acupressure, Medical Qigong, Tuina

·       Ming Wu — Registered 2004 — Maynard, MA — Tuina

·       Joseph Lucier — Registered 2004 — Quincy, MA — Acupressure

·       Frances Bruen — Registered 2004 — Worcester, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Dyanne Guidry — Registered 2004 — Covington, LA — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Shiatsu

·       Jarrod Lash — Registered 2004 — Tucson, AZ — Tuina

·       Deborah Nordemann — Registered 2004 — Sante Fe, NM — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Robert Peng — Registered 2004 — Pleasant Valley, NY — Medical Qigong

·       Wendy Clouser — Registered 2004 — Collingswood, NJ — Traditional Thai Bodywork

·       Lee Thorpe — Registered 2004 — Carson City, NV — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Nahrin Belooz — Registered 2004 — Turlock, CA — Shiatsu

·       Bonnie Wisthoff — Registered 2004 — Tucson, AZ — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Ruth Levy — Registered 2004 — Chicago, IL — Shiatsu

·       Jo Anne Lindberg — Registered 2004 — Verona, WI — Shiatsu

·       Steve Rogne — Registered 2004 — Evanston, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Rebecca Caudill — Registered 2005 — Simpsonville, SC — Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu, Medical Qigong, Shiatsu

·       Jeremy Richardson — Registered 2005 — Boulder Creek, CA — Traditional Thai Bodywork, Tuina

·       Patricia Daniels — Registered 2005 — Philadelphia, PA — Shiatsu

·       Ricardo Pena — Registered 2005 — Bridgeview, IL — Shiatsu

·       Santosh Karmacharya — Registered 2005 — Watertown, MA — Shiatsu, Shiatsu-Anma Therapy

·       Steve Rogne — Registered 2005 — Evanston, IL — Zen Shiatsu

·       Shatay Trigere — Registered 2005 — Minneola, FL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Lynn Swearingen — Registered 2005 — Boulder, CO

·       Natasha Jose — Registered 2005 — New Providence, PA — Shiatsu

·       Chris Martin — Registered 2005 — Boston, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Maria Carlson — Registered 2005 — Grand Marais, MN

·       Kate Sherman — Registered 2006 — Pittsburgh, PA

·       Michelle Racich — Registered 2006 — Suttons Bay, MI — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Viviana Hernandez-Tapia — Registered 2006 — Romeoville, IL — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Donald Myers — Registered 2006 — Simsbury, CT — Acupressure, Tuina

·       Maria Falato — Registered 2006 — Singer Island, FL — Acupressure

·       Elizabeth Cave — Registered 2006 — Framingham, MA — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Jason Heller — Registered 2006 — Harrisonburg, VA — Jin Shou Tuina

·       Tiburcio Gutierrez — Registered 2006 — Cicero, IL — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Kenneth Barham — Registered 2006 — Champaign, IL — Danzen Ryu, Shiatsu

·       Hector Kuhn-Naranjo — Registered 2006 — Austin, TX

·       Cynthia Warshaw — Registered 2006 — Litchfield, CT — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Joseph DeStefano, II — Registered 2006 — Yorba Linda, CA

·       Veronica Moncada — Registered 2006 — Chicago, IL — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Susana Tirado — Registered 2006 — Chicago, IL — Asian Bodywork Therapy, Danzen Ryu

·       Myrna Perez — Registered 2006 — Lyons, IL — Danzen Ryu, Shiatsu

·       Helen Calhoun — Registered 2006 — Alameda, CA

·       Carla Kyle — Registered 2007 — Boise, ID — Amma

·       Chi Luo — Registered 2007 — Quincy, MA — Acupressure, Tuina

·       Donna MacNeil — Registered 2007 — Crossville, TN — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Patricia Kerr — Registered 2007 — Georgetown, TX — Tuina

·       Annie MacMillan — Registered 2007 — Watertown, MA — Acupressure

·       Tomoya Akashi — Registered 2007 — Dallas, TX — Tuina

·       Lauren Paap — Registered 2007 — Natick, MA — Acupressure, Asian Bodywork Therapy, Shiatsu

·       Jen Landry — Registered 2007 — Gustavus, AK — Shiatsu

·       Polly Liontis — Registered 2007 — Skokie, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Carolyn Macchiavelli — Registered 2008 — Conway, MA — Acupressure

·       Steven Blackstone — Registered 2008 — San Antonio, TX — Tuina

·       Kathleen May — Registered 2008 — St. Petersburg, FL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Aisa Yamaguchi — Registered 2008 — Orlando, FL — Tuina

