Thai Yoga Massage Training with Bhavani Thai Massage Therapy – Level 1 (6 days) & weekend workshop
* A holistic framework for approaching and treating a receiver.
Suitable for beginners and bodyworkers of all levels, TYM works on a range of levels
1. The Energetic Framework: Sen Lines
At its core, traditional Thai yoga massage is based on the concept of Sen lines, an intricate network of energy pathways (comparable to nadis in yoga or meridians in Chinese medicine) that carry life force. It’s believed that physical stiffness, pain, and emotional tension are manifestations of blockages or stagnation in these lines.
The practitioner uses rhythmic pressure along these specific lines with their palms, thumbs, feet, knees, and elbows. This pressure is designed to dissipate blockages, improve the flow of energy, and restore balance to the body’s system.
2. The Physical & Structural Approach: Assisted Yoga
Unlike typical massage that works on muscle tissue with oils on a table, Thai massage is performed on a mat on the floor, with the receiver fully clothed.
How it works: The practitioner uses a combination of:
* Acupressure: Static pressure on specific points.
* Passive Stretching: Gently moving the receiver’s body into yoga-like postures (like a form of **assisted Hatha yoga**). This lengthens muscles, fascia, and tendons, improves joint mobility, and increases circulation.
* Compression: Broad, sustained pressure on muscles.
* Rocking & Mobilisation: To loosen joints and relax the nervous system.
This combination increases range of motion, releases myo fascial tension, and stimulates blood and lymph circulation.
3. The Meditative & Mindfulness Component
The session is often described as a moving meditation.
The giver maintains a slow, mindful breath and meditative awareness, using their whole body in a dance-like flow to apply techniques. This mindful presence:
* Creates a safe, non-judgmental space.
* Allows for intuitive listening to the receiver’s body, adjusting pressure and stretch based on subtle feedback.
* Transmits a quality of calm and care that directly affects the receiver’s parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” state).
4. The Physiological & Neurological Effects
Modern science explains the benefits through observable bodily systems:
* Nervous System: The rhythmic pressure and rocking activate the **parasympathetic nervous system**, reducing stress hormones (cortisol), slowing the heart rate, and promoting deep relaxation. Stretching can also stimulate proprioceptors, enhancing body awareness.
*Fascial System: The broad, gliding compressions and stretches work on the **fascia** (the connective tissue web surrounding muscles). This can release fascial adhesions, improving flexibility and reducing pain.
* Circulatory & Lymphatic Systems: The applied pressure and movement enhance **blood flow**, delivering oxygen and nutrients while flushing metabolic waste. It also encourages lymphatic drainage, supporting immune function and reducing swelling.
Thai massage works by integrating these principles simultaneously. Not just “fixing” a tight muscle. It is a dynamic interaction where:
1. Energetic work (freeing Sen lines) is performed through physical techniques (stretch and pressure).
2. These physical techniques are applied within a meditative, mindful field that regulates the nervous system.
3. The result is a holistic unwinding that affects the physical body, the energy body, and the mind, promoting the body’s innate ability to self-regulate and heal.
The receiver often leaves feeling not just physically looser, but also mentally clearer, emotionally balanced, and energetically revitalised—a true mind-body reset.
After this course, you will have:
✔ A Confident Foundation: Master the core principles, proper body mechanics, and the art of using gravity—not muscle—to deliver deep, sustainable pressure.
✔ Rooted Knowledge: Understand the rich history, philosophy, and healing theory that makes Thai Yoga massage more than just a technique—it’s a mindful practice.
✔ Creative Toolkit: Build and adapt full-body sequences with a variety of techniques, ready to practice and share with friends and family.
✔ The Practitioner’s Edge: Learn the secrets to conserving your own energy, so you can give treatments that feel revitalising for you, too.
✔ Personalized Guidance: Benefit from our intimate small-group format, ensuring you receive attentive feedback and leave feeling fully supported.
✔ Your Practice, Continued: Take home a detailed print manual—your personal reference to refine your skills and grow your practice long after the training ends. Body Conscious has run this training for several years and they have regular jams where students who have completed the trainings offer group exchange workshops.
