This is an exclusive opportunity to learn how Gua sha is really done based on Traditional Chinese medicine. The course covers everything you need to be an EXPERT, CONFIDENT GUA SHA PRACTITIONER and head-and-shoulders above your peers! It consists of 53 videos + 68 text/PDF files + 3 case studies + personal one-to-one tutorial and video assessment with best-selling author, Clive Witham.
Welcome to Komorebi Gua sha!
I'm Clive Witham, the director of the Institute and author of 4 Gua sha books published in 5 languages. I've been using Gua sha for over 20 years and I have spent a long time synthesising everything I have learnt in that time into one unique form of treatment based on ancient Chinese texts which transforms how we use Gua sha.
Komorebi Gua sha
Chinese medicine has a fundamentally ecological view of looking at the body and what we think of as discrete organ systems connected by blood vessels, they saw rivers and streams and trees and mountains. They compared how nature behaves with what they saw in the body and using the natural scientific principles of the world around us applied simplicity to complex mechanisms.
Not your typical Gua sha Course!
This online course is EXCLUSIVE. It is not for everyone, nor everyone for it. I'm offering YOU to be amongst a small group of people who have the chance to be part of a new generation of competent, confident practitioners of Gua sha. I will train you personally through video, a personal tutorial, an exam and a practical assessment (all online).
What participants say about my courses
In honesty, I did look many times online for a class on it, but nothing that really said “this is the class.” After taking your course I’ve become so passionate about it that I use it every chance I get. The wise words, “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear” rings true.
I’ve been a massage therapist for 26 years, and I’m truly loving what I have learned!! I went to see my chiropractor, I was telling him that I have been certified in Gua Sha!! He was telling me he has diabetes and his feet are prickly and numb! So I went the following week and I worked on him!! The next day he called me and told me he’s feet didn’t feel like that anymore!! The way you talk about the rivers, and how they can get blocked!!! OMG I get it!! So amazing it is like MAGIC!!! I would give you 100,000 stars!!! The way you teach, is awesome, I have loved every class !! Can’t wait to take the next class!!! I’m a true BELIEVER!!! Thank you so much for your time and effort putting this together for us bodyworkers, to make a DIFFERENCE!!!
Extremely good course, very informative; I loved the translation into Chinese medicine in referring it to nature and the rivers - made a lot of sense. I feel very confident in treating further and more knowledge in what I'm doing.
Loved the course and the simplicity of treating many things/conditions by thinking about the rivers! Its given me lots of confidence to take it out into the clinic!
Very pleased indeed with everything about the course and feel much happier using Gua sha and understanding its benefits and limitations.
Who am I looking for?
This course is to make Gua sha practitioners out of a range of people - massage practitioners, manual therapists, estheticians, acupuncturists, tuina or shiatsu practitioners, naturopaths and other related health and wellness professionals. It can also apply to those who lack experience but wish to treat. The most important quality is patience, the desire to learn and be open to learning Gua sha within the context of Chinese medicine.
Who am I NOT looking for?
- If you just want a quick superficial Gua sha course, or to make up some extra CEU points, and you don't want to take the time to understand and process how it works, how to apply it and how to treat, then this is maybe not the course for you.
- If you don't want to look at the foundations of Gua sha within Chinese medicine and have personal tutorials and direct two way communication throughout, then this is maybe not the course for you.
- If you need to think about it too much, can't see the value of what I'm offering or were looking for the cheapest course you could find, then this is maybe not the course for you.
What am I offering?
There are 3 levels to Komorebi Gua sha and this course is level 1 - the core foundation on which everything else is based. This is the level which will transform your thinking and Gua sha practice to a whole new form of treatment. So it really does not matter if you, for example, do physical therapy on the body or maybe just do beauty treatments on the face, if you don't understand the underlying principles, then you don't understand what you're doing. It's that simple.
* 11-Module Course with 53 videos and 65 text files
* 11-Module Course with 53 videos and 65 text files
The 11 modules are made up of videos and written materials and in each module you will have tasks to complete. A module will be released weekly and I am available to respond to questions and comments and to explain more if necessary as you go through (there is a comments system beneath every video).
* Mid-course Tutorial
This is a personal live video link and is a chance to ask questions and get clarity on anything you need help with during the course.
