【Hara-Shin therapy】 Ask your gut what you can\\\\\\\'t realize! The intestine knows everything!

What's Hara-shin Therapy?

Hara-Shin Therapy (it’s called Cho-Shin Therapy in Japan) is a kind of intestinal therapy specifically focused on relieving stress and trauma.
It helps remove painful emotional memories stored in the intestines, and having healthier bowels, all that can actually change your life!

Ancient Japanese wisdom

All of your memories are stored in the intestinal cells, according to ancient Japanese wisdom. When one tries to recall a certain event, there is almost always some kind of emotional memory attached to it. In Japan, Hara is the region below the navel and believed to be the center of the body, but also the energy generator. There are expressions such as “Setting up Hara”, “Talk with open Hara”, “Probing each other’s Hara”, “That makes sense to Hara” etc. All of these expressions relate to emotions inside your belly (Hara), and the concept behind is that all our emotional memories are stored in our intestines.

The following feedback has been received from people.

- Become less susceptible to stress
- Reduced frustration level
- Overcome shortness of temper
- Experienced less marital quarrels
- Children in rebellious phase became more peaceful
- Become more positive
- Achieved self-forgiveness
- Stopped comparing oneself with others
- Felt increased level of self-confidence
- Overcome resistance for wearing skirts (increased acceptance of feminity)
- Felt increased motivation to act and to challenge
- Have had less qualms about future
- Feel they worry less about past events
- Feel OK upon recalling past traumatic events

The following are physical changes

- The body felt lighter
- Improved bowel movements
- Less joint pains, can walk more easily
- Improved clarity of mind
- Better memory
- Reduction in swelling of the face, i.e. face size got smaller
- Better complexion
- Felt less tired
- Decreased level of lassitude
- Easier to breath
- Brighter skin tone
- Wrinkles became less noticeable, looking younger as a result
- Richer facial expressions

Our ultimate goal is to create a better world by the following!

Relieving everyday stress and trauma is beneficial for us in many respects. It is our wish to help people lead healthier and happier lives through offering Hara-Shin Therapy. Our ultimate goal is to create a better world by the following.

Our ultimate goal

Creating more happy families that have less conflicts
Creating society with less crime
Reducing the number of suicidal attempts in the world
Creating health and wellbeing outcomes for people

It is our wish to extend help so that a greater number of people can live a life that’s more authentic to themselves. As such, we are looking forward to certifying more Hara-Shin Therapists who would be able to offer the Therapy extensively to their communities.

＼ Are there any questions?／

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For information on workshops overseas (outside of Japan) or workshops taught in languages other than Japanese, please contact our headquarters. We are open to organizing workshops upon request, after considering various conditions such as venue, numbers of students, language requirements, etc.

How is it possible that stress and trauma can be released by unwinding the affected areas of the intestines?

Our memories (images we hold) generally consist of 2 elements: memories of specific events and our emotional memories. So, when you are recalling some events in your life, you are probably simultaneously remembering the emotions you experienced at that time.

(A): activities or events

(B): emotions

You meet friends
You ride a packed train
You were ridiculed
You are praised

And so on.

=
=
=
=

happy
irritated
angry
pleased

Hara-Shin Therapy is based on our original memory while memories of events and actions such as (A) are mainly stored in the brain, most of the emotional memories such as (B) are stored in the intestines.

All memories impact our physical bodies in one way or another and we contend that emotional memories have an especially huge impact directly on our intestines. The proof of this theory lies in the result. If hardened spots in our Hara are softened (through the massage), not only stress is relieved but the memories become less painful and unpleasant.

That is why some people who are under great stress become constipated or develop diarrhea. Likewise, stored and accumulated emotions and trauma that could not find their way out may literally develop into lump-like structure(s) in the intestines.

The areas of the intestine where emotions are stuck and blocked are usually very hard as if they are frozen (but also more sensitive than the surrounding area). Once those areas becomes unwound, a release of stored emotions will occur.

In Hara-Shin Therapy we have first altered the reactions of the physical body, the emotional memories that caused the physical reactions will then shift. In fact, one could speak of an internal paradigm shift.

