All of our Shiatsu teachers are registered UK Shiatsu Society practitioners and teachers, each bringing a wealth of experience and unique teaching style and working as an integrated team

Elaine FA West - FwSS, IIHHt - Dip Holistic Therapies, Reiki Master

Elaine is the Principal of the Bristol School of Shiatsu. She is a long-time graduate of the School and has a successful Shiatsu Practice in Bristol. Elaine served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Shiatsu Society UK as the society's treasurer, and was part of the transformational team during that period. On graduating from BSS, she assisted on the Three Year Training and has participated in many Post-Graduate trainings with Keith Phillips.

With a background in holistic therapies, Reiki, and auricular acupuncture, Elaine has also worked alongside these in the social fields of homelessness, drug and alcohol treatment and youth work. Elaine also worked for seven years in primary and secondary Mental Health services, most recently as a manager of a team in primary care.  She left this work to give her full energy and attention to Shiatsu and her new role as Principal of the School.

During the last two decades, Elaine has pursued a path of personal growth and development, exploring and embracing a variety of different approaches in the field of Personal Transformation.

Elaine is in charge of administration and a teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu.

Keith Phillips - BA(Hons), BAc, DS, FwSS(T), MF Phys

Keith, founded the Bristol School of Shiatsu in 1984 and was its Principal for thirty six Years. He began his exploration into healing and personal development while studying for his honours degree in Psychology. Keith’s search for a more holistic approach to healing led to the start of his Shiatsu studies in 1977. After graduating from the Kushi Institute with a Diploma in Shiatsu and Oriental Medicine in 1981, he set up in practice and began teaching Shiatsu. Keith also qualified as an acupuncturist in 1982 and  holds a Diploma in Acupuncture from the London School of Chinese Medicine. 

Keith studied with some of the world’s leading teachers, including Wataru Ohashi, Shizuko Yamamoto, Pauline Sasaki, Saul Goodman, and Michio Kushi. He served many years on the practitioner assessment panel of the Shiatsu Society, including two years as chairperson.

As well as teaching Shiatsu, Keith has presented numerous weekend and evening courses in personal growth and transformation since 1990. Keith’s teaching of intuitive Shiatsu is inspirational, and is enhanced by the wealth of personal experience gained during his long and thriving practice. Keith also runs Post-Graduate Courses throughout the year for qualified shiatsu practitioners

Keith Is our Elder teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu.

Paul McNicholls - MA, MrSS(T)

Paul is the Vice Principal of the Bristol School of Shiatsu. He is also a graduate of the school and prior to his Shiatsu training, he studied psychology at London Gate University. He later managed and taught at a holistic drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Bristol, where he developed his skills and experience in counselling and group therapy.

In 2002 he trained with the ManKind project; a rites of passage organisation, working with men of all ages to encourage authenticity, accountability and integrity in themselves, and to cultivate dignity and respect in and for the world. He is no longer an active member of MKP; however, he continues to support deeper and safer facilitation with some members of the wider MKP community.

Paul has an M.A. in group and individual Gestalt Psychotherapy and is registered with BACP.  He trained and worked with groups and individuals in Shadow Work between 2006 – 2017. He currently runs a busy Shiatsu and Psychotherapy practice in Bristol, alongside teaching at the school.

Paul’s teaching is focused and alive, inspiring self-confidence in students. He uses a strong relational approach in both his teaching and practice.

Paul is the Education lead at the Bristol School of Shiatsu.

Markus Heimpel - MrSS(T)

He brings his interest in and joy of expression through movement and dance to his teaching. Markus's style of teaching is spontaneous, caring and inspiring, and through this he aspires to help each student to develop to his/her full potential.

Markus is a Senior teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu.

Heather Logan - MrSS, BSc Hons

 Heather has always felt a strong connection with holistic approaches to health and wellbeing, as well as a deep love of nature and our intrinsic relationship with the world. After an extensive period travelling onboard a sailing vessel as part of a non-profit organisation focused on coral reef research, living in community and cultural studies in SE Asia and the Pacific, Heather returned to the UK with a desire to forge a new path in holistic healing. Encountering Shiatsu not long after settling in Bristol, Heather undertook the 3 year training with the Bristol School of Shiatsu qualifying in 2012. What followed was a profound wealth of learning which provided a landscape of felt sense, emotional acknowledgement and wisdom of the body experience - a new doorway through which the world of personal healing could be discovered and explored. 

Heather’s love of Shiatsu led her to continue studying several Post-graduate courses, assisting on the 3 year training at BSS and undertaking a Qigong Teacher Training course with Nicola Ley at the Shiatsu College. 

Heather has an interest in the mind-body relationship, transformational dialogue and energy healing. She has a busy Shiatsu practice in Bristol, together with teaching Qigong and Shiatsu.

Heather is a teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu

Rosie Freeman - DS, MrSS, BA Hons, MSc

I joined the Teaching staff at The Bristol School of Shiatsu in 2017. My shiatsu journey started in 2003 with a 3 year diploma training with the Bristol School of Shiatsu (BSS), followed by post graduate training in Movement Shiatsu at the School for Experiential Education (SEED). Following this I assisted at BSS for a further 3 years which deepened my understanding of shiatsu as well as developing my interest in teaching and facilitating group work. I went on to do a Degree in Drawing and Applied Arts, and have a strong interest in the overlap between my shiatsu and art, and using art as a form of therapy and self exploration.

Since qualifying in 2006, as well as my own shiatsu practice, I have run various workshops and trainings including Introduction to Shiatsu courses, Chi Massage, 5 Elements workshops, as well as art and drawing classes. My background is in support work, working with various underprivileged groups such as care leavers, refugees and asylum seekers and those living with chronic physical or mental health conditions. I have a Shiatsu practice in West Wales and I have continued my personal development exploring various trainings including mindfulness, focussing, yoga, counselling, various parenting courses and listening partnership training.

Rosie has recently gained a distinction in her MSc for counselling and psychotherapy from Keele University.

Rosie is a teacher at the Bristol School of Shiatsu, currently on sabbatical.

Sarah Hall -DS, MrSS(T)

After considering movement psychotherapy and not feeling a fit Shiatsu felt completely right. Traditional Chinese medicine and 5 element theory really resonate with me and help me to understand myself and the natural world.

Shiatsu is my Spiritual and self inquiry practice.  

 I also trained as an allergy therapist in my twenties and have an interest in what we put in our bodies as fundamental to our healing and wellbeing.I have recently picked up my movement practice again and have a daily yoga practice.

I have a Shiatsu practice in Cardiff and teach a foundation level course there which is affiliated to the Bristol school, I have taken Shiatsu work to  offices, residential care homes, a Covid Rehab Hospital and community groups and events. I have worked with Charities and Organisations  offering sessions and Shiatsu based wellbeing workshops. I continue to offer taster sessions in and around Cardiff at festivals and events and volunteer with Cardiff Council to spread the Shiatsu love, I'm committed to accessibility and inclusion in my private and wider practice.

I have over 20 years of teaching experience,  in dance and movement and Shiatsu . I worked as a teaching assistant at the Bristol school before starting to teach my own Foundation in Cardiff.

I love how my relationship with Shiatsu gets deeper as the years go on, it is an ongoing journey and I'm delighted to join the Bristol teaching team where I received such a healing profound training that I am now honoured to be able to pass on.”