Thai Massage Styles

There are many different schools, Thai Massage styles, and distinctive regional and traditional variations.

Anantasuk School of Thai Traditional Medicine/ Thai Traditional Medical Massage:

For over 50 years, the Anantasuk school has offered the highest standards of practice and education in Thai Traditional Medicine. All principle disciplines are included in the four-year U.T.T.S. (Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society) and Wat Po Association of Thai Traditional Medical Schools curricula. Anantasuk has been the primary modality offered through the King’s Rajaprajanugrow/ Wiangklangkangwan Industrial College, presented at over 163 locations throughout Thailand. Founded by Aachan, Phaa Khruu Anantasuk, the school continues today under Aachan, Moh Nantipha Anantasuk—locations in Hua Hin and Lak Sii.

Buddhai Sawan Institute:

Ayutthaya Thailand (formerly Nongkam) Ajahn, Dr. Anthony B. James is a “Gold Sash” Ajahn or Master teacher of the Buddhai Sawan” lineage in Thailand as well as a Gold Sash Ajahn in the Buddhai Sawan Association of North America (BSANA). For over 1000 years, Wat Buddhaisawan and the modern iteration of Buddhai Sawn Institute have offered training in the Thai cultural arts and sciences of Kabri-Kabrong, Muay Boran, Fan Dap, Ryksaa Thang Nuat Phaen Boran Thai (healing skills) and classical Thai Dancing. In the twentieth century, the school was guided directly by Grand Master Phaa Khruu Samaii Mesamarn (Passed 1995).

ITM/ International Training Massage:

Chiang Mai, Thailand. Founded in 1992 by Aachan and Khruu Chongkol (John) and Atchara Settakhorn, ITM has always had a generous, open-minded, but serious approach to teaching a curriculum developed initially by Phaa Khruu Sintorn Chaichgun of the “Old Medicine Hospital” also in Chiang Mai. John was a lead teacher at the Old Medicine Hospital for several years, from the late 80s until the founding of ITM. ITM now offers many great programs for Ministry of Thai Traditional Medicine Approved Tourism training in many aspects of Thai Traditional Medicine and Thai Traditional Massage. The focus has always been on the Northern Thai/Lanna-style perspective. ITM has always been known as one of the best schools in Thailand for international students to train, as classes are offered in several languages.

Lek Chaiya, Nerve Touch:

Chiang Mai, Thailand. Founded by “Mama” Lek Chaiya (passed) and now operated by her children Maew, and Jack with Primary Teacher Khruu Pikul (Pikun), offer a beautiful program original based on the Wat Suandok School (Traditional Lanna Style) of Thai Traditional Massage and The Old Medicine Hospital programs also of Chiang Mai. Mama Lek, as she was fondly referred to, with a background in pharmacology, emphasized both a straight forward hands-on approach emphasizing PromMiiWihan Sii (Boundless loving qualities) known as Jap Sen and Tok Sen Nuad as well as Thai Traditional Herbology (Nuad Prakhop Samun Prai). The school continues and welcomes students from many countries.

Utahi Thai, Thailand, offers the possibility of training in the monastic system of Buddhist medicine under the Thai monk SriPai Arapaho. Consider joining one of our Thailand Sacred Healing Arts training and Sacred Sites Tours in Central Thailand!

SomaVeda® Thai Yoga:

A unique indigenous, traditional, natural medicine style is based on synthesizing several distinct classes and schools of Thai Traditional Medicine, Traditional Thai Martial Arts (Kabri Kabrong), and Thai Yoga. Ajahn developed SomaVeda®, Dr. Anthony B James in 1983 after becoming formally recognized as a traditional teacher and eventually professor of Thai Traditional Medicine by the U.T.T.S. Stylistically, SomaVeda® incorporates the teaching of the following schools: Buddahi Sawan, Wat Po, Buntautuk Northern Provincial Hilltribes Hospital, Anantasuk School, Wiangklaikangwan Industrial College, Sawankhalok School for the Blind, Lek Chaiya Nerve Touch and other more or less prominent traditional schools of Thai Traditional Medicine. In the U.S., several schools and Certified Teachers are offering the SomaVeda® Thai Yoga Certificate program. To find a teacher near you, Click Here! SomaVeda® Thai Yoga is the core modality provided at the SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine (An accredited College of Natural Medicine) and The Thai Yoga Center (The oldest ongoing Thai Yoga/ Thai Massage program in the U.S Click Here for SomaVeda® videos!   Click here for more information.s!