A little more information

We think the school is perfectly fitted to the mentality and spirituality of the west coast, as we put strong emphasis on personal growth, using Thai massage as a vehicle for that growth. In addition to detailed and exacting instruction and technique, the school believes in the cultivation of compassion, lovingkindness, equanimity and wisdom through the teachings of meditation as it is taught in many areas of Thailand. Every week we meet, we do yoga as well as Rusri Daton, a Thai yoga technique that is rarely taught in the west. We also round out the curriculum with an anatomy class that supports and is connected to the Thai energy work.

CSTM works as a fully integrated six month program that meets for four days a month for the duration of the six months. So you will come on Monday at 4pm and stay until Thursday early evening (except during student clinic where you will stay a couple Fridays).  Each week builds on the previous months teaching.  In the first three months, we help you master a traditional Thai “sequence”. The last three months we will help you to break out of the traditional sequence and become more engaged in therapeutic Thai massage. Then thoughout each weekend, you will be taught meditation, yoga, Rusri Daton, anatomy and self care. We have designed the six month program with weeks in between classes so that you will have time to practice what you have learned. Then, when you return, you will have the guidance and mentorship of the teachers in order to ask questions, refine technique, and work on challenges.

We’ve changed a few things from the way the Chicago program has been run. The student clinics, instead of being a weekly offering, will be combined into two days – one at the end of the fourth week and one at the end of the fifth week. Therefore, you will need to plan on staying through Friday at the end of the fourth and fifth week. The community service, instead of being a group activity, will be an individual one in which you seek out people or a place to serve. But overall, the outline of the course will be the same.

Paul Fowler will be the lead teacher in this program, flying out from Chicago once a month. He has been teaching Thai massage for over seven years now. Before that, he taught middle school in Chicago for seven years. He considers teaching an art form with the understanding that no matter how good you know your subject, if you can’t teach well, you will miss many opportunities. He continues to visit Thailand on a yearly basis, especially studying with master Pichest Boonthumme. Paul Weitz, also a student of Pichest but also Saul David Raye, will also be joining Paul Fowler on occasion for a week here or there.  We will also be joined by our assitant Lisa Eurich, who, after spending a year at CSTM and recently developing her own practice, will be a great bridge between the students and the teachers.  Our anatomy teacher is yet to be uncovered! 

Check out the rest of the website for more details on the general nature of the six month program as well as other things that are happening here at CSTM.

All classes NCBTMB and THAI approved