Dojo Stara Wieś, Poland
June 17-20, 2027
EMPTINESS, MEANING & PURPOSE
SHIATSU
A quiet revolution that begins with every touch. Neither loud nor spectacular but noticeable. And lasting.
More touch, more humanity.
This is not a vision; it is a necessity.
Dojo Stara Wies
This is not only a venue. It is a threshold. The Japanese architecture, the silence, the water, the forests, the spaciousness and the sense of retreat from ordinary life create exactly the kind of atmosphere in which the festival theme can be lived.
The energy of the whole area is very special. Spending four days there, held securely within the hara of the global Shiatsu family, is an experience you will not want to miss.
At Dojo Stara WieĹ›, “Emptiness & Purpose” is no longer an idea alone - it becomes something the body can feel, the breath can recognize, and the whole community can enter together.Â
LEARN MOREStanding in the World with Alert Presence
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What is society’s biggest Achilles' heel? A lack of connection; a lack of connection to the inside, to one's own potential, to the core of the soul, to inner wisdom, and equally a lack of connection to the outside, to others, to nature, to the demands of heaven and earth.
How have we lost this connection? The two main causes seem to be inner stress and inner depletion. Inner stress can be triggered by trauma, ADHD and burn out, but also by the new challenges of a time into which we have not yet grown. Inner depletion can result from depression, fatigue or a lack of meaning and fulfilment.
Our trauma and the suffering they create lie in the way of the full flowering of our essence. We need to empower ourselves to be the conduits between heaven and earth, to step forward with a renewed posture of celebrating our light, owning our mission and coming together in community as an army of light: to fully own and embody our purpose.
We are the missing piece in the search, since intelligent touch is the key to unlocking the mystery. We are there, touching the layers of being, the tapestry of life, the representation of the collective experience. We are witnesses to the duality of nature and the profound awe of life. Each Tsubo is an opportunity to awaken the spirit to remember to create life.
We come together to be upgraded, to be empowered, to expand our collective spirit and to own our rightful place in the glory of the discovery, the depth and beauty of emptiness, the connection needed for expansion, to create a secure inner space of non-attachment, either to the self or the material environment, to open a timeless place of connection to all that is, to our essence.
Let us feel the pulse of life again and stand in the world with alert presence.
THE ORGANIZERS
Mike Mandl
Mike has been practicing Shiatsu full-time for 30 years and specializes in more complex issues and the healing aspects of Shiatsu. He is the director of the International Academy for Hara Shiatsu in Vienna, which has been working with clinical institutions for 25 years to create a synthesis between Western and Eastern medicine.
Mike has plenty of experience in organizing events for the Shiatsu community. In 1999 the Hara Shiatsu school organized the first International Shiatsu Congress in Europe. From 2007, he has been on the board of the European Shiatsu Congress (ESC). Mike was the director of the 2017 congress in Vienna. With over 600 participants from all over the world, it was one of the biggest Shiatsu gatherings ever in the history of Shiatsu. In 2024 he created the Shiatsu Summit, which was successfully repeated in 2025.
He is always looking new ways to bring Shiatsu people together and share what they really love: Shiatsu.
Chris McAlister
Chris has been involved with organising Shiatsu in Europe since 1996, when he guided the Swedish Shiatsu association into membership of the ESF. He has been involved with the federation since that time, most recently serving as president for 12 years, during which time he helped modernise the ESF and extend its network widely into Europe and beyond, into the international Shiatsu community.
A strong believer in the power of sustained and collective soft power, Chris developed the idea of the Global Shiatsu Festival in 2020, when new networks sprang into life due to the restrictions placed on our collective liberty.
Since 1996, he has been involved in running complementary clinics in Uppsala, Sweden. Chris has gradually established himself as an international Shiatsu teacher and is always on the lookout for ways to strengthen the bonds within our Shiatsu family.
Karolina Kowalczyk
Karolina’s Shiatsu path springs from a deep interest in the body as a living meeting place of physiology, emotion, memory and meaning. She holds a Master’s degree in Dietetics and is a Shiatsu therapist, massage practitioner and educator. Since 2019, she has developed a practice in complementary bodywork, integrating Shiatsu, manual therapy, tissue work, acupressure, Oriental medicine, breathwork, dietetics and evidence-informed integrative health. She focuses especially on people with chronic stress, burnout, pain, tension, overload, psychosomatic patterns and nervous exhaustion.
For Karolina, Shiatsu is not only body work, but also a way of supporting emotional regulation, inner safety and a gradual return to balance. She is the initiator, co-founder and president of the Polish Shiatsu Association. As coordinator of the Polish Shiatsu College, she helps shape educational standards and supports students in developing touch, presence, body mechanics and listening skills. She combines mindful organisation with a deep commitment to creating spaces where Shiatsu can be practised, shared and understood as a living art of connection.
Joanna Rusin-Rohrig
Johanna, known as Asia, discovered Shiatsu during her journey through Japanese literature and culture. Fittingly, the English word 'Asia' echoes the continent of Shiatsu's origins.
A graduate in Japanese, Italian and business administration, Asia serves on the board of the Polish Shiatsu Association, while maintaining her role in marketing management at a cybersecurity company. Asia's business acumen and cross-cultural experience strengthen the festival's organisational foundation.
Her unique blend of corporate expertise and Shiatsu practice enables Asia to bridge two worlds that rarely meet. Her goal is to bring presence, awareness and mindful connection into the business world, to build resilience, support well-being and enhance interpersonal relations.
Asia is passionate about the elegant simplicity of Shiatsu: no tools, only heart and hands are needed to create a profound connection between practitioner and receiver. Shiatsu opens new perspectives on how we relate to one another, and offers practical support for navigating challenging times with greater balance and clarity.
Karol Kowalczyk
Karol began his journey into bodywork through direct experience. While serving as a professional soldier in a reconnaissance regiment, a spinal injury opened a long path of rehabilitation, study and embodied inquiry into pain, resilience and the intelligence of the body.
Since 2018, he has worked as a personal trainer, later completing a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy and continuing his education in therapeutic movement, breathwork and manual approaches. In 2022 he began studying with Thiago Nishida, finding in Shiatsu a language of touch that could meet the body not only structurally, but also with presence, listening and respect.
Today, he integrates Western physiotherapy with traditional Eastern bodywork. Karol is a co-founder and board member of the Polish Shiatsu Association. As local coordinator of the Global Shiatsu Festival in Poland, he helps hold the practical ground for a gathering devoted to connection, community and the living spirit of Shiatsu.