News

22nd October 2011

Stella and I have just returned from presenting Waveform at the 3rd European Shiatsu Congress at Kiental in the Swiss Alps.
Over the four day Congress we took part in a public discussion ‘What is Energetic Awareness?’ which was chaired by Peter Itin, ( Switzerland ) with speakers Cliff Andrews (UK), Wilfried Rappenecker ( Germany ) and myself ( UK ).
The debate was lively, and eventually centred around the relative importance of direct personal experience, and/or scientific proof.
We were divided on this issue with me firmly on the side of direct experience as being more important, than validation of the energetic field by science.
We, that is Erici (translator and Waveform teacher), Stella, my wife and I provided a 3 hour workshop for delegates the following day and were overwhelmed by the numbers attending. Many were highly respected European teachers who had come to see and experience what Waveform was about. With requests for more information and demonstrations, the scheduled 3 hour workshop stretched into 3.1/2 hours and was heading towards 3.3/4 hours before we finally finished.

Feedback on the workshop was excellent, and when a highly respected Shiatsu teacher comes up to you and tells you that your workshop was, ‘inspirational’, you know you have done a good job.

We now have requests to teach across the whole of Europe .
My thanks to Stella and Erici, who helped to make the workshop so successful.

Please click here for my article, ‘Developing your Universal and Energetic Awareness’ which was compiled for the Congress.

28th October 2010

Good News from a Waveform Alert

Waveform regularly receives requests to provide a form of ‘distant healing’ for people, who are usually in life threatening situations. We call these requests ‘Alerts’.

This work is carried out anonymously, and free of charge by a team of graduates within Waveform.
The letter which is below, has just been received from one of our team about a client who we have been working with for just over two years. I was invited to visit this client earlier this year with this team member. Here is the latest information - good news is always worth publishing.

Just been talking to M, she has been in Geneva for the last two days for her periodical checkup. She is over the moon, the secondary tumor has completely gone and the primary is at the moment static and unchanged. She mentioned that her Doctor, who is a very honest and sincere guy is somewhat confused at the moment, as he expected there to be growth of the tumors. He is now asking himself if he made the wrong diagnosis and prescribed too much radio therapy thus causing this outcome, He also mentioned the fact that maybe what he took to be tumors, are in fact scar tissue from the previous operations. This may be or may not be correct for the primary, but it does not explain the disappearance of the secondary, as no operation was conducted at this site.
M however does feel that our work during the summer made a significant contribution to this outcome.

14th September 2010

The Big Difference Between Theory and Personal Experience.

Stephen Hawking, in his latest book ‘The Grand Design’, predicts that science is on the brink of discovering the elusive ‘theory of everything’.
It has now been suggested that when it comes to religion, physicists are the new prophets.
Theories abound, opinions differ and discussions on ‘Energy’ are becoming the next big topic in the wake of pilgrimages to listen to gurus and holy people.

No matter how much you postulate theory and ideas about the nature of ‘Energy’, or shine for a brief instant in the reflected light of a more enlightened person, there is absolutely no substitute for one’s personal direct experience.
In Waveform we experience first, and discuss it afterwards.

It has been suggested, that to prove Hawking’s theories, we would need the use of a Particle Generator the size of the Universe, or continue to rely on faith for our understanding of ‘The theory of everything’.
Like all the great truths, when you have direct experience you do not need to have ‘faith’.

The Big Questions Are:
Do you wish to rely on Faith, or accept the knowledge and responsibility of Direct Experience?
How important is the direct experience of energy and the profound insights that this experience may bring to you?
How important is it to you now that you improve your effectiveness and awareness in life through a leap in perception achieved through Direct Experience?

Here is your opportunity. Waveform Part A October 2010

With Best wishes

As the heading says, I have been invited to the 2011 European Shiatsu Congress as a guest teacher on the topic of 'What is energetic awareness, how can one learn it and how can it be taught?' I will be involved in a panel discussion for the delegates, who will consist of students, practitioners and teachers from across Europe and I will also be providing a short workshop on the topic (2-3 hours). I was privileged to be invited as guest teacher to the last ES Congress which was held in 2007, and I look forward very much to once again working alongside some of Europe's foremost Shiatsu Teachers. Details of the Congress have not been released yet so if you are interested in attending, please keep checking our website for information as this will be posted as soon as we receive it.