✔ The Inner Art Cultivate presence, intuitive touch, and compassionate awareness through guided meditations and exercises, transforming your technique into a truly healing connection.
You won’t just learn a sequence—you’ll embody a practice and join a growing community in Belfasy
About Erica
Erica has been practicing yoga, spirituality and healing modalities for over 12 years. Having explored other forms of bodywork already, she found a real connection and faith upon discovering Thai Yoga Massage and hasn’t looked back since. She received her practitioner certificate through the Sunshine Network in 2015 and runs her private practice in Lisbon, Portugal since 2017.
As a member of the Thai Healing Alliance, she continues to study regularly with a variety of teachers, taking advanced courses and assisting her teachers in their own training courses. Her studies are currently branching out into osteopathy and shamanism. Erica believes in our ability to heal ourselves, and shares these modalities as a complement and support to help us along our own personal journeys.
When & where
Six consecutive days from 9:30am – 5:30pm, with one half day in the middle for rest and integration. Lunch breaks are 1.5 hours.
10th – 15th October 2026 Belfast, Ireland, hosted by Body Conscious Studio. nearby to Botanic train station the Gardens and Queen’s University.
Registration
We plan to run this event with a maximum of 8 students which permits each student to benefit from close intensive supervision and hands on practice. We have had waiting list on previous years to please email studio@bodyconscious.me to book your place.
All equipment provided, weear loose comfortable clothing you can move in.
Participants will receive a certificate upon completion for 36 hours.
Bookings Email studio@bodyconscious.me
total cost:£670
6 day workshop (pay your deposit of £195 before 31st March to benefit from £75 discount) 
What previous participants have said about Erica’s work
“Thank you so much for sharing this with us. In the last 10 years this is one of the best trainings I’ve had. I like the way you taught and guided us throughout this training with softness and an open heart, and a lot of respect to the practice. I feel so much confidence sharing this with my community and can’t wait to continue working with you. From my ancestors to yours. Ashé”
– Tobi, Portugal
“My intention coming on this course was to revise and expand my knowledge of Thai massage, with the goal of going on to become a practitioner and to use Thai massage in my work as a yoga teacher and therapist. Erica and Suzie created a wonderful, caring space for learning and personal development. They strove to meet everyone’s individual needs, seemingly without skipping a beat over the duration of the course. They are both patient and clear teachers with an excellent command of their specialist areas. I found everything was paced very well with adequate space for breaks and self reflection with a good balance between classes and non-compulsory sessions. The course material was clearly presented and easy to follow, and between the manual and the practical teachings, easy to practice after the course too. The course easily met my expectations, and I would definitely recommend it to a friend, without a doubt. I only wished it could have been longer so we could have gone into more depth and continued learning!”
-Olwyn, Ireland
Level 2
“After doing the level 1 in June, I gave quite a lot of massages, but I had this feeling/sensation of being limited in the movements that I should be able to do and give. So I followed my heart and decided to do the level 2. And I can say that it was just beyond what I was imagining or hoping for. I learned so much that in only just a couple of days of the training, the sensation I had was completely gone. So many gestures, postures, combinations… And the way that Erica is leading, watching, advising…us is just smooth, warm, deep, calm, and above all very precise. I’m really grateful for having followed my heart and for doing this training with Erica.
Again, thank you Erica for sharing your knowledge, gifting us with your passion, generosity, love and support.”
-Isabelle, Portugal
“The level 2 training with Erica felt like a very important process to round off the level 1. Erica held the space with a lot of wisdom, ground and warmth. Felt like I learnt a lot of new content without it being overwhelming. Balanced with practice time to encourage us to continue offering the massage beyond friends and family. Supporting us in our own processes, skills and flow during the 6 days. Thank you Erica”
-Becky, Portugal
Ireland Retreat
“I had the most wonderful week! Fully nourished on all levels. I feel I really got a very good understanding and grasp of the material and feel confident bringing this into the “real world”. So much heart and fun from the facilitators and the group. Great craic and deep relaxation. What more could you want… very happy and grateful.” – Iris
