Daniel Thomas
Masters of the Marmakalai tradition from South India
Life & Work
Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny, comes from Kerala in southern India. From an early age, he sensed that a special calling called him – contrary to the expectations of his family, who preferred an academic path for him. Only his father said, "Let him." So, as a young man, Danny set out on his journey and eventually found a teacher who would shape his life.
His guru: Gopal Krishna
In 1980, Daniel Thomas was introduced to the Marma teachings by Guru Gopal Krishna. The training followed the traditional Gurukulam form, in which the student lives with the teacher. Danny spent this time in the remote village of Bonakkadu, at the foot of the sacred Agastyakootam Mountains in South India.
Gopal Krishna was a simple, penniless man without a family, herding cows and living a secluded life in this small, little-known village. Despite his modest lifestyle, he possessed a profound knowledge of Marma teachings and herbal medicinal practices. It was Danny himself who, with perseverance and inner conviction, persuaded him to accept him as a disciple.
The training lasted a total of three and a half years: three years of intensive study of traditional texts and theoretical foundations, followed by a six-month journey to powerful energy sites throughout India. During this time, Gopal Krishna guided him to significant sites throughout the country and to sacred sites in the Himalayas.
During this phase, Danny learned the basics of his current Ayurvedic work: applications based on Marma teachings, physical exercises, massage techniques, various manual practices, and the use of herbs – including their preparation and application in the form of mixtures.
At the end of his training, his guru “Gopal Krishna” gave him a formative motto:
“Pray for what you believe in – everything depends on it.
Marma work today
Today, Daniel Thomas works as a Marma practitioner, focusing on selected vital points on the hands, feet, and head. This technique is based on Ayurvedic teachings and combines mechanical stimuli such as pressure, stretching, and traction with an energetic alignment that also addresses the aura. His work holistically addresses the interplay of the mind, chakras, meridians, and joints.
Danny is valued for his exceptional perception – many people find his work intuitively precise and profound. Despite the traditional technique he uses, not everyone performs it the same way. His special presence, energy, and experience make a difference.
In addition to his work in India, Danny regularly travels to Europe to provide support to people there. Visitors from countries such as Germany, France, Canada, Switzerland, and the Netherlands find him seeking holistic support. His areas of expertise include allergies, bone problems, and support for those experiencing severe stress.
Esther Schwarz
His first student from Europe
Since February 2024, Daniel Thomas has been imparting his knowledge to a student from Europe for the first time in a personal training session. Esther Schwarz from Germany was carefully selected by him and took an unusual approach: To begin her learning journey, she had to pass a series of tests in Kerala – in the jungle and at powerful energy sites such as certain mountains and rivers. These experiences served to prepare her sensitivity, perception, and endurance for the special work with the Marma technique.
Esther Schwarz was born in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1977. She developed a keen sense for aesthetics and design at an early age. In 1994, she began training as a graphic designer and later worked as an art director in renowned advertising agencies. She lived in Berlin for many years, where she opened her own graphic design studio in 2014.
Her studio continues to this day. Parallel to her spiritual development, she continues to serve clients from various industries in the field of visual communication – with a particular flair for authenticity and clear forms of expression. Creativity and consciousness increasingly intertwine in her work, shaping her holistic approach.
The turning point came in 2015 with her first trip to India – to Sai Baba's ashram in Puttaparthi. There, her spiritual development began. In the following years, she lived in India for three years, deepening her understanding of the local traditions.
In 2017, she met Daniel Thomas – initially as a client. His work with the Marma technique accompanied her for several years and helped her to realign herself internally.
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Since 2021 she has lived in the Black Forest, near Oberkirch – a place of peace that offers her space for retreat and growth.
With great care, she is now devoting herself to a multi-year training program with Daniel Thomas. This intensive, physically and mentally demanding program introduces her step by step to the complex world of the traditional Ayurvedic Marma method – including its energetic dimensions. Aspects such as mind alignment, understanding of chakras, Marma points, joint connections, and the teachings of the five elements –earth, water, fire, air, and ether – play a central role.
In 2025, she also completed her certified training as a health practitioner with the German Society for Alternative Medicine (DGAM).
