Practicing Thai massage is a rewarding and fulfilling modality for the recipient as well as the practitioner. Thai massage is largely becoming one of the most popular and talked about styles of massage and bodywork. The work, based on the principle of metta, the ultimate expression of compassion and loving kindness, is a beautiful flow of energy work, deep relaxing compression, and passive yogic stretching. The practice and our, Flagstaff Thai Massage and Yoga, teachings focus heavily on proper body mechanics thus allowing the practitioner to work for longer sessions and ultimately extending one's massage/bodywork career.

This Thai Bodywork School of Thai Massage affiliated program offers over 300 hours of Thai massage courses and Continuing Education credits approved by NCBTMB.  We have the Certified Thai Practitioner track, Clinical track, as well as the Spa track.

The Certified Thai Practitioner Track:

Certified Thai Bodywork Practitioner Certification

Certified Thai Bodywork Practitioner (TBP) has the following requirements:

• Levels 1-3 (130 hours)
• HandsFree Thai 1 (20 hours)
• A&P 1 (20 hours or testing credit)
• 1.5 hour practical examination
• written exam - history, cultural context, principles
• 30 documented client sessions
• 3 documented Thai massage sessions received from a qualified practitioner
• (www.thaibodywork.com/forums - to document your hours/sessions)

Once you have taken a class, please register yourself with your contact information on the Thai Bodywork directory.  People from all over the country use it to find therapists!

Clinical Track	Spa Track
Level 1	Level 1
HandsFree 1	HandsFree 1
Level 2	LPK
HandsFree 2	Level 2
Level 3	Level 3
LPK
Anatomy and Palpation
Clinical Series 1-7

Description of Workshops offered at Flagstaff Thai Massage and Yoga.

Level 2, Hands Free 2, LPK, and A&P coming soon. To view upcoming courses within the Thai Practitioner curriculum that are not currently offered (only classes not offered are LPK & Level 3) @ Flagstaff Thai Massage and Yoga please visit www.Thaibodywork.com.

Thai Massage Level 1- Fundamentals:

Description:

A basic introduction to Thai Massage, this intensive 2.5 day training is suitable to new students or practitioners seeking an alternative modality. At the end of the course, the student can perform a complete 1 hour Thai massage routine. The asanas that we teach in Level 1 are simply a reduced sequence--they are not "beginner" in the sense that they are sophisticated and powerful techniques that the student will continue to master through practice. These are techniques that the therapist will use throughout their career.

In Level 1, we introduce the theory of energentic anatomy and physiology, Sen Sip, Wind Gates, Asanas or therapeutic postures, accupoints and trigger points. We teach basic principles of Western muscular anatomy, trigger point therapy and patterns of referred pain to provide the student with a much deeper diagnostic framework for client issues. In Level 1 the student learns the basic ideas behind Clinical Thai Bodywork.

We place strong emphasis upon body mechanics and practicing bodywork in a sustainable way. Many western practitioners experience symptoms of occupational disability in hands, shoulders and arms due to reliance upon muscular strength and a failure to understand the power of working from the core. We use martial arts and yoga principles to teach the student how to move in an effcient, elegant and powerful way. With strong fundamentals, Thai bodywork can be not only safe, but beneficial for the practitioner, and will provide a deeply satisfying career that lasts many decades.

This course provides the student with a 20-hour certificate and 17 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $450.00 ($225 registration deposit)

Early Bird Registration rate $399.00. View schedule for details.

Register early. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly.


Level 2: Therapeutic Thai Massage Fundamentals

This course establishes the foundation of a professional Thai Massage practice. This course covers theory, therapeutic applications, how to structure treatments, and much more. The basic principles of Thai medicine are discussed, including the Sen Sip, therapeutic points and relationship to other point and line systems. We introduce the concepts of myofascial pain, trigger and reflex points, and the basic principles of Clinical Thai Bodywork. Levels 1, 2 and 3 are considered to be the minimum core training for a professional practitioner.

Upon successful completion and practical assessment, the student will receive a 40-hour certificate that is recognized by ABMP, as well as 34 continuing education contact hours recognized by NCBTMB. Prerequisite: Level 1.

This course provides the student with a 40-hour certificate and 34 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $750.00 ($375 registration deposit)

Early Bird Registration Rate $675.00. View Schedule for details


Introduction to Thai Massage:

A 5-hour sample size course taken from the Level 1 sequence. A perfect class to attend if one is interested in learning the basic foundation and principles of Thai massage but not quite ready to commit to the intensity of Level 1 training.

As in the Level 1 training, the Intro to Thai massage workshop is a hands-on course teaching the basics of Thai massage. Body mechanics, energetic anatomy and physiology, principles, and philosophy are introduced.

The class room style is fun, playful and fast-paced. The style and movement of Thai massage is unique and much different than most forms of massage. Learning Thai massage can be challenging but extremely rewarding. Try it out for yourself!