* End-of-course Exam
Every module has a short quiz and at the end of the 11 modules, you will be presented with a multiple choice exam (70 questions) which has a pass mark of 70% (this can be repeated if you don't pass first time).
* Practical Assessment
You then arrange to have the final assessment which consists of a live (or recorded) video of your treatment showing all the techniques that you learned (but don't panic, it's supposed to help you!).
* Certificate of Achievement
If you pass the exam and the assessment, you will then receive a certificate of achievement and are awarded Gua sha Practitioner Level 1.
* Professional Insurance
You will then be eligible to add Gua sha to your existing policy or take out a new professional public liability insurance for Gua sha. Safety protocols vary hugely from country to country, making it an impossible task to create one qualification which is accepted world-wide so if you are in any doubt, it is best to check for where you live.
* Ready to treat people
After the 11 modules, not only will you have everything you need to practise Gua sha safely and securely on other people, you will have a deep insight into classical Chinese medicine and how the body functions and how to help it with Gua sha.
All you need to do is the following:
- Watch, listen to and read the materials
- Post on the course comments in every module
- Do the tasks assigned
- Participate in a mid-course tutorial
- Take each quiz and score over 70% on the final exam.
- Take a final assessment by video link.
So it's up to you, if you think you are the person I'm looking for and you'd like to apply for the course, just click the button.
And remember, this is NOT a dime-a-dozen training course run for a mass market. It's designed to maximise learning within a small group of great practitioners. So if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, come and join me, you'll be most welcome.
What's included?
- 53 videos
- 65 files
- live tutorial
- video assessment
- unlimited support
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGICAL GUA SHA
- AN INTRODUCTION
- THE MOVEMENT OF BREATH
- THE FABRIC OF LIFE
- THE BODY AND THE CLIMATE
- NATURE'S GROWTH CYCLES
- THE BREATH AND HEALTH
MODULE 2: THE MECHANISM BEHIND KOMOREBI GUA SHA
- GUA SHA ACTION IN WESTERN MEDICINE
- MODERN VARIATIONS OF GUA SHA
- GUA SHA CHINESE CHARACTER
- GUA SHA EXPLAINED IN CHINESE MEDICINE
- THE QUARANTINE SYSTEM
- BIOTENSEGRITY
MODULE 3: YIN RIVERS
- THE RIVERS
- LUNG RIVER
- HEART RIVER
- HEART RULER RIVER
- PANCREAS RIVER
- LIVER RIVER
- KIDNEY RIVER
MODULE 4: YANG RIVERS
- LARGE INTESTINE RIVER
- TRIPLE BURNER RIVER
- SMALL INTESTINE RIVER
- STOMACH RIVER
- GALLBLADDER RIVER
- BLADDER RIVER
MODULE 5: SAFETY & EQUIPMENT
- CONTRAINDICATIONS
- INFORMED CONSENT
- EQUIPMENT
- LUBRICATION CHART
- DISINFECTION
- CONTRAINDICATIONS
LEVEL 1 MID-COURSE TUTORIAL
MODULE 6: TREATING PEOPLE
- TREATING CHRONIC CONDITIONS
- TREATING ACUTE CONDITIONS
- MOVING SYMPTOMS
- ADAPTING TREATMENT
- CAUTION WITH TREATING CHILDREN
MODULE 7: PROCEDURE & TECHNIQUES
- TOOL TECHNIQUES
- WIDE STROKE TECHNIQUE
- NARROW STROKE TECHNIQUE
- NON DOMINANT HAND
- ARM POSITION
- PREPARATION
- PROCEDURE
- THE MEANING OF THE SHA
- TREATING THE HEAD
- TREATING THE NECK AND SHOULDERS
MODULE 8: TECHNIQUES FOR CHEST, SHOULDER, ARMS & HANDS
- TREATING THE CHEST
- TREATING THE SHOULDER AND UPPER ARM
- TREATING THE ARMS
- TREATING THE HAND
MODULE 9: TECHNIQUES FOR BACK, LEGS & FEET
- TREATING THE UPPER BACK
- TREATING THE LOWER BACK
- TREATING THE LEGS
- TREATING THE FEET
MODULE 10: TREATMENTS & FINAL EXAM
- FINAL EXAM (70 QUESTIONS)
- APPLYING ECOLOGICAL GUA SHA
MODULE 11: ASSESSMENT & FEEDBACK
- PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT
And there's more...