An ACPEM member, who is also a fully qualified Physio and Shiatsu Practitioner asked me several years ago, and towards the end of her Waveform part A course, "Why is it that this degree and depth of energy work is not taught at the beginning, or in fact anywhere in Shiatsu training?"
I can now reply that, in Europe at least this serious omission is now being recognised and steps are being taken to rectify the situation.

10th April 2010 New articles

There are a number of new additions to the articles page that have already been published, but are linked with permission from Positive Health online

6th April 2010

UK Remote Viewing Course - Loch Lomond - Scotland April 21st - 25th 2010.

Last orders! Only two weeks to go before the one CRV workshop for this year starts, so if you are intending to participate, don't put off reserving your place a single moment longer. If hard-to-convince journalists (see below) can be amazed by what can be achieved in a one day 'crash course' in Remote Viewing, imagine what you can achieve in 5 days! Book now for the 2010 CRV Certificate course in Scotland.

6th November 2009

Mike Webster’s RV day for journalists in London.

Feedback to the PR Company.

Florence – Telegraph online:
I was just going to write to you and say thank you and what an extraordinary experience it was yesterday. Mike was full of great stories and interesting information. I really enjoyed it, and was surprised by the results, although slightly frustrated that nobody believes me what happened in that room!

Grant – The Sun:
I found it very helpful. I don't think we would have properly understood Remote Viewing without Mike's help. I also want to say that Mike was great.

Lisa – Real.com:
Went straight home and told the other-half about it! He was amazed by me guessing the pictures and everything.
I found it a fascinating introduction to Remote Viewing and exactly what it's about and how it's used. It was great to get some practical experience it first-hand, too, and it made a very welcome and unique PR event, adding more insight to the film! I must admit I was initially convinced that it was all fiction and a little skeptical, but it has 'broadened my mind' (so to speak).

22nd October 2009

Press Promotional day for the film:
'The Men Who Stare at Goats'. Starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges.
Remote Viewing with Mike Webster - London - 28th October 09

10th October 2009

What is Waveform? by Michael Bland

This article was written by Michael in response to requests for an explanation as to what Waveform actually is.
I believe that it has gone some way towards doing that. Thank you Michael.

August 2009

Feedback from Graduate Pathfinder workshop
Loch Lomond August 2009

Thank you for a brilliant weekend. Please convey my thanks to Joe and Ray too. You make a wonderful team. It was another weekend of self-discovery and I came home from Scotland determined to keep in mind the lessons I had learnt. Looking forward to hearing about the next Graduate workshop. Love and thanks to you both.

The workshop opened up my mind for other ways of using Waveform. I know there are a lot of possibilities, and still had used Wvf "only" for therapy purposes in Shiatsu and homeopathy for a long time. The emphasis on working with emotional resonance was great. I had neglected emotional resonance a bit, just noticing it without making something out of it.

HI Mike
The workshop was wonderful.
Is great to share discuss and have feed backs, improve confidence and expand your ideas.
The exercise on perceptual positioning was a revelation for me, Thanks Mike for choosing me, I know it wasn't by chance, I'm going to step out of the carpet now!
Myriam

Hi Mike

Many thanks to You, Stella, Joe & Ray for an engaging and sometimes enthralling workshop – it was so good I’m almost reconciled to being at Glasgow Airport and not the Oval when England won back the Ashes!
Thanks especially for Saturday night - it was great fun and what a wonderfully uplifting & ego-free bunch of people came along.

