nagachatter

Welome to Naga Chatter

This blog has been created for Naga Center alumni. It's your place to give voice to your experiences taking classes at The Naga Center, let everyone know how your Thai massage practice is going, give tips and ask questions. You are also free to post your contact information, website addresses and so forth as a way of staying in touch and promoting your business, passion, or whatever great notion you happen to be involved in.

Please know that I am not censoring what people write here. If you loved a class, please tell the world. If you found something lacking post that too. Not only will your postings help potential students to decide if this is the right place for them to study, but I will learn from you how best to continue serving you. The one caveat to the non-censorship thing is that I will remove any postings that are vulgar, mean spirited or otherwise inappropriate. But knowing the wonderful people who come through The Naga Center, I am sure your postings will be written with compassion and grace.

Anyone is free to participate here via the comments links, but if you would like to create your own full fledged post, please contact me at info@nagacenter.org and let me know. I will happily make you a guest author.

My huge thanks to all who participate in this, you truly will be doing a favor for people wondering about classes at The Naga Center, as well as keeping the sense of community you generate in class alive.
Cheers, and enjoy,
-Nephyr

Naga level 1, Jan. '10

    Level one , in Jan. '10, totally rocked! Nephyr keeps the classes small, on purpose, and we had a great group. She's a wonderful teacher -knowledgeable, down-to-earth, supportive, passionate, and keenly observant and intuitive. She considers it a sacred trust and obligation to her teachers, and theirs, and theirs, to present this art authentically, which is to say in context with the cultural and spiritual practices, beliefs, and themes that infused its evolution in Thailand. This made for a particularly rich and balanced learning experience.

  The work itself was alternately/simultaneously soothing and physically intense, wonderfully creative, at times ingenious, always fun. Our group bonded deeply, as the days progressed, a serendipitous yet wholly natural consequence of trading this kind of work, and sharing this kind of experience, in a 5 day, 40 hour crucible, with a wise, kind, and good-humored guide.

 

Thai Massage Level I

My experience at the Naga Center was just what I needed, just what I was looking for. Of course, it took having the experience to understand what I needed and was looking for...I felt so nurtured through the process of learning Thai Massage, both by our wonderful teacher Nephyr and by my classmates. 

The format of the training was excellent as it took a lot of information and techniques and history and broke it into absorbable pieces that provided a platform for the next piece. Instructions and expectations were clear and, though there was a lot to fit into 5 days, I never felt rushed or overwhelmed. Nephyr held a space of safety, understanding and a confidence that we would all "get it," at least at some point. Practice, practice!

The authenticity of the teachings and the practice came through in Nephyr's open and honest approach to teaching and learning. I appreciated her invitation to be "real" and that she led by example in her own openness. For me, this was the perfect atmosphere to learn such a powerful practice where there is bound to be a lot of stuff that comes up on physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual levels. I felt like I could ask any question and would get an honest answer, even if it was, "I don't have the answer."

I am overwhelmed by my own love and gratitude in recalling my experiences in recent weeks...so much that it is difficult to really say anything about it. I am still absorbing and contemplating and integrating all that I learned about the practice and all that I discovered about myself.

I can, however, say with certainty that I have a new passion in my life and that I will most definitely find myself at the Naga Center again. Thank you. My gratitude and appreciation is beyond words.

Teacher Training Program

I’d like to give thanks for all that I’ve learned from Nephr at the Naga Center over the past few years. More than anything else I learned, the integrity of her organization has been inspirational. 

I am a Thai massage practitioner and teacher in San Francisco, CA, and I have just completed the teacher training program at the Naga Center. I got involved with the program with the hope of becoming a better Thai Massage teacher, and gained so much more on a deeper and personal level at every class and encounter. 

Starting over again from level I through all the classes offered, brought up the joys of being a beginner again, as well as the conflicts and difficulties of bringing previous ideas and training with me.  Having another experienced teacher in your class is not a situation that many teachers would relish, so it is a testament to Nephyr's generosity and groundedness as a teacher that she welcomed the complexity of my situation. She shared a similar journey herself through the Tao Mountain teacher training program some years ago. 

