Image credit: Ahmed Rabea / flickr
Curious about the relaxing benefits of a Thai massage? Here’s why the Navina method will provide the best approach for your specific needs.
Over time, the practice of Thai massage has been influenced by many different Asian cultures, including India, China, and of course, Thailand. Even in its earliest forms, the art was recognized for its numerous and diverse benefits: reducing stress, improving circulation, increasing energy and flexibility, and centering the body and mind.
Today, all Thai massage utilizes soft tissue manipulation techniques, as well as assisted stretches and meditation. Still, the art’s gradual evolution has led to the development of a diverse array of different styles, and for the prospective student, it’s nearly impossible to tell which style is the most legitimate, most effective one to learn.
Navina Thai Yoga Therapy focuses on helping its students build a comprehensive understanding of how exactly the art of Thai massage works as well as how the human body works. Through supplementary additions and instructional tweaks, they have made this exciting procedure more accessible and enjoyable.
Supplying Knowledge
All students at Navina are trained to understand the physiology of the body and how it pertains to the art of Thai massage. Rather than racing through several different poses and postures in early lessons, instructors make sure that students have spent a good deal of time with only a handful of positions. The emphasis on quality over quantity allows newcomers to build a much stronger foundation of knowledge to inform their continued learning and, eventually, their practice.
An increased focus on anatomy accounts for some of the most obvious departures the Navina method makes from the norm. Thai massages traditionally begin and finish at the feet, so almost all current practitioners of Thai massage follow this same method. In reality, the stress we typically experience in modern society places more stress on our necks, shoulders, and upper backs—so Navina therapists make sure to begin and end there instead.
Navina’s more deliberate pace allows students to eventually expand into knowledgeable teachers themselves. While they can become certified relatively early on, this is only the start of the process, as they must continue learning more techniques and postures, focusing in particular on the compression of the soft tissue. The focus on step-by-step learning makes this transition even easier, and also attracts students who will stick with massage for the long term.
Greater Accessibility
Navina provides a variety of massage styles, but instead of the body oils typical in traditional or Swedish massage, uses a hot herbal compresses on to the neck and back. Because there is no use of oil, clients can remain clothed if they’d prefer – a perfect middle ground for beginners.
The curriculum at Navina is also more oriented towards the work schedule of its pupils. With lessons that are broken into short modules, clients can more easily fit appointments into their busy lives. Each module places a focus on the step-by-step acquisition of foundation-building techniques, making it easier for students to progress fluidly, despite their brief amount of free time.
By mixing traditional massage techniques with current medical practices and a comprehensive base in anatomy, Navina is able to provide its students with the building blocks for a more relaxed and engaged life and practice.
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