Zen Shiatsu Certification

At Five Lights Center, we believe a strong Shiatsu education enables healing, connection, and personal growth. Whether you're seeking professional certification of personal wellness training, our programs are designed for clarity, depth, and community. 

 

Affiliations & Accreditations  

We're proud to be accredited and affiliated with: 

• NCBTMB

• NCCAOM

• ABMP

• AFMTE

• FSMTA

• CE Broker

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​500-Hour Zen Shiatsu Certification Training Program - Five Lights Center of Shiatsu 

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We offer a comprehensive curriculum based on traditional Japanese Zen Shiatsu. Students learn all aspects of the shiatsu practice in a rigorous yet friendly environment. Courses count toward our 500-hour Five Lights Shiatsu Certification which meets all national standards for the profession and enables graduates to apply for membership with the AOBTA (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia). Professionals, as well as non-professionals, are also welcome to take individual courses. In addition to Levels 1-9 (listed below), certification also includes:

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• 200 hours of core shiatsu curriculum

• 50 hours of elective courses in other bodywork modalities

• 100 hours of anatomy and physiology (can be taken Online - ABMP)

• 100 hours of supervised practice classes

• 50 hours other courses (First Aid & CPR, Ethics & Professional Conduct, Business Skills, Review of the laws, legislation, and regulations for the ABT profession, etc) can be taken Online - ABMP

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Total Time Frame:

Part-Time: 500 hours over 14-24 months, 3-6 hours per week, evenings and weekends.

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Massage Therapists with Transfer Credit:

Your massage training may cover the Western Sciences and Professional Development classes, combined with Eastern Medicine and elective coursework to qualify you as a graduate of our 500-hour Zen Shiatsu training program. Email your transcript to info@fivelightscenter.com

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Payment Methods:

All training courses can be booked individually or in the Certification Bundles. We offer Certification Bundles which include class instruction and materials for introductory, intermediate, or advanced instruction (which you can select upon checking out):

• Bundle 1: Introduction to Zen Shiatsu (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3) = $1200

• Bundle 2: Intermediate Zen Shiatsu (Level 4, Level 5, Level 6) = $1200

• Bundle 3: Professional Competency in Zen Shiatsu (Level 7, Level 8, Level 9) = $1200 

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SAVE $450

 

​Payment can be made via PayPal or Zelle or Check. 
Please let us know your preferred method, and we’ll provide the necessary details.

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*Purchase of bundles commits the student to pay for all levels (as indicated above) within 12 months of purchase. If for any reason a student is unable to continue studying at the time that the next level is offered, please let Five Lights staff know to arrange studies at a future time if an opening in the class is available.

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Cancellation Policy:

• Intensive and weekend workshop refunds: Cancellation 5 days before the course begins - full refund, less $30 withdrawal fee; less than 5 days - no refund but the fee may be transferred to other Five Lights Center courses, less $30 withdrawal fee. No refund in other cases.​​​​​​

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Tracking Progress: 

Tracking your progress toward the 500-hour Zen Shiatsu Certification with Five Lights Center is now easier than ever!

From your member page, you can:

1. Log in or sign up at fivelightscenter.com (upper right corner)

2. Go to "My Certification" in the dropdown menu

3. Update your address if needed

4. Add missing records using the provided form

Need help?

• Missing records? Please use the form to add them.

• Reporting practice hours? Use the form under the “Practice” category and link a document showing your hours (e.g., report 10 or 50 hours at a time).

Self-reporting ensures all your courses and experience—including those outside Five Lights Center—are tracked in one place for a smooth graduation.

If you have questions or feedback about progress tracking, reach out to Claire at claire.froelich@gmail.com.

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Regardless of race, socio-economic status, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, gender, or marital status, we are an organization that celebrates the richness of our community. We are committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in our practice, research and training programs.

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Students who are interested in professional practice of shiatsu or in teaching shiatsu in New York State, need to be licensed in the field of massage therapy. To be eligible to take the New York State Licensing Examination for Massage Therapy, it is necessary to complete a qualifying program in the field. Some of the accredited programs leading to eligibility for taking this exam are offered by Queensborough Community College, Pacific College of Health and by the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences.

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Out-of-state students should check with their state massage board for specific eligibility requirements for massage therapy licensure to teach and/or practice shiatsu. A summary of state regulations can be found on ABMP (ABMP.com) and AMTA (amtamassage.org) websites for massage professionals.

NCBTMB Approved #: 1000040      CE Broker Tracking #: 50-54805