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Curriculum Design

Chances are, you’ve landed here because you’re detail oriented and you’d like to see if our programs are the best fit for your needs and desires. This page is therefore laid out with information about our curriculum design with the intent to answer as many of your questions as possible – even the ones you didn’t know you had.

Curriculum Structure: Overview

Classification Overview
Principal Modules

• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3

Combined, Modules 1, 2 & 3 comprise our Principal Certification. These Modules are designed to provide you with a firm foundation from which to build a practice with confidence (still with a beginners-mind) and tried-and-tested tools. As well, you’ll gain greater familiarity with the human body by learning relevant anatomy and physiology.

After completing all classroom hours, as well as documented home practice, you’ll then sit an exam (online). In order to attain certification you must score 80% or more on your exam.

Details can be found further down.

Enhanced Modules

• Expanding Touch
• Ayurvedic Approach
• Side-Lying Series
• Active Body
• Energy & Myofascia
• Posture Play

Each Enhanced Module can be taken in any order. With the prerequisite of the completion of Modules 1, 2 & 3 (classroom time), you may join an Enhanced training. The selection of topics within these Enhanced Modules takes your practice in a slightly different direction each time, adding more physical skills to your repertoire as well as a greater theoretical base for the expansion of you work.

After completing each of these Enhanced Modules there is additional documented home practice that is required for full completion. Once you’ve taken all Enhanced Modules you may apply for Enhanced Certification through a one-on-one practical exam.

Details can be found further down.

Adjunct Modules

• Intro Workshops
• Immersions
• Thai Yoga Stretching (1&2)
• Thai on the Table

Adjunct Modules range from small taster workshops that may introduce you to this practice, to full 3-day courses that sit outside of the certification classifications above. These offerings are designed to kickstart your passion for Thai massage, whether through a short introduction, or through specifically crafted set of tools that are relevant to either an existing movement education background, or to an existing manual therapy practice.

Details can be found further down.

Online Coursework

• Intro to A&P
• A&P of the Shoulder
• Thai @ Home
• Intro to TYS Online
• Thai + Restorative

Entering the digital world with these online courses can be a wonderful way to experience Navina philosophies and teachings without having to travel. These offerings range from anatomy and physiology courses that benefit manual therapists and movement professionals alike, to courses specifically designed for restorative yoga instructors.

More details on all online coursework, here.


Curriculum Detail: Principal Modules

The following section takes you on a deeper examination of each of the training modules in the Navina curriculum suite.

module 1 cover page

Module 1: the essentials of quality touch

Build a solid foundation in the concepts and the practice of high quality touch. Combining fundamental anatomy theory with positive intention and hands-on practice, we establish a base upon which our following modules build a safe and successful massage practice. In addition to the four Foundational Principles of Navina™ Thai yoga therapy, we learn:

• Essential anatomy and physiology language that will allow you to accurately locate and describe the functions of specific muscles,
• How to apply high quality touch techniques that are both safe and effective through the efficient use of biomechanics,
• Functional anatomy of the back, shoulders and neck, which are the most commonly requested massage regions,
• Navina™ Thai yoga therapy postures that address these high-tension areas. In total this will equate to almost a 60-minute massage sequence that you can practice on family and friends,
• The practical skills needed to approach a massage situation, how to build rapport with clients with clear communication, how to enhance the client treatment experience, and to prepare you for massaging outside the classroom.


module 2 cover page

Module 2: expanding your repertoire

In this course we solidify our understanding of content covered in the first module and we then build on these concepts and postures to begin to explore more of the body. By adding in more postures we will extend our massage sequence to 2 hours. This module will focus on:

• Developing greater familiarity with the language of anatomy by reiterating module 1 content and by including the appropriate terms in our verbal dialogue.
• Enhancing our concept and practice of quality touch. This becomes easier as postures become more familiar and comfortable.
• Increasing our anatomy knowledge to include the major structures of the arms, legs, hands and feet.
• Creating smooth transitions between postures to enhance client experience.
• How to begin building a successful business in Navina™ Thai yoga therapy.


