Chicago School of Thai Massage presents... THAI TRIP 2012

 

"Bad roads, good people…
good roads, all kinds of people."
–Anonymous traveler

 

Join us as we veer off the beaten track to find the beating heart of traditional Thai Massage and Medicine.

 

Philosophy, Choices & Overview

Because the organizers of this trip–Michelle Tupko and Paul Fowler – have spent so much time in Thailand, they have created a trip that gets off the beaten tourist track and puts you in touch with people and places rarely seen by farang (the Thai word for foreigner).

This 3 week-long journey will take you into the heart of Thai massage and Thai medicine as it is currently practiced by some of the masters in the field, as well as many lesser known Thai doctors, massage practitioners and local Shamans. We will combine this with a profound look into the rich and varied culture of Northern Thailand.

Northern Thailand is a beautiful region replete with a complex cultural heritage. The Golden Triangle is a meeting point for the cultures of ancient Thailand, Myanmar, China, Laos and the hilltribe peoples who migrated from as far as Tibet in the past 1,000 years.

Learn the roots of Thai massage, which combine techniques of the Khmer and Thai cultures for working with the physical body, the herbal and spirit knowledge of Indian Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Lanna (Northern Thai) traditions of spirit healing and shaman work, as well as the newer influences of Buddhist meditation and ritual.

Weeks 1 and 2: February 28-March 11

At the beginning of the trip, we jump right into the practice of Thai massage with two masters in the field.   Both of these teachers have more than 30 years of knowledge and experience and are revered as knowledgeable elders.

Students can choose two weeks of focused study either with Master Pichest Boonthumme (for experienced students only) or at the herbal garden homestay of Baan Samunphrai, the home of Master Homprang Chaleekanha (beginning and advanced students welcome).

Pichest is for those who want to rough it a little more, who want to be challenged in their practice and in their ego! However, we don’t want to give the wrong impression. He is a truly loving and compassionate man who is one of the few who, from our perspective, honestly live the dharma. And he is a true teacher’s teacher. Almost all Thai massage teachers practicing today have either studied with him or with people who have studied with him. He has been the teacher to so many, including Asokananda, the first non-Thai to share the practice with the world, and Chongkol Setthakorn, founder of ITM, one of the largest Thai massage schools in Thailand. Learn more about Pichest >

Homprang, on the other hand, offers a more nurturing experience with daily Thai yoga practice, insights into Thai medicine and herbs (which she picks from her herbal garden), good conversation and communal meals of tasty, fresh food (we’ve really enjoyed the Jackfruit and Papaya just cut from a tree on the grounds – talk about eating local!) Learn more about Homprang >

Week 3: March 12–17

The second portion of our three week stay in Thailand will give students an experience of Northern Thailand and its culture unlike any other program in the region.

Our intention in the organization of this trip is to look beyond the surface level of one and two week Thai Massage study to the roots that have formed and continue to feed this multi-faceted practice.

We will meet other Traditional Thai Healers working in the Lanna tradition and talk with them about their education and work. We will visit numerous wats (the Thai word for temple) within old Chiang Mai as well as on the outskirts. We will engage in conversation with monks and practice our own meditation techniques together and explore the lesser-known local markets of the region selling local food, amulets and other interesting goods.

We will explore outside of Chiang Mai as well. We will take a weekend trip to the mysterious Chiang Dao, a large mountain home to a temple inside a cave and a series of powerful monuments winding up into the hills.

We will also do a multi-day, in depth exploration of Buddhism and meditation at a temple outside of Chiang Mai. Finally, there will also be time to explore Chiang Mai on your own, as well as to receive treatments from healers we meet as well as other masters working in Chiang Mai.

Overview

As a student on this trip, you will also have the support, during your two weeks of Thai Massage study as well as for the rest of the journey, of Paul Fowler, Director of the Chicago School of Thai Massage, and Michelle Tupko, CSTM graduate, faculty and trip coordinator (who has been in southeast Asia for nearly 2 years now).

Students will have the benefit of engagement with their Thai teachers as well as with us, creating an environment of complex conversation that begins in the USA, deepens in Thailand, and can then again continue back at home. Our hope is to create a rich continuity of questioning, experimenting and learning across the ocean.