Comptogether - bringing complementary health therapists together

	InFocus: Learning Massage


Which Massage course?
Essentially there are two main types of massage therapy: therapeutic and remedial/sports. For those who want courses that teaching more beauty or therapeutic massage then ITEC, City and Guilds, and many Further Education or Adult Education programmes may prove helpful. Once you have decided which type of massage you would like to learn, then you need to choose your course. As a general guide it is useful to know the following: Identify the number of teacher contact hours (does this also include clinical supervision or is this additional). How many hours of taught anatomy and physiology is there? Is course-work part of the final assessment or is it exam based as well? Are clinical case studies expected and if so, how many? How are these assessed during in the course? How long has the course been recognised? How many years of relevant clinical/teaching experience does the tutor have? Is there an external examiner (not verifer or assessor) independently appointed to observe clinical practice. The risk of Repetitive strain injury (RSI) in massage therapy practitioners is a constant occupational concern and so ask how they address this in their courses. For example, do they give advice on posture, and proper use of the body when massaging? Email your contributions about massage training in the UK to us. notices@comptogether.co.uk

Schools and Colleges teaching Massage
Degree Course in Therapeutic Bodywork Courses run by members of The Massage Training Institute (specialists in holistic massage) The Institute of Complementary Medicine affiliated courses Training in 'no-hands'/'hands-free' massage

Degree Course in Therapeutic Bodywork
University of Westminster BSc (Hons) Health Sciences: Therapeutic Bodywork Course enquiries/admissions: Admissions and Marketing Office 115 New Cavendish Street London W1W 6UW Telephone +44 (0)20 7911 5883 Fax +44 (0)20 7911 5079 Email:cav-admissions@wmin.ac.uk Web:www.westminster.ac.uk The course offers education and training in therapeutic bodywork with a strong clinical focus. The modular framework enables exploration of a number of bodywork approaches. In keeping with the philosophy of the School of Integrated Health the course is underpinned with health sciences, practitioner development and research skills, and observation and practice in the University Polyclinic. Offered on both a full-time and Part-time basis.
Courses run by members of The Massage Training Institute
The Massage Training Institute is a national examining body and a professional association specialising in holistic massage. The members are individual massage tutors and schools. While all members adhere to the MTIs core syllabus in terms of content and training length, each school or tutor can have their own style of massage teaching. MTI is a member of the British Massage Therapy Council (BMTC), the General Council for Massage Therapy (GCMT) and is also affiliated to the British Complementary Medicine Association (BCMA). BRISTOL Bristol College of Massage & Bodywork Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 0117 3771201 email: bristol.massage@virgin.net CARDIFF Dynamic Massage Courses: Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 029 2045 4506 email: darien.pritchard@virgin.net Web address:www.dynamicmassage.co.uk LONDON Academy of Natural Health Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 020 7836 9404 email: touch@ndirect.co.uk Web address:www.massage.org.uk College of Holistic Massage UK Courses: Beginners/Practitioner Tel: 020 8374 2081 email: info@chmuk.net Web address:www.chmuk.co.net The Holos Massage School Courses: Post-graduate We specialise only in Postgraduate massage courses for qualified Therapists. The courses are held at weekends in central London and are based on sports massage, remedial and deep tissue techniques. Tel: 01273 708503 email: theholosmassageschool@yahoo.com Web address:www.massagecourses.gbr.fm The School for Energy Awareness Courses: Beginners/Post-graduate Ê Ê Tel: 020 8671 5390 or 07074 732222 email: info@nrgawareness.co.uk Web address:www.nrgawareness.co.uk Hackney Community College Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 020 7613 9123 email: enquiries@comm-coll-hackney.ac.uk Web address:www.comm-coll-hackney.ac.uk Friday Hill House (London Borough of Waltham Forest) Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 020 8523 9355 Keys School of Massage Courses: Post-graduate Tel: 020 8560 7201 email: keystolight@aol.com NORWICH Wensum Lodge (Norfolk Adult Education Service) Courses: Beginners (intro to aromatherapy massage)/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 01603 614460 email: christine@wayin.freeserve.co.uk The Norwich Centre for Massage Courses: Beginners Tel: 01603 667339 SHEFFIELD Sheffield Centre for Massage Training Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate email: scmt@massage-training.co.uk Web address:www.massage-training.co.uk GLOUCESTER & LONDON Sara Thomas Courses: Post-graduate Tel: 020 8748 7529 email: sararochellethomas@hotmail.com ESSEX (Southend) Sally Morris Courses: Beginners/Practitioner/Post-graduate Tel: 01702 585846 email: sally.morris1@tesco.net BIRMINGHAM Meridian School of Natural Therapies Courses: Beginners/Practitioner Tel: 0121 444 8130 email: lorrainehorton@ic24.net
The Institute of Complementary Medicine affiliated courses
Affiliation of a course to the Institute of Complementary Medicine (ICM) means only that it is working towards national standards. However the list of courses provided by the ICM are known to have a past history of training to a level required by the British Regsiter of Complementary Practitioners which is run by the ICM. Search for courses.
Schools offering 'hands-free'/'no-hands' massage courses
It is important to minimise the risk of RSI and other occupational injuries experienced by massage therapists. Perhaps the best way to do this is to benefit from in-house training in RSI-free massage from Injury Prevention Massage Ltd (IPM), or to attend one of their short courses. IPM has developed techniques from Tai Chi, Lomi Lomi (Hawaiian healing massage) and Swedish massage. The techniques address, and prevent, the risk of a range occupational injuries - RSI, neck/back pain etc. suffered by people who use their hands to provide massage and other healing techniques. For more information go http://www.injuryprevention.org.uk


Copyright Comptogether 2005. Design by Tracey Goulding Website by www.cbcom.co.uk Sponsored by www.justbiz.co.uk