module 3 cover page

Module 3: customizing the client experience

In this module we will once again revisit and consolidate knowledge gained from previous courses and build from there. After this course you will have a complete 3-hour massage sequence that will allow you to provide a total body experience for your clients. Once the requirements for this training are complete, you will also be eligible to apply for Principal Certification. This training focuses on:

• Adding more detail to our understanding of anatomy to provide a more complete picture of the body.
• Exploring the idea and practice of customization. Both in terms of the entire massage sequence as well as individual postures. This will encourage greater expression of your own massage “flavor” and it will allow creativity and intuition to play a larger role in your treatments.
• Opening the doors into Sen line work by learning one of the major pathways in our bodies and being introduced to marma points.
• Adding an abdomen massage into the sequence and discussing its applications and appropriate use.
• Bridging the gap between the science of anatomy and the wisdom of Navina™ Thai yoga therapy as energy work.



Time Summary for Principal Modules:

Module Classtime Home Practice Total
Module 1 21 hours 10 hours (10 massages) 31 hours
Module 2 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Module 3 21 hours 30 hours (10 massages) 51 hours
Principal Certification Requirements 63 hours 60 hours (30 massages) 123 hours

Curriculum Detail: Enhanced Modules

All of the following courses have the prerequisite of the Principal Modules.

enhancing sensitivity manual cover

Enhanced Module: Expanding touch & enhancing sensitivity

“Thai massage is as good to give as it is to receive” – we have already explored this concept in our practice by using efficient and safe biomechanics. This course will extend this idea to the use of our different “tools” when massaging. Course content includes:

• Exploring greater use of our feet, knees and forearms in the application of massage pressure and muscle manipulation techniques to improve practitioner and client experience.
• Developing our touch sensitivity in these larger areas of our body so that we can use them for the full spectrum of pressure from superficial to deep touch.
• Comparing the use of different tools for different postures. This will help us see if a new touch technique will replace or add onto a previously used technique taking us deeper into the pose.
• The addition of another hour of massage postures to add into our existing repertoire.
• Discussions on how these new touch techniques impact our ability to customize our treatments.


thai massage and ayurveda cover page

Enhanced Module: Thai Massage & Ayurveda

Ayurveda is generally translated as the “science of life”; an historic system of medicine that has been developing for 1000’s years. Glimpsing this immense system of Eastern knowledge will allow us to begin seeing discrete differences within each individual through 5-element theory. With this understanding we are better able to customise our massage treatments to the needs of our client. This advanced module focuses on:

• Introducing us to the 3 doshas, the Vayus and the 5 elements, and putting these into the context of Thai massage.
• Allowing this knowledge to inform our posture selection throughout a treatment as well as helping us to form an appropriate intention for each session.
• Integrating an extra 45 minutes of massage postures into a new sequence as well as extending our abdomen massage.
• Revisiting postures learned in modules 1-3 with a new perspective of (in particular) the Vayus and discussing how this will impact your treatments.
• Highlighting that all physical work is also energy work. This course will help us to integrate the worlds of anatomy and science with traditional Thai massage and energy work.


side lying course manual cover

Enhanced Module: Side-lying Series, Pregnancy Massage & More

Thai massage is an accessible form of bodywork to almost everyone. The side-lying series will show you just how available this practice is to most people. In this class we will cover:

• The application of the side-lying series for pregnant women, the elderly and the overweight as well as its benefits for the general population. This series is a powerful set of tools that will allow you to massage groups of people that are often deprived of compassionate touch,
• The practical skills needed to approach pregnancy massage: to know when it is safe and appropriate as well as certain contraindications,
• A full side-lying sequence of postures that will add another 1-hour to your list of postures, covering the entire back body from shoulders and neck to the feet,
• The effective use of props in the side-lying position: “Make your props do the work for you”.


active body cover page

Enhanced Module: Thai Massage for the Active Body

In this advanced module we direct our attention towards the athletic/active body. Individuals who maintain an active lifestyle will require a different approach to massage, often with greater emphasis placed on assisted stretches. Thai massage of the athletic body focuses on:

