Baan Hom Samunphrai School, Traditional Thai Massage Training Centre, Live-in Courses, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Nuad Boran, Rasidaton, Herbal Medicine, Midwifery, Therapeutic Massage.

The Baan Hom Samunphrai School offers training courses in Thai Traditional Massage and related herbal therapies at all levels in both Thai and English. Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced practitioner, our teaching is very hands-on and personal, the teacher often instructing the student to work on her own body so that the exact pressure, position and sequence of the hands, elbows, knees etc. can be adjusted to perfection. Maw Hom also encourages the individual to discover his or her own strengths and strategies, as every healer is individually built and uniquely endowed. Age matters too, as do cultural habits--some 'Nuad Boran' positions are physically impossible for many westerners, for example, but that doesn't mean they can't be adapted to western talents. Indeed, if you're one of those who fear you may not be able to do it, come to us for support and encouragement. Equally, if you're a professional with years of experience come to us for renewal, tuning and, so important to all in-depth body-work, inspiration that really touches the earth!

Maw Hom teaches many aspects of Thai Traditional Medicine. Left to right. 1.) She teaches professional therapists who are preparing to take the new Thai Ministry of Public Health exams at a local Buddhist temple-clinic ; 2.) young westerners who are learning to prepare and use herbal compresses; 3.) and healers from all over the world who want to know more about old herbal medicines and how to use them effectively in a modern context.

Courses contain a maximum of 8 students, and are arranged in 5 day, 10 day or far longer periods if you have the time at your disposal. The day begins at 7am with one hour of 'Rasidaton,' an ancient yoga-like warm-up based on the essential Thai Massage movements, followed by 6 hours of classes from 9am-12 and 1pm-4pm. Students usually live with us at the Centre in our full room & board accommodations but, if you are already established in Chiang Mai, you can join one of our courses as a 'non-live-in' student as well.

Maw Hom welcomes Private Students but the charge is higher not only because the student gets the teacher all to himself or herself, but requires a model too. Another option is to work 'two-on-one,' two professional friends in a class of their own or, as is often the case, a Private Couple.

Maw Hom schedules at least two Regular Classes every month. Click here to see our CALENDAR & EVENTS page for what's coming up. If you've got a date in the future that you know would suit you, please let us know and we will advertise it on our website as a scheduled Regular Class.

The day begins at 7am with the students chanting a Pali invocation asking for help and protection from the Buddha and his personal doctor, Maw Chiwok--the latter sits garlanded with jasmine just below the Buddha on the shrine in our training space. This invocation is followed by one hour of Rasidaton, a Thai Yoga developed by another disciple of the Buddha, the forest hermit, Rusi--he usually sits next to Maw Chiwok in Thai medical shrines. Breakfast then follows at 8.

Beginners often ask how much they can achieve in a particular course, whether 5 days or 10 days or more, and Maw Hom always answers in the same way--it depends on you. She does not follow a prescribed syllabus but tailors each and every lesson to your own needs--your age, your background, your physical type and, of course, your experience. She is also very strict about practice, and will never let you go on until you have shown her you have already mastered what has been taught, so you are unlikely to flounder or get discouraged. Students who have already done other courses are rarely disappointed, and true professionals, even those with years and years of experience in Thai Traditional Massage, come away with a new sense of confidence and purpose.

The series of photos below were taken on the last day of a 10 day course in Thai Traditional Massage. Maw Hom is regularly assisted by her brother, Vichian (in white), and 2 sister-in-laws, Bang (in black) and Nit (floral pattern)--even when there are only 2 or 3 students in the class. In the top right photo the student's hands are being adjusted both by Maw Hom behind him and by his model, Nit, i.e. two teachers are working with a single student at the same time. This degree of personal attention is rare as most massage schools have 15 or 20 students in a class with a single teacher--the only person who you touch, what is more who touches you, is another struggling student!

The basic Live-in Training Course costs Bt 2100 ($70.00) per day. This covers full room-and-board (a private room + 3 meals a day), 1 hour of yoga, and 6 hours of training and supervised practice every day. Students are also welcome to use the centre's facilities free of charge, including the pool, the two steam baths, and our bicycles, and free transportation to Chiang Mai is provided once a day. Maw Hom's new 64 page 'Nuad Boran & Rasidaton Practitioner's Notebook' is free as well, but there is an extra charge of 300 baht ($10.00) for each of her 3 Training DVDs, 'Nuad Boran,' 'Rasidaton,' and 'Foot Reflexology' -- invaluable support when you're trying to remember the finer points all alone back at home.

Maw Hom welcomes students who have special interests and/or prefer to work one-on-one. The daily rate for a PRIVATE STUDENT is Bt 4200 ($140.00) per day and includes a Private House -- which a partner can share for just 800 baht ($26.00) more per day including free steam baths. For TWO STUDENTS (or, as is often the case, a PRIVATE COUPLE), the cost is Bt 2400 ($80.00) per person per day in their own Private House with full room and board, the use of all our facilities and, of course, the full attention of our whole staff.

