Casual massage tuition

[Kitten34]

I've been asked at various times by clients whether I would consider teaching them to massage (and they have offered to pay me for this). Up till now I have always said no, because I can't imagine how I could teach someone on a one-to-one basis (ie without having a "model" to demonstrate/practice on).

Has anyone here had similar requests? And if so, is it something you have considered doing?

Or is there anyone who actually does one-to-one massage tuition? And if so, can they give me any advice on how I could approach it?

I really enjoy the work I do, but it would be nice to have a little bit of variety. And I think massage tuition (purely for recreational purposes obviously - and not for any kind of qualification or certificate) could provide that.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Kitten
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[blackthorn]

Hi Kitten

Assuming you're making it clear that they won't be qualified to practice on the general public, why don't you just get them to bring their own model?

Steve

[gaiaholistix]

Hi kitten34,

Have you thought of Couple's massage workshops?

They are great fun for the couple and the sessions help them to give safe confident massages to each other, which can re-establish communications between them on many levels.

They are very rewarding to host and teach.

[mikeoc]

I think you should go for it Kitten - I love showing people what I do, and explaining why I am doing it. I've recently found myself thinking about moving into tutoring in some capacity at some point in my career - I have tutored some Holistic massage students informally - and have been thinking of doing some introductory workshops - starting with an introduction to Indian Head Massage, making it clear it's for Friends and Families only, and then depending on how it goes, maybe an introduction to massage workshop along the same lines - I like Gaiaholistix' suggestion too. I'll happily advise/support people who express an interes, after my workshops, in taking it a step further and getting accredited training.

[Kitten34]

Thank you for all the replies.

Gaiaholistix, I love your idea of couples' massage workshops. I think I may give that a try. Many thanks.

Steve, don't worry, I would only be doing this kind of thing informally and would let people know that it doesn't give them any kind of qualification. I may be wrong, but I've gotten the impression that any of my clients who have asked about tuition were not suggesting having a third party involved. I think they just wanted me to facilitate something on a one-to-one basis. So I don't think they would be up for providing their own model. But maybe I'm just making assumptions, who knows?

Mike, thank you for your comments. You sound as passionate about massage as I am. I think it's a skill that everyone should learn at some point!! LOL!

I guess that tuition on a one-to-one basis is probably not going to be feasible? I was having more of a think about it today and conjuring up a mental image of me showing my client how to perform a certain move, and then jumping on and off the table as they practise on me! It just wouldn't be practical.

If anyone does have any inspired ideas as to the logistics of it (in the absence of a model) then do let me know.

Kitten
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[jaez]

Hi Kitten34

I trained in massage some years back, while I was still working for the local council as a teacher and education adviser with a focus on IT in education.

Having retired I began work as part time massage therapist.

As with others here I received requests for massage lessons so decided to put together a short course to provide sufficient details for massaging friends and family.

I advertised on Gumtree and have had a range of students including a newly engaged older couple, a disc jockey and girl friend, a couple from a street nearby who had searched for a short course and found one on their door step, a pair of university students studying medicine and wanting to see the body in a different and more holistic way.

To aid in remembering the massage stokes I prepared an A5 size folder with about 60 pages of basic body diagrams with starting positions of the hands and picture of underlying muscles.

The couples lesson is 5 hours (taken in 2 sessions)
They take it in turns to be the therapist & model
Using the pages of the guide folder I will demonstrate the moves on the model and then the therapist repeats the moves on model. We then annotate the folder with text or directional squiggles so that each person has an aid to remembering in their own learning style.

During a break for drinks and buns we watch some short video clips to see how the moves link together in a smooth routine.

Recently I have had a number of requests for 1 to 1 lessons and have successfully tried this format again using the guide folder but completing the course in a single 3 hour workshop.

We look at a few pages together then I demonstrate on them and then they practise on me.

It has been a successful venture bringing in a little extra work

jaez

[Kitten34]

Thank-you Jaez for taking the time to write such a wonderful post! You have given me not only some ideas, but the encouragement and motivation to carry them out.

I love the fact that you have used visual aids to supplement your tutoring - that's invaluable for most people.

Kitten
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[alrl]

Hello Kitten. My experience is from the other end, i was taught on a 1 to 1 basis and we did exactly as you hypothesise.

I got on to the massage table and my tutor demontrated the next stroke or sequence on me, then we swapped places and i did it to her until she was satisfied - then on to the next move and so on.

The therapy room had mirror doors on a wardrobe along one wall which helped me when on the table to see what she was doing when lying on my front.

so it can be done

[SportsMassage]

Try on a one to one basis--I've done it many many times. They get to 'feel' what you are trying to explain first hand--you get to 'feel' how well they have taken your instruction on board.

[stephen jeffrey]

To get the feel and see how technique is delivered, I use a video camera on a tripod linked directly to a small tv set veiwed through the face hole.

So as you learn the feel, you get to see how the teacher delivers the technique.

Then when I am recieving, I can also check the stance, posture, hand position ect.

I have used this method to very good effect over many years. I only mentor those who have already taken and passed their A + P and passed a diploma in eg sports massage.

[Kitten34]

Originally Posted by stephen jeffrey

To get the feel and see how technique is delivered, I use a video camera on a tripod linked directly to a small tv set veiwed through the face hole.

So as you learn the feel, you get to see how the teacher delivers the technique.

Then when I am recieving, I can also check the stance, posture, hand position ect.

I have used this method to very good effect over many years. I only mentor those who have already taken and passed their A + P and passed a diploma in eg sports massage.

What a fantastic way to deliver tuition! If my treatment room was bigger then this is something I would consider.

Thank you to alrl and SportsMassage for your replies too. It's useful to know that one-to-one tuition has worked for people already.

Kitten
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