Study and Practice

General guidelines for study

Since the 1980s, when basic courses were first offered to tourists in Thailand, Thai massage has become one of the most popular and loved Asian healing arts in the West.  For students looking to study Thai massage today, there is some confusion about what is truly Thai and what is not, and about the best ways to study and to choose qualified teachers.

In recent years, some therapists have mixed Thai massage with other modalities such as Western table massage, yoga, anatomy, osteopathy, Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. These hybrid forms may include elements of Thai massage, but they shouldn’t be confused with traditional Thai therapy. A good way to study Thai massage is to learn classic techniques and sequences from several different teachers, schools and lineages, and then to practice them for a long period of time before expanding the scope of study. A strong foundation in classical Thai techniques, movement, breath and stillness is essential for effective practice. Some knowledge of traditional Thai medicine, Thai herbalism, Thai acupressure protocols and Thai element theory is also important.

Westerners are generally conditioned to pursue education in levels or modules of study, with the eventual goals of completion and validation. This is not the case in the teacher/student model upon which much of the world’s traditional, non-academic education is based, including in Thailand. To become a sensitive, accomplished Thai therapist, it is important to realize that study and practice is a life-long process.

Legal practice in your area

If your goal is to practice Thai massage professionally, it is important to understand the legal guidelines in your area. As you begin to study Thai massage, make sure to investigate the legal parameters in your city, region, and country of residence.

Some States, Provinces and countries that require licenses in order to practice Western (table) massage also allow those therapists to legally practice or teach Thai massage without reviewing their credentials or study experience. Some new practitioners may study only for a few weeks before beginning to charge money for their services. Some countries have no regulations about massage, but some U.S. States, Canadian provinces and European countries have their own laws and requirements for non-Western healing arts. Because of all of this, it is extremely important to understand the laws in your region, and to base your model of study and choose your teachers according to legal and practical guidelines. Make sure you have liability insurance; join professional organizations; and always be ethical and professional in your study and practice.

Choose teachers wisely

When searching for a teacher, check their study and training history. If this information is not listed on their web site or in their promotional information, ask them. How long have they studied Thai massage, and with whom? Have they studied in Thailand? How many hours of Thai massage study have they completed, and how many years have they been in practice? Do the descriptions of their services use western anatomical language or Eastern healing terminology? Do they blend Thai massage with other modalities or are they teaching traditional Thai massage?  As a guideline, Thai Healing Alliance proposes a minimum of 500 hours of study with three or more teachers or schools over a period of not less than 3 years. Make sure that the teachers you choose are experienced, and that they meet these standards. If you use good judgment when you select teachers, you will probably be rewarded.