"Best of Asia" Spa


Body Wisdom's "Best of Asia" 25-Hour Spa course brings you some of the most popular individual treatments in use at top destination spas around the world.  Like our Indonesian Spa course, the "Best of Asia" Spa course is designed to enable you to bring lucrative, traditional spa services into your practice without a "wet room" or other expensive spa equipment and at the same time delight your massage clients with something uniquely different.

Like our Indonesian Spa, "Best of Asia" Spa is the result of extensive research and training on many trips through out South East Asia over a period of years.  It is a combination of the most popular traditional therapies from both Thailand and Indian Ayurveda and are all modalities that can be combined with any other massage or spa techniques.

"Best of Asia" Thai Spa

Thailand, one of the world’s most lavish spa locations is considered a “paradise for spa lovers” and has earned a reputation as the “Spa Capital of Asia”, because of its distinctive traditional Thai massage, body treatments and the outstanding Thai hospitality. Spa Industry Surveys & Spa Consumer Surveys show that when considering potential spa vacations, a visit to Thailand is number one at 22% with Indonesia a close second at 19%.  By comparison Singapore and Europe come in at 6% and the United States at 4% respectively. 

The Thai Spa treatments taught at Body Wisdom are inspired by the ancient Thai rituals of using traditional herbs, aromatic oils, special herbal massage and steam to induce relaxation, rejuvenation and well being on all levels.  A wide variety of herbal preparations and products have been obtained from traditional sources to ensure a true Thai experience.

What You Will Learn:

Thai Herbal Compress Massage
Thai Herbal Compress massage utilize a blend of traditional Thai herbs such as plai, kaffir lime leaves, turmeric, lemongrass, eucalyptus and tamarind specially prepared to meet the therapeutic needs of the client.  The herbs are then beautifully wrapped and tied in  cotton bundles using an age-old traditional method. The fresh herbal bundles are then heated in a steamer and used to massage the client’s body to improve circulation, ease sore muscles, reduce pain and to soften and nourish the skin.

Thai Herbal Compress massage can be used in combination with other massage and bodywork modalities or at the end of a Traditional Thai Massage session.

NOTE: Body Wisdom teaches students to make their own Thai Herbal bundles in the traditional way with fresh ingredients instead of pre-prepared bundles of dried herbs. 

Thai Herbal Steam Bath:
This traditional treatment that promotes general well-being has been part of the Thai lifestyle for centuries. Specific combinations of traditional Thai herbs are mixed with steam which is then absorbed into the body via respiration and the pores of the skin. Thai Herbal Steam is an ancient ritual that is excellent for stress reduction and relaxation, as well as cleansing, healing and rejuvenation. Students will learn about the healing properties of various Thai herbs, their fresh preparation and how to assist their clients in the use of Steam hydrotherapy in keeping with the traditions of Thailand and the “old ways.”   

Thai Herbal Steam Bath is often used in combination with other therapies such as Traditional Thai Massage or as part of various Thai Spa treatment packages. 

"Best of Asia" Shirodhara

Shirodhara is one element of a traditional Indian Ayurvedic approach to promote heath and wellbeing that has been used for over 5000 years.  In recent years it has been “discovered” by Western massage therapists and has quickly become one of the most popular treatments at top destination spas in America and around the world.   

Shirodhara is composed of two words shiro + dhara. Shiro means head and Dhara means flow of warm oil.  In the treatment, sesame oil is mixed with a few drops of aromatic essential oils and then warmed until a comfortable temperature is reached.  The client lies face up on a massage table with their head tilted slightly back with a rolled towel or pillow beneath the neck. A stream of warm oil is poured very slowly onto the center of the forehead for 20 to 30 minutes followed by a gentle scalp massage.  The effect is indescribable!

Shirodhara is a great rejuvenating therapy that can be learned by any massage therapist and is said to relieve insomnia, stress, tension, chronic headaches, enhance blood circulation to the brain, improve memory and afford profound mental relaxation.  Clients leave feeling nourished, rejuvenated and relaxed.

Shirodhara combines ancient Ayurvedic wisdom with modern bodywork and spa techniques to form a winning spa combination and great addition to the Massage Therapist’s repertoire of services.

"Best of Asia" is a 25-Hour Body Wisdom Elective

Prerequisites: By approval. 

Other classes of interest in the
Body Wisdom "Signature Spa Series"

European Spa Specialties and Hydrotherapy (50 Hours)
Indonesian Spa (50) Hours
Four Hands Tandem Massage (35 Hours)
Bamboo Massage (25 Hours)

Other classes of interest in the Thai Series include:
Thai Foot Reflexology (25 Hours)
Traditional Thai Massage (100 Hours)