As a result, a person who couldn’t help crying upon remembering a certain event may start to feel less grief and no longer feel like crying, and can start to feel better about the issue.

Beneficial changes you can expect from releasing your stress and trauma

Releasing stress and trauma can bring many blessings to your life. You may be having difficulties dealing with offensive people around you, or having issues of self-love, confidence, anger, anxiety etc., however these issues will start to make shifts as a result of releasing your stressors of day-to-day life and past trauma.

The intestines are the organs made first in the creations of living organisms, and all other organic body parts follow, originating from the intestines. The intestines are, so to say, the origins of life.

The intestines have important functions such as hormone production, vitamin synthesis and blood sugar regulation. Also, some recent studies have even come up with a compelling theory that blood cells are produced in the intestines.

Once the intestines are unwound, not only stress and trauma get released but the intestine starts to function better, so various other physical changes are likely to take place as a result. If your body and mind become healthier after clearing your stress and trauma, you will have more self-confidence, and that will help you become more gentle and compassionate to others. Thus, Hara-Shin Therapy will serve as a powerful tool to bring more happiness to families, and reduce occurrence of unhappy incidents such as crime, abuse, and suicide.

How is Hara-Shin different from other Intestinal Therapies?

There are various kinds of Intestinal Therapies or intestinal massage and each has its own merit. In any case, softening the intestines and keeping them healthy is beneficial, so we recommend choosing a modality that feels right for you and start practicing it.
Hara-Shin Therapy is best characterized by its strong emphasis on “releasing everyday stress and past traumas”, and our original know-how to help heal peoples’ emotional trauma, which is being stored deep within themselves, specifically within the bowel (Hara).

Secondly, unlike most other intestinal therapies that use “kneading” hand movement, we use “touch”, which is also a significant characteristic of Hara-Shin.

By touching the part of the intestines being affected by stress and trauma, the therapist can allow the intestines to unravel themselves and become loosened, and once this happens the intestines will stay in that state.

The third key point is its high reproducibility. You don’t need to become a master teacher or a highly trained apprentice of Hara-Shin to be able to practice it. Anybody will be able to practice this healing after taking 2 or 3 workshops, as long as they are seriously motivated to learn. We will later explain about this in more details.

How is it different from other stress/trauma releasing methods?

There are various ways to release or alleviate trauma, and they can be categorized into several types:

One is a counselling approach which releases trauma by assisting client recall traumatic events and relive the experience. There are other approaches such as imprinting new ways of thinking to client’s subconscious by the use affirmations or assisting client’s introspection through meditation. Each of these approaches have their own advantages. If you choose the one that suits you best and practice it, that will help you overcome or relieve your own traumas.

The great advantage of Hara-Shin Therapy is that there’s no need for clients to recall stressful events or traumas. In the type of healing session that requires clients to recall their traumas, clients will re-experience the traumatic events, and if releases don’t take place properly, there is a risk that clients may develop new traumas. In Hara-Shin Therapy, regardless of whether client recollects past trauma or not, trauma will be released by simply unwinding/loosening intestinal lumps and knots, so it is a very safe procedure.

Another advantage of Hara-Shin Therapy is that it enables the practitioner to work on several stressors or traumas at once. In relation to the intestinal lumps created by emotional traumas, there are usually several similar emotional residues closely linked together. So, in most cases, practitioners can remove considerable numbers of stressors and traumas in a single session. As a result, clients can feel the Therapy’s effects relatively soon after the sessions compared to when they treated themselves by self-healing methods such as meditation. Hara-Shin is highly recommended for those who had difficulties healing themselves, or people who tried other healing methods and found them ineffective.

Click for session reservations

List of authorized therapists of our association.About 200 certified therapists are active in Japan.
There are also therapists in the city of Sedona.

Hara-Shin is highly reproducible and easy-to-learn for all.

Hara-Shin Therapy focuses on the intestinal parts that became hard due to the influences of various emotional residues. It is designed to serve as a tool to heal everyday stress and trauma and can be practiced easily by all people.

In order to ensure and increase the reproducibility of the therapy, we are employing the principle of “Synchronizing vessel” - a healing instrument used for Hara-Shin Therapy.

