credentials to look for

Massage Therapy is considered a health profession in the State of Connecticut, and therefore requires training, examination and licensure prior to entering into private practice.

Currently Thai Massage is experiencing a great expansion of popularity, and with that may come some confusion, as we see terms like: Thai Massage,  Thai Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage, Nuad Thai, Nuad Bo Rarn, Traditional Thai Massage - which all describe basically the same thing.

Further, there is some misunderstanding and disagreement among Thai Massage schools regarding the basis of the work of Thai Massage: many contend that it is primarily an "energy-based system", where others will argue that Thai Massage is essentially deep, specific massage therapy. There are many that stand in the middle and see both sides.

While that argument can be heatedly debated, most reputable instructors and schools seem to agree that students should follow whatever regulations that are in place in the State in which they intend to practice. Regardless of the strong "energetic component" to ths work, clearly as strong an aspect of Thai Massage is the "systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body", which is how the State of Connecticut defines "Therapeutic Massage".

Therefore, regardless of how trained and skilled a Thai Massage Practitioner may be, in order to legally and ethically practice on the public and take money in exchange for their work, by law they are expected to adhere to the requirements and regulations of a  licensed massage therapist in the State of Connecticut.