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.

Our courses are limited to 8 students, and our Thai Government Certificates awarded for 80 hours (14 days including 2 days off) or for 150 hours (25 days including 3 days off). We also award a 60 hour Certificate (10 days with 1 day off) for Foot Relexology -- restricted to 6 participants. We welcome students for shorter periods as well, if there is room, but we are not permitted to give official certificates for shorter periods. On the other hand, most students who have been awarded the Baanhom Samunphrai School's Teacher's Certificate have already studied with Maw Hom for months, completing as many as three 150 hour courses for a total of 450 hours.

The Baanhom day begins at 7am with one hour of 'Rasidaton,' an ancient yoga-like warm-up based on the essential Thai Massage movements. Breakfast is at 8am followed by 6 hours of class from 9am-12 and 1pm-4pm, making a total of 7 hours of credited work per day. Students usually live with us at the School in our full room & board accommodations, and use all our facilities, including the herbal steam baths free of charge, even on their days-off. We welcome non-live-in students, though we feel they miss a lot by not participating more fully in Maw Hom's life outside of class.

What is also very different about us is that we do not stream our classes. The classes are so small that Homprang and her sibling colleagues can give personal attention to everybody, and it is not surprising at all to see a naturally gifted student working beside a professional, or to see a professional voluntarily starting again on the fundamentals of technique as if he or she were a concert violinist or professional golfer. The beauty is that nobody ever gets left behind or feels bored at Baanhom and, above all, nobody ever has to pretend!

At least one course is scheduled each month, but with Maw Hom's permission you can begin any time that she feels is right for you and the class -- an experienced student, for example, can fit in almost anywhere.

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, 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 pleasure and confidence in their work.

The series of photos below were taken on the last day of an 80 hour (14 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 3 or 4 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 20 or more students in a class -- indeed, much of the time the only person who you touch, what is more who touches you, is another struggling student!

Private House (couple) Bt 2200 ($69.00) per person per day (full room & board)

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 5200 ($162.00) per day, full room & board, and includes a Private House -- which a partner can share for just 800 baht ($27.00) more per day with all the other student freebies thrown in including free herbal steam baths. For TWO STUDENTS (or, as is often the case, a PRIVATE COUPLE), the cost is Bt 2600 ($81.00) 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. Needless to say, private classes are hard to organize during our busy season from November to the end of March, so try to arrange this during those other months.

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!

*When there is a 'Private Student' or a 'Private Couple,' the class is closed to other students.

The Baan Hom Samunphrai car picks up 3 or more non-live-in students in Chiang Mai at either 6.30 am or 8.30am (not both). The day begins with yoga at 7am and the class follows at 9am -- non-live-in students must decide on that.. The class ends at 4pm with an hour off for lunch. Non-live-in students are welcome to stay on after class to have steam baths and/or to practice at no extra charge. The evening meal can be had for the special price of 200 baht per person for non-live-in students and others who would like to join us in the evening.

For less than 3 non-live-in students we charge a total of 200 baht for the occasional morning pick-up or evening return. An alternative is to rent a motorcycle, or even a bicycle -- we've had 3 or 4 students who have biked out here on a regular basis..

Those non-live-in students who wish to join the Rasidaton (Thai Yoga) warm-up must arrive by 7 am -- it's free of charge, but breakfast at 8am (fresh coffee, tea, juice, natural yoghurt, muesli, whole grain toast, fruit, etc.) costs 150 baht extra for non-live-in students. Anybody not living here is welcome to join us for dinner at 200 baht per person.

We offer Thai Ministry of Education Certificates for 60 hours (10 days), 80 hours (14 days) and 150 hours (25 days), all of which include one day-off for every week of study.

60 hour Live-in Certificate Course (10 days including 1 day off) -- 19,900 baht ($622.00) for 10 days.
(Foot Reflexology and Related Topics)

80 hour Live-in Certificate Course (14 days including 2 days off) -- 27,200 baht ($850.00) for 14 days.
(Thai Traditional Massage & Related Topics)

150 hour Live-in Certificate Course (25 days including 3 days off) -- 49,200 baht ($1537.00) for 25 days.
(Thai Traditional Massage & Related Topics)

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. If you do a 2 day 'Herbal Compress' or a 3 day 'Food as Medicine' workshop, for example, the Testimonial will acknowledge that you have done that specific work. The same applies to advanced professional study in therapeutic techniques, sen lines, energy points, abdominal massage, and womblifting, for example.

