JOURNEY to the POSE | Thai & Osteothai

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

Journey to the Pose- is learning how to apply Thai Techniques during a yoga pose. This is a hands on training exploring the nuances of the asana. Taking the asana to the mat and examining various planes, we will find the body and breath through the pose while applying rhythmic, gently rocking and acupressure utilizing our hands, feet, knees, body weight, and momentum in a moving meditation style.

Location:

Seven Springs Retreat Center

Maryville, Tennessee

Objective

This course will be an advanced study, distinctively dedicated to Thai Yoga Stretching, with a focus on integrating the global world of fascia.
We will work in all postures: supine, prone, side-lying, and seated. This will readily integrate with your knowledge of asanas and the energetics of movement.
Students will learn hands-on stretching techniques utilizing Osteothai principles.
Students will expand their knowledge on stretching as achieved in two ways: Compaction and Decompaction.
Each participant will learn the practical application of Reciprocity, a technique that honors micro-movements and sensitivity during a stretch.

Students will learn 3 main themes, based on their correlation to asana groups: hip openers, heart openers, and spinal twists.

Overview

Skilled hands-on assistance from an experienced yoga teacher can be an excellent tool for learning. The physical act of compression or decompression paired with the asana can facilitate optimal range of motion, as well as provide insight into postural alignment.

Thai stretching techniques include active, passive, and dynamic, techniques using Osteothai principals, with a focus on increasing one’s proprioceptive awareness, mobility, and overall sense of vitality.
This course will empower trainees in a broad range of techniques to provide exceptional individualized experiences for students in the classroom or individualized sessions.

Benefits of Thai Yoga for Yoga

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 a yoga posture
Working with beginner students to yoga
Working with advanced yoga 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:

https://www.sevenspringsretreats.com/

What is including: