Hi Reiki Pixie, I haven't studied massage in Indonesia but I spent a glorious week in Bali on a Yoga/massage Retreat. The massages and the client care are fantastic. If you want to check out the retreat PM me and I will send you the link. I hope to go back there to visit again some day.

Hi

Me and a friend are going to Bali / Indonesia in December.

Both of us have studied Indonesian (Balinese & Javinese) massage in the UK, so we thought it would be nice to do some additional training out there.

RP

RP,
This has been i my mind to do this since i completed my Indonesian training too!

I will say this though... i have treated people who have had treatments in indonesia and they say the sysytem we have learnt is far better. I think i will be a challenge to find someone who teaches it authentically, as i believe most of it has become touristy.

What about 'indoenesian secrets' on the web? they seem to include all the ritual stuff and compress applications.

INDO

Hi Indo

I (and Alex) have no problem with the training we received, but I do like to see how other people practice. Also from my experience in studying in Thailand, there is always a master somewhere who is happy to share their knowledge, not just in techniques but in attitude. It's also good for publicity when I inform a client that additional training was in the country of origin.

Anycase, Alex (and her partner) are going to Bali at the end of November and have asked me to meet up, and do some training with her.

Not forgetting it's a good excuse to travel, and get away from Christmas, which I hate with passion.

Best Wishes

RP

Sounds good to me! Its defo on my list of 'to do's'.

Maybe next year though, I 've got my Qi Gong course to complete this weekend and i'm considering doing the Thai course this year.

Indo

Hello Star Dust, I am heading to Bali in a week and looking for a yoga massage course. I've just finished two weeks at Asokanandar's centre near Chang Mai and am keen to see how Balinese massage differs from Thai. Did you post a link to the retreat you mention in your post?
Thanks,

Hi Helen

Welcome to Hp!

I have PM (that's private message) Star_dust to find out more info. But I think as a new member you can't PM yet (I think).

As for the difference between Balinese and Thai massage:

Thai is generally clothed, uses a lot of slow stretching and pressing techniques

Balinese is oil based, faster with more pushing techniques into the soft tissues

Both see the body as a series of energy lines.

Best Wishes

RP

P.S. Tell us about experiences when you come back!

Hi Helen, Didn't see your message before now. Just wondering how you got on over in Bali?

Hi

Finally me and my colleague Alex got to Bali. We had a 4-handed massage (that's 2 therapists) on the beach at Sanur, which was OK, more for tourists.

Then we went to Ubud, and got talking to a waiter in a cafe that happened to practice massage. We asked him for personal tuition, and at first didn't want to teach. Anycase we did convince him. 2 days later we met him and he did teach but was testing us by playing hard to get. So had 2 half-day teaching sessions. The main theme to Balinese massage is focusing on the myofascia and connective tissue. Treatment patterns were similar to Thai sen lines and Chinese meridians. Lots of deep tissue pushing & rubbing until the tension breaks down. Just like Thai traditional massage, the treatment starts on the feet, but in the prone position.

Alex got additional training from another therapist in Javanese Lulur and Balinese Boreh whole body wraps.

Talking about wraps, I got a bit sun burnt one day and I went to a salon that offered aloe vera and cucumber wraps for sunburn. To be covered head to toe in cooling aloe was pure bliss! Then I had to wash off in a warm tub of water with flowers floating on the top, while being served a cup of tea by a young maiden. Nice!

I went on a 3 day Balinese yoga retreat. It was more than just a asana exercise class, had to chant, work with energy and activate the kundalini, and was purified in a mountain spring in a Balinese Hindu ritual cleansing my bad karma etc. Was also taught Balinese traditional energy healing, which was not too dissimilar to Reiki. There was 3 healing symbols (different to Reiki ones) which represented the healing aspects of the gods: Brahma - Vishnu - Shiva.

Apart from that: visited some botanical gardens; white water rafting; wallowed in hot volcanic springs; lots of trekking; lots of wonderful food; and lots of massage (market research of course). The people were friendly and polite.

The guest house room (which had a outside walled garden en-suite bathroom)overlooked a jungle ravine. Every morning for breakfast, a large plate of fresh fruit, pancakes, and delicious Balinese coffee on the verenda. All for £8 per night.

So as you might guess, we had a good time - mission accomplished!

Best Wishes

RP

Sounds like a heavenly trip. Bali is most definitely somewhere I will be returning to again.