Shiatsu for Dancers
a good shiatsu session is like a well choreographed dance

Shiatsu is a bodywork technique that originated in Japan based on Chinese acupuncture theory. During a session fingers are pressed on particular points of the body to ease aches, pains, tension, fatigue as well as to maintain health and vitality. To give stronger pressure to the body, practioners also use palms of the hands, elbows, and knees. Stretching is also applied to increase flexibility and loosen-up the muscles.

Shiatsu is an amazing and incredibly effective technique for dancers since it involves movement and has a very strong holistic impact on the body as well as the mind. It is said that a good shiatsu session is like a well choreographed dance.

We will learn the basic elements of touching and working on a partner and will also focus on learning basic movement techniques which create “passive stretching” between giver and receiver. Some stretches are learned as a sequence which can resemble a dance phrase. The work will be done in different positions ( laying on back, on stomach, on the side and sitting ) and will cover the whole body.

The workshop will focus on the physical part of shiatsu, but some basic elements of philoshophy will be introduced. Students are welcome to bring their own specific physical problems and questions and we will try to figure out how to address these issues.



Ori Flomin
Ori Flomin is from Israel and has been dancing in New York City since 1989. He was a member of the Stephen Petronio Dance Company (1991-1999) and in 2006 rejoined the company as rehearsal director and assistant to Stephen Petronio. He also danced in the works of Maria Hassabi, Neil Greenberg, Mollisa Fenely, Kevin Wynn, and Michael Clark ao. His choreography has been seen in NYC at DTW's Fresh Tracks and Split Stream, PS122 New Stuff, Movement Research at Judson Church, Joyce Soho and internationally in Austria, Japan and Israel.
His dance and yoga teaching has taken him to P.A.R.T.S. (Brussels), DansesHus (Copenhagen), SEAD (Salzburg), London Contemporary Dance School (London), Sasha Waltz company (Berlin), and Movement Research (NYC) ao.
He received his Shiatsu certification from the Ohashi institute in 2001 and maintains an active Shiatsu practice in NYC.