Mettá

Aside from my training by master Asokananda in Chiangmai, Thailand, I trained at Metta College of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage. Established by Andrea Baglioni and Amy Ku Redler (both students of Asokananda) in the early ‘90s, this school is in direct lineage with Asokananda’s training — keeping the authenticity of this centuries-​old therapeutic bodywork. For more info, visit:
The stereotype of Thai Massage is linked with images of Bangkok’s infamous nightlife and the massage parlours that offer services quite different from genuine «nuad phaen boran» («ancient massage,» aka traditional Thai massage, which has a long history of therapeutic healing). It is a 2,500 year old tradition started by Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, Buddha’s physician, with direct links to yogic philosophy and Ayurvedic tradition. This is the type of healing that is taught by Metta.
If you’re not about to head out to Thailand like I did, and you’re not sure you want to commit to a full program, then a suitable start would be at an Introductory Day
– this will give you a taste of this type of bodywork, experiencing how it integrates with your body, and learning some simple and effective techniques.
The general crowd attracted are massage therapists, fitness instructors, yogis, healing artists, and open-​minded folk. You do not need massage training to start, but it can help, especially in knowing anatomy/​physiology.
Personally, after my training here, I graduated onto advanced training, and chose to study exclusively with Andrea Baglioni. He is a superb instructor: precise, patient, explanatory, with an innate understanding of body mechanics (a must for this style of bodywork!). Baglioni teaches internationally, and holds a practice in London (as I am super-​picky about who I get my bodywork from, I only trust Andrea). For more information:
If you want an experience of integrity, then I can’t recommend this school and traditional Thai yoga massage enough. The moment I felt the work, I knew it was the grand-​daddy of all therapeutic massage, and took it upon myself to specialise solely in this bodywork. Since its roots are yogic, this is a perfect compliment to energy work and yoga.
Since my training, I went on to establish Melt Therapy
, both in London, and Los Angeles. The work has lead me to also branch out into kundalini yoga, which shares energy lines evoked in traditional Thai yoga massage. This twin combination has taken my work onto a whole different and powerful level.