Thai Bodywork School of Thai Massage Program Overview

Learning Thai Yoga Therapy at Thai Bodywork

Thai Bodywork's program provides the highest quality training in Traditional Thai massage in a very efficient weekend intensive format. We build your skills and knowledge from the ground up, and do not require any particular background upon entering the program. Having worked successfully with hundreds of students, we understand the needs of the beginner, and use principles from yoga and martial arts to teach the art of fluid full-body movement that is essential to Thai yoga.

Our program provides 130 hours of core hands-on Thai massage education in Levels 1 through 3 (20, 40 and 70 hours, respectively) plus over 220 additional hours of advanced training. All courses are approved as Continuing Education courses by NCBTMB. Some are also approved for continuing education in Physical Therapy. Advanced courses are continuously being expanded. Click here for detailed information about our program...

Selecting a Thai Massage Program

Thai massage education is not just about showing the student various techniques. As a beginner, you need to first learn how to move and work from your core, as well as how to learn Thai massage. We prepare you at each step for the next level of learning. Your work is constantly supervised by an experienced instructor who provides immediate feedback to help you improve.

Our program gives the student a strong foundation by covering the following topics:

• Thai massage history and healing philosophy
• Relationship of Thai massage to yoga and Ayurveda
• Cultural context, how it relates to Thai and Buddhist culture and other branches of Thai medicine
• A unique teaching and practice style that builds strong skills quickly
• Strong training in the principle of good body mechanics and working from the energetic core -- as opposed to "working with the hands", which leads inevitably to stress and injury.
• How to work in a way that is beneficial for both giver and receiver
• The idea of moving without effort -- fluidity and ease of transition
• Treatment variations for different clinical situations

Evaluating Domestic and Overseas Thai Massage Study Programs

We have unfortunately heard horror stories from students who have had very negative experiences with organizations who did not deliver what they promised, and in some cases took advantage of unsuspecting students. We offer the following recommendations when choosing a Thai massage school or Thailand study program.

• Any request for large amounts of money up front, before you are in class, should make you immediately suspicious. A business that operates this way is probably cash-starved or worse. No legitimate Thai massage school will require this. Be particularly alert if you are approached with hyperbole and "rug salesman"language, promising huge discounts, tons of free bonus offers, and the like. Serious Thai massage schools are not used car lots and do not operate like one.
• As in other areas of life, if something just sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Ask to speak with 3 recent attendees of the program (phone or in person, not just email). This is an excellent guide as to a program's strengths and weaknesses. Any serious school will have no problem providing you with references.
• If a program claims affiliation with professional organizations, you can easily verify their affiliation with an email or phone call. Thousands of dollars is certainly worth a few minutes of your time.
• If you are taking a trip, understand clearly what the tour operator is obligated to provide, and what happens if they obviously do not deliver on what they promise. Get a hard itinerary. What happens if you are forced to leave early, or the provider has to cancel some or all of a trip? Before you place lots of money and your well-being in their hands, be sure that your legal rights are clearly expressed in writing. Do not place a deposit or travel without speaking to recent customers - and ask about their experience in detail.
• That being said, Thailand is a friendly and relatively easy country in which to plan your own study tour. Consider carefully whether you want to be locked in to someone else's idea of what you should be doing in this amazing country, not to mention entrusting them to do everything they say they will. Keep in mind that once you are in-country, things are much less expensive than they are in the US. A typical Thai massage costs $6-10 US.

Level 1: Thai Massage Fundamentals

Thai Bodywork's Level 1: Thai Massage Fundamentals is a highly regarded, 1-weekend course that incorporates principles from yoga, martial arts, dance and asian bodywork modalities. When you complete Level 1, you not only can perform a practical, enjoyable and effective 1-hour Thai massage sequence, but more importantly, you understand how to learn Thai massage and how to work with efficiency and fluidity.

Whether you as a student intend to become a professional Thai massage practitioner, or just want to learn about Thai massage and perhaps earn professional CEUs, Level 1 is a great way to get started. Please see our student comments to see what past students think of our program.

More about the Thai Massage training curriculum at Thai Bodywork

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