Immerse yourself in the deep sea of traditional Thai massage! This comprehensive 202 hour, 8 month program starts with foundational Thai massage techniques and practices, sequence timing and flow, body mechanics, sen work, and basic Thai spiritual practices relating to Thai bodywork. Woven through the curriculum are therapeutic and rehabilitative treatments for chronic and acute common medical conditions, Thai medical theory, Thai element theory, neuromuscular release points, advanced sen work, advanced therapeutic stretching, basic Thai herbal medicine including herbal compresses, scarf work, business building, Thai self-care, personal growth, ethics, Thai culture, history, and so much more!
Attention will be given to proper client bolstering, efficient practitioner body mechanics, and smooth transitions for ease and economy of movement. You will learn to use your body weight and leverage instead of your muscle strength, preventing injury and exhaustion. These, along with using your legs in your work, are key to a long, healthy career as a massage therapist. We’ll work with all sides of the body - prone, supine, side-lying and seated so you can master working with of all kinds of people.
Offered in a traditional mentorship style, this intensive program is for those who want to go beyond the basics and to intimately know the powerful healing art of Thai massage and medicine. This course is limited to 6 students, an intimate group benefits each of you with the hands on attention and teaching needed to become a highly skilled and deeply effective Thai massage therapist. This fun and comprehensive course is designed so both beginning and advance Thai massage practitioners will thrive, and is open to both licensed and non-licensed folks interested in massage. All are welcome.
There is an application process for this program, please read through all the info provided for this course on this website (there’s a FAQ page), reach out if you have questions, and apply when ready!
THAI MASSAGE LEVEL ONE - Foundational Practice - 28 NCBTMB approved CE
Thursday January 16 - Sunday January 19, 2025 (four days) 9:30am-6pm
This comprehensive, foundational class will teach you basic Thai massage skills: palm pressing and compressions, stretching, sen (line) work, basic Thai massage and medicine theory including Thai element theory, some Thai history, Thai spirituality and culture, and more. We’ll use mainly hands, thumbs, fingers and elbows, but will also tap into how to use your feet, shins and knees for deeper compressions.
THAI MASSAGE LEVEL TWO - Build and Integrate - 28 NCBTMB approved CE
Thursday February 13 - Sunday February 16, 2025 (four days) 9:30am-6pm
This class builds upon the foundational work learned in Level One, exploring Thai massage as therapeutic work by starting to move beyond the one-size-fits-all relaxation sequence. Herbal compresses will be introduced for warming and opening layers of the body, increasing relaxation, and calming the mental winds with their aromatherapeutic qualities. Class covers using your feet and knees as tools (and arm savers!), therapeutic stretches, an intro to Thai abdominal work, and more in-depth sen work. Attention will be given to flow, timing and smooth and efficient transitions for ease and longevity of the practitioner. You will leave this class feeling confident in your ability to deliver skilled, therapeutic, and deeply effective Thai massage.
REUSI DAT TON - Thai Hermit Yoga - 30 NCBTMB, Yoga Alliance and Yoga Therapy approved CE
Thursday March 20 - Monday March 24, 2025 (five days) 9:30a-5p
Taught by David Wells - Held at the Center 4 Self-Care 3501 E Kleindale Rd., Rear Building, 2nd Floor (stairs, no elevator present), Tucson AZ, 85716
Reusi Dat Ton is the self-care system of Thailand and the supporting roots of Thai massage. This 5 day class includes breathing techniques, range of motion, self-massage and beginning and advanced postures. Learning and practicing RDT is integral to a healthy Thai massage practice as it supports your physical and mental health, deepens and improves your understanding of Thai massage techniques, increases your ability to provide amazingly effective bodywork, and provides you self-care tools to give to your clients for their homework.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT SERIES:
The following classes include advanced Thai bodywork techniques used to address common conditions we see and treat in our clients: stretching, neuromuscular release points, advanced sen work, and many more healing Thai bodywork therapies including the use of specially formulated Thai herbal liniments.
THAI HERBAL COMPRESSES - 6 NCBTMB Approved CE
Thursday April 10, 2025 (one day plus the ab class) 9:30a-5p
Thai herbal compresses, known as luk pra khob, are the most important tool in a Thai massage therapist’s basket. Having several important therapeutic uses, they do a lot of work for you! We’ll make compresses together as we explore the different qualities of the herbs and their effects on body and mind, and we’ll practice ways to integrate them into your sessions.
THAI ABDOMINAL MASSAGE - 12 NCBTMB approved CE
Friday April 11- Saturday April 12, 2025 (two days) 9:30a-5p
The abdomen is an important part of our body that affects overall health and well being, yet it is often neglected in massage therapy due to a lack of confidence and knowledge for therapists in working this area. Not only does the abdomen house much of what keeps us alive and thriving, it also holds energy and emotion that can become bound over time. Knowing how to perform a confident, therapeutic and healing abdominal massage is essential to having a holistic massage therapy practice. This class will cover techniques that address common conditions that arise in the abdomen including digestive issues, menstrual cramps, energy levels, posture and low back pain.
THAI MASSAGE FOR THE BACK AND RIBS - 28 NCBTMB approved CE
Thursday May 8 - Sunday May 11, 2025 (four days) 9:30a-6p
Back pain, especially low back pain, is the most common reported place of pain in our bodies. This class focuses on techniques for back pain and breathing issues, mobility, etc. and will include deep compressive work, some amazing stretches, and a little known sen sequence for the spine that addresses the neuromuscular release points that affect the whole body.
BREAK FOR JUNE
THAI MASSAGE FOR THE UPPER BODY - 21 NCBTMB approved CE
Friday July 11 - Sunday July 13, 2025 (three days) 9:30a-6p
This class addresses common issues in the upper body - carpal tunnel, tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries, brachial plexus issues, migraines and headaches, and more! We’ll work on arms, hands, wrists, shoulders, neck and head.
THAI MASSAGE FOR THE LOWER BODY- 21 NCBTMB approved CE
Friday August 8 - Sunday August 10, 2025 (three days) 9:30a-6p
Learn techniques to treat the feet, legs and hips. We’ll address conditions such as sciatica, restless legs, neuropathies, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, etc.
FINAL CLASS - 28 NCBTMB approved CE
Thursday September 11 - Sunday September 14, 2025 (four days) 9:30a-6p
In our final class of the program we’ll explore working with pulses and winds in the body (wind gates) to calm the nervous system, we’ll review and practice more advanced sen treatments, abdominal work, and dive deeper into the elements and how to work with them for common conditions. This class will touch on pre and post-natal Thai massage, nervous system disorders, and caring for elderly clients. This class also offers a chance for review, to ask questions, and be all together in our lovely group as we wrap up this fantastic course.