To summarize and recommend the teacher training program at the Naga Center, I would point out its defining strength – clear and respectful communication. This is the subject that is not taught directly, but by example. Flowing from basic business interactions, through to the deepest healing intention, Nephyr keeps the space open, light, loving and fair. A truly committed and gifted teacher, I have learned most about teaching from her presence in class, the transparency of her own process of growth and learning, and her generosity in sharing herself and her subject.

From Carrie Stone, CMT

My name is Carrie Stone and I have been practicing massage therapy for 7 years. My relationship with Thai Massage started with a wonderful treatment in New Orleans right after graduating from massage school. The techniques were dynamic. The fluidity and dance-like sequencing were engaging and body/mind-altering. There was no doubt in my mind that I would find a way to incorporate this modality into my bodywork repertoire. Fast forward to 2009. I have studied Thai Massage on my own, have been certified in a number of basic and advanced Thai Massage courses, I have treated my private clients and spa clients with Thai Massage over the past 5 years, as well as received Thai Massage from a plethora of practitioners from Thailand. The modality has given my practice vitality and grace. It has kept me humble, grounded, and inspired.

This post has been brewing since I attended Nephyr's Pre-natal Thai Massage Workshop in July of 2008. Since then, I have attended Nephyr's Level 1-Thai Massage Certification Intensive and it goes without question that I will be following her teachings well into the future. She is a gifted teacher. She does a remarkable job of weaving traditional techniques with our modern day contexts and concerns with threads of humor, compassionate insight, cultural intelligence, and varied technologies. Finding Nephyr and the Naga Center has been a true blessing.

Nephyr's class attracted a very diverse group of bodywork professionals. Our skill levels and back grounds might have been considered a hurdle for the most seasoned of teachers. But not so for Nephyr. She has a wealth of information from her educational and holiday trips to Thailand. Her  connection with Thai Medicine teachers, her cultural awareness, and her intention to preserve and honor Thai traditions prepare her to converse confidently on many aspects of Thai culture and Thai healing modalities. Her lectures were engaging and her 'side-bar' conversations saturated with interesting facts and resources meant to take you beyond the classroom. Her intention seemed to be to offer us a formal invitation to respectfully engage and experience Thai culture and Thai Medicine as well as give us an introduction to Thai Massage. I emerged from our intensive feeling full to the brim and wanting more. Nephyr created a great wide open space for our eager minds and her love for teaching Thai Massage left me feeling revived.

Thank you Nephyr for your generosity, your insight, and the Naga Center. You have created safe space for learning and growing. You are doing the traditional lineages of Thai Massage proud!

With great respect,

Carrie

From David Covill

My name is David Covill LMT and I attended the Naga Center in January of 2008. I would like to tell you about my experience at the Naga Center training with Nephyr Jacobsen.
Let me start by telling you how I was first exposed to Thai massage. I have worked with the Arkansas Repertory Theater for the past 9 years, and it was through this relationship with the theater I had my first experience with Thai massage. While working with choreographer and dancer Eun Jung Choi-Gonzalez she demonstrated a few Thai massage techniques for me. Being one to never turn down any type of bodywork I agreed and new instantly this would be the next evolution in my bodywork.
I spent the next year in researching Thai massage and Thai massage schools here in the states. During this year of research I must have talked with Nephyr Jacobsen at least 4 times. Nephyr always returned phone calls and was more than willing to answer any questions I had . I know I didn’t want to learn someone's composite form of Thai massage and after all was said and done I felt extremely confident The naga Center was the best choice.
Because of my visual impairment it is sometimes difficult for some instructors to adapt their approach of teaching to my situation but this was not the case with Nephyr Jacobsen. I have never had an instructor that put so much of themselves into their class. She must be exhausted at the end of the day. Nephyr was not only able to address my situation, but I watched her (as it were) work one on one with every student in the class lowering anxiety levels, easing frustration and making sure everyone understood the material. Nephyr Jacobsen’s intensive classes are just that, a lot of information is covered. But it is the perfect blend of academic, Thai culture, and plenty of hands on technique. When I left the Naga Center I knew without a doubt I had a solid foundation started and I will be back for further training.
I have never said this about a school or an instructor but I’m proud to say I’m a student of the Naga center and that Nephyr Jacobson is my teacher.
David Covill Lmt
www.bodyperformancemassage.com

from Michelle Pash

When I saw the website, I knew the Naga Center was where I was meant to learn Thai massage.  Upon entering the Naga Center for a class or just a visit to say "hi" you feel warm and welcome.  I look forward to each class knowing I can relax and let go and at the same time be invigorated and nurtured while absorbing as much as I can from Nephyr.  Nephyr is a gift to those who seek to learn authentic Thai massage.  She shares her great knowledge, experience and skill in a kind and caring way.  You can't help but feel her passion for Thai massage and the Thai culture.

