From Johannesburg to Toronto to the Global Stage: My Shiatsu Journey

By Daniel (T’agyol) Adler

Writing this article has been a real struggle. Honestly, I almost didn’t do it at all.

When Kumiko asked me to write about “My Shiatsu Journey: from South Africa to Canada and the Global Stage,” I told my wife I wasn’t going to do it. She gave me one of those long, quiet stares—and told me she thought it was a great opportunity. I didn’t see it that way.

There’s something people don’t usually know about me: I’m actually a very shy person. If you meet me in public, you might not think so. I engage. I’m curious. I enjoy fun. I can even get loud. But all of that is something I trained myself to do from a young age. Deep down, I am shy—and especially so when it comes to the things that mean the most to me.

Part of that is my personality. But part of it comes from growing up in South Africa. In that tough environment, qualities like gentleness, softness, and kindness were often seen as weaknesses, especially in boys. I wasn’t fast or strong, so I learned early on to hide those soft aspects of myself. It wasn’t until years later, during my Shiatsu training, that I realized those very qualities—the ones I thought I had to bury—were some of the most valuable things I could offer the world.

So when Kumiko said “Global Stage,” I felt intimidated. It sounded like an invitation to expose myself, to speak about what I’ve spent much of my life protecting. Thank goodness for my wife. What follows is a bit of my story. I hope you enjoy it.

Roots in Johannesburg

The funny thing is, I never thought I’d become a Shiatsu practitioner. It wasn’t something I grew up dreaming about.

I was just an ordinary kid in Johannesburg—gentle, sensitive, shy—trying to make sense of life in the harsh and brutal backdrop of Apartheid. My parents (remarkable people in their own right) did their best to help me understand the suffering that surrounded us, to see beyond the safety of our home and recognize the injustice woven into daily life. That awareness planted the seeds of empathy and responsibility that would later grow into my work as a practitioner.

The first real turning point came through close family friends, Sean and Jill Stiles. They had returned to South Africa in the early 1990s after years in exile. Sean introduced me to Shiatsu and the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The simplicity and elegance of its philosophy—healing by restoring balance and harmony—lit something up in me. I had an “aha” moment: a way of working with human suffering that was direct, practical, and deeply humane.

Then, in 1995, the path opened even wider. I attended a workshop by a Doctor of Chinese Medicine in Johannesburg, just after South Africa’s first democratic elections. The country felt fresh, hopeful, full of possibility. When I heard this doctor talk about how Chinese Medicine could help people suffering from malaria, I felt like I’d discovered a way to bring accessible healing to those who had been denied healthcare for so long. That moment convinced me this was the path I wanted to walk.

A New Chapter in Toronto

In 1998, thanks to my uncle who arranged my immigration papers, I left South Africa for Toronto, Canada. My heart and mind were on fire with purpose as I began formal studies in Acupuncture. At the same time, I was living the reality of being an immigrant: working all kinds of jobs to fund my life and support my studies.

Not long after, I met the teacher who would guide me into the traditional practice of Shiatsu. What followed was not a short course or quick certification, but an old-world apprenticeship: eight years of daily practice, intensive study, repetition, and refinement under the close watch of a master practitioner. It was a steep climb, full of challenges.

That period was tough, sometimes even brutal—but it was what I needed. Training my body, mind, and spirit, and discovering strength and confidence, was both exciting and demanding. There were moments I came close to quitting. I didn’t always agree with the methods, and in hindsight, there are aspects I wouldn’t choose today. But at the time, being young and needing to be “forged,” I gave myself fully to the training. I showed up almost every day. I practiced every day.

During those years, I completed my Acupuncture studies and began teaching Shiatsu. The combination of scholarship, hands-on practice, and teaching helped me internalize Shiatsu in a way that went far beyond technique. That period gave me discipline, patience, and a deep respect for the healing relationship between practitioner and patient.

Walking My Own Path

Eventually, I came to a natural turning point: parting ways with my teacher and beginning to walk my own path. This was not about rejecting tradition—it was about allowing my own style to emerge while honouring all I had received.

And I didn’t do it alone. Very few of us truly walk alone. I’ve been shaped by the generosity and kindness of family, friends, colleagues, and other teachers. Some influences were formal—like my martial arts master, my Kampo (herbs) teacher, or my Zen teacher, whose lessons profoundly shaped my approach. Others were unexpected—like a dear friend who knows nothing about Shiatsu but once said to me, “Shiatsu sounds like life.” He was right. And of course, there is my family—no truer or more honest supporters than them.

What has taken form in my practice is a simple approach: one that relies not only on technique but also on connection and presence. When I practice, I focus on the essentials: the quality of touch, the clarity of intention, and the ability to be fully with the person on the mat.

For me, Shiatsu is not just a therapy. It is a meeting of human beings—a space where body, mind, and spirit can return to harmony. It is ordinary and deeply human: ordinary people helping one another to be and do better.

A few years ago my dad said something to me: “You make the path by walking.” In a world where suffering is everywhere, I’m grateful to have found a way to walk—a way to express myself that also allows me to be of service, to contribute in some small way to the larger whole we all belong to.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Daniel (T’agyol) Adler has been practicing Shiatsu and Acupuncture since 1999 and Kampo Herbal Medicine since 2018. Inspired by the simplicity and effectiveness of these traditional practices, he is passionate about making healing accessible and practical for everyday life.

Daniel’s treatments combine skill, care, and one-on-one attention, building supportive relationships that help clients feel truly seen, heard, and cared for.

As a Shiatsu teacher he is known for his energy, fresh approach and ability to make the practice accessible to students from all walks of life.

To learn more about Daniel, visit his website: https://adlerclinic.ca/