holistic vs sweedish

[moniquebaby]

Could anyone tell me what is the difference between an holistic body massage qualification and a Swedish massage one? Hope this is not a stupid question. I honestly don't know.

 

[MightyHyphy]

Looks like nobody wanted to answer this one!!

I will give it a try! A holistic massage (body massage or otherwise) usually means a natural approach, or healing approach in which the therapist is grounded, in tune, or works with the energies to give the best massage to the client and their particular issue or pain - maybe it's just relaxation - but to do so in a healing "holistic" nurturing way.

Swedish can be used by a holistic therapist, often is the case, and by someone more into the science of massage. A sports therapist often learns first Swedish massage before moving on to sports, but isn't necessarily in to "healing" therapy as much as they are into the body work and muscle of massage, for example. A few of my friends who practice under the title Swedish, are not in to "new age" as they call it. But still are great massage therapists who really care.

As for the difference in qualifications - I have seen Swedish massage qualification (ITEC) and is usually most recognised in the UK as well as in North America, I have seen Holistic Swedish Massage - same as regular really - and I have seen traditional swedish massage and traditional Holistic Swedish massage - all being really the same thing.

As long as there is a recognised supporting body that qualifies it - any can be used to practice. (IGPP ITEC or others in the part of the world you are in - check with your local school for qualifying status).

You should be able to qualify, and be insured with any of the above names in a registared school.
Hope this helps!!

xxVida![sm=cat.gif]

 

[[email protected]]

Thank you so much Vida! You're right. Apparently no one wants to touch the subject. Thanks for explainning it to me, as I was a bit confused. I really appreciate you being so thorough.
Bye for now. Oh, and welcome to HP.

 

[brklmllk]

The ITEC qualification is actually Holistic Massage and not Swedish...........which is the VTCT qualification. Besides the holistic approach the massages do differ in that ITEC Holistic Massage actually covers the face, head and scalp. It is not just a body massage as the Swedish is.

Hope this helps

yasmin x

 

[antivirus]

well you see, when i did my itec, it was anatomy physiology and swedish massage, or so i believe.

we did indeed learn face, head, hands, feet and body. my friend doing the itec now, holistic massage, does not do as complete a massage as i was taught.

so the mystery lingers.

i reckon they are all holistic, in as much as they treat the whole person, integral biology , lifestyle health etc. for myself, i dont like to do just a massage although i often find thats what i do... one off clients just passing through the hotel... cant be too holistic in those cases.

 

[manu4live]

Thank you so much all of you! Just when I thought that no one was ever going to reply... Thanks for putting it straight!
I've got an interview on the 9th of May for a course on holistic massage. Hope it goes well.
Bye for now!

 

[Lypelevetew]

I have been qualified as a Holistic Swedish Massage therapist through ITEC - so it seems that they take all the above names really.

I was taught the face etc as well and a friend of mine was taught "holistic" massage and they just covered the body, no face and no head. So it is up to the school I think!! When I looked on an old pamplet for my school is states: Swedish Theraputic Massage!! good stuff really....

xxVida!

 

[zaewuuelifvifceir]

My ITEC Certificate actually states Holistic Massage. It included legs/feet, back, arms/hands, face/head/scalp and abdomen. It is a case of ITEC setting the syllabus, which seems to change every year. Last year buttocks were in and face/head/scalp wasn't. This year out with the buttocks and in with the abdomen.

The examiner asked me to do back of leg, back, face/head/scalp, abdomen and front of the other leg. Apparently ITEC are very keen on the abdomen this year..........must be in fashion

yasmin x

 

[ak47ren]

Thanks Yasmin!
You made me laugh! I needed that.
Just one question. If I'm chosing Itec, do all colleges have the same syllabus. Are they all teaching the same thing?

 

[Flirtin Dan Burton]

If you don't mind me replying to that, no, they do not all teach the same thing and some are vastly different!

I send people (friends that want to go into business with me on my synchronised massage) to the school I went to so that I know what they learnt and can work with that to teach them the syncmassage routine I use with my other partners.

Clare Maxwell Hudson, Neals Yard, Essentials for Health (that was mine!) and The London Massage school seem to all do it their own way but also are ITEC schools. There are many more out there that I don't even know off the top of my head!!!

Hope that helps! I called around to several schools before choosing one and spoke with students that go to the school to see what they think etc.

xxVida!

 

[Raquel]

Hi again Vida!
Thanks for replying. What did you think of Essentials for Health? I've got an interview there on the 9th. Do you recommend it?

Paula

 

[Candleguy:]

Ahhh!! E4H! well... I think they have gotten a lot better over the past 2 years and they give a quality teaching and you come out (with a lot of hard work on your part) a great massage therapist! They do payment plans (if you ask) and they have some really great teachers (Dypna, Doreen, Jane) .

My other massage partner is going to the school now as a Sports massage therapist - this is her 2nd year there, so she thinks they are okay - but need to work on the structure - maybe they all do. Another is doing their aromatherapy course. They have open days to get a massage for like £8 and to "try them out" - if you want to do that!

For the money, I think they are fine. If I could do it again, I'd choose Neal's yard - but they were too expensive for me. I'm doing my Indian Head at Clare Maxwell Hudson and I am sending my partners to Neal's yard for Seated chair - maybe I'll tell you how those schools are in a couple of weeks!

xxV

 

[Bazspur6]

i must make sure my model isnt contra indicated at the time of my exam then

we were told today that ITEC have changed the name of the qualification from swedish massage to holistic massage because it now includes the head.

emma.xXx.