• Common patterns of tension found in individuals who are more active. This is often quite different to the typical tension areas of more sedentary people,
• Case study examples that use certain sports or movement styles as templates for further discussion,
• Learning a full 90 minute massage sequence that centres around stretching and deeper massage techniques,
• Preparing you as the practitioner to work with more active bodies: this includes ensuring the effective and safe movement of more muscular and dense limbs.
• Providing an understanding of when it is appropriate to work with injuries and when it is not, helping to clarify our role as a Thai massage practitioner.


energy lines manual cover

Enhanced Module: Energy lines & the Myofascia

Traditional Thai massage teachings focus on 10 primary energy lines within the body. We are now beginning to find that indeed these lines correlate highly with physical structures known as myofascial pathways. This module focuses on:

• Introducing us to the idea and location of myofascial pathways and how they relate to the main energy lines of Thai massage,
• Techniques used to manipulate these energy/myofascial lines that include methods of massage and stretching,
• Understanding the physiological and the energetic effects of working with the myofascial pathways and how this may relate to the use of Vayus when customizing our massage,
• Adding new Sen lines to build on our understanding of Sen Kalathari,
• Reviewing previous postures and learning to see the sen in all that we do,
• Learning an additional 1-hour of massage postures to add to our flow.


posture play cover page

Enhanced Module: Posture Play

Designed as the most advanced training course we offer, this module is open only to students who have completed all other Professional Training modules. In this specialty course we examine some of the more “fancy” postures that are only safely accessible to advanced receivers. We also delve deeper into creating ease and flow within your treatments so that they become a fluid dance. Emphasis will be placed on:

• Safe alignment and key details that make the more advanced postures safe to receive.
• Creating transitions to smoothly link postures.
• Breaking the mold of a ‘sequence’ and exploring the idea of creating your sequencing from moment to moment in response to the physical and energetic needs of your client’s body.
• Turning your treatments into an artform.


Time Summary for Enhanced Modules:

Module Classtime Home Practice Total
Expanding Touch 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Ayurvedic Approach 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Side-Lying Series 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Active Body 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Energy & Myofascia 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Posture Play 21 hours 20 hours (10 massages) 41 hours
Enhanced Certification Requirements 126 hours 120 hours (30 massages) 246 hours

Scholarship Opportunity:

scholarship logo and linkWe are working towards creating accessibility and equity with both flexible payment plans (contact us to find out more) and a scholarship opportunity for BIPOC & LGBTQIA2S+ folx. To find more information about the scholarship, click the rainbow logo.


Curriculum Detail: Adjunct Modules

introduction workshop to thai massage

Intro Workshops

In this 4-hour taster course, you are introduced to the fundamentals of Thai massage. Through hands-on practice, you will learn a blissful 35-minute massage sequence, gaining first-hand experience in both giving and receiving Thai massage.

Once you have learned the basics of Thai massage, you can share this beautiful gift with your family and friends. They will certainly appreciate it! Bring them along and you can swap massages when in need.

 


thai massage immersion in italy

Thai Massage Immersion

The immersion is an 8-hour/full-day experience, where you learn more of a full-body massage treatment, totalling about 50-minutes.

You dive deeper into the foundations of this practice and you get to put them into practice in class. It’s the perfect taster for anyone thinking about joining Modules 1-3.

 

 


thai yoga stretching pic

Thai Yoga Stretching for Exercise Professionals

This is a 2-part series, with each part a full-day training (8hrs). Effective flexibility training not only helps prevent injury, it improves muscle recovery, athletic performance, functional independence, and the client-trainer relationship. This hands-on course is geared toward trainers, instructors, coaches, and anyone who works with physically active individuals. Gain an understanding of how to incorporate total body flexibility into each client’s individualized workout program. You’ll learn a series of assisted stretching techniques inspired by Thai yoga therapy. Practice proper body mechanics to keep your own body safe as you assist your clients in various stretches. Part 2 builds and expands upon part 1.


thai on the table

Thai on the Table

Open to Registered Massage Therapists, those who have completed the Principal Modules, and those who have a manual therapy background. This course is a valuable addition to any tool-belt, as it creates even greater accessibility for those who are unable or who find it difficult to get down onto the mats – and for those who don’t feel comfortable with removing clothing for massage or with the use of oils, this practice meets them in a safe zone. It also creates a more familiar setting where clients who have never received Thai massage before feel more comfortable.


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