JOURNEY to the POSE | Thai & Osteothai

Journey to the POSE
Thai Stretching for YOGA training
Yoga Bodywork
June 18th-21st, 2026
with Kelly Nichols -Scott and Jessi Townesmith

"Journey to the Pose" is a hands-on training focused on applying Thai Stretching Techniques. This workshop explores the nuances of asanas by taking them to the mat and examining various planes. Participants will connect with their body and breath while applying rhythmic, gentle rocking and acupressure techniques using their hands, feet, knees, body weight, and momentum. This approach creates a moving meditation experience.

Location:

Seven Springs Retreat Center

Maryville, Tennessee

Objective

We will explore all postures, including supine, prone, side-lying, and seated positions, which will complement your existing knowledge of the energetics of movement.

Students will learn hands-on stretching techniques based on Osteothai principles. Additionally, participants will expand their understanding of stretching through two key methods: Compaction and Decompaction.

Each participant will also gain practical experience with the technique of Reciprocity, which emphasizes micro-movements and sensitivity during stretching.

The curriculum covers three main themes correlated with different groups of asanas: hip openers, heart openers, and spinal twists.

Overview

Thai stretching techniques encompass active, passive, and dynamic methods based on Osteothai principles, focusing on increasing proprioceptive awareness, mobility, and overall vitality.

This course will equip trainees with a broad range of techniques to deliver exceptional, individualized experiences for students, whether in classroom settings or during one-on-one sessions.

Benefits of Thai Yoga Bodywork

Decrease muscle soreness
Improve functional mobility
Decrease risk of injury
Improve circulation
Develop body awareness
Retrain the nervous system for relaxation
Interpersonal connection and co-regulation
Encourage breath refinement and mindfulness
Highlight the energetics of the yoga posture
Working with beginner students
Working with an advanced student

ABOUT

Kelly Nichols Scott

Kelly's attraction to Thai Yoga Massage was immediate. Within a couple of months of receiving her first Thai Yoga Massage, she set off on an international journey to immerse herself in Thai healing arts.

Her unique approach is inspired by her studies at Costa Rica School and the Integral Touch Institute in Thailand and Indonesia. In 2016 she met a french teacher, David Lutt, co-founder of Osteothai, a meeting of the two arts of Thai massage and Osteopathy. In 2019 she entered a masters program in Osteothai with David Lutt and Jörg Schürp. She is the first American to complete the masters program in Osteothai and shares her passion for this practice in a holistic, culturally rich, and playful way. She resides in Knoxville, TN specializing and teaches Thai and Osteothai locally, nationally and internationally.

Jessi Townesmith

Jessi's connection to Seven Springs runs deep, as it's the place where she grew up and also gave birth to her two sons, Kai and Cedar, in the Peru yurt. Now, she joyfully shares this family land with retreat participants, offering a unique blend of vinyasa-based yoga infused with elements of dance and natural movement. Her classes emphasize the rhythm of the breath and encourage organic flow within each pose.

Jessi's background in dance and creative movement laid the foundation for her deep connection to yoga. Her passion for the holistic path of yoga has taken her across the globe, from the United States to Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Bali, and Costa Rica. A certified RYT500 instructor and doula, Jessi's teachings weave together her love for birthwork, herbal medicine, and the natural world.

Seven Springs Retreat Center

Their Vision: Seven Springs Holistic Retreats is a place of natural abundance and cultural diversity where people learn
how to create holistic sustenance for themselves and their communities.

Their Mission: To provide an innovative and transformative space for local and global communities
to experience high-quality holistic education

The Link: Registration

https://www.sevenspringsretreats.com/journey-to-the-pose

What is including: