About Our School

The Thai Institute of Healing Arts was founded by Thais and Americans as a bridge for Westerners to the traditional Thai healing arts. We focus on creating an authentic learning environment for students interested in exploring the traditional healing practices of Thailand. The Thai Institute's dedicated and passionate instructors are best prepared to teach the Thai techniques, culture, and philosophy to you. (Read more about our unique connection with Thailand through our sister school and home of our lineage, click here.)

Those interested in a career change or those looking to add new techniques to their current healing practice will be equally challenged and inspired. Each of our courses are enriched with theoretical discussions and cultural experiences to allow the western student the opportunity to gain the deepest knowledge in Thailand's ancient healing arts. This knowledge comes directly from the source, Thailand.

“Just wanted to let you know that I had a really great learning experience last week during the Basic Thai Massage course. I've been in many classrooms and I have to say that you did a phenomenal job creating a supportive and inspirational learning environment. Thank you so much! Eventually I will be back to learn more!"

Jenny H. Massage Therapist, Arlington, VA

While you are establishing a foundation of Thailand's healing knowledge you will also learn the Thai techniques. The techniques shared at the Thai Institute date back for centuries. The Thai Institute's dedicated and passionate instructors are best prepared to teach the Thai techniques, culture, and philosophy to you. It's a gift from Thailand that we are honored to be able to pass onto you.

Learn more about our courses, CLICK HERE.

Executive Director - David Roylance discusses details about our school, classes, Thai culture and our sister school in Chiang Mai, Thailand during an online interview.

Thai Institute of Healing Arts is approved by:

• Official seat of the Shivagakomarpaj Lineage in the West. (Thai Massage School Shivagakomarpaj "Old Medicine Hospital", Chiang Mai, Thailand)

• Approved by Union of Traditional Thai Medicine Society (Thailand) and Ministry of Public Health (Thailand)

• The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider.

• Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider

• Certified by The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV - #43182)

• Louisiana State Board of Massage Therapy - LAP0143

• Florida CE Provider #: 50-10255

What is the status of Thai massage certification in the USA?

What should I look for in a Thai Massage Instructor, Teacher, or School?

About Our Instructors

Sararut (Sara) Roylance
Director of Therapeutics, Director Charitable Projects & Senior Instructor
sara @ thai-institute.com

Education & Training

Sararut has an extensive background of training and experience. Massage and healing is part of her family heritage and a way of life for her.

Sararut started her informal massage training early in life at age 9 in the remote village of Udonthani, 10-hours outside of Thailand's capital city of Bangkok. She learned massage directly from her mom. Sararut's mom is well known in her village for assisting residents by using Traditional Thai Massage and herbal medicine for healing. Sararut started a more formal apprenticeship with her mom at the age of 19 in their remote village outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. She learned first hand how to create specific herbal remedies for certain disorders.

As Sararut's skill and passion grew, she decided to make healing not only her way of life but her career. She has formal training and education totaling over 1500 hours with a significant focus on Traditional Thai Healing.

Sararut is very gracious to her kind, warm and patient teachers including: Ajahn Sohnatda Panchee, Ajahn Chalerm Vongsiri, Ajahn Supol Lohachitkul, Ajahn Terry Liew, Ajahn Vicki Weber, and Ajahn Sumson Chaiypakdee.

Sararut has graduated from several well known and prestigious schools in Thailand and is currently a Traditional Thai Medicine Doctoral Candidate (Mo Boran Candidate) with focuses on Thai massage, Thai herbal medicine, Thai midwifery and post natal care.

Sararut is the Senior Instructor at the Thai Institute and our Director of Charitable Projects. Her role as Senior Instructor allows her the opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with students one-on-one. She is directing several charitable projects where the Thai Institute, its employees, and students are engaged in activities to support the Thai people through donations of time, money, or service. With Sararut's guidance, we have initated several projects that benefit the people from Southeast Asia both in the USA and back home in thier native land.

(2009)
Union of Traditional Thai Medicine Society - Traditional Thai Medicine Doctoral Candidate

(2006)
Traditional Thai Massage (60-hours) – Nakhonpathorn Provincial Center

(2004)
Certified Thai Massage Instructor – Ministry of Public Health (Thailand)

Certified Traditional Thai Massage Instructor – The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society (Thailand)

Certified Traditional Thai Massage Instructor - Thai Traditional Medical Services Society (Thailand)

(2003)
Reflexology Massage (60-hours) – The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society

Traditional Thai Massage (280-hours) – KlongToey District Education Center

Traditional Thai Massage (410-hours) – The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society

Aromatherapy Massage (60-hours) – The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society

Sararut is an accomplished Certified Thai Massage Practitioner and Certified Thai Massage Instructor having been employed at many top spas throughout Thailand. She founded her own company in Thailand to provide consulting services to spas throughout the country and has trained 100's of Therapists in Thailand through her own company and her position as Training Manager at Cheraim Spa Village

Professional Affiliations

Sararut is certified by The Union of Thai Traditional Medicine Society (Thailand), The Ministry of Public Health (Thailand) and is a member of the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP-USA) and an approved Instructor of the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). She holds professional certifications in Thailand and the USA qualifying her as a Certified Thai Massage Instructor.