By exploiting water’s “wobbling vibration” itself and “the synchronization of Synchronizing vessel’s wobble & the movement created by water circulation inside the physical body”, we invented a therapeutic technique that can be used by non-professional healers and can still have the same effects as those of professional healers.

For an example, Hara-Shin can be a great tool for housewives to relieve family member’s stress and trauma, and this can even lead to improved family relationships. It may also help relieve your friends’ stress from personal woes.

Hara-Shin can of course be incorporated into the clinical settings of professionals such as Counsellors, Therapists, Psychologists etc. too. Their clients will benefit from the synergy of both healing modalities because Hara-Shin actually compliments and enhances other therapeutic techniques’ healing effects.

We can also say Hara-Shin is effective for overall improvement, restoration, maintenance of one’s physical health, because as clients’ mental state recovers, their physical state generally start to improve too. We hope many people will learn about this therapy and start to restore their authenticity and happy smiles, and start to lead healthier lives.

Hara-Shin courses are available for both lay people（Course A）and for professional healers (Course B). Please contact our headquarters for information on workshops held in Japan.

Classroom lecture

Practice

Hara-Shin can be combined with any other therapies.

As it is compatible with all other therapies, so it can be applied in tandem with other therapies with no problem. Professional Therapists or Healers can add Hara-Shin to their own current session menu as they like.

If you are a Counsellor, adding Hara-Shin to your session menu would simply enrich your repertoire to help your clients. If you are a Bodyworker, Acupuncturist, Moxibustion Therapist etc., administering Hara-Shin to clear your clients’ mental issues may create synergy with your bodywork and bring more powerful healing effects.
Hara-Shin has immense expansivity and possibility, and we believe our efforts to familiarize you to Hara-Shin will help bring happiness and smiles to more and more people. So, we welcome you to join us!

Q&A

Here are some of the frequently asked questions on Hara-Shin Therapy.
Please refer to this list before making an inquiry.

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Q: How is Hara-Shin different from other general Intestinal Therapies or bowel massages?

A: Hara-Shin Therapy is best characterized by its strong emphasis on “releasing everyday stress and past trauma”, and our original know-how to help heal emotional traumas that are being stored deep within.

Secondly, unlike most other Intestinal Therapies that use “kneading” hand movement, we use “touch”. By touching the part of the intestines being affected by stress and trauma, therapists can allow the intestines to unwind themselves and become loosened, and once it happens the intestines will stay in that state.

Third key point is its high reproducibility. You don’t need to become a master teacher or a highly trained apprentice of Hara-Shin to be able to practice it. Anybody will be able to practice this healing after taking 2 or 3 workshops, as long as there’s seriously motivation to learn.

Q: How does Hara-Shin remove stress and trauma?

A: All memories impact our physical bodies in one way or another and emotional memories have an especially huge impact directly on the intestines. That is why some people who are under great stress become constipated or develop diarrhea. Likewise, stored and accumulated emotions and trauma that could not find their way out may literally develop into lump-like structures in the intestines.
The areas of the intestine where emotions are stuck and blocked are usually very hard as if they are frozen. Once this or those areas become/s unwound, a release of stored emotions will occur.

Q: I’d like to experience Hara-Shin. How can I receive the therapy?

A: If you are interested in receiving Hara-Shin, please contact a certified Hara-Shin Therapist in your area.

→Click to see the list of certified Hara-Shin therapists.

If you have a group of considerable size seeking to study Hara-Shin, please contact our headquarters. Our association’s representative can visit your local area to offer Hara-Shin workshops as requested. (Please feel free to contact in English.)

Q: Are there any contraindications for administering Hara-Shin?

A: Hara-Shin cannot be administered to persons who are under the following categories:

Diagnosed as having cancer or malignant tumor
Heart disease patients
Dialysis patient
Pregnant or might be pregnant
Those who have received an abdominal surgery within 6 months (surgeries in area other than abdomen are acceptable as long as Hara-Shin is not to be administered immediately after surgeries).
Pre-school children
Those who are unable to communicate
Those who have anxiety being touched around abdominal areas
Those affected by alcohol or drugs or having a hangover

If you are any of the above, but feel you need to receive Hara-Shin, please consult us first.

Q: Will I have to change clothes when receiving Hara-Shin?

A: You can receive the therapy in your regular clothing. (The Therapist will work over your clothes and you do not need to pull up your shirt and expose your abdomen). When receiving, please avoid clothes that are too tight around the abdomen.

Q: Can I administer Hara-Shin to my family or people I know?

A: We encourage that you work on your family and people you know, provided that you have taken at least one Hara-Shin workshop already. Also, when you work on others, please be sure to use “Synchronizing vessel” in each and every circumstance. (Synchronizing vessel will be given to you at workshops).

Giving intestinal massage outside of the guidelines provided in the workshops could lead to mistakes and pose dangers to clients. In case you were not using Synchronizing vessel properly or you were not following the instructions and rules given in the workshops, we will not be held liable for any mistakes and problems resulting from your healing works.

Q: Is Hara-Shin Therapy painful?

A: You might feel some pains when the hardened areas of your intestines are being touched. The pain level varies depending on the kind of emotion, how deep in your body the trauma exist, and where exactly in your abdomen the trauma exists etc. However, these pains are not caused by being kneaded or palpated in the affected area, so the intestines will not be affected by those pains.

Q: Is it possible to remove my own stress and trauma?

A: It should be possible to a certain extent. It is likely that you’ll be able to alleviate your own minor stress and trauma by using the Synchronizing vessel. However, you may sometimes unconsciously self-sabotage releasing, especially if the stress and trauma are severe and deeply involved with your identity. In that case, it is often very difficult to heal by yourself, so we recommend asking someone to work on you.

Q: What kind of cleansing reactions can be expected after receiving Hara-Shin?

A: Cleansing reactions will vary from person to person. After receiving Hara-Shin, Clients may experience outbursts of emotions as a result of having mental blocks removed. Stored emotions such as anger, grief, despair and anxiety may arise from deep within themselves. In some rare cases, one could experience unprecedentedly overwhelming emotionsr. This is as if the client had been constipated emotionally and elimination is taking place, so it will pass within a few days or several weeks. During this kind of cleansing reaction period, we recommended that you have enough sleep and rest, and eat mild foods, and also try to spend some time by yourself.

Q: Why do we use the Synchronizing vessel instead of working with hands?

A: The water in the Synchronizing vessel and the wobbles (waves, vibrations) of water inside the intestinal cells will start to resonate and cause a synchronous phenomenon. This principle makes it sure and much faster to unwind the hardened part of the intestines than by using hands.

For an example, 100 Metronomes placed on a freely moving base and ticking out of sync with each other will in time unite in synchronous play. Likewise, when more than two substances’ inherent vibrations resonate with each other, their vibrations start to synchronize. This is what we call synchronous phenomenon. Another example of synchronous phenomenon is frogs’ croaking. They croak out of sync at first, but will eventually start to sing in unison.

The part of the intestines that became hard due to stress and trauma can no longer function well, and the intestinal cells within those parts hold water that has lost its natural vibration. By touching those parts with the Synchronizing vessel, the water inside the cells will start to synchronize with the water inside the Synchronizing vessel (which has water’s natural vibration). Then, the cell’s natural water vibration gets restored, and the intestines start to function normally as they become unwound and relaxed.

If you tried to do this by hands only, that would require much training and mastery skill. However, by using the Synchronizing vessel, it becomes possible for anybody to perform the work. In order to ensure the reproducibility of the technique, Hara-Shin practitioners must always use the Synchronizing vessel when they work. Using hands only without the Synchronizing vessel is forbidden with no exception.

If you had any further questions on this point, please feel free to contact us.

Please write the details of your inquiry specifically.

Clients' Reviews on Hara-Shin

anonymous from Gunma pref.

It helped me remember my true wish

“Hara-Shin helped me start wanting happiness and letting go of distress finally after all these years. I’ve been blaming myself all my life, but when my practitioner told me “ You are OK now”, I realized that It’s really OK for me to become happy. Then I started to remember what I truly wanted for myself. I feel my vision got brighter. I am actually thinking of restarting what I once gave up in my life.”

anonymous from Hyogo pref.

