Dear Fellow SOA members,
- The new SOA Website is live
- Two new Body Dialogue articles
- SOA 2026 membership Drive
- First edition of the SOA Ethics Handbook is available.
- 19 April 2026 Masashi Minagawa book Launch
I. New SOA Website
After three months of intensive work by Sarah Baker, SOA Member & SOA website contractor and SOA YouTube Manager, and Jennifer Palmer-Farrington, our new SOA Webmaster, we are announcing the new SOA Website is live.
Visit our website at this link: Shintaido of America – Opening to Life
Read our Home Page, See updated photos, and read about multiple member benefits including links to many affiliates and partners of SOA. We look forward to your comments. As with any project, there is ongoing future work as we improve our content.
II. Two New Body Dialogue articles
During our hiatus, many Body Dialogue articles have been submitted. Here are two:
First is a tribute to Bela Breslau. As 2026 is our 50th Anniversary of the founding of Shintaido of America as a non-profit organization – SOA honors the ‘Mother of Shintaido of America’ – Bela Breslau. Read the article here: Movers and Shakers of Shintaido – Tribute to Bela Breslau | Shintaido of America
Second is an article by Tomi Nagai-Rothe to honor the legacy of H.F. Ito. Read the article here: Enacting Ito Sensei’s Legacy | Shintaido of America
III. SOA 2026 Membership Drive
Spring is here and it is time for the SOA 2026 Membership Drive. SOA membership supports instructors and keiko in the USA and Canada. Our new SOA Website is possible because of the contributions of each member. Read the membership letter (attached). Pay your membership dues here: Store | Shintaido of America
IV. SOA Ethics Handbook
Many organizations govern themselves by a code of ethics/code of conduct. SOA is introducing the first edition of the SOA Ethics Handbook. This is a resource to members and instructors for both guidance on ethical matters and as a resource for ethical consultations. Read the SOA Ethics Handbook here: Member Materials | Shintaido of America
V. 19 April 2026 is Masashi Minagawa’s book Launch
Save the date: 19 April via ZOOM; 12noon PT, 3pm Eastern, 8pm UK, 9pm Europe. More details to follow from Peter Furtado. Masashi Minagawa’s book is on Amazon and titled: Aikukan, A life in Shintaido.
Many of us are planning to wear our GTC T-shirts on the 19th: Aikukan Space of Love. Order now to have them by the 19th of April. Here is the link.
Discover Our Exclusive Range at Shintaido of America Store
Share your comments with me and the SOA Board via Contact Us
Warmly,
Connie Borden
SOA President