ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO, LTD

What ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO, LTD does

Zen Shiatsu Chicago, LTD is a privately held vocational school headquartered at 818 Lake Street in Evanston, Illinois, operating continuously since 1988 (rebranded from Ohashiatsu Chicago in 2006). The institution delivers a 715-hour Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program that meets Illinois massage-licensing requirements (600 hours) and confers an additional AOBTA Certified Practitioner of Zen Shiatsu credential, distinguished from conventional massage schools by an East Asian medical framework that integrates meridian-based assessment, holistic lifestyle analysis, and somatic-psychology applications for trauma, internal health issues, and mind/body integration. The core methodology is hands-on, lineage-based bodywork rooted in the Zen Shiatsu tradition with documented connections to Ohashi, Pauline Sasaki, and Masunaga-system practitioners.

The business generates revenue through multiple streams: diploma-program tuition (with financial aid, GI Bill eligibility, and payment plans), continuing-education courses approved across 8 Illinois professional license categories (Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, PT, OT, Naprapathy, Nursing, Social Work, Esthetician/Cosmetology), a 100-hour Massage License Transfer Program for out-of-state therapists ($2,336), a 380-hour Missoula & Chicago Hybrid Training program ($7,700, reduced to $7,200 with scholarships), a student and professional shiatsu clinic, retail sales of USA-made cotton shiatsu futons ($274–$360), one-on-one tutoring ($35–$95/hr), and affiliate referrals to AOBTA liability insurance ($65–$149/year). Reported outcomes for 7/1/23–6/30/24 include 136 total admissions, 20 graduates, a 100% licensing-exam pass rate, 100% field-placement rate, and an average graduate starting wage of $77.27/hr.

The school holds COMTA accreditation (U.S. Department of Education-recognized), an Illinois Board of Higher Education Permit of Approval, and AOBTA Council of Schools membership. Go-to-market combines direct enrollment (online application, catalog delivery, Zoom/in-person consultations), organic content across Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, and a community-driven student clinic and graduate directory that generates referrals. Geographic reach is concentrated in Illinois with a 2026 expansion into Montana via the Missoula hybrid track. The organization employs 13 staff under Director Steve Rogne (since 2006) and Associate Director Arlette Greer.

Name

ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO, LTD

Legal name

Zen Shiatsu Chicago, LTD

Website

https://zenshiatsuchicago.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zen Shiatsu Chicago, LTD is a privately held, COMTA-accredited vocational school in Evanston, Illinois, offering a 715-hour Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program and continuing education across 8 Illinois professional license categories, serving aspiring massage therapists, licensed healthcare professionals, and CE-credit seekers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Massage Therapy Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Shiatsu & Thai Massage (Eastern Modalities) (HSADAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Massage Therapy Schools & Certification Programs (HSALANAJ), Massage Therapy & Bodywork (EDAOALAH)

Keywords

• Massage therapy training
• Shiatsu certification
• Continuing education
• Vocational massage school
• Holistic bodywork

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program: Full vocational diploma program with tuition that meets Illinois massage license requirements (600 hours). Includes both massage license and shiatsu certificate upon completion. Financial aid available for qualifying students.
2. Continuing Education Courses: CEUs for massage professionals including beginning courses, professional development, and specialized oncology training. Approved for multiple professional license renewals including Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, OT, Nursing, Social Work, and Esthetician.
3. Missoula Hybrid Training Program: 380-hour reduced program for licensed massage therapists at $7700, with $500 scholarships available for 2026 bringing cost to $7200.
4. Massage License Transfer Program: 100-hour program for out-of-state therapists needing to meet Illinois 600-hour requirement. Tuition and materials total $2336.
5. Student Clinic Services: Professional and student shiatsu massage clinic providing hands-on services to the community while training students.
6. Shiatsu Mats and Products: Sale of 100% cotton shiatsu futons made in USA. Double size $274, Queen size $360, including US shipping.
7. Insurance Referral Program: Referral to AOBTA for student ($65/year) and professional ($149/year) liability insurance with student membership benefits.
8. Tutoring Services: Standard tutoring at $95/hr, remedial tutoring at $35/hr, foundational skills tutoring at $35/hr.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Zen Shiatsu Chicago operates a COMTA-accredited vocational massage therapy school delivering a 715-hour Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program that qualifies graduates for both an Illinois massage license (600+ hours) and AOBTA-certified Shiatsu Therapist credentials. The school supplements its diploma offering with online and hybrid continuing education courses approved across eight Illinois healthcare license categories, a 100-hour massage license transfer bridge program, and a professional and student shiatsu massage clinic open to the public. It also retails branded USA-made cotton shiatsu futons.

