Most visitors to Thailand enjoy the relaxing sensation of a traditional Thai massage, which helps to ease stiffness and tension in the body, and many of them are sufficiently interested in the activity to want to learn the skills of Thai massage themselves.
As with cookery courses, massage courses are available throughout the country, but Chiang Mai is a popular place to study because of the high reputation of several schools that offer courses.
As you can’t expect to make much progress in a single day, most basic massage courses include between a week and two weeks of study and practice, leading to a certificate at the end of the course. Costs are usually around 5,000B-8,000B for a week’s study.
There are many places that offer such courses, but those with the best reputation are as follows:
- Old Medicine Hospital: 238/1 Wualai Road (tel:053201663; www.thaimassageschool.ac.th).
- TMC: 203/6 Mae Jo Road (tel: 053854330; www.tmcschool.com).
- Ban Hom Samunphrai: 93/2a Moo 12, Tawangtan, Saraphi (tel: 053817362; www.homprang.com).