I said in my previous e-mail that I was hoping to be surprised and taken in unexpected directions and that hope was fulfilled!
One thing I so value is that I always garner some new insight or heightened awareness from attending a Waveform workshop.
Philip

Dear Mike and Stella - and Jo and Ray

Thank you so much for a wonderful workshop and week-end away.
With love and gratitude

I hope you are both well, and thanks again for such a fantastic course, wonderful hospitality and delicious food as always.
Please thank Nicky and Ray who helped me apply waveform to bowing technique's for the fiddle. I went through what they showed me a couple of times and I noticed a big improvement, in the smoothness as well as control of the bow. My teacher confirmed this last night and said I had really improved.
Lots of love to you both, and Joe, Ray and Nicky (and please pass on my thanks to Joe for encouraging me to play at the party)

Waveform - The great leap forward

Development in Waveform is about awareness, and readiness, and the recent break after 11 years of providing courses has created the space needed for us to be aware of the next step in the development of Waveform.
It appears that we were aware, and also ready, for what we have perceived and realised has been far more than we could have possibly imagined.

For graduates, your training to date has provided a stable foundation for what is to come, for what is possible. For those students yet to start or complete their training, there is a path of self discovery ahead of you; a path that will increase your awareness of life, and greatly enhance your energy skills.
Waveform will also provide you with insight into your own path to understanding the ‘great mystery’.

Waveform training workshops will recommence November 2009.
Venue - beside Loch Lomond -

Scotland

.
Dates for your diary are –
Module A November 4/5 and 7/8 (2x2 day modules) with a days break on the 6th for rest and assimilation (both of which will certainly be needed)..
For an application form please click on the link: Waveform Part A

Sorry I have taken so long to reply-- I took a couple of weeks off R&R and have been playing catch up ever since.
I am sorry you have left a profession/movement that you were both a credit to and very valuable part of.
I do sincerely wish you and your dear lady well for all your future If ever you think I could help in any way, please let me know.

Best of luck

Peter
Peter Rose - Shiatsu International.

Thank you Peter, your kind thoughts and good wishes are appreciated. I have done all I can in the interests of Shiatsu, and now Stella and I intend to get on with our lives, and work with our team to continue the development of Waveform.

Good Luck Peter

Best wishes

Mike

21st September 2008 End of an era as Waveform evolves!

Waveform 3 Graduate workshop - Loch Lomond September 6/7 marked the end of 12 years of the provision of basic Waveform workshops for therapists and the general public.
The first testing ground for Waveform was Shiatsu in 1996, and since then the skills and insights that Waveform enables, has attracted people from all walks of life and from many different countries.

Over the last few years more and more students have stepped through the energetic doorway that Waveform provides to another perception of life. However whilst many students have reported profound and revealing insights and experiences, within the last two years a small number of students have described, after training in Waveform, similar experiences of depth and magnitude that can be found in the Buddhist experience of ‘Kensho’.

The practical benefits of Waveform as a communication ‘tool’ have now found their way into the business world, enabling clear access to information in difficult situations, and reportedly saving companies valuable revenue; an important skill, particularly in this present financial climate.

Although basic training in Waveform will be suspended for the foreseeable future, the Waveform team will be concentrating on developing our research programme. We will also be providing training opportunities for Waveform Graduates so that they can continue to expand and develop their energetic skills. Workshops for graduates will be held annually.

New applicants for Waveform training will be advised of the availability of basic workshops when they arise.

Our best wishes

Mike and Stella Webster

January 30th 2008 Regulation and Shiatsu Organisations

After yet another phone call, (most of them from non-Waveform people) asking questions about regulation, and how it will effect them as shiatsu practitioners and the organisations they belong to; here is a general reply to anyone interested in some answers.

Q) What does the Shiatsu Regulatory Group (SRG) consist of?
A) The SRG consists of a number of organisations which have Shiatsu practitioners within their membership.

A number of these are Shiatsu organisations such as, BSKA, International Association of Waveform Energetics (Waveform), International Shiatsu Association, Shiatsu International, Shiatsu Society, Zen Shiatsu, and a number of multi-disciplinary organisations.

Q) What is the purpose of Regulation?
A) To protect the public, by providing an agreed standard of performance and professionalism in the UK (in this case Shiatsu) for recognition as a practitioner in the eyes of the Regulator.

Q) What is the Purpose of the SRG
A) To agree those standards of shiatsu practice and advise the regulator of these.

Q) I am a graduate of the Shiatsu Society and I have been advised that if I do not apply to take my MRSS within a certain period of time I will be ‘demoted’ to an associate member of the Society. How will this effect my qualifications in the eyes of the Regulator.
A) If your school training includes what is required for acceptance by the regulator, as a graduate you are qualified.
Graduate, or MRSS means nothing to the Regulator, who is looking for standards of practice which are being agreed by ALL members within the SRG.
The stamp of approval by the regulator is what the public will be looking for, not whether you are a graduate of Shiatsu International, the Shiatsu Society, or any of the other SRG organisations. That the Shiatsu Society decides that you need to do more in order to have your name on their register, is between you and them; it means nothing to the regulator, nor does it have any meaning outside of the Shiatsu Society.

Q) How will regulation effect the organisation that I belong to?
A) It should have the effect of removing differences between organisations, and bringing them together under a common banner of standards and aims.

At present all Shiatsu Organisations have accepted each other as equals in qualification, and this should continue after Regulation with agreed standards.

From the Minutes of the SRG meeting September 12th 2007.

At this stage in the process no one is regulating the shiatsu profession. No one can say any organisation\course is better than any other course.
Agreed the following statement-

“The SRG supports the principle, in the absence of a regulator, that all organisations\courses are equal.
As members of the SRG providing the standards for the regulator, it can be presumed at this stage that these Shiatsu organisations which have schools and teachers will be working to these standards they have agreed upon.
All Shiatsu Training organisations agreeing to train to these standards will therefore be equal.

Practitioners will now have greater choice of organisations to belong to. Organisations therefore will have to work harder to provide a service for their members which will justify the fees they charge for membership; as qualification by the regulator will, (at long last) be judged by standards, and will not give a hoot which organisation you trained with, or what the letters are after your name.

Q) How will practitioners in multi-disciplinary organisations be effected by regulation?
A) Much like anyone else, if your training fulfils the standards for regulation, there is no problem at all; however if you do not fulfil all the requirements, depending on what is required, you may need to seek extra training outside of the organisation you belong to; perhaps from one of the Shiatsu Organisations who are involved in regulation.
The IAWE (Waveform) is certainly prepared to assist practitioners in multi-disciplinary organisations with Shiatsu and related skills also energy training and development.

We hope that this answers a few questions for you.
Best wishes

Mike Webster

January 21st 2008 Continuous Professional Development

We are delighted to advise our members, and also our readers that Waveform has been accepted for CPD by the College of Psychic studies in London (CPS), The Association of Reflexologists (AoR) and the Independent Professional Therapists International (IPTI).
Over the next year or so, we will continue to seek out and offer our services to credible organisations, so that you may claim CPD points as you train with the most advanced training and research organisation in Europe

September 17th 2007 Research Results at Last.

We are pleased to announce that the long awaited mark 2 device was complete enough to carry out some preliminary testing in Scotland last week.
The 'box' did exactly what was asked of it, Thanks to the creativity, expertise and painstaking work of Chris.
Thanks also to a number of volunteers, we were able to make some objective tests on human beings.

We found that the human being is a mass of both positive and also negative fields of both greater and lesser magnitude.
Although there were a great many 'energetic' differences between individuals, there were also a few similarities.

Tested against Waveform, i.e does the machine register anything similar to what is found through Waveform?
We found that a particular reading corresponded exactly with what Waveform calls 'active' points. When these points were held, the readings were observed to change, compared to other, non 'active' points that were held and maintained their field state.

There is a great deal more testing to be done over the coming months, with a strict programme of specific testing planned that will, hopefully, generate some "interesting" results, however we hope to have some interim results in the next 2 weeks.

We are pleased to announce that a Waveform 1 and 2 intensive has been arranged for Staverton, Devon.

The dates for the workshops are – Waveform 1 May 2/3 and Waveform 2 May 5/6. The linked application forms contain information regarding dates, venue, costs and the outcomes of each workshop, however please contact us directly if you require any more information.

22nd February 2007                             4 Day Spring Intensive in Scotland

After the recent Waveform 1 at Loch Lomond, we found that there were some disappointed people who had been unable to take part in this workshop.      We have therefore, decided to provide another Waveform 1 towards the end of March, which, after a one day break, will be followed immediately by Waveform 2. These workshops are for everyone, therapist and non therapist.
There are only five places left for these workshops, so if you are interested in participating, please contact us as soon as possible. Please click on the links for application forms.
   Waveform 1 and 2 at Loch Lomond     Waveform 1 March 28th/29th - Waveform 2 March 31st/ April 1st

29th January 2007

After a great start to the year, 2007 is looking even better for us as a second University has now asked for our involvement in a research project.
The project will be restricted to those Grads who have experience in fingerprinting and we are asking for volunteers. We will be providing more details very shortly however, no travelling is required which means that we can use all our grad volunteers from anywhere in the world.
Please contact us if you are interested in taking part.

As you are a Graduate you can attend our basic specialist courses with a 50% discount on the training costs. For information on these workshops please look on the Contact page.

Waveform Courses for Shiatsu and Acupuncture.

Creating the most effective treatment for clients is the aim of all good practitioners. Over the last ten years, our team at Waveform Energetics has strived continuously to increase our knowledge, our direct experience of working with energy and the effectiveness of our therapeutic skills.

During 2006, Waveform made great strides in the field of energy work, even taking on the Holy Grail of energy work; investigating the substance of Ki or Chi. The early results of our science team’s research have been both positive and exciting, and we are hoping to have the opportunity to present our findings at the International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, to be held in Munich in May 2007.

We have established that the human body clearly indicates where to treat the body/mind for greatest effect. The direct personal experience of energetic change through Waveform detects these signals that show you exactly where to work, making treatment simplicity itself.

The very first testing ground for Waveform was with shiatsu. The initial results of shiatsu treatment using Waveform were well beyond expectation, and in 2007 with almost eleven years of continuous development behind us we are providing Waveform courses designed specifically for practitioners and teachers of Shiatsu and Acupuncture.

  29th November 2006.
                                             The International Association of Waveform Energetics
                                                                       Membership in 2007

The IAWE has been in existence for almost twelve months now, and we can look back on a year of accomplishment and rapid development.

Training in Waveform
As we promised in 2005, training has continued to be updated in line with developments, and there have been some major developments this year.

Mind-to-mind and Energetic fingerprinting
That Waveform also operates on a mind-to-mind basis was confirmed during the martial arts meetings at Loch Lomond this year. Filmed evidence of this can be seen in our DVD
As a result of our findings we have introduced the personal experience of the mind-to-mind connection in Waveform 2.

As Waveform and the IAWE received so many requests for support from people across the world in 2006, we have now made the skill of Energetic Fingerprinting part of Waveform 3. This will increase energetic awareness even more at Certificate level, and help us to provide more highly skilled practitioners to assist us with emergencies, such the Waveform ‘Alerts’ that we receive.

Waveform has diverse applications in life and work, therefore we will be providing specialist workshops for specific therapies and situations e.g. ‘Waveform for Shiatsu’, ‘Waveform for life and living’ etc.

It is important that the basic ‘hands on’ application of Waveform remains a major part of the course and it is this area of expertise that is essential for Graduate Certification.

Over the last seven months the Waveform research group has moved on, at least in line with world leaders, in its search for the substance of energy used by therapists and healers.
We have located a ‘substance’, which is responsive, and in which we have been able to create and record changes. With the results of further investigation, we are now 95% certain that we have located the substance of energy used by therapists and healers. We are now developing our technology further, to enable us to provide objective proof of this for therapists, the general public and the medical and scientific communities.

