Deep Tissue Massage (DTM) builds on the clinical palpation and muscle-function assessment developed in TPT. DTM is for qualified practitioners only, and prior TPT completion is required. See the FAQ for entry guidance.

Students compare pelvic and spinal movement, hip and shoulder function, range of motion, muscle action and palpation findings. They practise choosing a contact surface and controlling pressure direction, depth, speed and therapist weight transfer. Posture or muscle tension alone is not used to establish the cause of pain or nerve symptoms.

Hironori Ikeda gives direct corrections, with students repeating a defined task after a focused intervention and explaining how the response changes their next choice. Deep Shiatsu material is integrated into DTM. Check current dates and confirm prerequisites and available places. Instruction, practical directions and questions are in English.

Course fee: THB 12,000 | 5 weekdays | 20 hours

Entry: qualified practitioners only, with prior completion of Trigger Point Therapy (TPT). See the FAQ for details.

Monday–Friday: 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00. Lunch: 12:00–13:00. The final Friday session, 13:00–15:00, is Practical Application (2 hours), included in the 20-hour total. Students integrate assessment, palpation, contact and pressure/load selection, then reassess the same task to review the response.

On the first day, arrive at RSM International Academy inside SpaMantra by 09:30 with your ID and remaining course fee. Registration and balance payment take place from 09:30 to 10:00; lessons begin at 10:00. See Payment Information for currencies, payment methods and booking terms.

The optional Remedial Massage Course runs during the same week, 15:10–16:10, for five days. Its separate fee is THB 6,000; the paired DTM and Remedial Massage programme is THB 18,000. Confirm the current dates and entry requirements before applying. All lessons, materials, practical instruction and Q&A are in English.

Targeting Muscles for Posture Correction

In RSM’s Deep Tissue Massage course, students learn to assess pelvic alignment, focusing on landmarks such as ASIS, PSIS, greater trochanter, and pubic bone. They identify causes of pelvic tilt through palpation and functional testing, addressing muscle tension, weakness, and hip joint misalignment. Diagnostic tests like the Thomas Test, Piriformis Test, FAIR Test, and Ober Test help evaluate muscles to realign the pelvis.

🔸　Students will develop diagnostic skills for pelvic imbalances and learn targeted techniques to correct them, enabling effective treatments for posture improvement and pain relief.

Palpation Techniques and Muscle Targeting for Posture Correction

Students will learn how muscle tension and imbalances affect lumbar lordosis, potentially leading to lower back pain and lumbar hernias. Key muscles, including Multifidus, Rotators, Erector Spinae, Serratus Posterior Inferior, Psoas Major, and Quadratus Lumborum, will be examined for their impact on lumbar mobility and posture. The focus will be on palpating L1 to L5 to assess mobility and muscle tension. Students will gain skills to relieve pain and correct imbalances through targeted Deep Tissue Massage techniques.

🔸　Gain expertise in lumbar assessment, including palpation and muscle tension evaluation. Learn advanced Deep Tissue Massage techniques to relieve pain, improve posture, and enhance mobility.

Enhancing Thoracic Spine Mobility and Function

In this course, students will study how thoracic kyphosis and scapular mobility affect posture. The impact of intercostal muscle tension on thoracic mobility, along with the role of demi-facets and thoracic facet joints, will be examined. The effect of intra-abdominal pressure on posture and scapular positioning will also be explored. Deep Tissue Massage techniques will be used to optimize thoracic mobility, relieve tension, and improve spinal function.

🔸　Students will gain skills in assessing and improving scapular mobility and thoracic function, using targeted techniques to enhance posture, relieve tension, and increase overall mobility.

Relieving Tension and Optimizing Cervical and Thoracic Spine Alignment

In this component, students will study muscles contributing to forward head posture (FHP), focusing on semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, levator scapulae, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and suboccipital muscle tension. These muscles, extending from C1 to T8, affect cervical and thoracic spine alignment. The course will explore how thoracic kyphosis relates to FHP and how tension in muscles influences cervical and thoracic mobility. Targeted Deep Tissue Massage techniques will be used to relieve tension, alleviate pain, and improve spine alignment.

🔸　Students will gain the skills to treat forward head posture, applying Deep Tissue Massage to relieve tension, optimize cervical and thoracic spine alignment, and improve mobility.

Upper Cross Syndrome and Lower Cross Syndrome require more than just Deep Tissue Massage for effective posture correction. Achieving proper posture involves addressing intra-abdominal pressure and training for proper functional alignment. Dynamic postural stability is essential for spine mobility and pelvis positioning within the kinetic chain. 

🔸　Strengthening proprioceptors and training the kinetic chain are key to posture correction. RSM International Academy's instructor, Hironori Ikeda, is a globally recognized Sports Medicine and Dynamic Postural Stability Trainer who developed Balanced Ball Yoga – a Postural Correction Program backed by medical research to improve posture through dynamic training.

The certification from RSM is designed to enhance your skill set, which is essential for physiotherapists, healthcare professionals, as well as sports trainers, yoga, and Pilates instructors. Acquiring this certification will evidence your professional commitment, allowing you to distinguish yourself in your field and set you apart from others in your country.

🔸　Please ensure that your practice aligns with the regulations of the country you are working in, as each country has its own requirements for massage practices.