Master Lek Chaiya, Jack Chaiya Paenthai
(Lek's son) and Janice Vitavec
Co-teach in Traditional Thai Massage

Spirit Winds is proud to announce a joint training with Master teacher Lek Chaiya, founder of the Nerve Touch Institute, Thailand her son Jack and Janice Vitavec, founder of Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage in Nevada City, California.

This rare and special event is being held in northern California in the foothills of the Sierra mountains in Nevada City. Master teachers in Traditional Thai Massage are coming from Thailand to the West to co-teach a specialized training. This is a very special opportunity to study with widely acknowledged and accredited teachers from Thailand within the USA.

Lek Chaiya has developed her own style of Thai massage unlike any other teachings in Thailand. She calls this form of massage "Nerve Touch" distinguished by its deep tissue approach to muscles, tendons and nerves for full body massage and specialized therapy. Her son, Jack (Pojanart Chaiya Paenthai) has trained with his mother and has developed his own advanced work and is becoming a Master as well. If you want to learn Thai massage for the first time this will be a very strong foundation for you. If you have studied Thai massage before but you haven't studied with Lek and Jack then you would be learning an entirely new approach to this ancient healing art, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

Early registration is advised as class size limited. Students will be selected.

 

SPECIAL EVENT 2008 Training Schedule Nerve Touch Herbal Massage (Deep Tissue) FOOT MASSAGE: September 13-14 BASIC: September 16-18 ADVANCED: September 20-24 Time: 8:30 am-4:30 pm Yoga Warm-up 8:30 am - 9:30 am Break 9:30 am - 9:45 am Instruction 9:45 am - 12:00 pm Lunch Break 12:00 - 1:00 pm Instruction 1:00 - 4:30 pm

Course Content
Thai Foot Massage (12 training hours)
Learn foot massage and reflexology Thai style with Jack's routine that he has developed. It is an in-depth approach which will teach you a 1 1/2 hour routine just in
foot massage!

Basic 3-Day course (20 training hours)

• 60 Techniques specializing in "Nerve-Touch" Thai Massage
• Full body 1 1/2 hour session
• Deep tissue techniques using elbows, heels, knees and forearms
• Acupressure points throughout the body for releasing back, knee, shoulder and neck pain
• Location of the 10 main "Sen" lines (energy lines) and how to unblock energy flow using Lek Chaiya's personalized style
• Correct body alignment and holistic benefits for both client and therapist for each technique
• Preparation, healing properties and proper usage of traditional herbs for "Herbal Massage" and sauna
  
  

Advanced 5-Day course (35 training hours)

• Hands-On experiential learning of Jack's Advanced work which will apply to clients who have a range of conditions:
  BACK PAIN
  ARM AND HAND PAIN-CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
  ADVANCED ABDOMENAL WORK
  NECK PAIN-WHIPLASH
  PARALYSIS/NUMBNESS
  MIGRAINES
  
• In-Clinic Practice on-site with clients, there will be one-to-one care and guidance given in sessions from both instructors and assistants
• Usage of herbal packs with therapeutic application

A Lek Chaiya technique


Lek with a prenatal massage client

ABOUT THE TEACHERS

LEK CHAIYA (Thiwong)

70 yrs, born in Chiangmai, Thailand
For many generations in Lek Chaiya’s family, the traditional Thai Healing Arts have been handed down from mother to daughter and "Mama Lek" began her training with her mother, a revered healer in Jom Thong district, Chiangmai.

As a young woman, she moved to Lampang where she raised her family and continued to work in Ancient (Traditional) Thai Massage.

In 1982 she came to Chiangmai to join the staff of The Association of Northern Herbs at Wat Suan Dok. When the association was disbanded, she founded ‘Ancient Thai Massage Lek Chaiya’, located in front of Wat Suan Dok and remained as owner / director until 1994, after which she operated out of her home until launching her new venture with her son (Maew, Tananan Willson), Lek Chaiya Nerve-Touch Traditional Thai Massage with Medicinal Herbs in 1997.

She has received many awards and recognition over the years of her outstanding contributions to the Authentic Thai Traditional Healing Arts. And now she has been appointed Lecturer of Thai Massage by the Project of Rehabilitation for Thai Masseur(s), Foundation of Health Development and Staff, Bangkok.

CERTIFICATES AND AWARDS Special Training: “Herbs” Royal Project Committee, Lampang Thailand, December 1982 Special training : “How to use herbs” Royal Project Committee, Chiangmai, September 1985 Nerve-Touch Massage Basic Training, Committee of Northern Herbs Association. Chiangmai, January 1987 Special Curriculum for Using Herbs, Committee of Herbs Center of Thailand. Chiangmai, March 1993 Special Curriculum for Using Herbs, Committee of Herbs Center of Thailand. Chiangmai, January 1996 Honorary Award, Special Herbs Training Course, Mae Rim District, Chiangmai, January 1996 Training of advanced study for masseurs, Project of Rehabilitation of Thai Massage, Foundation of Health Development, Bangkok,December 1996 Training of advanced study for masseurs, Foundation of Health Development. Bangkok, December 1997 Presently Appointed: Lecturer of Thai Massage, The Project of Rehabilitation for Thai Masseur(s), Foundation of Health Development, Bangkok.

JANICE VITAVEC

Janice Vitavec is founder of Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage, Nevada City, California. She has been studying throughout all regions of Thailand for the last 11 years. Lek Chaiya is one of her first teachers, she has continued to study with her every year to expand her knowledge, "Mama Lek" has been a primary influence in her therapeutic work.

Background and Training
Bachelor of Arts -Psychology
Life Skills Coach Training
Facilitator/Instructor:
Communication Training programs
Theater for Social Change
Women's programs
Self Development workshops for Caregivers
Crisis Intervention/Family Mediation
Employment Trainer
Program Consultant
Many years of Yoga & Meditation Practice

Janice Vitavec studied from a master of Thai Massage, Chongkol Setthakorn, at the Institute of Thai Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She received certification in advanced levels of Traditional Thai Massage as well as certification in Teacher Training.

She has received training with Achaan Sintorn at The Old Medicine Hospital and Northern Association of Traditional Medicine.

Janice further studied with Lek Chaiya (known as "Mama Lek") where she received certification in Traditional Herbal Thai Massage-southern style.

Janice is a certified Yoga Instructor trained at the Vivekananda Kendra Yoga Research Institute, Bangalore, India.

Janice lived in Thailand for 6 months to study and to experience Thai culture. She has traveled to Thailand to continue her studies every year for the last ten years to continue to develop her skills and knowledge of Thai Massage, she is recognized by her teachers as an advanced instructor and her programs are recognized as "sister programs" to both The Institute of Thai Massage and Lek Chaiya Nerve Touch Herbal Massage.

Spirit Winds School of Thai Massage is recognized by T. H. A. I. (Thai Healing Alliance International), is registered with the Bureau For Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education and is an Approved Institution with A. B. M. P. (Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals).

Please see the References and Credentials page for further details.