Membership of a specialist, non-political organisation for therapists and non-therapists
A highly experienced and multi-skilled team
Access to block insurance
Discounted workshops
Newsletter 4 times a year
Ongoing research; Biophysics and the latest information on energy work
Realistic membership fees (£45 per annum)
International Community
Enews
International Graduate Members listing on Website.
Access to Members forum
Q and A with the Team and specialist Teachers

Establishing Waveform internationally as the ‘gold standard’ for energy work, and the IAWE as the ‘Energy’ specialist organisation.
CMR Congress (International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research) - Munich May 2007
European Shiatsu Federation Congress Kientalerhof Oct 2007
Providing specialised courses and workshops for different disciplines, martial arts, and for life and living.
Member of the Shiatsu Regulatory Group, helping to create a regulatory body for Shiatsu in the UK.

3rd October 2006
Important dates for 2007. Attention all Shiatsu Practitioners
The European Shiatsu Congress in 2007 will be held between October 4 -7 at Kientalerhof - Switzerland.

“The main reason for this event is to strengthen and support the development towards a professional Shiatsu in Europe. A Shiatsu that clearly goes beyond Wellness and sees its therapeutic potential.
Also we wish to make it clear that European Shiatsu is strong. We honour teachers from overseas but we have excellent teachers and practitioners in Europe. ”I am sure that the coming congress will be an important event

for teachers as well as for participants in respect to their own Shiatsu as well as for the development of a professional Shiatsu in Europe”.

Wilfried Rappenecker Head of the International School of Shiatsu ,(ISS-Kiental)

The Congress is to include a panel discussion, the subject being:-

“What is energy – how do we perceive it in Shiatsu and how can we work with it?”

The panel will consist of; Mike Webster UK, Marlyse Schweizer and Peter Itin from Switzerland, Fabio Zagato from Italy and Cliff Andrews from the UK.

For details of the Congress and all the workshops, keep your eye on this website and look forward to a great event. www.kientalerhof.ch

The question 'How does Waveform work?' has been asked of me more times than I can count, however it has been easier to tell people who enquire, what Waveform has been successfully used for, and continues to be successfully used for .
We know by the results that we get that Waveform provides access to another dimension of functioning, where the practitioner can access information, and create changes, even across time and distance.
How Waveform works however, is the $64,000 question and my feeling is that the answer this question will probably also explain much of what is considered to be outside the range of normal human experience, including the energy work of complementary medicine and even some aspects of Remote viewing.
Apart from the results of some of my own investigations which are included in the basic Waveform Course and further training, a group of martial artist graduates of Waveform wanted to explore the Waveform potential for improving performance, understanding and training within martial arts; also to find the real meaning of many of the statements and claims made by some of the great Martial Arts Teachers such as Ueshiba the founder of Aikido.

"Waveform has such great vibes, it makes me smile even more than normal ... even when I'm emailing! J".

26th July 2006
(This information may be found in 'Workshop Reviews' however we felt that it was important enough to repeat here)

During a recent Waveform 3 workshop, Ray Pawlett (Waveform Assistant Teacher and Tai Chi Instructor), suggested and organised a series of exercises involving Martial Arts and Waveform. These exercises produced results that were so exciting it was decided to bring together a group of experienced Dan graded practitioners and teachers from a range of different martial arts who were already graduates in Waveform, to explore in depth how Waveform could be used to improve performance in the Martial Arts.

Four members of this group met recently for the first time at Loch Lomond (July 14/15/16) and quickly decided on some desired outcomes for a workshop. As the weather was perfect; sun, clear skies and the slightest of breezes, it was a unanimous decision to work outside. This meant that conditions for receptor response were less than ideal, however they were the most realistic for the work we were doing.

The first day was spent trying to find clear and reliable energetic information in martial arts situations. However by lunchtime on the third day we were consistently producing results that far exceeded our expectations; and accrued a mass of valuable information that we had not previously even considered.

Using Waveform as an entry point, and a means of exploring the energetic field, the 'doorway' is now open and the path ahead of us is far more visible. What has been revealed is a dimension of energetic functioning in the Martial Arts which has only been previously observed and experienced by a privileged few.
The group will continue to explore its findings and develop these further. However to achieve this standard of awareness within the Martial Arts, whether in Tai Chi or Tae Kwon Do, training in Waveform to Graduate level is the starting point.
............................................

