Hi Guys, I just found your wonderful forum and have spent an hour reading through. I hope you can help me with a couple of questions...
I'm looking for a massage course around Cheltenham/Gloucester. This is the only one I can find, and is also the cheapest!
[link= http://www.gloscat.ac.uk/Details.asp?PrimaryKey=10P3B0BMASFYR/05 ]http://www.gloscat.ac.uk/Details.asp?PrimaryKey=10P3B0BMASFYR/05[/link]
Does anyone have experience of this course, is it any good, or would you suggest another in the local area?
Also, a bit of background - I'm a guy with a good career in a completely different field, and I'm thinking of doing the course purely for personal interest, not to become a therapist. Do you think people will think be concerned about my motives? I've got a couple of relatives with back problems who I hope to be able to help more effectively.
Thanks!
cb9002
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
cb9002, interesting question - I had, and still have, another career in a completely different field and a few years ago studied Therapeutic Massage mainly for my own interest and personal development - with little intention of working as a professional therapist.
After qualifying my attitudes have changed. I now practice as a professional therapist part time and it is certainly the most personally rewarding 'work' activity I do. It is ashame it doesn't pay anything like the salary rate I get for my main employment, and a shame I dont have more time and clients. By this I mean that if I could find ways to work more as a therapistI would - I just love it - however right now I just cant find another balance point in my life.
So my point is that whatever your intention and motives going into training be aware that they may change. If thats the case then my advice is to embark on the 'best' possible training you can find and give yourself as much flexibility as you can. If for example you knew exactly what you wanted to do with the qualification then you could be very specific in choosing it - if that makes sense.
The tricky part is deciding what is 'best' for you - hence the quotes. For me 'best' was the most in-depth and challengingtraining I could find with the most supportive, knowledgeable and amazing tutors - but I never do things the easy way! In reality the tutors came first in thedecision process - not the course or the qualification.For you it may just be a training that is enough to get you started - or decide if it really is what you want to do. Cost can certainly be an issue for some - but you need to figure how important it is for you.
I would talk to the actual course tutors (not the admissions folks) and explain your motives, and if they dont see pure personal interest as a valid motivation to welcome you onto the course with open arms then I would cross them off the list! If they dont share your vision then chances are it wont work out for you.
Hope that helps, to paraphrase Tolkien: ask not the elves for advice for they will say both Yes and No
Good luck in the search and training
InTouch
P.S. [link= http://www.maitri.co.uk ]www.maitri.co.uk[/link]if you were wondering - near Stroud - for me it was the 'best' by a huge margin
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
Good point, InTouch. It seemsto me that it doesn't really matter why anyone starts a course - as long as they take it seriously.
On my Swedish massage course there were one or two who either didn't want to practise professionally or who wouldn't stand a hope in hell of doing so successfully but as long as they approached the course professionally, it wasn't an issue. What is infuriating for both tutors and other students is people who are only messing about - and spoiling it for others.
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
Fair enough, I will certainly take it seriously as I will be putting a fair bit of time in! I am just a bit concerned that because I'm male and not looking to become a professional, people might think I'm a perv/whatever. As has been pointed out enough times on here, being male has its problems!
So, anyone at/been to Gloscat?
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
Hi CB
Sorry I haven't been to Gloscat, but with regard tothe concern you expressed in your second sentence, I would suggest mentioning this to the tutor when you apply to enrol. I believe that there are still a minority of female tutors who don't really like having to teach male students, and there are certainly a few female students who have reservations about being undressed in a mixed-sex classroom.
Regards
Alan
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
That's OK, but I wouldn't make too much of a thing about it. You have as much right as anyone to be on the course. And if you feel you need to prove this, then do so by being the most professional, the first to hand in homework, the most conscientious about everything, the first to get a tunic...
As you say, there have been threads about this before. It shouldn't be a big problem at college. You are no more a "perv" than anyone else enrolling. Of course, there will be some awkwardness to begin with, but eveyrone soon gets over that. Anyone who doesn't, as has been stated here before, is training in the wrong discipline.
RE: Gloucestershire Courses / Attitudes to amateurs
Do you need someone to practice on?
I'd be happy to help.