AOBTA Membership

The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) is a professional membership organization which promotes Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) and its practitioners while honoring a diversity of disciplines. AOBTA serves its community of members by supporting appropriate credentialing, defining scope of practice and educational standards, and providing resources for training, professional development, and networking. AOBTA advocates public policy to protect its members. AOBTA also promotes public education on the benefits, ethics, and principles of ABT.

The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia is a national not-for-profit professional association of practitioners of bodywork therapies of Asia.

All forms that are recognized by AOBTA originally had their roots in China. Over the centuries China, Japan, Thailand, Korea and more recently, North America and Europe have changed and evolved these forms into separate and distinct modalities. The AOBTA accepts all forms of Asian Bodywork Therapy that meet our professional curriculum standards. The following have AOBTA definitions and recognition.

•  Acupressure
•  Amma
•  AMMA Therapy®
•  Chi Nei Tsang
•  Five Element Shiatsu
•  Integrative Eclectic Shiatsu
•  Japanese Shiatsu
•  Jin Shin Do® Bodymind Acupressure®
•  Jin Shou Tuina™
•  Macrobiotic Shiatsu
•  Medical Qigong
•  Nuad Bo 'Rarn (Traditional Thai Bodywork)
•  Shiatsu Anma Therapy
•  Tuina
•  Zen Shiatsu

The AOBTA was formed in 1989 with the coming together of a number of associations, which represented individual disciplines of Asian Bodywork Therapy. AOBTA currently has about 1,500 active members in the U.S. and abroad. Member benefits include optional, low-cost professional liability insurance, disability insurance, a national membership newsletter, national and regional workshops, and a practitioner referral service through national headquarters and the internet.

Certified Practitioner status with AOBTA is the credential required for the professional practice of shiatsu in Illinois, per the Illinois Massage Licensing Act, Sec. 25(g).  If you are a current student at Zen Shiatsu Chicago, a complimentary one-year student membership will be provided to you.  After graduation, you will immediately be eligible for Certified Practitioner status, and our office will help you submit your application.