Left to right: Students experience an elephant sanctuary, Chiang Mai Rock Climbing & Adventure, a Muay Thai training course, and Wat Chedi Luang
Wellness Abroad Students study exercise science in Thailand BY VANESSA BARTON
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fter a long break from international travel due to COVID-19, the School of Kinesiology’s Global Engagement Program was thrilled to offer, in partnership with Therapy Abroad and Blue Dot Partnerships, an “Exercise Science in Thai Context” program in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for seven Movement Science students. The program was designed to foster a deeper understanding of how Thai people approach the body, wellness, rehabilitation, and fitness, and enhance students’ ability to develop crosscultural relationships abroad within their field of study. Thanks to generous support from Bruce and Claudia Resnikoff, Dale and Beverly Ulrich, and Carl and Joan Kreager, the school was able to offer financial support to each student in the program.
| MOVEMENT | FALL 2021
The six-week program included a two-week government mandated quarantine in Bangkok, followed by four weeks in Chiang Mai to get hands-on experience in Thai traditional sports, traditional medicine for sport injuries, modern sport participation in developing countries, and cultural competence in sport medicine.
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While in quarantine, students kept their minds sharp with Thai language and culture classes, learning skills to navigate the rest of their program. They also kept their bodies active with intensive yoga classes, making the best use of their small spaces. The theme of mental and physical wellness continued throughout the rest of the program. This was demonstrated in the third week, balancing a mindful
meditation workshop with a Buddhist monk at Wat Suan Dok with an intensive Muay Thai training course, a program highlight for many of our students. The fourth week centered on the backbone of Thai wellness, traditional medicine. Through a combination of theoretical learning and practical skill development, students were exposed to the art and science of Thai massage, learning energy lines and four-element theory. Spending week five with Chiang Mai Rock Climbing & Adventure, students experienced first-hand how outdoor recreation can be a catalyst for significant social impact and environmental sustainability. After a crash course at CMRCA’s Rescue Training Center, the students were off caving, climbing, and rappelling all while staying on a permaculture farm, harvesting and cooking their own food over a campfire. The final week put the modern practice of Crossfit training up against the ancient practice of Thai traditional medicine, revealing a great opportunity for comparative analysis for their entire program. Students found that these two diverse approaches were surprisingly more similar than one might think. While the Global Engagement Program hopes to offer this experience for years to come, the students who participated in 2021 had a unique experience. They navigated ever-changing restrictions and guidelines due to COVID-19 with strength, flexibility, and resiliency—a skill that will serve them well in their postgraduate lives. n