My anger from 12 years ago which I hardly remember got released, and I feel so much lighter now

“My therapist removed my anger that was being stored within me for 12 years. I’d almost forgotten about it (or maybe I was trying to forget about it). It made me realize how such an old incident that you don’t consciously remember can have influence over us, and that realization made my heart feel much lighter. I still feel instability and tension sometimes, but nowadays I can say to myself “ Come what may, I will just allow it to find its own way.’’

Y.H. from Tokyo

What I’ve been holding for many years got removed in just 20 min. It’s amazing! I am truly thankful.

“The pains I’ve been feeling in the abdomen are almost gone, and I am feeling great physically this morning. It is surprising how long-stored issues can be lifted in just 20 min. I am truly thankful!”

Y.T. Kanagawa pref.

For several days after the therapy, I would remember the experience and felt like crying, but I got over that stage and feeling fine now.

“My second Hara-Shin experience turned out to be totally different from the first one, and that surprised me. I was in tears, but that was not induced by my emotions. Tears suddenly fell and rolled over my cheeks first, and then I started to feel emotions. This was a totally new experience for me. For several days after the therapy, I would remember the experience and felt like crying again, but I got over that stage now and I am feeling fine. ”

A.I. from Hyogo pref.

My abdomen felt better and I could breathe more easily after the session. The dryness in my mouth is now much alleviated too.

I am sure my body was packed with many emotions. After the session, my abdomen felt better and I found it easy to breathe. My dry mouth has improved too. My mind-set is positive these days, and I’m feeling as if I’ll keep on getting better and better. I’d like to receive it again if I have a chance. Thank you for the session!

Y.N. from Hiroshima pref.

It felt as if my body’s cells are rejuvenated and feeling happy.

My pent-up traumas got released and I am so thankful for that. On my way back to the train station, I felt so free. I could even see the electric message board inside the train much more clearly as if my body’s cells are rejuvenated and feeling happy.

K.K. from Shiga pref.

I was having outbursts of emotions and couldn’t hold my tears during the session. I was still in tears as I headed home.

I was having outbursts of emotions and couldn’t hold my tears during the session. I was still in tears as I headed home. After I got home I was still spaced out for a while, but as I have calmed down I was somehow able to face the emotions I’ve been feeing all this time in my life. I think it’s really important to love oneself and so I will start to give more and more compliments to myself.

M.Y. from Osaka

The following day, I woke up feeling great and well-rested. My body felt lighter.

It was a very short session, and I first couldn’t feel any difference as I was heading home. But I started to feel incredibly drowsy after taking a bath in the evening. The following day, I woke up feeling great and well-rested. My body felt lighter. What a surprise!

K.I. from Tokyo

I am no longer irritable. These days I can accept most anything in a gentle manner.

After I received Hara-Shin, my spine got straightened and my whole body felt so light. Though the work was on the abdomen only, my chronic pains in the neck, jaw, and temporal muscles were lifted instantly. It’s amazing! I used to be nervous all the time and got irritated easily, but I’m no longer irritable since the session. These days I can accept most anything in a gentle manner.

Y.H. from Hyogo pref.

Even if I remembered something negative, I no longer have dark pent-up emotions. I feel so much clearer now.

I was not completely sure about my childhood memory of “dissimulation”, but as I was sharing the story I started to feel better about this issue. When the therapist was working on the area of the intestines that had to do with a person I was having difficulty forgiving, I burst out in tears. It wasn’t a bad feeling and felt like washing myself with a shower of tears. Then, I was in a rush and didn’t have enough time to see if something changed within me. But when I got home, I realized that even if I remembered something negative, I no longer have dark pent-up emotions. I feel so much clearer now. It’s miraculous.

N.H. from Hiroshima pref.

The long spell of self-denial is completely gone now.

I never felt that calm and still in my life as I was heading home after the session. It was just beyond feeling clear. It was a much higher sensation and quite indescribable. I felt really sleepy and dozed off as I was riding the train back home, but the significant difference was that I was free from the negative emotion that was with me on my way to the session. It was perhaps only natural because Hara-Shin removed my self-denial, but it was still surprising for me. Anyhow, I was feeling so peaceful and positive. Perhaps my rheumatism recovery will start to accelerate too.

