Q: How is Thai Massage different from massage on a table?
A: The most obvious differences are that Thai Massage is done on a mat on the floor, clients are clothed, and no oils are used. More importantly, Thai Massage is more dynamic, versatile and comprehensive than table massage. For example, in Thai Massage, we work in more positions -- face-up, both side positions, face-down, and sitting up, while on a table, massage therapists primarily work with clients face-down and face-up. We also use knees and feet, as well as hands and forearms, and use leverage and our body weight in gravity, for deeper pressure. Thai Massage uses a combination of stretches, deep muscle compression, and pressure points along energy lines, in order to more powerfully move energy, release tension, and deeply relax muscles. Authentic Thai Massage can be deeper than "deep tissue," better specific pain relief than "medical massage," better sports massage than "sports massage," realign the body as well as "structural integration," more therapeutic than "therapeutic massage," and more profoundly relaxing than "relaxation massage," all at the same time. Thai massage gives us more ways of helping clients, and it is up to each practitioner to choose the best techniques and pressure for each individual client. In the hands of a competent Thai Massage practitioner, this extraordinary form of bodywork can be as gentle or intense as a client needs.
Q: How can I become certified in Thai Massage?
A: In iThaiMassage, we offer a 64-hour Certification Course that consists of four 16-hour classes: Supine Position; Side Position; Prone, Inverted & Sitting Position; and Thai Massage Integration. The first three classes have no prerequisites, and may be taken in any order. The Thai Massage Integration class is the fourth and final class in the series, in which participants practice putting together everything from the first three classes. There exists no separate certification for Thai Massage, and professional Thai Massage practitioners must comply with local laws and ordinances. In most -- if not all -- states in the United States, and provinces in Canada, for example, Thai Massage falls under the Massage Therapy Board's jurisdiction. Keep in mind that each Thai Massage instructor and school has different requirements for certification, so there is no uniform standard for study or practice. The Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI) is the only professional association for Thai Massage that is not a one-man show. It brings together dedicated Thai Massage practitioners from more than 20 countries, including Thailand, and recommends basic standards of study and practice of traditional Thai Massage. There are four levels of membership, according to hours of formal study and practice. For more information on THAI, go to www.thaihealingalliance.com. For more information on iThaiMassage's Certification Course, see "Course Offerings," and also go to "Documents" and check out "Certification and True Competence."
Q: What is the difference between northern and southern styles in Thailand?
A: Southern style is centered in Wat Pho in Bangkok, and uses thumbs to pluck across the energy lines. Northern style is centered in the Shivagakomarpaj Institute Traditional Medicine Hospital (Old Medicine Hospital) in Chiang Mai, and generally features thumb-pressing along energy lines instead of plucking, and uses more stretches. There is a lot of overlap between northern and southern styles now, and there are great individual stylistic differences among the best-known Thai Massage practitioners and instructors in Thailand.
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