LIVE Monthly Webinars with Clive
Each month we have LIVE Webinars on the site. During the month you'll be able to submit your questions in advance. These are open to past and present students of Komorebi Gua sha.
Private Membership Community
As a graduate of our course, you’ll also be part of a private Facebook group. In this group you will share, ask questions, and gain support from like-minded healers in our greater learning community.
FAQs
How quickly will I be able to complete the course?
The course is normally completed over 1-3 months. This allows time to do tasks, quizzes, tutorial, comments etc.
I'm an estetician. Would I benefit from this course?
I'd say half of the graduates of this course have been working in the beauty industry. The benefit of studying Gua sha is in opening up your knowledge base to include a way of looking at the body and the face which is totally different from what you had previously. And when you reach level 2, you become a Gua sha specialist in Facial Gua sha and have a deep understanding of the muscles and soft tissue connections of the face and exactly where to treat on the face and body to give totally unique beauty treatments.
Do I have to download anything special to do the course?
No, the whole course is online. The videos can be watched from any device connected to the internet. The text files appear on screen and the quizzes and exam are multiple choice. The tutorial and assessments can use whatever video technology you have available e.g. your mobile phone camera.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes, there are short tasks and quizzes after each module and at the end, there is a final exam in which the pass mark is 70%. On completion of passing this final exam, you will have the final assessment which will look at your practical skills. If this is then fine, you'll receive a certificate of achievement and be awarded Gua sha Practitioner Level 1.
Is the course recognised?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions and it is impossible to create one qualification to fit every country in the world. In my research, I found so many dubious 'associations' which will rubberstamp any course if you pay their fee, so I have avoided putting meaningless badges on the site for marketing purposes.
For Continuing Professional Development purposes the course is recognised in the USA by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for 14 CEUs. It is also applicable for many CEU/CPD/PDA Certification programs in the UK and other countries. If you have any specific query about recognition, contact me for clarification.
For recognition, I went straight to the insurance companies and asked if they recognise my course. So far I there are professional indemnity insurance companies in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand and also one company which covers worldwide. These will all recognise the course for professional indemnity insurance.
The reality is that you're being taught by someone at the top of their game right now. I'm trying my best to push Gua sha both theoretically and practically as far as it will go and I'm still not there yet!
For Continuing Professional Development purposes the course is recognised in the USA by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for 14 CEUs. It is also applicable for many CEU/CPD/PDA Certification programs in the UK and other countries. If you have any specific query about recognition, contact me for clarification.
For recognition, I went straight to the insurance companies and asked if they recognise my course. So far I there are professional indemnity insurance companies in the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand and also one company which covers worldwide. These will all recognise the course for professional indemnity insurance.
The reality is that you're being taught by someone at the top of their game right now. I'm trying my best to push Gua sha both theoretically and practically as far as it will go and I'm still not there yet!
I'm not trained in anything else. Can I do your Gua sha training course and can I use it to treat professionally?
This course is aimed at professionals in the health and wellness sector but if you've read any of my books, you'll know that I try my best to break things down and explain them in the clearest way possible. This means that the course is also applicable to people who don't yet have the skills to treat others and wish to specialise in Gua sha. This is the reason I have included the professional insurance information which you will find in another one of these FAQs.
Can I get professional liability insurance?
Yes, you can. Here is an insurance provider which covers practitioners living in Europe: BGI.UK https://bgi.uk.com/health-and-wellbeing/ provides cover worldwide apart from the USA and Canada as long as you live in one of these countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Channel Island (part of the UK), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Isle of Man (part of the UK), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
What if I have questions after the course is complete?
After you complete the course, you still have access to the material and to our internal messaging system. This means you have an easy way to ask any question and get a fast response to it!
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We take your investment seriously, and we’d appreciate if you took our investment of time and resources into your success in treating with Gua sha seriously as well. Due to the nature of the services and/or products provided, refunds will not be given unless otherwise specified in writing.
Where can I ask questions or get help?
You can contact me direct at clive@komorebi-institute.com
Komorebi Training Institute
Hello. I'm Clive Witham, the director of Komorebi Training Institute, and if you're looking to learn about Gua sha, I have dedicated the last 20 years in researching and using Gua sha. The institute is home to Ecological Gua sha, a unique way of treating the body and the face while staying true to the origins of Chinese medicine.