K. Kanagagwa pref.

I could tell that my faced looked different after the therapy.

I knew I had traumas that are half way released and haven’t been released completely, so I decided to take a Hara-Shin session. I felt so clear after receiving it. I no longer have a problem speaking my desires, and I think that’s probably the biggest blessing from the session. Also, I could tell that my faced looked different after the therapy.

R.S. Gunma pref.

I had a trauma that made me cry every time I remember it. After receiving Hara-Shin, I no longer cry upon remembering it.

It’s been 10 days since I had the session, but I hadn’t been able to feel much difference. But today, as I was reading through people’s feedback, I realized that I no longer feel like crying even if I recall the traumatic event. It’s fantastic.

N.T. from Chiba pref.

My anger does not linger as it used to. I feel much clearer in my head too.

I used to be angry and frustrated most all the time. I would sometimes just lose my temper with my children and could not control it. After receiving Hara-Shin my anger does not linger as it used to. I feel much clearer in my head too. It’s an amazing change.

Y.E. from Tokyo

I had a huge shift. My heart feels so much lighter.

I was feeling light in my heart during the session, but I had hard time dealing with all the memories and emotions that surfaced on my way home. The hardest one to deal with was the sense of being powerless due to not being able to make people (especially my parents) happy. After I got home I was bombarded with heaps of emotions and just kept crying until I could finally fall asleep as my husband helped me. In the next few days, I felt so much release taking place. I was simply flabbergasted. The greatest release was letting go my rock-solid determination to “never do what I want to do” which was almost like a curse on myself. As I felt this being lifted, I just couldn’t help laughing out loud. That was such a huge shift. My heart feels incredibly lighter now.

M.M. Nagasaki pref.

The best sleep and lightness of body that I’ve had in a while.

I was unsure of the effect as I was going back home after the therapy. But the next morning, I felt it so clearly. It was the best sleep and lightness of body that I’ve had in a while. I usually get up from bed feeling listless, wincing from pain, but that day I got up with no difficulty what-so-ever. I said to myself “When was the last time I got up from bed like this? I don’t even remember!” This is not an overstatement!

K.T. Fukuoka pref.

I felt so peaceful. These days I am at ease and feeling happy.

I am so happy that I received Hara-Shin. The night I had the session, I started feeling various emotions and burst into tears. But after crying, I felt so peaceful. These days I am at ease and feeling happy.

Kaneko from Tokyo

Every time I received Hara-Shin, I let go of the self-controlling of my heart and that helped me be more true to myself.

I received Hara-Shin 4 times already. I take it once almost every week, and I know I am definitely shifting. Every time I received it, I let go of the self-controlling of my heart and that helped me be more true to myself. I’ve been struggling to achieve this for half a century. I used to be emotionally driven rather than mentally driven and my emotions would often sabotage my actions. But I managed to release these emotions, and what the practitioner told me was right. They never returned once they got removed. It seems I was also doing self-searching unconsciously as I receive Hara-Shin, and as a result I am at ease with my own life now. Hara-Shin will bring lightness to your mind and the body. I am a bodyworker myself, and I would say Hara-Shin is the ultimate bodywork that’s so different from those traditional ones.

Hara-Shin is a treatment for both, heart and soul.

Perhaps you have heard of “Hara-Kiri” by which ancient Samurai slit open their belly to commit suicide. There are less painfull and easier ways to end one`s life, but why did they chose such a horrible method? Hara is the center of one`s body, but also of one`s consciousness. To have a pure Hara means, one is innocent, free from wrongdoings. So by “opening” and showing one`s Hara, the Samurai proved that he is clean inside, a last act of confession so to speak, before leaving this world. “Look, I have nothing to hide”, seems to be his final message to his master, in whose presence HaraKiri was usually performed.

By the way, SHIN means HEART in Japanese. Hence, Hara-Shin is a treatment for both, heart and soul.

Chinese characters for Hara Shin: 腸心

Please write the details of your inquiry specifically.

Hara-Shin Therapy Basic course in Austria