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You are here » Home / Faculties & Programs / School of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine / Japanese Acupuncture Program

Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program

presented by the Japanese Acupuncture Institute, LLC & Pacific Rim College

Program Overview

The Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program encompasses two basic approaches to Japanese acupuncture clinical practice: Manaka's Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy and Meridian Therapy. The series covers a broad range of treatment techniques from Japan, including abdominal (hara) palpation and diagnosis, subtle needling techniques, moxibustion, use of intradermals, press tacks and press spheres, cupping and bloodletting techniques, Sotai, and non-needling pediatric (Shonishin) techniques.

The certificate program consists of 4 weekend modules of 3 days length and a 2-day clinical intensive. Although each module brings students closer to fully understanding Japanese acupuncture techniques, the first 3 modules can be taken individually as stand alone courses. Only students who have completed the first 3 modules are eligible to take the fourth module and the clinical intensive.

Curriculum

Below is a description of modules that comprise the Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program. In order to receive a Certificate in Japanese Acupuncture, a student needs to complete all modules within 24 calendar months.

Module I		Total Requirements
Introduction to Japanese Sotai and Japanese Acupuncture & Symptomatic Control Techniques by Janette Baugh		21 hours
	This 3-day weekend includes a brief history of East Asian Medicine and bodywork in Japan and an overview of different Japanese therapeutic models and symptom-control approaches. Topics covered include basic Japanese style techniques such as shallow, painless needling, kyutoshin (moxa on the handle of the needle), okyu (direct rice grain moxa), chinetsukyu (cone moxa), shiraku (microbloodletting), hinaishin (intradermals), empishin (press tacks), enshin and zanshin. Most of these techniques may be applied to both the Manaka Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy and Meridian Therapy as part of a multi-step treatment process. This weekend also focuses on feeling/touching with basic palpatory skill exercises as well as Sotai for self-help and for patient education. Sotai is a unique therapeutic system of structured integration developed by Keizo Hashimoto, MD. It is a holistic approach used extensively in Japan to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal problems, and is a perfect complement to acupuncture and bodywork. Sotai involves active and passive exercises to emphasize awareness, breathing, and subtle sensations. It is a simple system that can be applied quickly and effectively.


Total		21 Hours

Module II		Total Requirements
Manaka's Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy Level I by Brenda Loew		21 hours
	Yoshio Manaka's Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy is a systematic multi-step treatment process that has various therapeutic options at each step of treatment. This system relies strongly on palpatory diagnosis and the use of ion pumping cords and moxibustion, as well as other symptomatic control techniques. This comprehensive treatment approach is covered in a two-part series. Level I introduces the fundamental extraordinary vessel patterns in terms of their corresponding clinical presentation and treatment protocols. Level II delves deeper into Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy by introducing more complicated patterns and treatment procedures. Both levels involve hands-on learning with an emphasis on refining palpatory skills, point location and gentle needling techniques.


Total		21 Hours

Module III		Total Requirements
Introduction to Meridian Therapy by Martin Feldman		21 hours
	Meridian Therapy is Japan's premiere model of traditional acupuncture. This five phases treatment system relies on refined pulse and palpatory diagnosis skills, combined with subtle needling technique. This weekend covers (Shudo style) Meridian Therapy theory, palpation, needling and moxibustion techniques, five phases treatment strategy, and simple and effective clinical applications. One of the 3 days is dedicated to hands-on practice for a thorough understanding of the system.


Total		21 Hours

Module IV		Total Requirements
Manaka Level II and Applications of Meridian & Manaka Therapy by Dan Zizza		17 hours
	This three-day seminar takes students deeper into the integration and expands on the clinical application of Meridian and Manaka Therapy. Balance between the root and branch treatments are considered and some symptomatic strategies are covered. Special emphasis is placed on palpation and treatment of the abdomen and back with subtle as well as stronger stimulation. One day focuses on Advanced (Level II) Manaka Treatment approaches. One half day focuses on symptom strategies and another half day serves as an introduction to Shonishin (see below). The final day of this weekend consists of demonstrations and practice integrating the two modalities (Manaka and Meridian Therapy treatment systems).
Shonishin: Japanese Non-Insertive Pediatric Acupuncture by Dan Zizza		4 hours
	Shonishin, Japanese non-insertive pediatric treatment, is a safe and gentle acupuncture for children (newborns to 12 years old), using non-insertive needles specifically developed for treatment of children whose energy systems are not fully formed. Shonishin involves the use of light touch diagnosis and non-insertive techniques such as rhythmic rubbing, tapping and scratching, as well as contact needle acupuncture. (After age 5, occasionally light insertion of a few needles may be utilized.) Shonishin pediatric acupuncture is effective in treating various diseases such as colic and other digestive problems, asthma, skin diseases, earaches, irritability, night terrors as well as maintenance of health and the improvement of growth and development in children. Actual treatment time is very quick since children's energy moves rapidly.


Total		21 Hours

Module V		Total Requirements
Clinical Intensive		16 hours
	This two-day clinical intensive is open to all students who have participated in one or more of the above modules during any offering of the Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program.


Total		16 Hours

Admissions

Admission into the Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program at Pacific Rim College is open to Registered/Licensed Acupuncturists and advanced-level Acupuncture students with a minimum of at least 2 academic years of Acupuncture coursework.

