In all of Thai Massage & Bodywork’s courses, you will have at least two instructors: Christopher & Kate.

They have been teaching together since 2002 and have become such a complementary duo, that they have a hard time imagining how any high-quality course could be taught by only one person. You receive two, hands-on, attentive over-achievers helping you discover your authentic bodywork offering. They never hold back information. Kate and Chris want you to go home feeling inspired and with more info than you expected.

Most courses have around 10-20 students. Any larger classes will have another teaching assistant. It’s important to us that your time and money are well-spent. We tailor each course to the interests of the students, so the ‘same’ course will be a little different every time. For this reason, students often repeat courses.

We are happy to travel to your hometown! Let us know if you would like to host a course. We love to share the art and ease of therapeutic bodywork.

These 2 day courses are intended for Thai Massage therapists who would like to explore the art of deep, therapeutic bodywork. Students will practice identifying congestion in the body, learn advanced techniques for working deeply and therapeutically, and learn ways to incorporate breathwork into the massage. Students will also learn how to effectively use their knees, feet, elbows, and props, with attention on how to minimize effort when giving a massage. A therapeutic sequence (either upper body or lower body) will be covered thoroughly. NCBTMB CE’s: 14

These five to ten-day intensives are designed for massage therapists who would like to immerse themselves in the dance of therapeutic bodywork. Topics covered include body assessment, breathing techniques, sensing the body and the movement of energy, working deeply and therapeutically, minimizing physical effort, abdominal massage, and essential self-bodywork techniques. Students will practice using their feet, knees, elbows, and props such as hanging straps. Specific therapeutic techniques for the entire body will be covered, including how to approach chronic sciatic, knee, back, shoulder, and neck pain and other restrictions. Each intensive is a little different depending upon the interests of the students. Time and space is provided for students to practice, explore, and thoroughly grasp the concepts and techniques. Class size limited to 15 people.  NCBTMB CE’s: 36-42

The majority of physical and emotional imbalances and congestion are stored in the abdomen, yet ironically, abdominal massage has become virtually a lost art and science. All energy lines pass through the abdomen, and this area becomes a ‘dumping ground’ for stagnant energy. This is perhaps one of the most profound forms of bodywork. In addition to addressing physical ailments associated with all the internal organs, this work is proven to have incredible healing effects throughout the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. Chi Nei Tsang is slow and precise work, and this class will proceed with careful awareness and attention to anatomy and energy flow. Take advantage of learning this invaluable information for your client’s health and for you own health.

Level 1 focuses on discovering the expansive world in the abdomen and how to touch a belly. A 90 minute sequence is covered thoroughly. The class includes a significant amount of hands-on practice.

In Level 2, we explore the physical and energetic anatomy more thoroughly, including the pathways of the Thai sen and Chinese meridian lines as they pass through the abdomen and connect with the rest of the body. We discuss common abdominal pathology and how it might be addressed. We also look at dis-ease elsewhere in the body that may originate in the abdomen.

The abdominal Long Course combines levels 1 & 2 and allows for more time to integrate the work through the whole body. Deep belly work mobilizes energy in the whole body, so we learn how to follow and clear the energy out to help balance the body.

All classes address the imperative component of working on ourselves in order to be an effective bodyworker. Breathing, meditation, and physical exercises are included.

Long-held compressions have always been a part of Thai massage, and are a very effective technique to release chronic congestion and tension in the body. However, they are uncommonly used either because it becomes painful for the practitioner or ineffective because there is a lack of training of the subtleties and direction of compression work. Christopher Ray has focused most of his massage work around long-held compressions for 15 years, and through experience, has turned this style of Thai bodywork into a powerfully therapeutic art-form. This class is open to all massage therapists and body enthusiasts who would like to explore the movement of congestion in the body and minimize muscular effort with their work. These concepts and techniques can be a great adjunct to your massage practice or private yoga sessions. These key bodywork principles of working from a place of ease and sensitivity apply universally, whether your style includes longer compressions or is more mobile and fluid.

Topics Covered:

• The Breath. Fascial, muscular, and energetic congestion rarely moves without the assistance of the breath. Learn how to assess and coach a useful breath pattern.
• Direction and movement. A compression is not a stagnant, waiting game. The angle and speed of entry, following the tissue as it releases, and subtly coaxing the tissue are all essential components.
• Using feet, knees, elbows, forearms, and sit bones. Our hands, neck, and shoulders cannot withstand a massage career if we are muscling our way into a body. Compressions require steady patience and pressure. Thus, you will practice using your body weight applied through various body parts to comfortably and safely apply a good amount of pressure. Since practitioners vary widely in their shape, size, and range of motion, we will help you find body mechanics that suit your body. There are many ways to accomplish the same goal.
• Using props. Props are essential to facilitate ease and comfort for both the practitioner and client. We will explore the use of straps, blocks, and bolsters.
• Stripping. Stripping complements compression work and utilizes the same concepts of body mechanics and props.

These 1-day (7 ceu) classes focus on one area of the body, and thoroughly explore therapy to assist healing common ailments such as frozen shoulders, low back pain, injured and/or stiff joints, plantar fascitis, migraines, neck pain, and more. You will practice identifying the source of the ailment and following congestion along fascial and Sen lines. Every ailment can be approached in several different ways, so you will have the opportunity to practice and discover the techniques which are most comfortable for your body. Comfort and ease are critical for maintaining the longevity of a bodyworker’s career. These classes are intended for massage therapists (table or Thai) who would like to offer deep, permanent healing for chronic ailments. All practice will take place on the floor, and the approach is based on Thai bodywork theory, but these techniques can easily be applied to the table.

This fun, useful class is designed to show you how you can easily release tension, aches, and restrictions from your body using balls, sticks and other tools. You’ll learn techniques for the whole body; from your toes to your nose. The techniques are designed to go beyond just a “feel good” experience; this is deep bodywork intended to release congestion and pain, and provide you with more energy, flexibility, and range of motion.  People walk out of the workshop feeling amazed at how much better they feel and how easy it is to do.  Open to EVERYONE.

This class is now a part of the “Compressions” classes. Christopher Ray-style strap systems will be set up for all of the Compression and Thai Massage ‘long’ courses.

In this fun, useful class, you will learn a handful of effective and simple techniques for assisting a friend or loved one with releasing aches and pains. For example: sitting on someone’s legs to provide lower back relief or using your elbows on their shoulders to relieve neck pain. These are deep bodywork techniques and intended to done with ease and minimal effort. You will gain a better understanding of where pain originates and how the body is connected from your toes to your nose. The use of appropriate breathing techniques will also be explored. No prior massage experience needed.