appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

SCMP Reporter

For more than 3000 years, civilizations across Asia and beyond have understood the benefits of a good massage. A professional massage therapist can ease away not only physical pains - but also  mental  ones.
Massage classes appeal to a wide range of people, from spouses who want to be able to give their better halves a  foot rub, to  those seeking professional training.  
'We've trained more than 100 students in the last year and are continually expanding,' says Joe Ho Chi-ning, of the Wanchai Thai Massage School (www.massage-school.hk).  'About three quarters of our students are women, with most of them learning for fun.' 
Thai massage is said to alleviate muscle tension, increase flexibility, balance energy flows throughout the body, and induce relaxation.  
At the school, a basic course in Thai massage, which is one of the most popular, teaches the fundamentals of hand and body positioning, timing  and pressure. 
The beginners' course  comprises four  90-minute classes, with the first  covering foot and leg massages, including foot reflexology points.
Subsequent classes deal with lower and upper body massages, and improving technique. The course costs HK$980, or HK$1,800 for a couple, which is  a popular option.
'Becoming a qualified masseuse will take at least a month of lessons and hands-on experience,' Ho says. 'It  can take longer, depending on the student's skills.'
Mandy Lee of the Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai, Hong Kong  (www.tmcschoolhongkong.com),  says  people today are  concerned about their bodies and like to learn different ways to improve their health. 
'Our students are local and from overseas, with about a quarter of them being male,' she  says. 
Lee's school offers a course in Thai massage and another in foot reflexology.  
Foot reflexology is said to boost blood circulation, help prevent and cure various ailments, such as headaches, stress, asthma and constipation, and  aid the body's natural functions.
The courses last between  two to three days. The Thai massage course  costs HK$4,950, while  the reflexology course costs HK$1,980.
'Our courses include an examination and, after students pass it, we send results to the Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai in Thailand. It's then validated by the Thailand  government, and is recognised by massage associations in various countries,'  Lee says.



A hands-on way to learn massage