This course provides the student with a 4-hour certificate and 4 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $50.00

Register early. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly.

Hands Free Thai Massage Level 1

This course provides an introduction to the techniques of HandsFree Thai(tm), which allow the practitioner to work on large or heavily muscled clients in a way that is highly beneficial for the client and the practitioner. Commoner or rural style (Nuad Chaleisak) techniques, originating in the northern, hill tribe regions of Thailand, allow the therapist to provide broad, deep pressure without stress on the hands or shoulders. Asana variations using feet. legs and knees are taught, comprising a 1-hour treatment sequence employing all treatment attitudes.

Thai massage has a long tradition of walking techniques, as do many other cultures. These techniques can be practiced without elaborate equipment such as ropes, bars or specially made treatment rooms. If the practitioner is developing balance, a simple object like a chair is sufficient to help maintain safe balance while on the client. We teach the student to be able to do this work with as little mechanical assistance as possible.

HandsFree Thai(tm) is an excellent way for the practitioner to safely work with athletes and other clients who require deeper pressure without endangering the hands, wrists and shoulders. As in all of our courses, we maintain a strong therapeutic focus in our teaching, guiding the student in how to work with specific issues of pain or dysfunction. We employ the principles of Clinical Thai Bodywork to teach the student patterns of pain and its origins while using walking techniques.

This course provides the student with a 20-hour certificate and 17 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $450.00

Early Bird Registration rate $399.00. View schedule for details.

Hands Free Thai Massage Level 2

This course provides in-depth study of the techniques of HandsFree Thai(tm), which allow the practitioner to work on large or heavily muscled clients in a way that is highly beneficial for the client and the practitioner. Commoner or rural style (Nuad Chaleisak) techniques, originating in the northern, hill tribe regions of Thailand, allow the therapist to provide broad, deep pressure without stress on the hands or shoulders. Many asana variations using feet and knees, taught as a 2 hour treatment sequence employing all treatment attitudes.

Thai massage has a long tradition of walking techniques, as do many other cultures. These techniques can be practiced without elaborate equipment such as ropes, bars or specially made treatment rooms. If the practitioner is developing balance, a simple object like a chair is sufficient to help maintain safe balance while on the client. We teach the student to be able to do this work with as little mechanical assistance as possible.

HandsFree Thai(tm) is an excellent way for the practitioner to safely work with athletes and other clients who require deeper pressure without endangering the hands, wrists and shoulders. As in all of our courses, we maintain a strong therapeutic focus in our teaching, guiding the student in how to work with specific issues of pain or dysfunction. We employ the principles of Clinical Thai Bodywork to teach the student patterns of pain and its origins while using walking techniques.

Prerequisites: HandsFree Level 1 and Level 1 Thai Massage.

This course provides the student with a 20-hour certificate and 17 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $450.00

Early Bird Registration rate $399.00. View schedule for details.

A&P for Thai Massage and Yoga

This course is an introduction to anatomy, physiology and kinesiology for Thai massage practitioners, yoga teachers, and others. The focus in the A&P 1 course is on developing a solid grounding in these issues for students who have never had formal education in anatomy, or wish to refresh their knowledge with a different approach. Instead of the usual dry, memorization-oriented A&P, this class strives to be as interactive and hands-on as possible to increase retention and make learning anatomy fun.

The course covers the basics of planes of movement, major bones, muscles, attachments, function, anatomy of movement, palpation, isolated stretching, basic trigger point theory, role of breath, posture, and A&P effects of several important yoga and thai yoga asanas. Focus is on palpation and practical exercises to facilitate hands-on learning.

There is a written and practical examination component to the course. Upon successful completion, the student receives a 20-hour Certificate of Achievement from Thai Bodywork. This course provides 17 NCBTMB CE hours. Successful completion of AP1 or an equivalency examination is a prerequisite for the CTB course series. REQUIRED TEXT: Trail Guide to the Body, Third Edition (Red cover, coil bound). Available for purchase at Thai Bodywork.

This course provides the student with a 20-hour certificate and 17 CE's upon successful completion, and is approved by NCBTMB for continuing education.

Cost: $450.00

Early Bird Registration rate $399.00. View schedule for details.

Couples Thai Massage class- (Fundamentals):

This class is designed for anyone interested in learning how to give their partner a fun, interactive massage that is therapeutic for both the giver and the recipient using Traditional Thai techniques.  Couples will:

• Learn fundamentals of Thai Massage, the fastest growing form of massage today.

• Be able to provide a 30 min. basic Thai massage for your partner that include:
  

-deep, relaxing compressions
-gentle, passive yogic stretches
-principle of Metta, the act of ultimate loving kindness & compassion
-interactive playfulness

• Receive a take home manual with detailed description of sequence included in cost

 Cost: Varies upon location.

Schedule of 2009 courses will be available soon.