Kathy Kapps is celebrating her twentieth year practicing Zen Shiatsu. While taking classes at the Acupressure Institute, she was a receptionist and became a chiropractic therapist, assisting the doctor with x-rays, ultra-sounds, examinations, and treatments and teaching orthopedic exercises. After graduating from the Acupressure Institute in 1983, she started her Zen Shiatsu practice two days a week in the Chiropractic office that she remained in for twelve years. Her Shiatsu worked well in a Chiropractor's office where, people are used to forceful manipulations. Kathy's Shiatsu techniques and gentle stretches provided great results.

     Kathy opened her second Zen Shiatsu office in San Rafael and maintained her city office in a new location with chiropractors. She never needed to advertise - since she moved into an office with a well-established facial practitioner. Within the year her second office was booked with Shiatsu clients. She currently has been in both of these offices for ten years.

     Kathy's business philosophy includes making and keeping agreements, being respectful, professional, and setting appropriate boundaries with clients. Kathy recommends getting exposure by working in a professional setting and staying in one location as long as possible, so clients can locate you easily. "Many people work out of their home but they don't get the exposure. Starting my private practice in a health professional's office made people take my bodywork seriously."

     Kathy has taught the Masunaga Shiatsu routine to over forty students. She believes that "the most rewarding position in life is to be a teacher. As I supply the world with Zen Shiatsu practitioners, not letting this tradition die, I am a part of a healing legacy." Aside from teaching private students at her home, Kathy also teaches Zen Shiatsu at the Acupressure Institute along with Zen Shiatsu for Common Complaints.

Working to Become Successful
     Kathy had all types of clients to build her practice in the beginning. Many of her personal injury and work comp cases were liens, not yet settled, which meant Kathy had a big overhead with no money coming in. There was so much paperwork that she had to hire a secretary. The chiropractic doctor she worked with instructed her to inform all her clients that she needed to be paid immediately. As a result of these phone calls, the majority of people paid, and she managed to save her practice.

     Kathy works out regularly through running, hiking, and back packing. People respect how Kathy "walks her talk" in maintaining her own health. Working on her personal challenges has also made her more compassionate with her clients. Kathy's Zen Shiatsu practice stretches her body and supports her to feel younger.