More and more spas and Clinics are requesting deep tissue and sport massage therapists 'only' in their vacancy adverts. It seems holistic massage and swedish massage is on the decrease even in the relaxation spa and beauty clinic environment.
With Providers offering one day practitioner courses in holistic and swedish massage is it any wonder? Businesses are realising that sport and deep tissue takes a much thorough understanding.
Hi wanttobefree
Agree to a certain extent. From a clinic's viewpoint a deep tissue or sports massage trained therapist is more attractive as they can also do holistic if that's what the client wants.
These days fewer clients can afford regular relaxing massages so less opportunities for therapists limited to holistic.
Hi wanttobefree
Agree to a certain extent. From a clinic's viewpoint a deep tissue or sports massage trained therapist is more attractive as they can also do holistic if that's what the client wants.These days fewer clients can afford regular relaxing massages so less opportunities for therapists limited to holistic.
Yes, I'm always spotting adverts for one and two day practitioner courses for regular Swedish massage but I haven't seen them for deep tissue or Sports (thank God!!) when I occasionally visit a spa the standard rate is always about £50-£60 for a one hour massage and I always make a point of asking the therapist about her training, I'm not prepared to pay such a large amount for a therapist who has only spent one day training.
I work from a clinic and the overwhelming majority of clients I treat want Deep Tissue Massage as opposed to Swedish or Aromatherapy. I actually slightly prefer giving Deep Tissue Massage as I can use more of forearm and elbow and less of hands, and my treatments feel more varied.
Yes, I'm always spotting adverts for one and two day practitioner courses for regular Swedish massage but I haven't seen them for deep tissue or Sports (thank God!!) when I occasionally visit a spa the standard rate is always about £50-£60 for a one hour massage and I always make a point of asking the therapist about her training, I'm not prepared to pay such a large amount for a therapist who has only spent one day training.
Unfortunately I disagree, there are tons of one and two day deep tissue and sports massage courses out there, that people can take without having done any other training. It's not good enough to look at someone qualification these days, you need to ask how many hours someone has spent, in class, with a tutor. You may be surprised, I've seen as little as 1 and 2 days for level 3, and 6 days for level 4. It's scary!
Unfortunately I disagree, there are tons of one and two day deep tissue and sports massage courses out there, that people can take without having done any other training. It's not good enough to look at someone qualification these days, you need to ask how many hours someone has spent, in class, with a tutor. You may be surprised, I've seen as little as 1 and 2 days for level 3, and 6 days for level 4. It's scary!
Oh no...it gets worse. I didn't realise this. I thought the one and two days courses didn't apply to sports massage therapists. Yes, that is very scary. Problem is, when you ask a therapist their qualification and they say "level 3 VTCT sport massage" you would assume you were safe...
I bet plenty of them will fib when asked how many hours they've done, it really is a minefield, or rapidly becoming one.
I've noticed quite a few one and two day workshops in 'sports massage techniques' but for qualified swedish/holistic therapists at least. I only practice holistic massage myself but surely learning a few techniques wouldn't allow you to call yourself a sports massage therapist and apply to these clinics?
Are there really sports massage therapists practicing with nothing more than a two day practitioner certificate!? I too thought this was a problem limited to holistic massage...
Having said that I am booked in to Jane Johnson's Advanced and Deep Tissue diploma at the London Massage Company this summer but the majority of deep tissue courses out there are one and two day workshops for qualified therapists. It was difficult to find many deep tissue courses that were more in depth than two days attendance and a certificate.
I've noticed quite a few one and two day workshops in 'sports massage techniques' but for qualified swedish/holistic therapists at least. I only practice holistic massage myself but surely learning a few techniques wouldn't allow you to call yourself a sports massage therapist and apply to these clinics?
Are there really sports massage therapists practicing with nothing more than a two day practitioner certificate!? I too thought this was a problem limited to holistic massage...
Having said that I am booked in to Jane Johnson's Advanced and Deep Tissue diploma at the London Massage Company this summer but the majority of deep tissue courses out there are one and two day workshops for qualified therapists. It was difficult to find many deep tissue courses that were more in depth than two days attendance and a certificate.
you have done well to book with Jane who is a recognised training provider with a great reputation. Youd be suprised if you searched the websites of training providers on HP who will deliver certificated courses in one day,, they know who they are and always seem to be visiting my personal page to see who I am ?????
, they know who they are and always seem to be visiting my personal page to see who I am ?????
Who are you exactly? 😀
Who are you exactly? 😀
I am a thorn in the side of charlatans and unscrupulous training providers it would seem, oh and Im from lincoln, someone once called me a big unit, and my name is gary. but I suspect you had worked that out.
how's tricks with you ? i'll have time for a chat once i get this next few weeks finished
regards
BGFL
PS, put me down on your register for any Cheryl Cole rub downs 😉
Oh no...it gets worse. I didn't realise this. I thought the one and two days courses didn't apply to sports massage therapists. Yes, that is very scary. Problem is, when you ask a therapist their qualification and they say "level 3 VTCT sport massage" you would assume you were safe...