Product overview

Zen Shiatsu Chicago operates as a vocational massage therapy school offering a unified portfolio centered around its Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program (715 hours), complemented by continuing education courses, online learning modules, and a professional/student clinic. The school also provides specialized tracks including the Missoula & Chicago Hybrid Training and a Massage License Transfer Program for professionals. Additionally, the school retails shiatsu futons as a complementary offering. All programs integrate East Asian medical principles and Chinese Medicine theory with hands-on bodywork training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shiatsu Massage Therapy Diploma Program A comprehensive 715-hour vocational diploma program that prepares students for Illinois massage licensing while also earning a Shiatsu Therapist certificate. Combines full-time and part-time schedules, classroom instruction, and clinical externship; graduates receive both Illinois massage license eligibility and AOBTA-recognized Shiatsu credentials.
• Continuing Education Courses for Licensed Professionals CEU courses approved by Illinois for Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Naprapathy, Nursing, Social Work, and Esthetician/Cosmetology license renewals. Includes beginning courses, professional development, specialized oncology training, and graduate comprehensive reviews; many also eligible for NCBTMB and NCCAOM PDA credit.
• Professional & Student Shiatsu Massage Clinic A hands-on clinical training environment open to the public where supervised students practice shiatsu techniques, alongside a professional clinic staffed by trained practitioners. Provides affordable shiatsu massage services to the Evanston/Chicago community.
• Online Self-Study CE Courses Asynchronous online continuing education courses delivered through the school's learning platform, allowing licensed professionals to complete CE requirements remotely.
• Missoula & Chicago Hybrid Training Program A travel-friendly 380-hour shiatsu training program for already-licensed massage therapists, combining Chicago intensives with online coursework and Friday morning clinical supervision in Missoula, MT (in collaboration with Shuddhabha Lannen). Cost: $7,700, reduced to $7,200 in 2026 via $500 scholarships. Qualifies graduates for AOBTA Shiatsu certificates and Montana CE credit.
• Illinois Massage License Transfer Program A 100-hour accelerated bridge program for licensed massage therapists from other states (with 500 prior hours) needing additional hours to meet Illinois' 600-hour IDFPR licensing requirement. Includes Beginning Zen Shiatsu, Zen Shiatsu II, Zen Shiatsu III, and Chinese Medicine Fundamentals; 105 total hours including materials. Total tuition: $2,336.
• Shiatsu Mats (Retail) 100% cotton shiatsu futons made in the USA with washable covers and sewn-in straps. Double size (54W x 75L x 1.5D) at $274; Queen size (60W x 80L x 1.5D) at $360. Colors include Black, Natural, and Royal Blue. US shipping included.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% licensing exam pass rate (13 of 13 graduates)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shuddhabha LannencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for travel-friendly shiatsu training combining Chicago intensives with Missoula clinical supervision. Missoula-area students complete studies with combination of travel-friendly classes in Chicago, online courses, and local clinical supervision in Missoula. Fixed schedule from October 2026 - August 2027.
• AOBTA (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZen Shiatsu Chicago is a member of the AOBTA Council of Schools and Programs. Graduates are immediately eligible for Certified Practitioner of Zen Shiatsu credential. School participates in AOBTA's approved CE provider network and insurance referral program.
• Illinois State Acupuncture BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBecause courses are approved by IL State Acupuncture Board for license renewal, they automatically count for NCCAOM PDAs (Professional Development Activities) for acupuncturists.
• Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE)coreOthersZen Shiatsu Chicago holds Permit of Approval to Operate issued by IBHE. This state regulatory approval enables school to operate as a vocational institution and accept federal financial aid.
• COMTA (Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation)coreOthersSchool is accredited by COMTA, a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting body. This accreditation validates educational quality and enables graduate credentials.
• Northwestern University (Athletic Program)minorOthersFaculty member Terri Visovatti serves as massage therapy coordinator for Division 1 athletic program at Northwestern University, providing professional development and sports massage experience.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CenterPoint Massage & Shiatsu Therapy School: Minneapolis-based COMTA-accredited school specializing in both Western massage and Shiatsu/Asian bodywork. The most direct curriculum peer to Zen Shiatsu Chicago given its Shiatsu-specific track alongside standard massage training.
• Pacific College of Health and Sciences: Accredited vocational school offering massage therapy, holistic health, and integrative medicine programs with an East Asian medicine orientation. Closest US comparable to Zen Shiatsu Chicago given shared emphasis on Chinese/Japanese medical principles and dual-credential outcomes.
• National Holistic Institute: Accredited massage therapy school with a holistic-health curriculum emphasis and CE offerings. Comparable on accreditation, holistic positioning, and continuing-education catalog breadth.
• Boulder College of Massage Therapy: COMTA-accredited massage therapy school emphasizing holistic and therapeutic bodywork approaches. Comparable in scale, accreditation, and curriculum philosophy to Zen Shiatsu Chicago's diploma program.
• Cortiva Institute: Multi-campus accredited massage therapy school offering diploma programs and CE across multiple US states. Comparable as a state-licensed, COMTA-accredited vocational massage school competing for the same Illinois-area prospective student pool.
• Ohashi Institute: Original Zen Shiatsu / Ohashiatsu lineage school founded by Ohashi in New York; Zen Shiatsu Chicago was founded in 1988 as a branch school of this institution. Direct curriculum and philosophical lineage peer.
• Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences: New York-based accredited college offering massage therapy, nursing, and allied health programs with CE for licensed professionals. Comparable on diploma-plus-CE portfolio and multi-profession CE approval footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Aveda Institutes: Large national network of cosmetology and massage therapy schools. Comparable as a state-licensed vocational training provider with multiple CE-related approvals, but broader and less specialty-focused than Zen Shiatsu Chicago.

Others

• American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA): National professional association for massage therapists that influences CE standards and license-renewal requirements. Comparable as an ecosystem participant shaping the regulatory and continuing-education environment in which Zen Shiatsu Chicago operates.

Regional players

• International School of Skin, Nailcare & Massage Therapy: Atlanta-based accredited massage and aesthetics school. Comparable in vocational scope and licensure pathway focus but operates in a different US region than Zen Shiatsu Chicago's Illinois/Montana footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zenshiatsuchicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zen-shiatsu-chicago-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/zenshiatsuchicago
• TikToktiktok.com/@zen.shiatsu.chicago

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZEN SHIATSU CHICAGO, LTD