Experience

Sararut has taught 100's of students the gift and art of Thai healing. She has the ability to comfortably communicate knowledge from ancient Thailand inaccessible to western students. She has taught classes in Thai and English.

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Dr. Pierce Salguero, PhD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Director of Research &
Senior Instructor
pierce @ thai-institute.com

Education & Training

Dr. Pierce lived in Asia between 1997 and 2001 — most of that in Thailand, with significant time spent in India, China, and Indonesia as well. During those years, he explored an interest in Buddhism through extended stays at meditation centers and monasteries in Isaan (eastern Thailand). During this time he received training as a practitioner of massage and herbal medicine in Chiang Mai, Thailand's vibrant center of traditional medicine. Dr. Pierce apprenticed with individual healers such as Lek Chaiya and Mama Nit, and completed a basic course, internship, and teacher certification at the renowned "Old Medicine Hospital." With the blessing of his teacher, he founded the TaoMountain School of Traditional Thai Massage & Herbal Medicine upon his return to the U.S. in 2002.

Since Dr. Pierce moved back to the U.S., he has engaged in academic research focused on Asian medicine. He received his M.A. degree in 2005 from the East Asian Studies Department of the University of Virginia. He wrote his Master's Thesis on the cultural history of Thai medicine (this was subsequently published as a handbook for Thai medical practitioners by Hohm Press as Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Ayurveda.) In 2005, Dr. Pierce began the Ph.D. program at the Institute of the History of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed graduate fields in the history of medicine in China, India, and wrote his dissertation on the movement of Buddhist medicine from India to China. He earned his Ph.D. in 2010.

In 2005, Dr. Pierce joined the Thai Institute as an instructor of Thai massage and herbal medicine. With the 2010 merger of TaoMountain and Thai Institute, he is now a Senior Instructor and the Director of Research for Thai Institute. His research has uncovered a plethora of information previously unknown to the western world. Dr. Pierce's evidence-based research is ever present in the curriculum of the Thai Institute's coursework benefiting all of the students and in our treatments administered in our Therapy Centers. (Note from Director of Research - Dr. Pierce Salguero)

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Pierce is an active academic researcher and college professor. In the Thai massage/medicine community, he is a member of the Association of Traditional Northern Thai Medicine, the founder of the Shivago Foundation and the TaoMountain School of Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine. He is also a member of several academic associations, including the International Association for the Study of Traditional Asian Medicine (IASTAM), the American Academy of Religion (AAR), and the American Association for the History of Medicine (AAHM)

Publications

Dr. Pierce is the #1 best selling author of Thai massage instructional books. He has written A Thai Herbal, the only English-language guide to Thai Herbal Medicine, The Encyclopedia of Thai Massage, a comprehensive book on Thai massage therapy, and The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand, a book on the history and spirituality of Thai medicine. He has also published a book entitled Traditional Thai Medicine: Buddhism, Animism, Ayurveda, which gives an overview of the history of Thai healing and contemporary practices. Dr. Pierce has also written numerous articles on Thai tradition in magazines such as Yoga Journal, Massage Magazine, Natural Awakenings, Whole Life Times, and others. His academic publications are listed on his academic website, www.Jivaka.net.

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David L. Roylance
Executive Director
david @ thai-institute.com

Education & Training

David Roylance is the Executive Director and Founder of Touch of Asia - Therapy Center and the Thai Institute of Healing Arts. David graduated from Salisbury State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems Management in 1997. He then started a career in the corporate world of Information Technology, progressing through the ranks of management. He always had a strong passion for helping others and found himself always looking for ways to help his employees grow in their career and gain further education.

David soon discovered the healing art of Thai massage on a trip to Thailand. He then studied Thai massage and became a Certified Thai Massage Practitioner in 2003 and Certified Thai Massage Instructor in 2004.

David has received recognition as a Certified Teacher of authentic Thai massage, Thai herbal massage, Advanced Techniques for Thai Massage, and Traditional Thai Herbal Medicine from the Thai Massage School Shivagakomarpaj (also known as the "Old Medicine Hospital") in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Old Medicine Hospital is one of the most prestigious and well known Thai massage and traditional Thai medical hospitals in Thailand. Following strict cultural protocols, the Old Medicine Hospital does not issue teaching certification to anyone who is a non-Thai. David has been presented this rare certification in recognition of his dedication to Thai culture and traditional medicine. (See more about our lineage here.)

David has lived and worked among the Thais since 2001 giving him unique and in-depth exposure to the Thai culture and way of life. He has personally visited over 150 Theravada Buddhist temples in both Thailand and the USA. This has allowed him to gain an appreciation and understanding of the Thai spiritual practices which is integral to the Thai healing arts as practiced in Thailand. David currently lives in Thailand 3 months per year and speaks Thai (main language) and the northern dilect "Oo Gum Muang". In the classroom, David shares his insights and cultural experiences from continuous interaction with the vibrant culture of Thailand including knowledge of the Thai healing arts.