Last year, I took the Thai Massage Level I night class (Mar-Apr 2007).  I absolutely loved the night class - 2 nights a week for 7 weeks.  We had so much time to get to know one another, absorb the material and practice between classes.  At the end of those seven weeks I felt extremely comfortable giving a 90 minute Thai massage.  Last month (January 2008) I took the Level I class again, this time the 40 hr intensive as an intern.  Thank you Nephyr for your intern program!  Taking the beginning class for the second time was great.  It really solidified the sequence for me and I learned a few new steps that had been added since my first class.  I highly recommend interning with Nephyr!

Also last year, I took the Advanced Course in Thai Medical Theory (May 2007).  Wow!  Since I hadn't taken the Level II class yet I had to study/memorize the sen lines before this class.  It was worth it.  Learning from Pierce about his time in Thailand, how a Thai therapist diagnoses and treats disorders and the Thai medical philosophy, its evolution out of Buddhist ideas, and its application in modern Thailand was fascinating!  Knowing the theory behind the practice brings it all together.

I wanted more than to just learn a routine and from Nephyr I got exactly what I was looking for - the knowledge, skill, culture, and passion for Thai massage.  I look forward to many more classes at the Naga Center and experiencing Thailand with Nephyr.

With Metta,

Michelle Pash, LMP, CR
www.healandrelax.com

from Amy Warcup

It has been almost a month since I completed the Basic Thai Massage Intensive at the Naga Center, and with each day that has passed since I left, I have been deeply intrigued by this beautiful healing art.
I traveled to the Naga Center from Upstate New York to study. I had been a Shiatsu practitioner and massage therapist for ten years, and it had been a long time since I added a new modality to my practice. I decided a couple of years ago that when I do learn a new method, that it would be Thai massage. I spent many months investigating Thai massage schools and teachers in the United States and Canada. I was amazed at just how many Thai massage teachers there are! I wanted my experience to be authentic and true, and not solely based just on learning it so I could "increase my salary in just months" as so many of the Thai massage schools claimed would happen. I feel that when we practice from the heart and we have intention, that prosperity happens naturally, but it should not be the motivating factor for learning. When I came across the Tao Mountain website, I knew that I found something different. The motivation behind learning Thai massage was directed towards preserving a healing art that is richly based in Thailand's spiritual history. I proceeded to explored the teachers listed on the website, and when I came across the Naga Center, I knew without question that this was the program that would begin my journey in the study of Thai massage. It did not matter to me that there were other schools much closer to home.
During our 40-hour intensive, I felt supported, nurtured, and challenged by what I learned. Nephyr truly has a gift for teaching, and the Naga center proved to offer everything that was promised on the website. I was beyond grateful for what I learned. What I was most amazed by was the fact that I actually left being able to give a full session without needing to glance at my book several times or stop and hesitate often. I felt that what we learned was within me by the time I left because the instruction was so clear, and we spent so much time working with one another.

Since my return home, I have been blessed with being able to give many wonderful, connected sessions. There have been times where Thai massage has challenged me, too, but I am learning that the challenges are part of the process. I do know that Thai massage is the beginning of a brand new path for me, and that as I take this long walk down this path, the Naga Center will definitely be a stop that will occur again for me along the way.

Amy Warcup, MA, LMT
585-507-0741
www.healinghavenmassage.com

An Amazing Experience

A little over a year ago I found the Naga Center and since the first class it has changed the way that I work.  The Naga Center was truly an amazing experience for me.  I've taken thai classes at other schools but did not get the same level education.  With the Naga Center I felt confident in performiing a full 1 1/2 hour routine.  Something that I did not get at other schools.  She keeps her classes small, which allow for individualized attention.  If something doesn't work for, she will find a way to make it work so it is comfortable and effective.  Not only does she teach technique, but she also teaches theory, something that you don't always get at other schools.  I truly believe that you will get the best education at the Naga Center because of Nephyrs knowledge and love for thai massage.  She has had the opportunity to study with some of the best thai practioners out there.  She is eager to share this information with you without holding back.  The Naga Center also offers internship programs which is a great way to refresh or refine your techniques.  With this program you are able to pick up on information that you may have missed the first time.  I've had the opportunity to intern the basic class and am so thankful that she offers the internship.  Since it has been over a year since I took the basic class, the internship allowed me to refine my skills before taking the advance class.