Any student can be accompanied by a non-training partner, friend, or child, who will be charged at the ordinary accommodation rate for meals and housing, and as a perk can join their student partners in the steam baths free of charge. Other activities for camp-followers can easily be arranged, including being models in class!

We also offer Training Courses in both Thai and English for those who already have accommodation in Chiang Mai. Fees include teaching materials, 1 hour of Rasidaton, 6 hours of class, and a healthy Thai lunch. Daily transportation is included free of charge for Private and Two-on-One non-live-in students, and for 3 or more regular students. All the Center's facilities including the Pool and Steam Baths are also available at no extra charge for all students enrolled in training courses.
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*When there is a 'Private Student' or a 'Private Couple,' the class is closed to other students.

The Baan Hom Samunphrai car picks up non-live-in students in Chiang Mai at either 6.30 am or 8.30am (not both!) --each day begins with yoga at 7am and the class follows at 9am. The class ends at 4pm with an hour off for lunch. Non-live-in students are welcome to stay on after class to practice or to have steam baths at no extra charge. Our driver takes non-live-in students home as well, but only once each afternoon.

For less than 3 Regular students we charge a total of 150 baht for a morning pick-up or for an evening return. (Some non-live-in students prefer to rent a bicycle or a motorcycle.)

Those non-live-in students who wish to join the Rasidaton (Thai Yoga) warm-up must arrive by 7 am. Breakfast at 8am (fresh coffee, tea, juice, natural yoghurt, muesli, whole grain toast, fruit, etc.) can be had by non-live-in students for 150 baht per person.

Our Ministry of Education Certificates require 60 hours (10 Days), 80 hours (13 days), or 150 hours (25 days) of work.. If you wish to do just a few days, either as an amateur who would like to have the experience of doing Thai Traditional Massage or as a professional who wants to work on something specific, we can give you a Testimonial for the hours you have put in but it will not be certified by the Thai Government. If you do a 2 day Herbal Compress Course, for example, or a 4 day Womb-lifting workshop, the testimonial will acknowledge that you have done that specific work but will not be backed by the government stamp.

Whatever Certificate you are awarded will state specifically not only the subject and the length of the course but the level. you have achieved. As the classes are so small the evaluation process is open and on-going -- your level, Practitioner, Professional Therapist, or Teacher, will be based on Homprang's experience of you day by day in class. And needless to say, if you work with her in several courses over the year or even several years, she will get to know you very well and bring you on as far as she possibly can.

Katja Mὃgler from Germany (left, black top) and Holly Mackin (right, grey top) from California have both studied for three months with Maw Hom. Here they are seen working with regular students during the 150 hour Teachers Training Certificate program.

We have more and more students enquiring about LONG-TERM TRAINING at Baan Hom Samunphrai, and now offer a one month intensive program. We envision this for students at all levels, but particularly for those with a background in Thai massage who would like to become CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS. The arrangement is also designed for the growing number of Thai Massage professionals who would like to become CERTIFIED TEACHERS -- we are licensed as a Traditional Thai Massage School by the Thai Ministry of Education, and our Certificates are recognized everywhere in the world.

Students joining the program are guaranteed 150 hours of class work during the month (there are no scheduled days-off at Baan Hom) as well as extensive practice with Homprang's assistants. In addition, students are welcome to attend Homprang's classes and other activities at The Association of Licensed Thai Healers in town, free of charge, and indeed join in with whatever Homprang is doing anywhere. Those who have already studied with her will know how much Homprang conveys informally like this, almost as if one were her apprentice -- or a colleague (trainee teachers will actually get the chance to teach beside her!).

The cost of the One Month Program is 47,000 baht per month for Live-in-students -- which is a substantial saving over our regular fees calculated over a 30 day period. And this fee covers everything: training, room & board, steambaths, transportation, and the countless extra hours you will get to spend with Homprang, such an important part of her teaching.

Students must apply to Homprang to be accepted into a One Month program, and priority will be given to students who have already studied with her. At the end students must demonstrate that they have achieved an appropriate level of both knowledge and technique to be awarded a certificate at whatever level: Practitioner, Professional Therapist, or Teacher.

You should look at our calendar of regular classes and other activities to see what month looks best for you. Indeed, any of Homprang's regular classes or activities can be part of your training regardless of what level you are on as her teaching is always relevant to the whole body -- her Herbal and 'Womb-lifting' work is some of her deepest and most useful. Months with large Conferences are to be avoided, though we will always give you credit for days when we simply haven't got room for you. A week or 10 day's break may appeal to you, in fact -- you can discuss that with Homprang.

Indeed, do enquire even if you're just interested.