I bet plenty of them will fib when asked how many hours they've done, it really is a minefield, or rapidly becoming one.
The latest one, VTCT L3 swedish massage delivered in 16 hours, followed by VTCT L3 sports massage, delivered in 7.5 hours, by the same school.
If it wasnt so serious I would say it was a joke, but this is appalling. Its a shame for the student who falls for this kind of course, who then graduates but has no clients because they arent very good, and its a shame for the clients who end up wasting money on shoddy treatments. If I had a pound for every client who has complained about cr*p massages from therapists (usually they find them plying their trade on sites like gumtree, craigs list etc), I would be a very very rich man indeed.
But all they have to rub harder and make it hurt so I think 7.5 hrs should more than cover it 😎
Whats all the fuss about !
:hidesbehindsofa:
Oh my!!
I feel very silly now spending at least a year on each of my qualies!
Must admit to doing some one day 'top up' courses, but I've treated these days as a bit of fun learning for me (and CPD) and I don't prize the paper certificate at the end of the day (unlike a lot of my fellow 'students')
Fortunately Sports Massage and injury treatment particularly, seems to be more difficult to 'fast track' and it's good to hear that these skills are finally being recognised in the Spa environment. I've lost count of the clients who come to me for a 'proper massage' after a disappointing and expensive Spa massage.
A good thing on the face of it, but how many fully qualified Sports Therapists would want to work in a Spa.............mmmmm
Kerry
A good thing on the face of it, but how many fully qualified Sports Therapists would want to work in a Spa.............mmmmm
Kerry
Probably loads as most are unemployed with thousands of £'s worth of debt and no job prospects. The people out there who have only done these one day courses are laughing their A***'s off because regardless of the qual they have compared to others, they have as much right to practice as anyone else because there is nothing (with any teeth) in place to stop them from doing it!
There are a few sports therapy guys who post on HP who are obviously successful in what they do but, they are in a minority. Simple research locally and on the internet shows that. The grim reality is that most of the general public don't have a clue what a sports therapist is. Go on facebook and read about the graduate's who can't get work. Even at the Olympics they aren't being considered for posts alongside Physio's Chiro's and Osteo's but purely as masseurs with no account taken for the other skills that they possess.
We can moan all day long about the one day wonder's and the company's that run these course's but the reality is there is nothing that seperates the Degree graduate from the Stonebridge diploma holder and everything between. Public awareness is not enough. Even with the CNHC the practitioner when questioned can reply that 'it's voluntary and I'm not willing to pay more money to sign up to something that is not required by law, I have insurance and professional membership that is all that I need to practice. My treatments will speak for themselve's'.
Yes there will be substandard practitioners out there with the one day quals but it's already been pointed out that there courses that are recognised as meeting the acceptable standard by PA's but on closer inspection are not running with the recommended hours required to qualify. So these courses can also be producing substandard practioner's! I guarantee that there are people out there running successful business's who have no more than a collection of distance learning and one day qualifications.:(
Probably loads as most are unemployed with thousands of £'s worth of debt and no job prospects. The people out there who have only done these one day courses are laughing their A***'s off because regardless of the qual they have compared to others, they have as much right to practice as anyone else because there is nothing (with any teeth) in place to stop them from doing it!
There are a few sports therapy guys who post on HP who are obviously successful in what they do but, they are in a minority. Simple research locally and on the internet shows that. The grim reality is that most of the general public don't have a clue what a sports therapist is. Go on facebook and read about the graduate's who can't get work. Even at the Olympics they aren't being considered for posts alongside Physio's Chiro's and Osteo's but purely as masseurs with no account taken for the other skills that they possess.
We can moan all day long about the one day wonder's and the company's that run these course's but the reality is there is nothing that seperates the Degree graduate from the Stonebridge diploma holder and everything between. Public awareness is not enough. Even with the CNHC the practitioner when questioned can reply that 'it's voluntary and I'm not willing to pay more money to sign up to something that is not required by law, I have insurance and professional membership that is all that I need to practice. My treatments will speak for themselve's'.
Yes there will be substandard practitioners out there with the one day quals but it's already been pointed out that there courses that are recognised as meeting the acceptable standard by PA's but on closer inspection are not running with the recommended hours required to qualify. So these courses can also be producing substandard practioner's! I guarantee that there are people out there running successful business's who have no more than a collection of distance learning and one day qualifications.:(
what a negative perspective, the industry is getting better by the day, there are things happening behind the scenes that will be in the public domain soon, there are several AOs and PAs fighting back and the industry is busy, even the FA are restructuring their courses and wil now be called medical and SPORTS THERAPY, A major provider of services to elite athletes is losing its monopoly by the end of the year, I know many successful STs working at elite level, who have gone through a decent diploma route, all of them happy to be providing part of their skill set at the Olympics,
some people dont belong in the industry, those with substandard quals WILL fail, it is market forces, no one will go back if they receive bad service and treatment, and for the record training providers are upping their game after some were recently dropped by awarding bodies.
my glass is half full, where yours is half empty, "a pessimist is never dissappointed"
BGFL