Special Events / Thai Gathering

Sept 2023, 8th Annual (American)
Thai Massage and Medicine Gathering

As many of you know, the 2022 Gathering was cancelled because Rose went to CA and stayed there to care for her father.

However, good news, we are excited to announce the REBIRTH of the Gathering, now called the Thai Massage Summit, to be held outside of Asheville, North Carolina, in a beautiful mountain retreat setting, hosted by Jill Burynski of Living Sabai, Sept 19 - 21, 2023.

Please join us for this collaborative event! We are very excited to be live in-person again. And grateful to Jill for carrying on this much-loved gathering of Thai Massage and Medicine enthusiasts.

See information and registration details here at Thai Massage Summit.

Spots are filling up quickly, so don’t delay!

And check out the private facebook group to connect with others before, during and after the event: Thai Massage Summit Facebook Group.

Even tho this rebirth will be ‘same same but different’, if it’s your first time attending, to get an idea how unique and awesome the Gathering/Summit is, please see some of the past-years events below, and click on the slideshow!

Past Year’s Gatherings-

2021 Annual LIVE VIRTUAL Gathering RECORDING AVAILABLE

Note: the virtual Gathering is sold out, thank you for your enthusiasm! If you missed it, or if you attended and want to have a copy to refer back to, a recording of the main presentations are available. Go to this link to purchase: Recording - sorry, the recording is no longer available, contact us at rose@thai-massage.org for more information

Special Event! We are excited to again offer this yearly gathering to the growing Thai massage and medicine community.

Join our wonderful American teachers from diverse TTM backgrounds: Nephyr Jacobsen, Pierce Salguero, Gregory Oed, Rose J. Griscom, Jill Burynski, David Wells, and Al Turner II, plus some special guests from Thailand and around the US, such as Pichest Boonthumme, Homprang Chaleekanha, and Janice Gagnon! Stay tuned for more details.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and to ensure everyone’s safety, we will not be meeting in-person in NJ. Instead, we’ve developed an unique LIVE virtual Gathering over zoom to support this beautiful community, share stories, educate, play, expand our hands-on Thai massage practice, deepen our TTM knowledge, and celebrate Songkran (the Thai New Year)!

Schedule: Friday April 16, 4:30pm-9pm and Saturday April 17, 11:30am-4pm, for a total of 9hrs over two half-days. All times are in Eastern Standard Time (US east coast time zone).

We’ll follow our general format as in the past 6 years, continuing to prioritize a welcome, inclusive, diverse attendance, with presenters from different styles and lineages of TTM. Please read our Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; all attendees are expected to adhere to the stated guidelines and goals.

Even though the event is virtual, it is LIVE, which means there will be lots of attendee interaction, whole group sessions as well as smaller breakouts for a personal exchange, breaks to get you up and moving and away from your screen, games for the Songkran festival Friday night, lectures as well as demonstrations, opportunities for questions and answers, and hands-on teaching that you can do on yourself, with a partner if you have one with you, or learn by watching.

Details are being finalized, but expect Friday to be a mixture of learning and playing, with multiple teaching segments, small breakout groups, stories of Thailand, the history and practices of Songkran, and a dance party to celebrate the New Year!

Saturday will include Reusi Dat Ton exercises, more teaching segments including hands-on, group interaction, smaller breakout sessions, presenter panel discussion with Q&A, and time to visit together with old and new Gathering colleagues.

You can attend solo, or with a partner to work on. You will need reliable internet service, and while you do not need your own account, you will be using Zoom.

After you register, you will receive an invite to the private 2021 Thai Gathering group chat and a detailed schedule on April 1st. The Zoom link will be sent a few days later.

Nephyr will beam in from Portland, Oregon to share more of her deep knowledge of Thai medical theory. Al will join us from NYC (or Columbia) to inspire us with his skill in the practical application of body movement within applied Thai massage. Gregory (in Baltimore) will lead us in Reusi Dat Ton (RDT) exercises - the Thai hermit's yoga - that are directly linked to and will strengthen our practice along with David (from NY) who will share his unique slideshow of historical roots of RDT and the connections to hatha yoga. Jill comes to us from Asheville, NC to teach a hands-on application of Thai foot reflexology. And Rose will host the event and lead the Songkran festival.

In an effort to support the devastated tourist industry in Thailand this past year, a large portion of the proceeds will go to the TTM teachers joining us from Thailand. The remainder is shared amongst the other presenters, and some is donated to our Gathering Scholarship fund for future years.

Discounted tuition of only $65pp is extended; registrations accepted until end of day April 13. No late registrations. Register below.

CEs are not offered this year for this event.

NOTE: this event does not teach basic Thai massage techniques or a massage routine. It is geared toward current TTM practitioners who already have Thai massage or medicine experience, to deepen their practice through peer interaction, expanding theoretical and historical knowledge, hands-on variations, and fostering a network of colleagues for support. If you are new to TTM you are still welcome to join us, but realize we will not be teaching basic movements and the focus is not on learning a ‘routine’, so only attend if you are comfortable with things being ‘over your head’ at times.

2020 e-Gathering

You can still join the past year 2020 online e-Gathering
as a ‘pay-what-you-wish’ donation.
Click on the link below to register.

The presenters came together in March 2020 to offer an online version of our annual Gathering. All proceeds support us to recover financial costs of the year 2020 event which was cancelled due to the pandemic, and contribute to our Scholarship Fund.
Thank you for joining! Once you are registered, you'll get an email with the link to join the private Facebook page '2020 E-Gathering'. You'll have access to the material until April 1st, 2021 and can download some of the material to keep for even longer.
NOTE: Because this is a private Facebook group, you must have an active Facebook account to join and we'll need to know your facebook name.