19th March 2006

On the 8^th March the Management Committee of the Shiatsu Society sent an email to all members of the Shiatsu Society entitled:
STOP PRESS *** IMPORTANT INFORMATION - THE SHIATSU SOCIETY AND THE ADVERTISING STANDARDS AUTHORITY: AN UPDATE.

The definition of ‘STOP PRESS’ is ‘late news’ and in this case, it is very late news, although I am pleased that the Shiatsu Society Management Committee has finally informed its members that changes have taken place in what is considered to be ‘acceptable’ advertising.

Whilst many of us are trying to unify the various Shiatsu organisations in a united cause through the GSC, I am disappointed that the Management Committee of the Shiatsu Society has used statements in its document which will not help to heal the differences between itself, and other Shiatsu Organisations. This document, also carries a postscript denying members the right to ‘read, copy or disclose’ any part of this information without their ( the MC's) written permission.
This is an unnecessary act of control, and one wonders why?

The email that was sent out has suggested some improprieties by the IAWE and also Zen Shiatsu.
We do not speak for Zen Shiatsu, but Waveform and the IAWE have tried to make this information openly available without it being insinuated that we have sent unsolicited information to Shiatsu Society members.
Unfortunately, it has been insinuated in this email from the MC, that we have sent unsolicited information to the members.

It is a sad fact that Shiatsu Society members on our mailing list have heard from us, what they should have been advised of many months ago by their own Management Committee.

We have been careful to provide on our website, only information that can be corroborated either through correspondence with MC members, information from letters from the ASA, and information from the CAP website; however despite this, we have been accused of providing ‘misinformation’.

At the last GSC meeting a Shiatsu Society MC representative twice referred to my ‘differences’ with the ‘Shiatsu Society’; I corrected this by saying that I would like to make it very clear that my differences lay with the Management Committee, and not the Shiatsu Society whose members were oblivious to the serious decisions that were being taken on their behalf by the MC; decisions that would effect their lives.
It must be said however, that the newest members of the MC were not aware until very recently, (January) that there was a problem with the ASA, let alone the decisions that had been made on their behalf by the longer standing members of the MC.

As a member of the MC until 13th September 2005 when I resigned, and the Shiatsu Society until the end of last year, I had more information than anyone about this case, and also the previous case in 2004 where the Management Committee, which promised to follow it up, failed to do so, and also failed the Shiatsu Practitioner involved.

Since last November I have done my best to persuade the SS Management Committee that the members had a right to know what had been decided on their behalf and they should be advised of the implications of the MC’s decision; that is how it will affect the future advertising of the skills of the Society’s members.
I am hoping that my response to the Management Committee’s email which is in the form of a link to a pdf (below), will now close the matter.
I feel that I have done my best to inform all those whose lives may be affected by the ASA decision regarding advertising their Shiatsu, and now it is up to them to take up the reins themselves and take whatever action they feel is fitting.

Yesterdays email to the members of the Shiatsu Society insinuated that we are sending unsolicited mail to members of the Shiatsu Society; and included the statement that we are publishing mis-information on our website with regard to the subject of the Shiatsu Society and the ASA case. We will be replying to this statement in full over the next few days.

We will also be providing the information that the Management Committee has opted out of telling you; that is, how the CAP rates shiatsu, and what you are allowed to do and the list of illnesses you are not allowed to claim that you treat; which is just about everything!
In the meantime, here is the latest series of communications with the Management Committee, which in view of the Shiatsu Society's email to its members I have decided to publish for all to see. You can then make up your own mind about what has, or has not been said. Communication with Elizabeth Davies and Cliff Jenkinson - Directors to the Shiatsu Society MC

Cliff Jenkinson's reply to this letter was: Hi Mike, Thanks for your comments. I am sure that Elizabeth will find them informative.

There has been a further exchange of communications with the Shiatsu Society on the subject of the ASA, if you would like a copy of this please email me your request and I will send it to you.
In the meantime a letter has been received from Steve Carter, a Shiatsu Practitioner, which is on the subject of the Shiatsu Society's decision to accept the ruling of the ASA that Shiatsu Is for 'relaxation only'.

