Studying massage by distance learning?

[Monique]

Hi again just been having a think while sorting the kids for school. Why don't we change this debate around and why don't you more experianced therapists start listing some decent colleges that do full time, part time, evening and one day a week courses that are all over the country. There are enough therapists on this site that are from all over and the question has been asked several times on here about good colleges so if we are looking for advice on this why not give it to us by listing some colleges because we are more likley to take your advice more than anyone with being in the buisness. Help us out not throw us to one side!

 

[tanieepozycje]

I don't know your area at all (live in Scotland) but I've just googled 'colleges stafford' and Stafford College appears to be offering a part-time A&P and part-time aromatherapy course - over 34 weeks - Monday 5.30-7 and Wednesday 5.30-7. There are also alot of other courses on offer. VTCT accredited. Costs vary.

I first trained in 1977, when massage therapy was available in limited centres. I spent 13 months travelling between Portsmouth, London and Blackpool two weekends each month, to qualify in basic body massage and A&P. Since then I have done intensive courses in the USA and Austria and attend courses as and when I can afford them - always learning. In that time I have watched therapists come and go at an alarming rate, and I'm sorry to say that the people who have done distance courses are the first to go - they may have sound theoretical knowledge, but their practical work is always what lets them down.

I'm not knocking you in any way - I've done several distance learning courses myself, but not 'practical' ones as I can't see the point. If child care is an issue, then perhaps it would be better to stick with theory training until such time as you can attend classes whilst the children are being looked after.

Part-time training does work - one of my good freinds completed an HND in Comp Therapy 2 years ago (it was a part-time course over 3 years) and she is now a very successful business owner. She is also a single mum and has 5 children aged 23 - 9.

 

[Nana B]

Yes this is where i do get stuck as my husban works alot of long hours so my only option it between school hours which for me would be something like 9.30 till 2.30 allowing traveling time in that and that is just for stafford. At least if i can get some training in a salon for the time being then i can fit that in.

 

[Mewneurawep]

Hi Susan,
I really dont think anyone is throwing anyone to one side, in fact, what the governing bodies are attempting to do is to work with the distance learning providers to see how they can alter their courses to make them more of a stepping stone to recognised courses, after all, everyone has to start their learning somewhere.

Ive mentioned many times on this forum the route to training should start with the governing body (in massage) GCMT, if you google General Council for Massage Therapies, you will find them. They have a list of all the recognised Professional Associations, and from there you will have access to all the recognised schools and colleges. Bit of work involved, but its worth it, as there are lots of schools, some of them very small, that dont show up in search engines, but they are usually the ones that can tailor courses to suit.

For beauty therapy, the best route is to become Babtac recognised, and their training providers are listed on the CIBTAC website, again, if you google it, they will come up.

 

[Maurog III]

I was lucky enough to be 'mentored' after I had finished training in 1979, by a woman who was a retired physio - she was one of the first physios in the late 40's. She was very encouraging, but always had to emphasise that she was not a teacher - she just helped with encouragement and recommendations - I wasn't allowed to touch any of her clients, I could only observe and make notes about treatments. I would only work on people that came to me once I was fully insured. Check with any salons you apply to that you will be allowed 'hands on' - I'm not sure their insurance will cover it.

 

[curious1]

Yes i will do that. I do have to send the college a copy of their insurance too. Thanks

 

[Stone 8]

Just looked on the council for massage therapists and the only thing near me is wolverhampton and that does not fit in at all it is full time.

 

[Girly Man]

This is off topic - so apologies - but I've just had a thought:

Might I suggest that you contact a couple of local therapists and ask if you can shadow them. Many of them will have regular clients who probably won't mind someone sitting in on the session. I've found that I learn a lot by watching. In addition you could also find a willing therapist and a willing body and then both work on the body at the same time - this way, getting feedback from the body. You'll build confidence this way. You will be relying on people being prepared to give up time for you but therapists are generally supportive people.

 

[NYGRL]

Thank you so much for that i think that would be really helpful to me and give me more confidence. Will try a salon if not i will find someone close by who just deals with holistic therapies as i do have to do facials etc too. I would love to work along side someone then practise more on my husband when he isn't working! I have dome some massage on him as he does suffer from back, neck and shoulder problems and he always falls to sleep but says that he feels alot of the stiffness has gone and i know he is not lying because he actually stops moning about it!!!!! Thank you

 

[KBT]

I find it an interesting concept that massage can allegedly be taught without the PREDOMINANT focus being actual touch which seems to be the case with the Stonebridge course (which I have no first hand knowledge of, just what I've read here).

