Listening to the wisdom of the body
Sotai is a way of paying attention to how the body moves and feels. It was developed in Japan by Dr. Keizo Hashimoto and further developed by Hiroshi Miura.
Sotai is the broader understanding of the body: its structure, movement, sensations, and everyday habits. Sotai-ho refers to specific methods based on that understanding. In Sotai, we do not force a painful movement. We notice what feels easier or more comfortable and listen to the body’s response.
A small place to begin is an action you already do: picking up a light object. Notice which foot is forward, how your weight shifts, and whether you feel steady. You do not need to copy a position that feels awkward. The point is to become curious about your own movement.
Sotai was developed in the twentieth century. It also invites us to look again at practical wisdom found in older Japanese ways of moving.
About TEI-ZAN
I am Hiromi Hatakeyama, a Sotai practitioner who studied with Hiroshi Miura. At TEI-ZAN, I share Sotai through individual sessions, teaching, and books.
My short English book Sotai for Busy People begins with the simple act of picking something up. It offers a way to explore body movement within an ordinary day.
Read more about Sotai in Japanese
Further Reading in English
For more on Sotai, see my English book Cats and Sotai: Ease and Pleasure in Clinical Sotai.