THERAPY RELATED QUESTIONS
1. What’s the difference between deonThaiTM Yoga Massage/Therapy and Traditional Thai Massage?
The deonThai™ style of Thai Yoga Massage/Therapy can be described as a relaxing and revitalizing blend of assisted Yoga stretches and Traditional Thai Massage. It incorporates all the movements and philosophy of Northern Style Traditional Thai Massage, plus there is an additional emphasis on assisted Yoga stretches and principles of alignment. Most “Thai Massage”, as performed by Thai people in the Western world is what’s known as the Southern or Wat Pho Style. In its true and authentic form, Southern Style Traditional Thai Massage does not emphasize assisted stretching, is more focused on the deep use of acupressure and rarely incorporates the practitioners use of the feet and knees. deonThai™ Yoga Massage/Therapy, brings in additional Yoga Therapy moves and principles from Anusara and other Hatha Yoga systems. It also focuses on using as many parts of the practitioner’s body as possible.This is more of a Commoner or Rural Style approach, found in the Northern parts of Thailand and practiced by indigenous Hill Tribe people, versus the Royal Style approach where the use of feet is considered offensive and practitioners use the hands and thumbs almost exclusively.
2. How does it relate to Hatha Yoga?
Thai Massage is said to have evolved out of the ancient art of Yoga and its complementary ancient medical science of Ayurveda. Many of the moves used on a passive recipient by a Thai Massage practitioner look very similar to Hatha Yoga poses. It is sometimes jokingly referred to as “Yoga for Lazy People”. In some ways it is like having Yoga “done to you” by another or doing Yoga with another person’s body.
3. Where did it originate?
It is said to have originated in India. Some say it grew out of the ancient healing systems practiced in South India in the region now known as Kerala. Then later, after becoming a part of ancient Ayurveda, existed in the North of India (now Nepal) at the time of the Enlightenment of the Buddha. The physician Jivaka Kumar Baccha, a contemporary and friend of the Buddha Gautama Siddhartha is said to have successfully used massage and stretching techniques along with herbal and other remedies to treat ailments and conditions amongst the nuns and monks that were traveling with the Buddha, spreading Buddhism and these medicinal techniques all over Southeast Asia. Known as Doctor Shivago Komarpaj, he is still considered the Founder and Father Doctor of Traditional Medicine in Thailand. Along with the ancient Buddhist foundation, indigenous healing modalities and Shamanic practices from the Northern Hill Tribes, also form an indispensable and vital part of this wonderful system known as “Nuad Bo Rarn” or Ancient Massage.
4. Is it safe for pregnant women, old people, children, injured people, and sick people?
Since the work is tailor made for each individual in each different treatment session, it can be done safely, with certain modifications to accommodate contra-indications as needed with all the above-mentioned types of person, including pets and livestock, with remarkable results.
5. How often should someone receive a session?
Initially, if cost is not a concern, I recommend a daily 2 hour session for a few days, then weekly. But more than a month apart is too long.
6. Is it OK to eat before/after the session?
In order to have more energy in the body available for the Work and since an important part of the treatment may involve pressing points around the abdomen, it is better not to eat for at least 2 hours before the session. To allow the process to continue, as it does, after the practitioner ends the actual session, it is better not to eat, bathe or do strenuous exercise for at least an hour afterwards. Drinking copious amounts of water is highly beneficial and necessary to flush out toxins that may have been released during the treatment.
7. Is it done on a table, bed or the floor?
Traditionally Thai Massage is always done on the floor, but elements of the practice are being effectively adapted by practitioners more accustomed to working on tables or beds. However, many of the advanced movements and stretches can only be done safely and effectively on the floor.
8. What should I wear?
Comfortable, loose-fitting Yoga or athletic clothes are best to accommodate the twisting and stretching movements in the session.
9. How long are the sessions?
Traditionally, authentic Thai Massage treatments are at least 2 hours long, sometimes lasting for several hours.
10. Why are the sessions so long?
Since the main objective is energy balancing, the physical moves become part of a deeper, more meditative spiral of healing that feels increasingly good/better as time goes by, resulting in a profoundly deep and integrated sense of physical, mental and spiritual well-being for both giver and receiver.
11. What are the benefits to the receiver?
Stress relief, revitalization and a euphoric feeling of overall wellbeing are the words most often used by clients to describe the benefits of their treatment. Physiologically, the body gets re-aligned in a way that increases flexibility and circulation. More subtle harmonizing of energies result in the overall integration of body, mind and soul. We get to remember how good it can feel to be in our bodies.
TRAINING RELATED QUESTIONS
1. What are the benefits to the giver?
Regular practice, once properly trained, greatly enhances the giver’s own strength and flexibility. It’s like doing Yoga and strength training while meditating. Instead of gradual repetitive stress injury over time, as is common with most other forms of bodywork, Thai Yoga Therapy actually results in an overall improvement in health, vitality and wellbeing for the practitioner. Since the giver acts as a facilitator for moving the energy in ever more harmonious ways, his/her body-mind organism forms an integral part of the process. By performing the work meditatively and being mindful of proper body mechanics the practitioner stays consistently “in the zone” and feels the same good vibrations felt by the receiver.
2. How long does it take to learn to do this?
Depending on the language proficiency and teaching skill of the teacher, as well as the quality of training aids such as illustrations and descriptions, it is possible to be able to perform a basic treatment after about 12 hours of training. Once the foundation has been laid, practice is much more important than theoretic knowledge, so that becomes the key ingredient and determining factor. As with most healing arts, it is only through consistent and ongoing practice that anyone can hope to master this modality. But with that said, it is an amazingly intuitive system, so it is also easier than it looks, given the practitioner’s intention and underlying sense of purpose.
3. Is it better to train in Thailand or elsewhere?
I learned in the West from a qualified teacher who spoke my own language. In my own judgment, because that was my path, it saved me a lot of time and got me to the point where I was able to benefit more from the teachings of a Master in Thailand, which came later. Most Eastern training systems are different than those in the West. Where the West follows a more sequential and logical way, the East has a circular and spiraling approach to education and learning. Coupled with sometimes strong language barriers, I feel that I would have been unnecessarily challenged in the beginning had I not chosen training based on English and a more familiar style.
4. What is the status of Thai Massage Certification in the USA?
Ancient, respected and long-standing as it is in Thailand, Traditional Thai Massage (in all its variations) is still a relatively new practice in the United States that is growing rapidly. Demand for it is skyrocketing as awareness increases and the Spa and Wellness industries acknowledge its usefulness as a highly effective means of relaxation and stress relief. Although there are several organizations that have been created to appear as if they may be regulating, registering, or accrediting Thai Massage Practitioners/Therapists/ Bodyworkers or Schools, there is no governing body in the USA specifically for Thai Massage.
Deon de Wet, Founder of deonThai™ YOGA has been certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork as an Approved Provider of Continuing Education (NCBTMB), which allows him to offer continuing education credits to participants in Thai Massage courses that he teaches. These CEC’s are valuable to those practitioners who need to satisfy the ongoing education requirements of their particular massage/bodywork governing authorities (usually city or state).
Certificates of Completion are provided to indicate that all the training hours have been attended by the certificate holder for a particular Thai (Yoga) Massage/Therapy class, course or workshop. Eventually, once students/practitioners have completed all the requirements they may receive a deonThai™ YOGA Practitioner Certification. Although these certificates are a valuable indicator of a student/practitioner’s dedication to education in and the practice of the healing art, these and other Practitioner/Therapist Certifications only certify that the issuer is satisfied that the certificate holder has properly completed that particular training and practical experience line-up. It does not confer approval or endorsement by any type of governing Board for Thai Massage.
At the present time, there is no organization in the USA that has the authority to regulate, certify, register, or accredit Thai massage Practitioners/Therapists/ Bodyworkers or Schools.
As long as you follow your local regulations and laws related to massage or Yoga therapy, you are able to professionally practice Thai Yoga/Massage Therapy. So by all means, be diligent in your search for qualified training, but realize that the majority of the most respected and longest established teachers in the USA do not belong to any of these so-called Thai Massage Associations/Clubs and that membership in any of these groups does not necessarily imply an authoritative endorsement of the quality of instruction or special permission to practice once “certified”.
