Navina Principal Certification Training Intensive 2026

Kickstart your Thai Massage practice by immersing in this 3-Module professional training intensive. By living and breathing the art of compassionate touch, you’ll leave feeling on top of the world and ready to share. Hands-on study means that it’s also basically 9 full days of giving and receiving massage…

“I have been to many retreats, and training’s and workshop courses over the years in the movement world and also the music world. These training’s have been all over the globe and with various groups of individuals that I have had to board, and eat, and share spaces with for many weeks. In these spaces, I have run into situations that as the time goes on the more I had to distance myself from the groups (literally going for runs ever spare second in some cases) as competitive natures or conflicts would pop up amongst groups. However, not once at Navina did I ever feel this, the space was so neutral and things were handled so incredibly well that I never felt like I had to run, that is really special. The way you and Maryl manage the centre is truly beautiful and you have managed to create a safe space (in many ways) in the middle of the jungle.”

~ Marianne

Included in this package:

• 12 nights accommodation at the retreat centre
• Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• 9 Days of Thai Massage Training
• Modules 1, 2 & 3 included (and manuals)
• 2 x Beach trip transportation
• Limited to 8 spots

The retreat centre is located in walking distance to some beautiful waterfalls that are accessible to you at any time during the day (outside of class time). There is also a 5hr canyoning tour ($100) as an optional adventure on one of the days, or a 2.5hr zipline tour on a neighbouring mountain, however this is an additional cost of $80 USD cash. The beach is located about 20 minutes down the road and one of our days in-between training will be our beach day.

Course Information:

Each one of our core modules is run over 3 consecutive days for a total of 8 hours each day (in 2 sessions). These classes place a lot of emphasis on getting in and practicing the techniques directly so that you immediately start getting hands-on experience.

Module 1 sets a solid foundation in the practice of high quality touch. We do this by combining some anatomy with positive intention and our physical practice. When exchanging massages in class you are receiving in-depth feedback from your classmates and the teacher as well as gaining a new understanding of the postures when you receive the massage. This first course will provide you with a sound 50-minute flow that focuses on the most common areas of tension, namely the shoulders, neck and back.

In module 2 we revisit and enhance our understanding of content from the first module. We then delve deeper into the concepts of quality touch and extend our massage sequence to explore more of the body. By adding in more postures to include the arms, legs, hands and feet, we will end up with a 2-hr massage sequence.

In the 3rd module we consolidate and extend our practice from the first 2 courses to produce a well-rounded and more complete massage flow. After this course you will be able to give a fluid 3-hr massage, providing a total mind-body experience. We also explore some useful ways to customize the massage to make sure you’re comfortable with both longer and shorter length treatments and to best suit the needs of your client. After module 3 and some home practice you will be eligible for Principal Certification.

Prerequisites:
None.

Early Bird rate until Nov 30, 2025.

Previous training event:

Just before diving in, take a read of the centre rules. In particular, note that the centre is a dry space, which means no alcohol or drugs are permitted on the premises.

If you secure your place with a deposit, we’ll contact you as soon as possible to set up your payment plan arrangements. To read through the payment plan policies in advance, please see this page.

CECs:
10.5 Category A (CMTO), 8 PE/A1 (CMTBC), 16 Primary (MTAM), 31 CE hours (NCBTMB)

Here’s what Ani says about morning movement practice…

“I have a tendency to work my body in a very intense fashion, and slowing down is incredibly difficult for me, both physically and mentally. That said, I carry pain that I sort of just work through instead of addressing. Drew’s approach to movement strips everything back and slows everything down, helping you find the smallest, weakest link in the chain – and working it – so that bigger movements clean up and become less painful. It’s like making sure that every single string in an instrument is tuned perfectly so that when you finally play through the symphony, everything is in perfect harmony.”

~ Aniko Kaszas
Flex and Smash Fitness