How to start?

Hello!

Does anybody know a good massage school for beginners in London? I was looking for this in the Internet but most of the schools offer courses for people who already have some cetrificates / experience.

Thanks,
Katia

Hi Katia

I'd recommend the London College of Massage:

http://www.massagelondon.com/products.php?cat=5

Regards

Alan

Hi Catariinka,

What ever you do and who ever you choose to go with, don't do one of those weekend courses they hold zero credibility within professional establishments.

If I were you I'd enroll at a proper college and study either ITEC, or VTCT.

All the best.

Hi Catariinka,

What ever you do and who ever you choose to go with, don't do one of those weekend courses they hold zero credibility within professional establishments.

If I were you I'd enroll at a proper college and study either ITEC, or VTCT.

All the best.

unfortunately ITEC/ VTCT should not be taken as a measure of standards of training, there are vast differences in the delivery and standard of tutor, research, then speak to training providers, ask lots of questions and then ask some more... see if you can go in and view a c lass taking place, speak to current students,
In FE there is a pattern emerging of last years student is this years tutor( but not always). I know it because I see it week in week out when I go around assessing.

read through the posts on the forum that have been started by "sportstherapy" about standards in massage training, it gives minimum amounts of classroom time etc you should be looking for
regards

Totally agree with ectomorph about weekend courses, they are fine for refreshers, workshops, CPD, but not as an initial training vehicle.

BGFL

read through the posts on the forum that have been started by "sportstherapy" about standards in massage training

BGFL

Sportstherapy and Reiki Pixi seem to know their stuff on here.

Massage schools in London

Hi Katia,
You don't mention any specific massage but whatever you do, get a good understanding of the qualifications before choosing carefully! The ITEC and VTCT qualifications (run by schools registered with them) have been mentioned but there are a range of good private schools out there that you should also consider. The essential difference between the large awarding bodies as above and private schools - in sports massage at least is: 1) Fees, 2) that ITEC/VTCT have relatively new progressive qualifications where you can start from scratch on a Level 3 course and should eventually (when fundable) be able to progress to Level 5 QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework). The level 5 qualification is at a higher level than the Level 5 BTEC Diploma that private schools self design and where no two courses are the same but the qualifications are generally well tried and some are offering bridging courses to Level 5 QCF.
Descriptions. It's generally pretty clear what Sports Massage, Swedish Massage, etc, mean and they carry recognised qualifications but underneath they necessarily use the same range of techniques. Remedial massage/therapy is a non-sequitur so don't be sidetracked by that, there is no such qualification, consider it window dressing. As stated higher levels of massage require more or less the same techniques.
Do your research and if you can be more specific about what you want to do that would be helpful.
Regards

Sportstherapy and Reiki Pixi seem to know their stuff on here.

Wot!!! That's the second time I've been mentioned this week 😮

Must be getting a reputation 😎

Hi Catariinka

Yes, I agree with the others to pick your training wisely. Massage is both a science and very importantly an art, so don't rush into it until you are sure.

Typical courses to look for are BTEC/C&G/ITEC/VTCT (or similar format) with a proper amount of contact time in class, and check out the tutor/school also. A good course should lead to membership of a professional association that leads to CNHC registration if you wish to go that direction.

Courses are generally as good as the tutor that leads it and the student who is prepared to study hard. Diploma in Massage with A&P is a good start into the industry, so good training at the beginning hopefully will help you to become successful and professional.

Best wishes

RP

Remedial massage/therapy is a non-sequitur so don't be sidetracked by that, there is no such qualification, consider it window dressing. As stated higher levels of massage require more or less the same techniques.
Regards

Sorry to disagree but there are remedial massage qualifications, core curricula and course syllabus.

they are usually delivered along side sports massage, ie sports and remedial massage

Four of the leading professional associations involved in sports massage verifiy several sports and remedial courses at both private training companies and CFE

I recently met with two major awarding organisations who are reintroducing remedial qualifications and sports therapy qualifications

The above quote would also offend many HPers who regard themselves as remedial therapists. See various threads that have disussed this topic over the past year
regards
BGFL

just found this from one of our esteemed moderators; obviously he was mistaken according to "makesense" post above

Interesting thread...

I started my course at Barnfield this last Tuesday it's over subscribed due to being half the price of most other colleges.

QUOTE" Last year I took remedial massage at Barnfield with the same tutor and thoroughly enjoyed it, we learnt far more than what was in the syllabus.

Myarka"

( smiley face with a little wink)BGFL

Sorry to disagree but there are remedial massage qualifications, core curricula and course syllabus.

they are usually delivered along side sports massage, ie sports and remedial massage

:confused:Thanks. You make my point that there is no stand alone 'remedial massage' qualification. The usage is a 'non-sequitur'.
That apart any claim by a vocational therapist to 'remedy' is fraught with danger. A quick dictionary check for the meaning of remedy suggests Something, such as medicine or therapy, that relieves pain, cures disease, or corrects a disorder; to correct a wrong, etc. .
Great if you'd like to expose your insurer to an indefensible claim but it's not for me.

just found this from one of our esteemed moderators; obviously he was mistaken according to "makesense" post above

( smiley face with a little wink)BGFL

Strange that, maybe only half the story got through. However Barnfield, assuming Luton, seem to have recognised the potential for problems with that indefinable remedial massage so now only seem to list VTCT Level 3's in Sports Massage, Swedish Massage and Indian Head Massage.:(

I didn't see this thread before posting my own similar question.

Very helpful is everyone EXCEPT Ectomorph who was incredibly rude and failed to read my thread properly before trying to reply.

My first experience in a forum all I can say is SHAME ON YOU Ectomorph with your negative energy and nasty attempt to ridicule me.

The title of my question was simply 'Please Help'... Next time please read the question thoroughly before replying.

All I asked was for some friendly advice and not an unwelcoming attack.

Everyone else I would like to thank for posting this information.

Drew

Strange that, maybe only half the story got through. However Barnfield, assuming Luton, seem to have recognised the potential for problems with that indefinable remedial massage so now only seem to list VTCT Level 3's in Sports Massage, Swedish Massage and Indian Head Massage.:(

I wouldn't draw your conclusions from what you read on their webpage, because you can give a misleading picture.

It's true that remedial massage is not running this year and sports massage is. Last year remedial ran and sports didn't. There is a simple reason for this, the college needs at least 10 students to run a course. Lower than that, they don't run it. This year they cut the sports massage course cost by at least £100, if I remember rightly, and hence the over subscription. It's likely that remedial massage will run in September because those doing this year's Sports Massage will want to carry on doing Remedial massage. Three of us did last year's remedial massage course.

At Barnfield, Swedish, Sports and Remedial massage, incuding A & P are run in the Sport and Fitness faculty and are taught by an HE tutor. Indian Head Massage is run in Hair, Beauty and Holistics faculty and taught by FE tutors.

While I understand there are many on these pages have reservations about the standard of teaching in local colleges, I have found taking 3 years to train to a modest level 3 appropriate for what I do. The training is well rounded with a heavy emphasis on both practice and anatomy.

I hope that carifies any confusion. 😉

Myarka

Great if you'd like to expose your insurer to an indefensible claim but it's not for me.

I'm insured as a remedial massage therapist through the CThA. They've seen my qualification and insured me without question.

Interesting when I first started practicing as a remedial massage therapist, I carried out a survey of RMT's in my area and their qualifications and was surprised to find how few had actually had specific RM training.

Perhaps MakesSense you can tell us a bit about your background and training so we can understand you axe a little better.

Myarka.