About her Training
At present, Karen has completed more than 600 hours of continous training in Nuad Boran or Traditional Thai Yoga Massage and is certified as an Advanced Thai Therapist by the Thai Healing Alliance International.
She completed her basic training of Traditional Thai Massage at the Sunshine Massage School in Chiangmai, Thailand in August 2005 following the lineage of Asokananda.
In 2006 and 2007 she continued her advanced training in Cologne, Germany at the Institute of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage with Ralf Marzen and Evelyn Unger.
Karen practiced Nuad Boran at the Institute in Cologne for two years, giving Thai massages to clients with various physical/emotional problems. She also translated teaching scripts of Thaimassage from English to German.
In 2007 and 2008 she studied the special form of Osteo-Thai, an integration of Nuad Boran and osteopathic techniques, with Arno L'Hermitte.
The content of her training includes:
- the location and function of the 10 major sen-lines (sip sen)
- location and therapy with 135 acupressure points (documented by Asokananda)
- specific therapeutic routines of Nuad Boran for lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, knee problems, shoulder pain
- osteopathic techniques in Thai massage
- Luk Pra Kob treatment
In April and October 2009 Karen received her Degree in the Reiki I+II method of healing with Dr. Heather Yates in Scottsdale, AZ.
In June 2009 she studied with various international instructors at the First European Thai Meeting (organized by the Thai Healing Alliance Int.) in Croatia.
In February-March 2010 - one month Thai Massage Circus at the Kuang Si Waterfall Sanctuary near Luang Prabang, Laos incl. 200 hours of basic principles, advanced techniques and refinement of Nuad Boran.
About her Teachers
Ralf Marzen
has been studying Eastern healing arts since the early 90s living a number of years in various Asian countries. He stayed especially in Northern Thailand in a small hill tribe village and had the honor of studying the healing arts of Traditional Thai Massage with Asokananda, a true master and pioneer in the field of Thai Massage. He also studied with the Thai masters Chaiyuth Priasith and Pitchest Boonthumme.
In addition, he practises and teaches Hatha Yoga, Vipassana Meditation, Qi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan. Ralf holds a degree in clinical psychology. His large theoretical and practical background in both Eastern and Western psychology and philosophy allows him to draw from many different sources in his work.
Ralf has practiced and taught Thai Yoga Massage in Thailand, USA, Australia and Europe. He is a Senior Teacher with the Sunshine Network and is accredited by the International Society of Thai Yoga Massage. He was a head instructor and teacher trainer at the Sunshine Massage School in Chiangmai, Thailand. He is also accredited as instructor with the Thai Healing Alliance International (THAI). Ralf lives in London, UK and initiated a healing center - the Still Point - in the City of London.
Evelyn Unger trained both in Traditional Thai Yoga Massage and as an instructor for Traditional Thai Yoga Massage, Herbal Therapy and Thai Foot Reflexology over 4 years within the Sunshine Network in Chiangmai, Thailand. She studied with the famous Thai Masters Asokananda, Pitchest Boonthumme, Lek Chaya und Khun Nit. She became an accredited teacher and instructor with the International Society of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage.
She has a professional background in Physiotherapy with long-standing practical experience in the field of neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation. She practiced healing Thai Yoga Massage at the Reha-Nova, a well-known rehabilitation center in Cologne, Germany.
In 2005 she founded the Institute of Traditional Thai Yoga Massage in Cologne providing a comprehensive, professional training program for practitioners. The Institute facilitates an extensive training approach inviting international instructors of Thai massage to Cologne. She has been teaching basic and advanced clinics and seminars of Nuad Boran ever since in Germany and Phuket, Thailand.
www.thaimassage.de
Arno L’Hermitte
After completing his professional training in physiotherapy and osteopathy, he discovered the masters and traditions of Yoga and Thai Massage in India and Thailand. Over 10 years he worked in his own practice in Tahiti while traveling back to Asia to study with famous Thai Massage Masters like Ajan Pitchet Boonthumme, Ajan Chaiyuth Priyasith and Asokananda.
Arno has been a teacher for Yoga and Thai Massage since 1997 and has taught in Chiangmai (Thailand), as well as all over the world in the USA, Japan, Australia, France, Greece and Germany.
He is one of the founders of the College for Osteo-Thai in the South of France, has published several books and organizes the 'Thai Massage Circus', one of the most extraordinary and profound training experiences for advanced Thai practitioners.