Experience our core group of organizers (Rose J. Griscom, Gregory Oed, Pamela Herrick, and Al Turner II) and guest presenters Jill Burynski, Nephyr Jacobsen, Pierce Salguero, and David Wells.

Virtually experience this collaborative event in it’s 6th year. We are committed to maintaining a fun and safe space, so have a look at our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement.

Pierce Salguero, PhD sharing his historical perspective about Jivaka. The Jivaka Project: Film Screening and Discussion about Buddhism and Health in America. Pierce will also do a presentation on the History of Jivaka, the Mythological Founder of Thai Medicine.

Jill Burynski teaching Thai Foot Massage- in this hands-on demonstration, you will learn how to use a rosewood foot massage tool in your Thai massage sessions.

Nephyr Jacobsen on Thai Medical Theory focused on Transforming Practice and Alleviating Suffering with Thai Element Theory.

We are very pleased this year to welcome David Wells, who will be sharing his unique and informative slide presentation on the history of Thai Yoga, “Reusi Dat Ton,” the traditional holistic self-care system of Thailand.

Gregory Oed leading us in Reusi Dat Ton ‘thai hermit’s yoga’ practice.

Pamela Herrick will share her unique perspective as a seasoned practitioner exploring intuitive healing and the natural skills we already have.

Al Turner II will partner with Rose J. Griscom in Explore the Sen to playfully explore these lines/channels/spiritual pathways and share practical tools showing a variety of stretches and compressions and techniques that focus on indications and therapeutic ways to address Sen comfortably and deeply.

CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s SCHOLARSHIP recipients: Samantha Jo Adams, Endia Sharpe, and David Chernati!

click on the photo above for a short slideshow from 2018's Gathering (most, but not quite all, of the photos by Lisa Mott)

2018 Thai Massage Jam/Gathering

Friday, April 27, 2018,11:00 AM through Monday, April 30, 20183:00 PM

The 4-day attendance is currently FULL, but you can attend for SINGLE DAYS at the link below. 

Special Event! We are excited to again offer this yearly gathering to the growing NJ/PA/mid-Atlantic/east coast thai massage and medicine community.

With new topics, new (as well as familiar) presenters, and a focus on practical hands-on techniques, you are sure to walk away refreshed and renewed with specific skills you can use with your clients. Mark the dates, reserve your spot, and join us.

Join five wonderful teachers (Pierce Salguero, Pamela Herrick, Gregory Oed, Al Turner II, Rose J. Griscom), along with some special guests (including Sudevi Kramer, Phillip Behrns, and Paul Fowler).

This year will be a focus on some of the esoteric aspects of Traditional Thai Medicine that previous participants have asked about. Pierce's presentations on Buddhist Healing will help us understand the history of Thai Medicine, as well as Thai healing magic, rituals of protection, spirit invocation, exorcism, magic charms, amulets, and other aspects of Thai healing culture. An additional topic of discussion includes “wai khru” ceremonies, altars, and other sacred spaces. We will delve into how to practice these aspects of Thai healing, with emphasis on “culturally translating” Thai traditions to fit with participants’ own teaching and practice goals. 

Pamela will do something different this year (instead of her expert help in business-building tools) to guide us into learning hands-on ways to experience the sen as an expression of spirit. By developing our senses beyond traditional palpation, we will find answers to our unanswered questions about the sen. And gain a more complex understanding of clients’ presenting conditions and deepen the therapeutic impact of our work. All in a lighthearted, experimental and playful learning environment. No dogma. Just practice.

Al Turner returns from NYC to share his extensive knowledge and skill in the practical application of thai massage. And Gregory Oed will again lead us in daily reusi dat ton (the thai hermit's yoga) exercises that are directly linked to and will strengthen your thai massage practice.

Sudevi Kramer joins us from the Vedic Conservatory this year to share with you this yoga and ayuervedic inspired style of thai massage, giving you a fresh perspective to use in your practice. Phillip Behrns from VA brings his knowledge of Royal Thai Massage techniques as well as exploring Tok Sen (haven't heard of that yet? You will!). Paul Fowler from Blue Lotus Thai Healing in Chicago, recently back from his latest sojourn to Thailand, will join us and share some practical hands-on techniques.  

-All 4 days are $450 regular price, or $750 for two if you BRING A FRIEND and register together by Feb 15th. You can also attend single days for $150. 

-at the NJ shore in Ocean City, just south of Atlantic City

-interactive lectures on thai medicine and history and healing practices, daily Wai Khru and Reusi Dat Ton, lots of practical bodywork, sharing meals and hanging on the boardwalk together, so that you may come away more deeply connected to each other and your thai massage practice. 

-play/share/trade/connect with other therapists

-teacher-led hands-on demonstrations and practices

-a comfortable space in downtown Ocean City NJ, three blocks from the beautiful beach and boardwalk

-THAI and NCBTMB 28 CEs for attending the full event

-attend 1, 2, 3 or 4 days (the best price is for all 4 days)

-Space is limited! We are keeping it small, no more than 35 people, so register early to hold your spot. The 4-day attendance is currently FULL, but you can attend for SINGLE DAYS at the link below. 

-Overnight housing will be available in town with other attendees in a comfortable fully-equipped condo. $150 for all 3 nights (Fri/Sat/Sun). We added an option for Additional Housing if you want to include Thu & Mon overnights. Reserve your spot early to ensure the rate and availability! See the other links for HOUSING, and write a note on your registration, or contact us.

Preliminary Schedule, April 27 - 30, 2018: FRIDAY 11:00am-6:30pm, SATURDAY 9am-8pm, SUNDAY 9am-9pm, MONDAY 9am-3pm.