Registration

To register for the complete Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program or any individual modules, please contact an admissions officer at admissions@pacificrimcollege.ca or toll free 1.866.890.6082. You will also be required to complete the Registration Form that is available below. For all registrants, your space in the program will not be reserved until full tuition payment has been made. For full program registrants, a $250 non-refundable deposit is due at time of course registration. For single module registrants, a $50 non-refundable deposit is due at time of course registration.

Academic Calendar

2010 Program
Module 1:	Introduction to Japanese Sotai and Japanese Acupuncture & Symptomatic Control Techniques	January 15-17	9am-5pm
Module 2:	Manaka's Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy	February 5-7	9am-5pm
Module 3:	Introduction to Meridian Therapy	April 9-11	9am-5pm
Module 4:	Manaka Level II and Applications of Meridian & Manaka Therapy plus Shonishin: Japanese Non-Insertive Pediatric Acupuncture	April 30-May 2	9am-5pm
Module 4:	Shonishin	May 1	9am-1pm
Clinical Intensive		May 15-16	9am-5pm

2011 Program dates to be announced. To receive an email announcement of the 2011 dates, please sign up for our online newsletter on the left side of this page.

Tuition and Fees

Full Program Tuition: $2000
includes all 5 modules with the Shonishin Pediatric component
Full tuition payment due at time of registration, $250 of which serves as a non-refundable deposit

Single 3-day Module: $450
$50 non-refundable deposit due at time of registration
Full tuition payment due one month prior to the start of module

Half-day Shonishin Pediatric workshop: $75
$25 non-refundable deposit due at time of registration
Full tuition payment due April 15

2-day Clinical Intensive: $300
$50 non-refundable deposit due at time of registration
Full tuition payment due April 15

Course Books

The following are recommended books for the Japanese Acupuncture Certificate Program. These title and more pertaining to Japanese Acupuncture are available to purchase from the PRC Bookstore.

Chasing the Dragon's Tail by Yoshio Manaka
Japanese Acupuncture: A Clinical Guide by Stephen Birch and Junko Ida
Introduction to Meridian Therapy: Japanese Classical Acupuncture by Shudo Denmai; translated by Stephen Brown

Refund Policy

FULL PROGRAM - A full tuition refund, less the $250 non-refundable registration deposit, will be given for program withdrawals made no fewer than 28 calendar days prior to the start date of the course. A 90% tuition refund, less the $250 non-refundable registration deposit, will be given for program withdrawals made fewer than 28 calendar days but more than 14 calendar days prior to the start date of the course. No refunds will be given for any reason, avoidable or unavoidable, for program withdrawals fewer than 14 days prior to the start date of the course.

SINGLE MODULE - A full tuition refund, less the $50 non-refundable registration deposit, will be given for module withdrawals made no fewer than 28 calendar days prior to the start date of the course. A 90% tuition refund, less the $50 non-refundable registration deposit, will be given for module withdrawals made fewer than 28 calendar days but more than 14 calendar days prior to the start date of the course. No refunds will be given for any reason, avoidable or unavoidable, for module withdrawals fewer than 14 days prior to the start date of the course.

Faculty

Janette Baugh, MAc, LAc, LMP, earned a Master's of Acupuncture from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Seattle and a massage degree from Brenneke School of Massage. She also holds a Master's in Education from the University of Washington. She earned her Japanese Acupuncture Toyohari Certification in 1997 and has since trained in advanced Toyohari techniques around the world. She has served as a faculty member of the Japanese Acupuncture Post Graduate Certificate Program at Bastyr University and has been teaching Japanese Acupuncture for the better part of a decade.

Martin Feldman, LAc, graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture in 1982 and has been an ardent student of various styles of Japanese acupuncture ever since. He has studied Toyohari Meridian Therapy for nearly two decades, including four trainings in Japan, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Toyohari Association of North America. A nationally-renowned lecturer and teacher, Martin is the former Chair and current faculty member of the Japanese Acupuncture Department at the New England School of Acupuncture in Boston.

Brenda Loew, MAc, LAc, specializes in Japanese-style acupuncture (particularly Toyohari Meridian Therapy), Shonishin (pediatric acupuncture) and Manaka Yin-Yang Channel Balancing Therapy. She has travelled to Japan annually since 1996 for advanced studies with senior Japanese meridian therapy teachers. She also attends annual Toyohari meridian therapy trainings in the US. In 2005 she completed the first Advanced Toyohari training offered outside of Japan (in Amsterdam). She has been an authorized Toyohari Meridian Therapy instructor since 1998 and teaches Toyohari throughout the United States. Brenda was on the faculty of the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NIAOM) from 1994-2002 teaching Japanese Acupuncture. She has since been on the Continuing Education faculty for Bastyr University and Wu Hsing Tao School in Seattle. She is the President of the Toyohari Association of North America (TANA) and co-founding member of the Japanese Acupuncture Institute, LLC, which offers a Certificate in Japanese Acupuncture.

Daniel Zizza, LAc, MAc, is a practitioner of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine, and specializes in Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. He has trained in Shiatsu, Sotai, Cranial-Sacral Therapy, Auriculomedicine, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Reiki, and Massage. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Master's Degree in Acupuncture from the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He completed Toyohari Meridian Therapy in 1996 and has been teaching the same since 1998. He is co-founder of the Japanese Acupuncture Institute, LLC.

Testimonials

'This course provides hands-on instruction that I found missing from my acupuncture school.'

'Well worth it.'

'I have found this series of classes to be the most beneficial out of any workshops I have taken. The hands-on component of it is missing from most weekend workshops and is extremely necessary to ingest the material.'