COUPLES, FRIENDS & FAMILY
Guided Partner Class
In the Guided Partner Class (90 minutes to 3 hours) Deon facilitates a journey for the participants, where they experience the expanded bliss of giving as well as receiving, as they help one another to feel deeper into the ecstasy of their own “Human Being-ness”.
During the course of the class, Deon will verbally lead each pair of participants (while demonstrating on a model) through a complete basic sequence that includes many of the essentials of the deonThai™ YOGA system.
In turn, each partner will experience performing, as well as receiving, an entire basic session, in a nurturing environment geared to allow everyone to feel the double joy of getting to give back generously, after blissfully receiving gifts in abundance.
Participants will work comfortably clothed on mats on the floor. No prior experience in Yoga or Massage is required. Bring a friend or come alone and make a new one.
Weekend Workshop
The first part of the Weekend Workshop (up to 12 hours total) includes the experiential journey of the Guided Partner Class as described above.
The second part consists of in-depth instruction and hands-on practice, with the use of a detailed guidebook, of the essential sequence as taught in the Guided Partner Class.
By the end of the class, participants will be able to practice the basic treatment session at home, at first with the aid of the guidebook and eventually free-style. They will also have gained an understanding of the fascinating history and philosophic background of the work.
These essential techniques, learned over the course of the weekend, can stand alone as a wonderful means of helping someone to deepen and harmonize their experience in their body. And quite often it is also the first step towards becoming a professional deonThaiTM YOGA system Massage Therapy Practitioner.
There are no pre-requisites and no prior Yoga or Massage experience is necessary. Bring a partner or come alone to pair up with a new friend.
PRACTITIONER TRAINING
Foundation Training Parts 1,2,3
The first part of the Foundation Training includes the essentials from the Weekend Workshop, as well as new techniques and additional theoretic background. Each of these (18 contact hour) courses is a further expansion and deepening of the work already covered in the prior classes. They include thorough review and instruction on variations and deeper application of the material already covered.
More specific instruction on the Thai Energy Meridians (Sen lines) and their significance to the healing process is also done on these levels. Hill tribe or so-called “commoner style” techniques that utilize the practitioners’ feet, knees and elbows, in addition to the hands (palms and thumbs) are included to round out this fascinating bodywork system.
Students will receive comprehensive reference manuals that contain a catalogue of practically all of the many moves, positions and variations used by teachers and practitioners of different styles of Traditional Thai Massage and Thai Yoga Therapy, all over the world.
Hatha Yoga poses and routines for increasing practitioner strength and flexibility are also introduced and practiced on these levels. Various “suspended inversion” therapeutic techniques will also be practiced, adapted for each participant’s level of strength and flexibility.
There is always an optimum balance of theory and practical hands-on application, intended to get the student proficiently practicing immediately after the course.
These courses will assist participants in further developing their own individual styles of practice and they will be encouraged to continue their journey by travelling to Thailand and experiencing treatments and training from various therapists and master teachers in different traditional environments.
Elements of business development, marketing, administration and time-management are also addressed to assist students in building up a viable and thriving professional bodywork practice.
No prerequisites for Foundation Training part 1, although the Weekend Workshop is recommended.
Each Foundation Training Part is a pre-requisite for the next Part.
Advanced Training
This is a custom-designed (to the specific participants) training session (18 contact hours) that focuses on review, variations and advanced adaptations of techniques and positions already covered in the Foundation Training. Specific subjects usually covered in greater depth include Expanded Side-Lying, Hands Free Techniques and Therapeutic Flying/Suspended Inversions.
More detailed and specific use of the (Sen) meridians, acupressure points and their place in healing particular ailments may also be taught in these modules.
Deeper client/practitioner connection techniques, “seeing through the hands” or learning how to work blindfolded take place on the Advanced Training.
Prerequisites: Completion of all 3 parts of the Foundation training.
Foundation Training: "Thai For The Table"
This course (18 contact hours) is basically equivalent to the Foundation Training part 1, except that it is adapted for performing the work on a massage table or treatment bed, especially relevant for aestheticians, skin-care and massage therapists who intend to practice Thai-style 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.
Further training on additional moves and techniques must take place in the traditional floor-style due to client and practitioner safety considerations.
Practice Days
These are clinic-style workshops that focus on review and more detailed, practical training on specific parts of the deonThai™ YOGA Massage Therapy curriculum.
The purpose here is to help students and practitioners to deepen their understanding and ability to apply certain aspects of the work already covered, 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.
Customized Training
This is the most effective way of improving ones 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™ YOGA Massage Therapy training course material can be addressed in this way.
