BSY Group - Thai Massage Course

Hello ebgilding and welcome to Healthypages 🙂

I've moved your post over to our Student/Training forum because, although it wasn't 'wrong' in New Members, hopefully you will get some useful replies here.

Holistic
Moderator

Hi Emma

IMO You sound as though you have a particular and deep interest in Thai Yoga massage... in which case, I would strongly recommend waiting until you have the time and resources to get on a face-to-face course. I know it is difficult as not many places run courses in Thai massage, but I do think for you it would be worth the wait. I do not think a distance course or short course will give you the depth of knowledge you are looking for, even when you have completed a VTCT swedish massage course. The techniques in Thai massage are quite complex and it is important to be able to carry them out correctly, otherwise you could cause injury, so with these kinds of techniques I think it is always preferable to learn face-to-face so you can get feedback from tutors as to if your technique is right.

Hope that helps! Have patience, I am sure this will open up to you and become a viable option when the time is right.

Hi Curious_George,

Thanks for your reply - you are probably right - I have a habit of getting an idea in my head and wanting to do everything at once! I would love to go out and study in Thailand but wonder whether I would have to do another course back in the UK to get insurance - do you think it would be worth doing a BSY course coupled with a course in Thailand?

Thanks again for your help!

namaste,
Emma

Hi Emma

I know how you feel, I am exactly the same, always wanting to do everything at once! One thing getting involved in therapies is teaching me, is to slow down, we do not have to do everything all at once!

Different insurers will cover different courses, so it is best to ask around insurance companies if this is the main issue you feel concerned about with studying in Thailand. I would imagine there are some insurance companies that will cover you for courses done in Thailand, as there are some very reputable Thai massage schools in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai, that have international recognition. Plus there are definitely practitioners in this country who trained in Thailand and they must be insured by someone!

It is best to be sure though, so find the names of some thai massage schools out there, call around some insurance companies and make enquiries. Not all insurers cover BSY courses and these courses are not recognised by ALL complementary therapy professional bodies, so it's a really good idea to do lots of research into training providers, whom they are accredited by and recognised by, what the course entails etc.

By all means, if you are interested but time-restricted then look into short or distance courses to get a foundation knowledge... but to be fair, if you are looking to do the level 3 in Swedish or Holistic massage as a pre-requisite, be warned this is a pretty full-on course! So maybe put your focus into this first, before looking to jump to what comes next? Just a thought. (BTW I am just finishing Swedish massage VTCT and I loved it... lots of skills and knowledge that will be relevant for you whatever kind of massage you go on to do after, but it is a lot of work!).

I have seen some course materials recently from BSY and can honestly say dont waste your time, you would be better off going to decent book store and doing a bit of text book reading. My friend did a sports injury course last year and it was not up to date and content was at best patchy and at worst a waste of resources
sorry to be so negative but the sooner the new educational standards are with us the better. I am usually fairly constructive with my advice / postings so please dont send me to the gallows for such a negative repost
regards
BGFL

Hi Ebgilding
I completed 2 BSY courses and found them quite basic and a lot of insurance companys didn't recognised them.
As a Thai Massage is quite indepth, I would wait and do it face-to-face. I'm sure you will enjoy it more as well.
Good luck on which ever decision you make.
Allie

Hi Ebgilding,

As someone who has a strong interest in Distance-learning and Course-provision may I add my comments to those already on this thread?

I cannot see how anyone can provide decent teaching for a specific branch of Massage Therapy by distance-learning.

In fact, let me be blunt - it can't be done.

Save your money, complete your current training, and then re-examine your options.

Hope this helps.

David:)

Thank you all for your comments! I see a general trend and will follow your advice - I have looked into some intensive courses in London which are recognised by the FHT so will see how they fit into my schedule once I have completed my Swedish Massage course as well as asking about Thai schools for insurance purposes.
Namaste,
Emma

I have done a Thai Yoga Massage course - and from my own experience it would be totally impossible to do this 'out of the classroom'. You need to have someone watching over you and guiding you.

I trained with Kira Balaskas, who learnt her craft in Thailand under the guidance of Asokananda (Harald Brust). She is a brilliant trainer and I would highly recommend her course.

This is something you need close supervision on as the moves are quite strong.

Binah
x

I did a BSY course a few years ago, hmmmm! It was expensive (I had funding to use up immediately so it didn't actually cost me anything thankfully).
I woud wait and do a face to face.

I've just been watching the Thai foot massage DVD by Simon Gall of LSTM and he seems to know his stuff.

I would love to do the Chavutti thirmal course with him at some time, but am in no rush, it will happen when the time is right.

I've got that DVD too! I actually spoke to him about the courses he runs but unfortunately dates don't fit but he said he'd get back in touch with me when they run a course in Manchester again (I live in Liverpool and am currently travelling to London every other weekend for a yoga course so really don't want to do it again!). I am also looking at Body Basics who do an intensive course (in London but I can't seem to find anywhere 'up north' so I guess I may have to grin and bare it!).

Binah - where is Kira based? I would love to find a teacher from recommendation but ideally someone I can train with near Liverpool!

Namaste,
Emma

Hi ebg

BSY - don't waste your time, energy and money.

As for having to have A&P with massage (ie VTCT) to practice Thai massage in the UK. That's not quite true. A&P is the important bit that insurers and professional associations are looking for. Most UK Thai massage courses in the UK have an A&P provision, most courses in Thailand don't. But in terms of professional development and making a living, qualifying in Swedish Massage is an advantage.

I'm sure in time you will find the right course and appreciate it. The essence of Thai massage is simple - but not simplicitic! Right training and dedicated practice makes (in my very biased opinion) powerful form of healing and bodywork. Many Thai practitioners find it is a meditative practice, sometime that can't be learned from a distant learning course. Not forgetting some of the Thai stretches and manipulations are dangerous in the wrong hands.

Best Wishes & Metta

RP