Thai Massage Learning Guide

Created 2023-01-17

Updated 2023-07-12

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Thai massage is a traditional medical practice that has been around for a long time. It was found that the historical evidence of massage on the Sukhothai period stone inscription excavated at Wat Pa Mamuang matches that of the King Ramkhamhaeng reign, with inscriptions depicting massage therapy. Also, in the Ayutthaya period, evidence appears from the archives of the French royal ambassador La Loubère, who came to Siam in 1687-1688 during the reign of King Narai the Great. He wrote about masseuses in Siam, "In Siam, if someone is sick, they will be stretched by an expert stepping on the patient's body. It is said that pregnant women often let their children step on them to make childbirth easy and painless.”

Later, in the Rattanakosin period, King Rama I renovated Wat Photharam into a royal monastery (Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkalaram, commonly called Wat Pho) in 1788 and graciously ordered scribes to collect and inscribe medicinal textbooks, and artists created statues of Thai hermits performing exercises, adding inscriptions stating what diseases that posture cures. These small statues are placed in the pavilions around the temple. Also, the Department of Pharmacy (Krom Phaettaya Rong Phra-osot) was revived.

At present, the Ministry of Public Health considers Thai massage for diseases as a Thai healing art, in the field of medicine, while the government has a policy to promote the export of traditional massage businesses, which are popular abroad. There are many foreigners interested in learning Thai massage.

UNESCO announced that "Thai massage" (Nuad Thai) was registered as the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) on 12 December 2019, in Bogota, Colombia. As a result, Thai massage is one of Thailand’s soft powers and well known to foreigners.

Benefits of Thai massage
Thai massage is a massage in the form of pressing, rolling, squeezing, bending, and pulling to relax tight muscles. It can also help treat and alleviate various diseases and it gives a lot of benefits, depending on the purpose of the massage, for example, to relieve pain, to relieve joint and muscle tension, to reduce stress and feel relaxed, and facilitate blood circulation.

Caution
Massage, although beneficial for most people, is not for everyone, so if you have health problems or any of the conditions below, you may need to get advice from a doctor.

Pregnant women are advised to talk to a doctor first, for the safety of babies and mothers;
People with congenital diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes, patients with venous thromboembolism, blood diseases, severe thrombocytopenia or are on fibrinolytic drugs, etc.;
People with burns;
People with artificial organs;
Patients with severe osteoporosis, loose joints, thin bones, etc.;
Cancer patients or people with tumors.

If unsure, you should consult a doctor and receive massages only from trained and certified professionals.

Types of Thai massage
Thai massage can be divided into three types, by properties: massage for health, massage for treatment, and massage for rehabilitation.

Where to learn Thai massage
As a guide for those who are interested, we have compiled Thai massage schools certified by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thai Traditional Medicine and Spa Development Center, Ministry of Public Health, and that offer a certificate. They have a large number of both Thai and international students.

1. Wat Phra Chetuphon Traditional Medicine School, at Wat Pho, where massage courses include facial massage, Thai therapeutic massage, and Thai hermit exercise, which are recognized in foreign countries around the world. Learners can take a labor skill test level 1; the course duration is 60-165 hours, starting price 9,000 baht, Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Wat Phra Chetuphon Thai Traditional Medicine School, Maharaj Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Phra Boroma Maha Ratchawang District, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. Tel. +66 2622 3551. E-mail: watp.ttm@gmail.com. Learn more at https://www.watpomassage.com.

2. B.S.A., Baimint Spa Academy. Massage courses include Thai massage, foot massage, oil massage, hot stone massage, Indian head massage, sports massage, Swedish massage, Balinese massage, body spa, herbal compress, and acupressure to cure initial symptoms. The course duration is 150 hours, for a fee of 5,900 baht. It is open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. If interested, please contact B.S.A., Baimint Spa Academy, No. 29 Ramkhamhaeng Road 26/2, Huamark Subdistrict, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240. Tel. +668 0445 6090. Learn more at https://www.bsamassage.com.

3. Ruanmai Spa Massage School. Massage courses include health massage, oil massage, facial massage, royal Thai massage, foot massage, and hot stone massage. The course duration is 60-150 hours, starting price 6,000 baht. It is open Monday-Sunday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. If interested, please contact Ruenmai Spa Massage School, 333/2 Soi Paniadchang, Central Pattaya Road, Banglamung District, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province 20150. Tel. +668 9214 1118. E-mail: ruenmaic@gmail.com. Learn more at the website https://www.ruenmai.com.

4. Chiva-Som Academy. Massage courses include basic massage, deep muscle massage, hot stone massage, and Thai massage for relaxation. The course duration is 90 hours, with a starting price of 9,000 baht. Opening Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Those interested may contact the Chiva-Som Beauty and Health Vocational School, Fl. G, Modern Town Building, 87/104 Sukhumvit 63 (Ekkamai), Bangkok 10110. Tel. +66 2711 5271, +66 2711 5273, +66 2711 6900. E-mail: info@chivasomacademy.com. Learn more at http://www.chivasomacademy.com.

5. Bangkok Beauty and Spa School. Massage courses include Thai massage, foot massage, and Swedish massage. Course duration is 150 hours, starting price 5,000 baht. It is open Monday-Sunday (closed on Saturdays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those interested can contact Bangkok Beauty and Spa School, Soi Ladprao 122 (Soi Mahadthai-Ramkhamhaeng 65), opposite Ladprao Hospital. Tel. +66 2934 2690, +668 9480 4556, +668 9476 5978. E-mail: bkk_spa@hotmail.com. Learn more at www.bkk-school.com.