As a Yoga and Pilates instructor based in Germany, I had been teaching for several years when I realized something was missing in my professional foundation. In Germany, wellness often splits into two directions — the spiritual and the scientific. While I always respected the mind-body connection, I started to feel uneasy teaching concepts that lacked anatomical evidence. I wanted truth, precision, and a deeper understanding of the human body.
A French colleague of mine recommended RSM International Academy in Chiang Mai, Thailand — founded and led by Mr. Hironori Ikeda, who holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine and has over twenty years of international clinical experience. He told me, “This is not a regular massage school; it’s a medical-level training in movement and manual therapy.” So, I decided to go — and it changed everything.
The first course I joined was the Trigger Point Therapy – Pain Relief program. It was a five-day intensive, and from the very first hour, I realized this was something far beyond anything I had experienced before. We spent over two and a half hours just practicing palpation techniques, learning to feel even the slightest difference in muscle tone, tissue density, and referred pain patterns. Mr. Ikeda personally guided our hands, teaching how to identify trigger points, fascial adhesions, and nerve entrapments with clinical accuracy. It completely redefined my sense of touch.
Then came the Deep Tissue Massage – Postural Correction course. This one opened my eyes to the biomechanical side of posture. We learned to assess anterior and posterior pelvic tilt, forward head posture, and thoracic kyphosis — not just visually, but through structured palpation and muscle balance testing. Each technique was followed by a real-time correction method, combining assessment, explanation, and manual adjustment. I was amazed by how quickly I could restore range of motion in the hips and shoulders using his precise methods.
After that, I took the Dynamic Myofascial Release course — and this was the moment everything connected. The way we explored neural activity, fascial continuity, and functional integration was beyond anything I had seen in Europe. This technique isn’t just about relaxation; it’s about unlocking potential, restoring function, and improving performance. Whether for sports rehabilitation or postural recovery, this system is both art and science.
Finally, I attended the Orthopedic Massage for Spine Mobility and Breathing weekend course, which focused on thoracic and rib cage mobility. Mr. Ikeda demonstrated how the breathing mechanism, intercostal mobility, and diaphragmatic release influence overall postural stability. As a Pilates instructor, this completely reshaped how I now guide my clients in breath-led spinal movement.
Our class included ten participants from around the world — therapists, trainers, and even a female doctor from Myanmar who had flown all the way to Chiang Mai just for this training. I’ll never forget our lunch conversation, where she said, “In my country, we don’t have anything like this — it’s pure medical-level education.” Hearing that made me realize how global and advanced this Academy truly is.
Each day, we studied over 120 anatomical photos, analyzing muscles, fascia, and neural pathways with clinical precision. Trigger Point Therapy The way Mr. Ikeda explained functional anatomy through hands-on practice and visual materials made even complex biomechanics crystal clear.
Since returning to Germany, I’ve been applying everything Chiang Mai Massage School I learned — and the results have been extraordinary. My clients immediately noticed the difference. They say my adjustments feel more intelligent, more precise, and more effective. I can now improve joint mobility and relieve muscular tension in minutes — something I used to struggle with for years.
For any yoga or Pilates instructor who feels that their students are moving away toward apps Massage School Thailand and online tutorials — this is your answer. RSM International Academy gives you tools that no digital course can provide: human touch, clinical understanding, and absolute precision.
I can confidently say this is one of the most advanced and authentic training programs in the world. My next goal is to save up and return next year for the Professional Manual Therapy Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, which partners with RSM International Academy.
This experience didn’t just make me a better instructor — it made me a true movement professional.