David has taught 1000's of students the gift and art of Traditional Thai massage and Traditional Thai Medicine. He has even taught many native Thai students that seek out training within the USA or at our sister school in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He creates a relaxing yet informative classroom environment that makes learning fun, exciting, safe, and challenging. He has a true passion for teaching that comes across in every interaction with him.

David is regularly invited to venues all over the region and internationally as a guest speaker and Thai Massage Instructor. David has always felt charitable giving is an important component to any business that benefits from indigenous knowledge of another culture. Since first founding both businesses, David has initiated several charitable projects that give back to the people of Southeast Asia - especially Thailand.

Publications and Professional Affiliations

David is a member of the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP). He is accredited by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a Certified Thai Massage Instructor. He has contributed to and published several articles on the topics of Traditional Thai Massage and Traditional Thai Medicine. David has coauthored two important books, "Encyclopedia of Thai Massage: A Complete Guide to Traditional Thai Massage Therapy and Acupressure" the best selling Thai massage book on Amazon.com along with the accompanying "Thai Massage Workbook: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Courses".

- Thai Massage: More than Just a Spa Treatment by David L. Roylance
- What Good is History for a Massage Therapist, Anyways? by David L. Roylance
- Have Less Stress: Get a Relaxing Massage Touch of Asia Voted Top 3 Places to Visit
by Washingtonian Magazine
- A Touch of Bliss From the Far East by Jennifer Minar
- Feel the Pull of Thai Massage - Washington Post
- Touch of Asia brings ancient massage practice to Sterling - Loudoun Times Mirror
- Get Out: Try Thai Massage - Washington Post

Visit to Phra Phrom's Spirit Shrine - Bangkok, Thailand
Learn the story of Phra Phrom. How and why the Thais make offerings
to this representation of the Hindu God Brahma. (Watch more videos, click here.)


Wat Chedi Luang - Chiang Rai, Thailand
Visit an old historic temple in ruins. Learn how to make an
offering at a Thai temple and see a "bi-see" offering being
constructed by hand. (Watch more videos, click here.)

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Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat Inthisan, PhD
Spiritual Director

The Venerable Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat Inthisan, Ph.D., has been a Theravada Buddhist Monk since the age of 14. He ordained as a novice in 1977. In 1983, he was ordained at a higher level after completing extensive training and studying with master monks in the forest tradition of Thailand.

Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat has studied the Pali language, the formal language of Theravada Buddhism, completed a B.A. from Mahachulalongkorn Buddhist University, Thailand, an M.A. in Education from Century University, New Mexico, and a second M.A. degree in Ancient Indian and Asian studies from Magadh University of Bihar State in India. In 2003, he completed his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies at Magadh University focusing his dissertation on "The Problem of Self in Buddhism." Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat's studies and monastic duties took him from Thailand to over fifteen countries that include such diverse places as Canada, France, Germany, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan to name a few. From 1992 to the present, he has served primarily as a missionary monk at Wat Thai Washington, D.C. that serves the local Thai and American communities.

While in the USA, he established the Buddhist Meditation Center of Berks (BMCB) in Reading, Pennsylvania; served as the BMCB's vipassana meditation and yoga instructor; was a visiting professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Value Research, Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was an editor of the Thai Sangha Magazine of the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the USA.

Since the year 2000, he has written several Buddhist books in English and in Thai. His English books include History, Scripture, and Archeology: A Brief Study Regarding Some Ancient Buddhist Sites; Walking the Path of The Buddha; and The Handbook of Buddhist Ceremonies and Celebrations. His Thai books include The Buddhist Missionary in the USA; The Holy Places in India; and The Pure Land on the Earth: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Darjeeling-Sikkim, etc.

Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat Inthisan provides guidance to our Meditation Workshop held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month from 6:00pm - 7:45pm at the Thai Institute. Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat is our lead instructor for this workshop and with occasionally join us. This learning opportunity is at no cost and open to the public.

Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat Inthisan Ph.D., travels throughout the United States and all across the world as a sought-after meditation instructor for various classes and retreats. We are honored to have his guidance as our Spiritual Director at the Thai Institute. Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat leads the path in all spiritual pursuits to include regular Buddhist ceremonies: Blessing Ceremonies, TTM Symposium Opening Ceremonies, Annual Wai Khru, Sangkatan Ceremonies, and a host of others. Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat's advice is sought in the coordination of our charitable projects, the development of all our programs, and forward movement of all our activities. Students are invited to spend extended periods of time with him for deeper study while living at the Thai Temple.

For more information about Phra Ajahn Dr. Thanat Inthisan Ph.D., see the following websites: http://www.thanat.iirt.net/monktale.html, http://www.thanat.iirt.net/mylife.dwt, http://www.handytour.blogspot.com

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