Humble beginnings
A large smile comes over Kam Thye Chow, as he reminisces on the humble beginning of the Lotus Palm School, which he founded in 1995. The school has come a long way since its first home in the guest house behind Kam Thye's residence.

Today, the Lotus Palm School is housed in a 2200 square-foot space in Montreal's hip Plateau/Mile-End district. Classes begin almost every week both in Montreal and on the road, and the curriculum has expanded to specialty courses such as Ayurveda, prenatal massage, and advanced postures. Student travel to Montreal from all over the world to learn one of these inspiring programs.

With its small staff of six, a dozen Thai massage therapists available 7 days per week, and teachers across the continent, Lotus Palm is now the foremost Thai Yoga Massage school in North America, offering courses, massage services and items for sale in the new Lotus Shop.

About Kam Thye Chow
Founder of the Lotus Palm Centre

Native of Malaysia, Kam Thye was raised in the tradition of Asian arts and healing customs. He has been practicing Tai Chi Chuan and Chinese massage since the age of 13 and has studied Kung Fu and Chi Gong for more than 20 years. He has taught martial arts and Thai Yoga Massage in North America, Asia and Europe. In 1995, Kam Thye Chow founded the Lotus Palm School in Montreal (Canada) - the first school dedicated to promoting and teaching the art of Thai Yoga Massage.

He acknowledges that when he first arrived in North America over a decade ago, very few people had ever heard of Thai Yoga Massage. He would feel blessed when a handful of eager students would come to share in these wonderful techniques. With dedication, love, and lots of hard work, doors began to open as the massage form and Kam Thye's easy to learn techniques captivated more and more people. Indeed, what makes Kam Thye's teaching method unique is his success in making the complex seem simple.

His concise, compassionate, and safe approach to Thai Yoga Massage is specifically designed to integrate Eastern knowledge of the mind, body and spirit with the Western understanding of the body. Inner Traditions published his book, Thai Yoga Massage, in the spring of 2002, which comes with an instructional DVD. The book has since been translated into seven languages, and its consequent success hailed a second work in Thai Yoga Therapy for Your Body Type: An Ayurvedic Tradition. Both these publications, as well as those written by Kam Thye's mentor, Asokananda, can be found in the Lotus Shop.

Kam Thye is also a renowned artist, whose Thai massage illustrations and diagrams appear in world-wide publications. He has designed every logo that appears on Lotus Palm's clothing but arguably his greatest accomplishment is the Lotus Palm Thai Massage Mat - the only mat designed specifically for Thai Yoga Massage.

Now a proud Canadian, Kam Thye makes every effort to support his community and always features local and Canadian-made products in the Lotus Shop. He has dedicated his life's work to Thai Yoga Massage, and it brings him great pleasure to introduce all interested to this art.