Thai Massage Study Guide

If you have benefited from a professional Thai massage, you may wish to learn it for your own private use and for your loved ones. But despite its increasing popularity in the western world, getting a Thai massage education is not easy.  An average person has limited options and you have to know what is best for you.

Books on Thai massage: It is possible to learn Thai massage techniques just from a book. But you cannot expect to get beyond the basics just from books.  It is very difficult to learn a technique from static pictures, even with the most detailed instructions.  In addition, Thai massage teaching is less academic and technical than it is intuitive and dynamic. It takes hands on experience (literally) with a massage teacher to understand how it works.

Videos on Thai massage: These are better than books, yet still inferior to traditional learning methods.  With videos you can see massage in action.  The instructor in the video may give very good explanations and insights as well.  Besides this, you can repeat your lessons as often as you like without further expenses.  Thai massage videos are good for private use and as a “reminder” course for experienced practitioners.

Thai massage classes: These are the closest many people can get to actual Thai massage schooling outside of Thailand.  If you cannot find a dedicated Thai massage school near you, look for accredited massage schools that have Thai massage classes as part of their program. Expensive in comparison with those in Thailand, they nevertheless offer direct experience and the chance to study with a real teacher.  Save for this and make the most of it.

Thai massage schools: Not many such institutions exist in the west, and in fact anywhere but Thailand.  Most Thai massage students go to its country of origin to get their education.  Unfortunately the average person does not have the means to make this expensive journey.  Until such an opportunity arrives, you can make the most out of books, videos, DVD’s and massage classes.

Thai massage, and its relative Thai yoga or Ruesri Dat Ton, are best learned in their native Thailand.  However alternatives exist if that is not possible for you. Join a certified Thai massage class if possible and supplement your learning with books and multimedia. Above all, make sure you receive instruction only from qualified teachers who are experts in this type of massage.