In the world of holistic and alternative medicine, Thai massage is proving to be more than just an overhyped fad. Investing in a Thai massage education can in fact, be one of the most worthwhile things you can do for your health and your career.
Thai massage and its relative, Thai yoga, came from India and developed into unique healing systems in Thailand. Thai massage is more like yoga exercise than the typical massage known in the modern world. It takes the bodies of practitioner and client alike through a series of yoga-like positions. The massage therapist manipulates the client’s body with techniques that resemble yoga, acupressure and massage. This is believed to restore the human body to a state of harmony, especially its energy channels that the Thais call “sen lines.” People who have received this brand of massage are won over by its grace and power, by its ability to make the body feel serene yet strong.
Getting a Thai massage in Thailand itself is cheap, and you’d find massage parlors everywhere. Don’t expect it to be sexual though. Real Thai massage has nothing erotic in it. If you look for this kind of “therapy,” you’d be disappointed. But if you want a massage that helps you regain or retain your health, chances are you will walk away very satisfied.
In the United States, massage rates vary greatly. You could get one for $30 or for over $100. General massage takes an hour, but may be adjusted in length depending on the needs of the client.
Learning Thai massage for yourself is a good investment for your health and perhaps career as well. But Thai massage training brings with it a no small amount of expense. You’d be spending several hundred dollars for one course alone if you get it in the United States. If you want to study more advanced techniques or even get certified as a professional or instructor, the cost would run up to the thousands. But for ardent lovers of this system, it’s worth it, not to mention you can make good money with massage for a living.
More and more Thai massage schools and classes are popping up everywhere in America and around the world. If there isn’t one where you are at, you may need to travel to another state that has one. Look for a real Thai medicine school if you can, not just a massage institute with a Thai module. Also, some schools guarantee free lifetime internship to their graduates, reflecting a selfless tradition in Thailand. As a last resort, you can always visit the country personally, if it is within your budget. There’s an adventure of a lifetime!
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