So…as promised here are the remaining tips on how to choose the best possible massage school and/or massage course if you are planning a trip to Asia. If you did not have a chance to see the previous post, you can read it on our blog!
6. HOW TO FIND A GOOD MASSAGE SCHOOL
Do not always trust the websites or internet, because sometimes it all looks so wonderful, but once you are in the middle of nowhere in a strange country, you realize that the website image is not even remotely similar to reality. Many massage schools in India, Thailand, Tibet, China, Japan, Indonesia, etc., do not even have a website. So the best thing is to find people with similar profiles than you and ask them. It is always better if you have a direct reference of a specific massage course, school or teacher. Try to chat with people through LinkedIn or Facebook groups, as Thai Massage group, Balinese Massage, Ayurveda group, etc. and ask the masters and colleges of your own country, etc.
7. BEFORE YOU HEAD OFF TO YOUR MASSAGE COURSE
One of the first things you have to do is to inform yourself about the visa rules of the country you want to travel to. Because if you want to stay in India, Thailand, China, etc., for more than 3 months you (usually) need to ask for a special permit together with the massage school that you have chosen. So before you pay any fee to the school or buy any tickets, try to fix all the visa papers in advance. Normally unless you have chosen a school in the middle of the jungle, you will not need too many vaccines, but it is important to check the requirements at least with 3 months in advance. I also warmly recommend you to make a special travel insurance.
8. THEORY AND PRACTICE
As I always recommend, try to study by your own (through massage online courses, massage books, etc.), before you travel anywhere. Most of the massage courses out there teach you the practice but not the theory, and as the proverb says “theory without practice is useless, and practice without theory is dangerous”. So please follow this important recommendation! Study the theory before you study in any massage school in India, Tibet, Thailand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, etc. Many schools in Asia do not teach theory, sometimes because they prefer to use the time to practice the hands-on, or because their English is not good enough, and other times, because their knowledge is just based on practice, as they got it from their parents, or their grand parents. So please, if you do not want to waste your time and money, study at least the theory before you travel there.
9. DIFFERENT CULTURES-DIFFERENT WAYS OF TEACHING MASSAGE
This is something that you need to know and that I will talk about more in depth in upcoming posts. Please, try to be aware that you cannot expect to receive the teachings in the same way that you are used to. You are traveling to a new country, with a different religion, with different dietary habits, with a different culture and methods, with different traditions, so please do not expect the same teaching methods you are used to from home. You will need to know a little bit about these methods before you go, so please, try to read my next posts.
10. RESUME
Ok this is it. I hope not to disappoint you because I did not give you the names of the best schools of Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine or Thai massage in Asia, but I feel that it is better that you find out that by yourself, according to your personal criteria and needs. The best part of any goal is in the process of getting there, so enjoy every step of it! Now just try to be clear on your needs and objectives and go for them!
Wishing you a meaningful day ahead,
César Tejedor
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