The Native American Indigenous Church, Inc. (NAIC) and the SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine: Thai Yoga Center represents the truest and most authentic visions of Indigenous Traditional Thai Medicine, Thai Culture and related healing Arts. Our Instructors are directly authorized teachers, representitives and traditional lineage holders in several different traditional Buddhist schools: Buddhai Sawan Institute Ayudthaya and Nongkam (famous for martial and healing arts for 900 years!), Phra Wat Chetuphon (Buddhist Temple, Wat Po Traditional Thai Medical School...One of the oldest schools of traditional arts), Buntautuk Hilltribes Northern Provencial Hospital and Training Institute also known as "The Old Medicine Hospital of Shivago Komarpai. ITM (International Thai Massage, Chiangmai), Mama Lek Chaiya, The Foundation for the Blind, Buddhist Temple Wat Wianglock and the Wangklaikangwon Industrial Community & Educational College program sponsored by HM. King Bhumibol, Anantasuk Indigenbous Traditional Thai Massage) as well as several other significant lineages, teachers and Grand Masters. Most importantly the Buddhist medicine associated and derived from the famous Saint Shivago (Jivaka). In the states Traditional Lineage and teaching is primarily passed on via the educational programs of the SomaVeda College of Natural Medicine/ The Thai Yoga Center in Brooksville, FL. Additionally, we recognize any schools formally licensed as legal Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage schools by the Royal Thai Ministries of Health and of Education whether listed or not!

The type of Thai traditional therapy that most people will be directly exposed to is ráksãa thaang nûat (healing massage treatment). This is what is more commonly known as the Nuat Thai or Nuad Boran styles of Thai Yoga therapy or the religious therapeutics/ spiritual massage, healing work of Thailand. Please note: for clarity although in common english we use the word "massage" we do not mean it in the same context as the typical western usage. In the west "Massage" means something like a "Rub Down" for money and is primarily referring to systems derived from Swedish Massage and Massage Therapy. "Thai Yoga and or Thai Massage" (Phaen Boran Ráksãa Thaang Nûat) is completely unrelated! It is a religious therapeutic and healing art derivative of the Theraveda Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, Classical Indian and Tibetan Indigenous Ayurveda and Yoga Vedanta. It is not required that one become a practicing buddhist to practice this healing art (but it helps!). Although it would be more accurate to call this medicine either by its traditional names or "Ancient, Anachronistic or Old Thai Way of Healing with The Hands", the slang forms of "Thai Massage" is in use, and as long as this is so there will be some understandable confusion. For more information and details on What is Indigenous Traditional Thai Yoga and Thai Massage, you can learn more at The Thai Yoga Center website.