LEVEL 0 - PARTNER THAI YOGA – GUIDED CLASS (3 HOURS)
EXPERIENCING THE FEELING
Find out how it feels to give and receive a 1-hour sequence while being verbally led, with accompanying live demonstration, through a complete basic routine, using the essential moves of Thai Yoga Therapy. It is highly recommended that this class be attended many times, since it is a good opportunity to experience the ideal pacing and sequencing of a basic session, under the guidance of the teacher. The sequence of postures and techniques may also vary from time to time.
The Guided Class is the springboard into this ancient practice and has been designed to allow immediate participation in both the “giving” and the “receiving” aspects of Thai Yoga Therapy. Direct experience of both perspectives has proven to be a very effective way to gain the basic understanding of this work.
Each partner will experience performing, as well as receiving, an entire basic session, in a nurturing environment allowing everyone to feel the double joy of getting to give back generously, after blissfully receiving a gift of healing touch.
Participants will work comfortably clothed on mats on the floor. Bring a friend or come alone and make a new one.
No pre-requisites and prior experience of Yoga or Massage is not necessary.
LEVEL 1A – ESSENTIALS OF THAI YOGA MASSAGE (16 HOURS)
LEARNING TO DO THE ESSENTIAL SEQUENCE
Continue the exploration of the basic form by learning how to do the 1-hour sequence of Essential moves, used in the Guided Class. Theory and historic background is introduced, but the focus is still mainly on practical application.
After the initial exposure to the feeling of Thai Yoga Therapy, this workshop goes further with instruction and supervised application of the Essential moves. Upon completion of this course, you will be equipped with a powerfully effective 60 to 90 minute sequence, to share and practice with friends and family. You will receive a detailed Guidebook with pictures and descriptions to aid your ongoing practice.
Once learned and then practiced, these Essential techniques can stand alone as a wonderful means of helping anybody to deepen and harmonize the experience of their body. This class is also the first step towards becoming a certified Thai Yoga Massage Therapy Practitioner.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded with 16 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit through NCBTMB.
No pre-requisites, but completion of at least one PARTNER THAI YOGA, GUIDED CLASS is recommended.
LEVEL 1B – FOUNDATION OF THAI YOGA MASSAGE (16 HOURS)
BUILDING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
This class builds on the Essentials learned in the previous phase and results in a strong foundational understanding that puts you well on the path to professional practice.
Many more concepts relating to the energetic and physiologic healing principles of the work are introduced at this level. Upon completion of the course, you will have expanded your repertoire of Thai Yoga Therapeutic massage and assisted Yoga techniques to arrive at a professional routine at least 120 minutes long, easily practiced with the help of the additional Guidebook material. The fascinating history and philosophic background of Thai Yoga Therapy is also covered in greater depth on this course.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded with 16 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit through NCBTMB.
No pre-requisites, but completion of Level 1A – The Essential Training or any basic Thai Massage training with another recognized school or teacher, is recommended.
LEVEL 1C – INTEGRATION OF 1A &1B (16 HOURS)
STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATION
Improvement of application in any art form requires practice and repetition. In this class, you will practice and integrate the moves and positions from Levels 1A and 1B, under the expert supervision of the teacher. This phase allows for a deepening experience as a healing therapist, gaining from the insight and experience of the teacher’s many years of professional practice.
A Certificate of Completion is awarded with 16 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit through NCBTMB.
Pre-requisites: Level 1A – Essentials & Level 1B – Foundation OR original Foundation Training Course OR Thai on the Table.
THAI ON THE TABLE - FOUNDATION TRAINING (24 HOURS)
ADAPTING THE FOUNDATION TRAINING FOR THE MASSAGE TABLE / TREATMENT BED
Roughly the equivalent of the Level 1A & 1B – Essential and Foundation Training listed above, this course is especially relevant for skincare, bodywork and massage therapists who intend to practice Thai-style massage therapy on the bed/table.
On completion and after continued practice, participants will be able to perform up to an hour and a half of full body Thai Massage with the client in the supine and prone positions.
The workshop includes an integration day for supervised practice and coaching to ensure that each participant can go out and practice the “Table Sequence” with the use of the Guidebook, until a professional level of competency is gained (likely in relatively short order).
A Certificate of Completion is awarded with 24 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit through NCBTMB.
Further training on additional moves and techniques must take place in the traditional style on the floor due to client and practitioner safety considerations.
No pre-requisites.
LEVELS 2A, 2B, 2C – ADVANCED PRACTITIONER TRAINING
ACHIEVING MASTERY OF THE FORM
These 3 advanced courses can be taken in any order, as they are all mutually exclusive. Each is considered to be an immersion into those aspects of the work covered and includes additional theory relating to the history, philosophic, energetic and physiologic basis of Thai Yoga Massage Therapy.
Each of these 3 workshops focuses on all the techniques that apply to the client in the position relevant to that particular module, including all the basic, intermediate and advanced moves, such as hands-free or “commoner” style work, using the feet, knees, elbows, etc.
An integration day for supervised practice and coaching concludes each workshop.
Certificates of Completion will be awarded with 24 contact hours of Continuing Education Credit, through NCBTMB, for each module.
Pre-requisites are completion of Levels 1A and 1B
OR
Completion of any Practitioner Level Thai Massage training with another recognized school or teacher.
ADVANCED LEVEL 2A – SIDE-LYING & SEATED (24 hours):
This course focuses on the client in the “side-lying and seated” positions and includes a thorough review of all the fundamentals of Thai Yoga Massage Therapy. It goes into greater depth relating to rhythm, body mechanics, pressure, time frames and sequencing. This course also includes some more advanced techniques with the client in the Supine position.
On completion, participants will be able to demonstrate:
- deeper understanding and application of the Fundamentals of Thai Yoga Massage
- application of a vastly expanded sequence of moves with the client in side-lying, seated and supine positions
- ability to perform many of the side-lying and seated moves using feet, knees and elbows, in the “commoner” style
ADVANCED LEVEL 2B – SUPINE (24 hours):
This course focuses on the client lying in the face up position and goes into greater depth relating to the application of energy channels, acupressure points and elements.
On completion, participants will be able to demonstrate:
- the positions of the 10 “sen” (Thai energy meridians)
- how to perform relevant coordinated stretching and massage techniques
- application of a vastly expanded sequence of moves with the client supine
- increased ability to apply correct body mechanics and self care as a practitioner
- ability to perform many of the “supine” moves using feet, knees and elbows, in the “commoner” style
ADVANCED LEVEL 2C – PRONE (24 hours):
This course focuses on the client lying in the face down position and goes into greater depth relating to integrating other aspects of Traditional Thai Medicine such as diet, herbs and spiritual practices.
On completion, participants will be able to demonstrate:
- a comfortable level of understanding how Thai Yoga Massage Therapy fits into the greater subject of Traditional Thai Medicine
- application of a vastly expanded sequence of moves with the client prone
- ability to perform many of the “prone” moves using feet, knees and elbows, in the “commoner” style
PRACTICE DAYS - (6 HOURS)
REVIEWING, REFRESHING, REGAINING UNDERSTANDING AND SHARING NEW PERSPECTIVES
These are clinic-style workshops that focus on review and more detailed, practical training on specific parts of the Thai Yoga Massage curriculum.
The purpose here is to help students and practitioners to deepen their understanding and ability to apply certain aspects of the work already studied, in a hands-on, workshop-style environment.
Prerequisites are any Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Yoga Therapy, Thai Yoga Massage or Thai Bodywork training with any school or instructor.
PRIVATE TRAINING
HONING SKILLS WITH THE TEACHER
The most effective way to improve one’s technique and understanding of the work: Deon is available, by appointment, to teach up to 4 students at a time (all levels), in an intensive style and private environment, anywhere in the world. Any of the deonThai™ SCHOOL course material can be addressed in this way.