However I do take issue with a high minded attitude about diploma's, accreditation, membership of professional bodies etc etc before a massage therapist is 'allowed' to touch a client.

Eric Clapton did not get a diploma in guitar playing, does that mean he should not be 'allowed' to play on a stage? At the same time I'm sure he did not learn to play by reading a book on guitar playing only. He had a guitar in his hands.

I went to a college and saw some students learning brick laying, sorry 'trowel trades' today and thought hmmmm wonder if there's a distance learning course in it?

There's no getting away from it, massage is hands on, that's what you are being paid for, and has been mentioned knowing about contra-indications and how to react to them, work with them to still provide a service.

Knowing about contra-indications is more important than knowing about draping (clue, massage the area uncovered, cover the area not being massaged).

However it seems mainly circumstances that's preventing Susan from following all the advice given and she is enthusiastic to learn which is 90% of the battle so maybe needs to change her routine and if that's not possible right now just take it as far as she can safely do and practice as an amateur on family and friends until able to get the proper practice and experience required.

 

[Kay Kay]

nice to see the thread being looked at in a positive light.

Hands on therapies need to be seen and learn't hands on, I think we are all agreed with that.

I have done a couple of distance learning courses myself and it spurred me on to seek out colleges that could then fill in the gaps and teach me the skills I needed.

 

[LoveYa!]

Thank you for that and it is like i said before i am finding out as much as i possibly can on the theory side i have completed my course book and now got 4 books for starters from the libary and there is more i want to read. The reason for me to get with a therapist or salon is for the practical which i know i do need and will stay with them for as long as it takes to be able to do a good confident massage. Reading things on here i know what i have to learn and do and it will take as long as it takes for me to get to where i want to be. I am going to be attending a course for a few week at my sons school o therapies and as far as i see if i come out just knowing a tiny bit more it will be well worth it to me.

 

[Shane]

Hi Luke,
I do agree with most of what you say, however no offence, but apart from giving you hearing problems (depending on your taste in music), Eric Clapton could not cause damage, whereas a massage therapist can.

Yes, there are good and bad therapists, and Susan mentioned a doctor, and dentist......but would you see either if they had done a distance learning only course?...somehow I think not.

Massage is a skill, regardless of what anyone says, and therefore you need proper training to carry it out safely and effectively, and you cannot get that from distance learning courses.

Back pain was also mentioned in a previous post, and this again is another area where distance learning courses fall extremely short, as there are so many conditions that could be causing back pain, but I doubt if 'red flags' are even mentioned in a distance learning course.

 

[cofempomi]

IMO, Susan is to be commended for her personal development aspirations, I think we all agree on the majority of points that are being discussed and coolhandluke provided a positive reply to this thread. One point I would like to make is that to compare a massage therapist with Eric Clapton is a not the best choice.
There are no regulations regarding guitar playing (except in my house) but there are regulations relating to massage, these regulations have been introduced and include minimum standards relating core curricula, contact teaching hours, the qualification of those teaching ( government introduced minimum standards in Sept 2007, which all schools accessing any form of public funding are required to hold by 2010 ( might be 2011) these will then be rolled out across all other training institutions).

It is only a matter of time until all training providers will need to be staffed by qualified teachers, either in affiliate or full teaching role and maintain a professional development programme. This is when those who have decided not to embrace the regulatory process will be out of work. There will be no hiding place for those who offer unaccredited 1or 2 day workshops, distance learning colleges (offering massage quals or other hands on training.)