The Shiatsu Society and the ASA.
At a recent GSC meeting, the Shiatsu Society representatives were taken aback to realise that agreements had been made with the ASA by the Shiatsu Society Management Committee, about which they knew absolutely nothing.
I was advised that the matter would be brought up at a Management Committee meeting in January.

This link is the letter that I received on behalf of the Shiatsu Society – and also my reply.

Just in case anyone feels that the ASA can be ignored and will go away.
(My Thanks to Peter Rose for sending this to me.)

Daily Telegraph Jan 5th 2006 -

Challenge to adverts on Chinese Medicine - By Nick Fleming - Medical Correspondent.

A leaflet that claimed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was safer than mainstream treatment was misleading and potentially dangerous, an advertising watchdog ruled yesterday.

The Advertising Standards Authority upheld a compliant against Everwell Ltd, a company that runs several TCM clinics, warning that its unsubstantiated claims could discourage readers from seeking essential treatment for serious medical conditions.
The Medicines and Health-care products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the government agency responsible for ensuring medicines are safe and effective challenged whether Everwell clinics could effectively cure all 66 conditions or symptoms listed in the leaflet – from lung cancer and infertility to acne and depression.

Everwell’s leaflet was found to have breeched eight sections of the Committee of Advertising Practices, including those covering honesty and scientific substantiation.

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16th December 2006 Insurance Cover for IAWE Members.

We are pleased to confirm that we have agreed an insurance package with Balens for our members in the UK.

For those non-therapists that may feel happier having insurance cover when using Waveform in this litigation climate, there is excellent comprehensive cover at £65 for the year, however this is not a requirement of membership.

Insurance for qualified Therapists, Teachers and Students in training.
Multi-Therapy including Teaching £85; Inclusive of Acupuncture £127.50 - please contact us for details and application forms.

Your Insurance premium goes directly to Balens and is provided through us as a service for our members.
We do not receive payment or commission for this.
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This hyperlink will take you to recent information about the Advertising Standards Authority and the Committee of Advertising Practice, and how this effects us all.

Question
Why haven’t you published the Shiatsu Society's response to your letter to David Home?

Question.
What proof do you have to support the claim that the ASA will only accept Shiatsu advertised for ‘relaxation only’?

Answer.
I didn’t have the information to hand when you called, however I can now provide a quote from a letter from Malcolm Phillips, Investigations Executive (ASA) dated the 4th August 2005. It was addressed to me as the Marketing Director of the Shiatsu Society.

“We note that you do not accept that you should only advertise Shiatsu as a ‘relaxation therapy’ in the future. (We were advised by the ASA that we had to do so in an earlier letter)…In a previous letter we referred you to CAP clause 3.1 which requires marketers to hold documentary evidence to prove all claims that are capable of objective substantiation. We should be happy to consider any peer-reviewed articles detailing the use of shiatsu in the treatment of medical conditions.

Were such evidence to be submitted to the CAP Copy advice team with any future advertising which make specific claims about the use of shiatsu treatment, our position may change, (specific scientific proof) Until that time we are likely to take up any complaints made against advertising which makes claims for shiatsu therapy that go beyond relaxation”.

Description
Japanese massage to stimulate the bodies healing ability by applying pressure to points across the body.

Acceptable minor and serious conditions?
Minor conditions: “soft” relaxation- type claims only e.g. help relax, improve mood, aid sleep, relieve tension, relieve fatigue and improve sense of well being.

I realise that this information is not not very encouraging, but I hope that I have answered your questions, to your satisfaction.

I have found another reference from the ASA advising the Shiatsu Society, that shiatsu is to be only for relaxation.

Extract from a letter to the Shiatsu Society from Konrad Obiora, Investigations Executive, Advertising Standards Association, dated June 29th 2005.

"We propose that you do the following to bring your advertising into line with the code:

2) Ensure that future advertising promotes Shiatsu Therapy only as an effective means of relaxation and improving state of mind"

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