The concept of the GODAI

The GODAI, or ‘big 5’ is the name given in Amatsu to the five main areas which can affect the functional health and well-being of a person. These main areas are: environmental, structural, emotional, electrical and chemical.

These 5 areas are significantly relevant to the holistic approach of Amatsu, as they bring into focus every aspect of the person’s lifestyle, choices, habits, health and environment for diagnosis and treatment. (leaving no stone unturned).

To explain this we first need to look at how Amatsu approaches the body and treatment thereof.

Take for specific example shoulder pain; the approach of other therapies might be to treat that pain locally and recommend some targeted exercises; In Amatsu a much broader, holistic picture is considered; Nothing is taken for granted. The pain could be a result of referral pain from another injury or trapped nerve (electrical), it could be a physical symptom of stress (emotional) or a reaction to repetitive actions (environmental), it may be worsened by dietary deficiencies or excesses (chemical), it could be a result of a build-up of waste products in the area or simply just a localised injury (structural).

With Amatsu it is just as important to identify the underlying cause of ill health as it is to address the symptom. Amatsu practitioners understand that there are many everyday factors that affect health and well-being and that they are not all physical. Every client visit is approached with consideration for the 5 main areas of the GODAI in diagnosis and treatment because an Amatsu practitioner understands that any change in one of these will affect each one of these as well as affecting the client’s overall health.

Take another example: a client who suffers from stress and anxiety in the workplace, who goes on to experience physical pain which they may then have pain medication prescribed. In this case, a number of the areas of the GODAI have been affected and have subsequently worsened the client’s condition. The stress and anxiety (emotional) caused by the workplace (environmental) have caused pain (structural) which has been treated with medication (chemical). Demonstrating that any factor of the GODAI on their own or simultaneously either in excess or deficiency can have a significant impact on a person’s overall health and well-being.

Coincidentally, Amatsu takes much of its knowledge of movement and well-being from nature and through watching and learning about our environment, and other living things within it, so it does not seem strange that GODAI is also the term used in Japan to describe the five elements, which they believe are the building blocks of all things.