I know the ball has started rolling, it is gathering speed and there are going to be changes that affect all training providers, so my advice is to start now to update your skills, obtain your accreditations whilst you still have time. I respect anyone who seeks to improve their skills or broaden their professional horizons, but to use family or finance as excuses doesnt cut the mustard with me.
I have 5 kids and no money ( directly proportional) and have just spent 2 days seeking grants and funding for my current uni course that is based 110 miles from where I live, it is inconvenient for both myself and my wife, my kids miss out occasionally but we decided that if I was going to do a course, I would give it 100% and my family would fully support me. My wife is also currently doing an advanced diploma course which takes her 90 miles away for 1 weekend per month and occupies several hours per week home study. We accept that our social life is on hold, one of us is always here for the kids and it is bloody hard work at times.
We have prioritised that to improve our life there are going to be some short term difficulties that will seem insignificant when our study is complete.
regards
BGFL

 

[Nacho]

I am pleased that you can sort your study and work in with your wife but as i said before my husband works long hours, not sure what time he is coming home could be 6.00pm could be 10.15pm and he is on call out of his normal working hours too which he can not attend to if there is no one to have the children. If i new a time night college would be brill but unfortunatly i don't and i can not afford a childminder and pay a college fee at the moment plus they do not work evenings. Anyway like i said good luck to both of you hope you do well

 

[bob-chan]

Hi Susan,
perhaps now is not the right time for you to study if you cant make the necessary commitment due to your circumstances. there will be times when things get easier, I just dont think that sitting watching in a salon is going to be a good learning experience, and as has already been indicated, salon insurance doesnt cover students working, and in my experience my clients wouldnt like someone sitting and watching me work, come to think of it neither would I
regards
BGFL

 

[yerdaddy6_6]

I am not getting involved in an "old" argument so this is going to be short, but Susan please for goodness sake dont feel like you have to justify your decision or put your family situation or private life and what you can or cant afford on here. Lets take the whole debate away from singling out one person as I for one think it is highly insensitive.

 

[Yasmine =P]

I dont think everyone is singling out one person, what we are doing is simply stating how hard it is to make it in this industry, even when you are properly prepared and trained.
We are also quite within our rights to feel aggrieved when we see our industry reduced to "read a book and start a business" mentality.
I for one have fought for and support regulation, in what ever form that takes to rid the industry of sub standard training.
i have shown support and respect for susan as an individual but think she is being given questionable advice from a college that knows full well it is providing sub standard learning opportunities and from people who use this forum as a vehicle to promote their training companies which fail to meet NOS in their course provision
this is my last post on this subject and quite frankly I feel that strongly about this thread to say that I have decided to take some time away from HP.

To those who have offered me support and advice over the years i thank you personally and look forward to renewing friendships in the future, to those i have upset with my views and knowledge of this industry, I apologise this was not my intention, I simply say it as it is, always have always will.
au revoir
BGFL

 

[sweetest]

One thing I have learned since establishing a career in CT's is that when the time is right to do something it will present itself.

Susan, maybe now is not the right time to see massage as a profession but more as a hobby. I first qualified in massage 10 years ago (full year, two nights a week at local FE college and had to pay someone to babysit as kids were 7 and 4 at the timeand hubby worked mega long hours). I didn't do massage again till just over three years ago this time as a profession.

I wanted to do herbalism for the past 2 years but as I was busy doing other things I haven't started it till this year.

You can only do what you can, when you can, with what you have.

Patchouli

 

[Stephen Jess]

OK there are good massage therapists and there are not so good massage therapists. It does not always follow that just because someone has attended x-amount of tuition and has a string of letters after their name, that they are a good massage therapist.

Massage is a tactile skill; you can't learn it by watching or by being told how to do it, you have to get your hands onto a number of bodies and do it. Over time a good massage therapist will learn instinctively how to interpret what they are feeling under the skin, as in soft tissue which is too tight or has been strained or sprained or needs toning up etc.

I really don't know how the world managed before colleges and universities came into vogue, but believe it or not, massage has been around and practised as a natural healing practice for as long as mankind has been on this planet.

It has stood the test of time without government interference and the people who have practised massage have been assessed by the recipients in exactly the same way they are today. If they like what they receive and it gets rid of their stress and tension etc. then they will return for further sessions; they are not really interested about what the piece of paper on the wall says as the proof of the pudding is as always in the eating.

I am sure that Susan will make an excellent masseuse; she has asked for help and will continue to do so until she succeeds. How she succeeds is nothing at all to do with anyone else but her and her clients, she will stand or fall on her application of the massage she eventually feels is right for her.

Susan has a right to learn in whatever manner she feels is appropriate for her, there is nothing wrong with learning the head knowledge using the distance college route.

Susan is aware that she will need some hands on help, the help does not have to come from a college or school, it is IMO a lot better to receive this help from someone with a few years of practical experience from continually doing the job, but again that is Susan's choice.