Old Medicine Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. That’s my new address.
I’m tired. I’ve been crawling around on the floor a lot lately. I enrolled in a massage school in Chiang Mai Thailand to absorb a couple weeks worth of training in the healing arts before I go back to getting bashed in the face at Tiger Muay Thai.
It’s been interesting.
Thai massage is something of a mix of wrestling, yoga, and chiropractics. Add in some basic chakra points and energy lines and you have the lovely art that I have been practicing lately.
I am thrilled to be in Chiang Mai. This is one of the first places I ever knew existed in Thailand. Koh Samui and Chiang Mai were the two places I was told I had to visit in Thailand. I haven’t made it to Koh Samui, yet.
The Old Medicine Hospital houses the Shivagakomarpaj Thai Massage School. I still don’t know how to accurately pronounce that.
The establishment itself is great. They have a fanatical security guard on duty all night, good wifi coverage, and plenty of instructors. Some of which are retired ladyboys… like I said: Interesting.
The part about this place that grabs your attention is that lodging is included in the 6000 baht a week price, and there is a discount for booking ahead. The lodging is extremely basic, but not bad. There is also a great penthouse at the top of the building that you can rent for 380 baht a night, about $12, which is well worth the money.
The crew here have been astounding. People from all over the world (the only Americans all seem to be from the Bay) and everyone is so easy to be around 12 hours a day.
The day starts about 8 am with a call to prayer, some chanting and singing around an ornately decorated statue. Fresh flowers, food, water, and (what looks like) alcohol are placed out for the spirits every morning.
We then head to the classroom (no cameras allowed) and watch the instructor bend, twist, and grope one of her coworkers for a couple hours. Afterward, we get a couple hours to practice and are released for lunch. After lunch the afternoon session is similar and the classrooms close down around 6 p.m.
Everyone grabs some dinner and then finds areas to practice the new moves into the night.
Some nights are different: Linda throws a dinner party at her tiny apartment, Cameron performs for a new bar on opening night.
My instructor, Fai, is always smiling. Even when she is telling me I am doing it wrong; which is pretty often.
At the end of each week, there is a 2-part exam on the material learned that week; both hands on and written.
At the end of the second, third, or fourth (etc) week, when people are graduating, they hold a special ceremony where your spirit is bonded to your body with a white string; something like the Sou Khuan in Laos. They put a dob of paint on your forehead and offer a prayer over you, but I don’t know what all that was all about. Good fun, though.
I passed my exams; flying colors and all that. But I need to keep practicing. If I am going to be in your neighborhood, beware; I will need practice dummies!
Wrap-Up:
Shivagakomarpaj Thai Massage School.
Phone : 66 53 275085
Fax : 66 53 201663
E-mail : info@thaimassageschool.ac.th
Office hours are 9.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Monday thru Sunday
Office address: 238/1 Wuolai Road (Across Old Medicine Culture Center)
Chiang Mai 50100 Thailand.
Website: www.thaimassageschool.ac.th
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