Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thai Massage?

Thai bodywork is an entire branch of traditional Thai medicine that consists of a multitude of traditional therapies ranging from bone setting (traditional chiropractics) to use of herbal balms, liniments and hot compresses. In-between is a wide range of bodywork techniques such as Thai deep tissue, passive stretching, and work that focuses on freeing pathways of movement in the body such as tendons, muscles, ligaments and nerves. Thai bodywork can be calming and relaxing, but also holds the potential to be the most physically intensive deep tissue work there is. It employs esoteric folk healing techniques such as Thai fire cupping, Thai scraping, and tok sen. Thai massage belongs to the physical therapies branch of traditional Thai medicine
 
Being a branch of traditional Thai medicine, Thai bodywork is steeped in traditional Thai medical theory. Like Rolfing® it can restructure our body alignment, and like medical massage it can be used to treat acute traumatic injury. Unlike these western modalities, Thai bodywork integrates a deep spiritual component based on Buddhism as medicine, and the idea that the mental, energetic, emotional and physical bodies are not separate.

 Is The Naga Center a state accredited school?

Why yes it is! The exclamation point is because this is brand new as of this writing, and there is a lot of relief and excitement around this fact. It’s rather unique for a state licensed private career school (which is what most massage schools are, big or small) in that it’s not a big corporate School with a capital S; it’s more like a personal teacher relationship, and in-person classes are held at naj/nephyr’s home with trees and ducks and various other rescue animals wandering about. It’s peaceful and sometimes messy and well, real life. There are often homemade muffins and freshly baked bread.

Do classes at the Naga Center count for continuing education?

Depends on where you live, but usually the answer is yes. In the U.S. our classes count for continuing education through both the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy and many of our classes are approved through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), as well as for most state requirements, and we are an approved instructor school with Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI). If you live in a state that has some tricky continuing education law (Louisiana, you know what we mean) and you need us to jump through some hoops to make sure your hours here count for you, let us know! We do everything we can to help massage therapists meet their state CE requirements.  Students coming from outside of the U.S. are encouraged to research their country's massage continuing education requirements.

Will distance/online classes meet my continuing education requirements?

All of the online/distance learning classes are interactive in varying degrees. Some involve live Zoom classes, some are video lessons followed by an exam that includes instructor feedback. Because of the interactive nature of the online classes in most places, including Oregon, they are technically considered live classes. If you live outside of Oregon you may need to check.

I have studied Thai massage at another school, or with another teacher; which class should I start with at The Naga Center?

I recommend that everyone start with either the Thai Medical Theory for Bodyworkers online course, or the Essentials of Thai Bodywork course. My courses do not begin in the same place as Thai massage courses at other schools, and I can promise you that you will not be repeating information that you learned elsewhere. I frequently have students who have been studying and practicing, and even teaching, Thai massage for many years, and I have never had a student who felt that our beginning classes were redundant to what they had learned in the past. 

 Do you offer out of town students lodging?

I cannot guarantee lodging, but am sometimes able to host one or two students on site. I am happy to provide you with a list of good local lodging options varying from hostels to fancy hotels, and I am also happy to give a shout to our local student community to see if anyone has an extra room or a comfy couch. Just let me know how I can help you.

Can I do a work trade, get a scholarship, or pay with a payment plan?

Because mine is a very small school, I do not offer scholarships, and am rarely are able to offer work trades. However, because I believe that knowledge should not be cost prohibitive to those who truly want it, I am often able to work out payment plans should this be needed. Please save this option for those who have no other way of possibly joining the course, because one thing that makes it possible for me to be flexible about this, is that not everyone is paying this way. If a payment plan is truly the only way that you can join us then please contact me to inquire further. If you want to learn what I am teaching, then I want you in class.

Will certification in Thai massage allow me to practice professionally?

In the U.S. each state has its own laws regarding practicing massage professionally; meaning accepting payment for bodywork. In Oregon you must be a licensed massage therapist, with 625 hours of training at a school licensed by the state to provide pre-licensure hours and pass an exam in order to apply for a massage license. The Naga Center’s Thai Massage Program is designed for unlicensed folk working toward getting their massage license.
If you live in a state outside of Oregon requirements may be different. In some states there is no massage regulation at all, making training a non-issue. In some states it comes down to verbiage; if you call Thai massage energy work, or yoga therapy (both common misnomers), then you can practice legally without a license (this does not fly in Oregon!).
Students are responsible for researching the laws in their individual state/country, but we are happy to help if possible at The Naga Center. If you have any questions about professional practice, please feel free to give us a holler.

What is a naga?

Nagas are serpentine, dragonish creatures who are earth dwellers whose lore is found in India and Southeast Asia. Long ago, they were malevolent, but Buddhism has a way of taming things and so after the arrival of The Buddha, they came to be seen more as helping beings. If you ever see an image of The Buddha sitting in meditation with a five headed serpent hovering over him, that is the king of the nagas protecting him as he seeks enlightenment.
In Thailand every temple has nagas whose heads are down at the bottom of the stairs, and whose bodies serve as handrails going up to the door. So the nagas guide you into sacred space.