Why I fell in love with Thai Yoga

Back when I was nineteen years old, I enrolled at the Healing Hands Institute in San Diego to learn Swedish Massage as a massage technician. Unfortunately, at the time, I wasn't able to continue and immerse myself further in the entire program due to travel commitments and other obligations.

I found myself completely enthralled with how a healing touch of awareness and movement can help facilitate the flow of energy and how it can make someone feel.

Through the training program, we were taught how to manipulate the muscular-skeletal structure through the guidance of our teachers. I personally became incredibly comfortable in my own skin as we worked on each other throughout our training course. Luckily, I never forgot the techniques I had learned in my professional training. Fast forward nearly a decade later, I discovered Thai Yoga Massage.

I can't remember exactly when I stumbled upon this particular style, but I instantly fell in love. It was so different from what I previously learned.

During a traveling yoginista retreat across southeast Asia, I found a school in northern Thailand where I was able to enroll in the program for a one week, Level 1 - Foundations to Thai Massage - Immersion course. I was hooked! Although the training was short, and it was set in a different environment as oppose to Swedish Massage at Healing Hands, I felt like I had found the style that suited me. It was indescribable. It's that feeling when something just speaks to you. Again, due to limited time, I couldn't continue on, but I knew I would be back for more.

After receiving my 300 hours for yoga in India, the journey continued on back to Northern Thailand in regaining my skills and reconnecting with my admiration for Thai Yoga Massage. This time, I set out to do the full program and become an authorized teacher. So here I am, writing to you as a Thai Yoga Massage Teacher.

Thai Yoga Massage is dubbed 'Yoga For Lazy People.'

Why? For one, it increases mobility by using yogic posturing from both giver and receiver. Keep in mind of course, a practitioner would have to modify some movements based on the clients body. It both energizes and relaxes the body simultaneously, increases blood circulation using acupressure and palm pressing. It's a passive movement with active suggestions by the giver.

Secondly, due to the receiver having clothes on, the practitioner can truly move the body in ways we otherwise would not do comfortably if the receiver were to be in the buff. Being in the buff is great, and perhaps for some people, Thai Yoga in the buff will work for them. As they say, know your clientele. The upside to loose fitting clothing is to move the limbs in ways that would increase flexibility. If you have a client who does not practice active yoga, Thai Yoga is the second best thing.

It's an intuitive, heat building sequence that flows with energy given the practitioner is mindful and mindless. What I mean by mindless is, it is a meditative practice when performing the sequence and rather than paying attention to what exactly comes next, the flow of energy and awareness kicks in.

For the clientele and the receiver, they are still working on their flexibility, they are still able to relax, they are still able to stimulate their blood circulation, they are still able to mindfully move with the guidance of the practitioner. They are still practicing yoga with a Northern Thai technique. What sets northern style apart from southern is the methodology. We don't just move the body, we flow with the body.

Depending on your practitioner like any massage, the pressure can vary, the strength, the movement, etc. As a practitioner, it is something you will learn as you continue to practice. It is something that will become intuitive when you spend the time to practice knowing what you have learned will benefit your client. It is important to stress about contraindications and modifications, and like any practitioner, you must pay attention to your clients and their body.

As a teacher, I opted to enroll in the teacher trainer program to offer and lead trainings. Through the certification as an authorized teacher, I will teach you how to give a 60-90 minute Thai Yoga Massage.

If you are interested, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and inquire. I am here to move you, work on you and with you, help guide you as well as help you feel comfortable in body movement and your moving meditation. Throughout the years I have led workshops and trainings with a keen yearning to learn more techniques. It has been a great gift and tool for yoga teachings, and available to those who desire to acquire this healing art modality.

To find out more, please feel free to email me or check out https://www.yogasimplified.net/trainingschedule.

One Love,
Desiree

Level V Thai Yoga Massage Teacher