Thank you Nephyr for following your dreams.

Metta,

Stephanie Marx

from Focus

Hello to all.

I have just recently completed the basic Thai massage intensive at the Naga Center. I have been having a hard time finding the words to adequately describe my experience and to tell this story, so perhaps I should start a little earlier.

Last year I took a 67 hour Thai massage class as part of my 801 hour massage training. Then this fall I spent a month in Thailand, both studying and traveling about. When I got back I still knew that I wanted to take further studies in Thai massage before I portrayed myself as a Thai practitioner. In November, I found out about one of the classes being offered at the Naga Center, but the timing wasn’t right for me to join. Then towards the end of December, the feeling of need for more training and mentorship came back to me very strongly. Again, there was a class being offered at the Naga Center. So, without much ado I signed up.

Mind you at this point I knew very little about the Naga Center. I hadn’t even looked through the website all that much, just enough to know about all the classes that were offered. On the first day of class, I truly had no idea what to anticipate. Luckily for the group of us students, Nephyr quickly and comfortingly started us on our way and our worries were easily set aside.

The class was definitely demanding, it is appropriately titled ‘intensive’. However, Nephyr’s style of teaching along with her glowing passion, depth of knowledge, and respect for the tradition of Thai medicine made it possible for all of us to absorb and retain much more than we likely thought possible. During this weeklong class I learned so much more about the history and tradition of Thai massage than my previous experiences combined. The sequence that we learned was presented in such a way that it really felt comfortable and logical (some of this has to do with the nature of Thai massage and some from Nephyr’s amazing-ness). She definitely squeezed as much as is humanly possible into a very short time.

For myself, I am utterly impressed to have found someone that is so inspiring and so open to helping and sharing with whom ever is interested in Thai massage or Thai culture. I know that Nephyr will be helping me in this next leg of my journey towards becoming the best Thai practitioner that I can be and this knowledge is very comforting. For that I must give thanks. (thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!) :)

So for anyone who might be reading this, if you are interested in Thai massage, whether you have started to study or not, I strongly recommend meeting Nephyr and taking classes at the Naga Center. I truly believe it can only help you, in your practice and in your life.

with love and respect,
~focus a. burmester, lmt

Singletree Massage
503.287.4819

It’s been a month since I attended the basic Thai Massage class. I think about it frequently throughout the day, everyday. I look at my calendar trying to figure out when I can squeeze another practice session in. From the modality to the culture, even the body mechanics have started to invade my life. My soon to be 6 year old has even requested to hear the Wai Cru everyday since I sang it to her when I first got home. She told me it made her heart feel happy. We’ve decided to bring the ritual into our household. At her request, I have even read most of the Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand by Pierce Salguero out loud to her. The spark that’s started for me could easily become a wildfire, but fortunately (or maybe not so fortunately) my densely compacted schedule and distance from the Naga Center has managed to keep it contained. I am filled with a sense of sadness that my schedule will not allow for me to attend the next advanced class (it falls at the same time as Grandma’s 80th b-day celebration/our family reunion). I am comforted, though, in knowing that I will be attending every class I can, as I am able.

The class was a very good blend of hands-on experience, demonstration and lecture for the 5-day time frame. There was enough hands-on experience for me to feel like I could come back to Arizona and actually remember how to do everything (memorizing the sequence is still managing to trip me up a little). Nephyr gracefully modeled and guided us in using proper body mechanics. Her philosophy of “if it is not comfortable for the practitioner then it is not comfortable for the client” has been such a simple yet profound realization for me. It has helped me to change my approach with all the table sessions I do.

Nephyr is an absolutely radiant being; her grace, presence and integrity truly moved me. I feel blessed to say that she is my teacher. One thing I loved the most is that she is so dedicated to maintaining the authenticity of the Thai tradition. Because of this I feel like I received the best training I could have without having gone to Thailand myself.

Thank you again, Nephyr!

Devin McKinley
Lovinliphe@msn.com
(928) 710-8622