·       Tara Welty — Registered 2008 — Parkersburg, WV — Shiatsu

·       Nathan Mandigo — Registered 2009 — Boise, ID — Amma

·       Diane Lowry — Registered 2009 — Glen Allen, VA — Medical Qigong, Tuina

·       Leta Herman — Registered 2009 — Northampton, MA — Acupressure

·       Nisa Wongthipkongka — Registered 2009 — Chicago, IL — Traditional Thai Bodywork, Tuina

·       Melodie McLellan — Registered 2009 — Manor, TX — Tuina

·       Zoe Culbertson — Registered 2009 — Marblehead, MA — Shiatsu

·       Sally Kupczyk — Registered 2009 — Alsip, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Michaela Sol — Registered 2009 — Morton Grove, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Alison Barton — Registered 2009 — Chelsea, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Nathan Hribar — Registered 2009 — South Hamilton, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Cindy Pascoe — Registered 2009 — Traverse City, MI — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       John Phillips — Registered 2009 — Traverse City, MI

·       Misty Reed — Registered 2010 — Austin, TX — Tuina

·       Joseph Arroyo — Registered 2010 — Chicago, IL — Tuina

·       Arlette Greer — Registered 2010 — Chicago, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Avra Blieden — Registered 2010 — Mamaroneck, NY — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Nilsa Eberhart — Registered 2010 — San Juan, PR — Shiatsu

·       Sybille Fischer — Registered 2010 — Kennett Square, PA — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

·       Yong Li — Registered 2010 — Chicago, IL — Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Mary Ann Malloy — Registered 2010 — Chicago, IL — Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu

·       Aine deDanaan — Registered 2011 — Keene, NH — Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tuina

·       Clifford Andrews — Registered 2011 — Norwich, UK

·       Carola Beresford-Cooke — Registered 2011 — Credigion, UK

·       Wataru Ohashi — Registered 2011 — Kinderhook, NY

·       Suzanne Yates — Registered 2011 — Woolacombe, UK

·       Jeffrey Yuen — Registered 2011 — Flushing, NY

·       Honora Wolfe — Registered 2011 — Boulder, CO

·       Junfeng Li — Registered 2011 — Austin, TX

·       Tiffany Chiu — Registered 2011 — Austin, TX — Tuina

·       Lori Maher — Registered 2011 — Uxbridge, MA — Acupressure, Shiatsu

·       Patricia Babin — Registered 2011 — Ellijay, GA — Acupressure

·       Jinchan Gan — Registered 2011 — Oakbrook Terrace, IL — Acupressure

·       Gretchen Belenchia — Registered 2011 — Broomfield, CO — Jin Shou Tuina

·       Jessica Giese-Gardner — Registered 2011 — Campbell, CA — Jin Shou Tuina, Tuina

·       Joshua Schneider — Registered 2011 — Broomfield, CO — Tuina

·       Denise Zamarripa — Registered 2011 — Austin, TX

·       Sarah Goldenberg — Registered 2011 — Madison, WI — Acupressure, Jin Shin Do Bodymind Acupressure

The AOBTA is upgrading and evolving its systems to better support our members. We believe some of our data may have been lost or corrupted in years past. If you should be in this list and are not, or if you notice any other omissions or errors, please message me. If you have ever had a lapsed membership, your tenure may have been previously dropped from the database ... We want to correct all errors, please reach out to Candace via email: candacefaith@gmail.com or text: 417-569-2494 or facebook.com/candace.faith

LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT

Thursday, February 26

12:00 to 1:00 Central Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 883 8089 7270
Passcode: 622456

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Join us for "Shamanic Mindset for Asian Bodywork Practitioners"! Grandmother Winter Jade will be our Winter Connect and Learn presenter this January 8, 2026 at 5 pm Pacific, 6 pm Mountain, 7 pm Central, 8 pm Eastern time.

Qi flows through the body continuously in various cycles. The Cycle of Tides is one flow where the Qi in one channel exits to enter the next channel, following the 2-hour Nutrient cycle. Ideally, the Qi flows smoothly and freely, but sometimes the transfer from one channel to the next gets blocked, possibly due to a deficiency of Qi or Blood, injury, or stagnation from emotional habituation, such as frustration and anger. This imbalance is very clearly revealed in the pulses. For example, if the Qi in the Liver channel is having problems making the transition from Liver 14 to Lung 1, the Liver pulse will feel overblown, while the Lung pulse feels weak. It is also more common for there to be stagnation moving from one element to another, compared to Qi transferring from one channel to the next within the same element. These point combinations are easy to treat in clients and yourself. Clients and students love learning these points to include in their general health protocol for prevention and harmonizing. 

"Darkness dissipates, and joy is renewed." Lonny Jarrett

"Empowering accurate perception of reality." Lonny Jarrett

April Crowell

AOBTA®- Certified Instructor and Certified Practitioner

Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)

LUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT

Thursday, January 22

12:00 to 1:00 Central Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 869 3051 4951 

Passcode: ILOVEABT