Whatever government certificate you are awarded will state specifically not only the subject and the length of the course but the level you have achieved: Beginner, Intermediate, Professional Practitioner, or Teacher. As the classes are so small the evaluation process is individual, open and on-going -- your level 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 Baanhom Samunphrai, both from Beginners and from experienced students who want to become Certified Professionals or even Certified Teachers -- we are licensed as a Traditional Thai Massage School by the Thai Ministry of Education, and our Certificates are recognized all over the world.

Students joining Baanhom courses are guaranteed 60, 80 or 150 hours of class work. Each course also includes a lot of supervised practice with Homprang's assistants, Bang, Nit and the others – Maw Hom is very strict, and will not let you move on until you’ve mastered what has already been taught. Her courses also include, when appropriate, trips to other healers, clinics, herb markets, and related activities in the field, as well as shopping for clothes, cushions, mats, diagrams, books and images. Students sometimes also attend Homprang's classes at The Association of Licensed Thai Traditional Healers in town. Those who have already studied with her will know how much they learn from doing other things with her, almost as if one were her apprentice -- or a colleague in the case of professionals. Trainee Teachers will also get the chance to teach beside her, and may well work with Thai students as well -- a wonderful way to learn more about Thailand's traditional medicine.

A student must apply to Homprang to be accepted as a Trainee Teacher, and priority will be given to students who have already studied with her. At the end, a student must demonstrate that he or she has achieved the appropriate level of knowledge, sensitivity and technique to be a Teacher, and, of course, the same applies to be a certified Professional Therapist.

Any of our extra classes or activities can be part of your training regardless of what level you are on -- 'Womb-lifting,' 'Herbal Therapies,' and even 'Food as Medicine,' for example, are extremely important in Thai Traditional Medicine, and will add to any Thai Traditional Massage Therapist's understanding of the principles behind his or her practice.

ONE MONTH OPTION.
Homprang welcomes 150 Hour (25 day) students to stay on for the rest of the month if they wish. For the 5 extra days we will charge you our normal Room & Board rate (1000 baht per day), but you still get all your student perks, free herbal steambaths, transportation into Chiang Mai, and the use of all our work spaces. If you need it as well, Homprang will arrange for some supervision from her assistants, though the emphasis will always be on your own work with your colleagues as nobody is going to sit there beside you what is more work on you. Otherwise you'll leave with nothing of your own.

MULTIPLE COURSE OPTION
If you're really serious you might want to consider taking more than one course in succession as well -- a Thai Massage Course followed by a 'Related Therapies' workshop, for example, or vise versa. And if there's a gap before the next course, why not do a Vipassana Retreat at Wat Chom Tong, or a 3 day trek on foot along the Burmese border above Chiang Dao, or down the Mekong by cargo boat to Luang Prabang and then back up the rapids again by long-tailed speed boat? (After that last one you'll be ready to take any next step anywhere!) Ask us and we'll give you some ideas.

WOMB-LIFTING, HERBAL THERAPIES & OTHER ACTIVITIES

Below are photos of some of the special activities Maw Hom has included in her recent classes.

(l. to r.)Homprang goes every day to the earth market where she buys most of our food ; she shows how to open a coconut with a machete to make Mian Kham; she measures out the ingredients to make Tiger Balm. (She either grows the herbs or collects them in the wild in our neighborhood. Gathering them is a very important part of all her herbal courses.)

(l. to r.) How to eat Mian Kham: newly made herbal compresses; preparing a herbal hot-pot for Womb-lifting; Womb-lifting with Thai therapists in an outdoor workshop at Baan Hom.

Womb-lifting is an ancient Thai healing art that involves hot compresses, clay poets, and manipulation of the uterus both for post-natal health and fertility problems, as well as for general feminine well-being. It is one of Homprang's special interests, and women come from all over Thailand and abroad for treatments. Men are welcome to join in the classes as well, and do.

JOINING THAI STUDENTS IN LOCAL TRAINING PROGRAMS

Below is an Association of Traditional Thai Healers workshop at the Women and Children's Hospital, Chiang Mai. There are six westerners in the group, and Homprang (third row centre) is acting as their interpreter -- indeed she is the only Thai who speaks English in this group. Michelle Tupko, a Chicago Thai Massage School teacher and colleague, is in the front row centre. Baan Hom's Acharn Nit is 2nd row right, and Acharn Bang 2nd row 3rd from right. Acharn Amnuay (standing right), a well-known Hmong healer and herbalist from Doi Pui, is the leader of this workshop.

Studying with Thai therapists can be a real eye-opener for western students. Thais know so much about natural healing already, yet they listen so attentively and take so many notes! And they're so normal as well, funny and unpretentious -- not a single new-age hair style, mala, spiritual insignia or flowing robe among them!