Holistic Massage Diploma
An 11-month accredited professional training in Holistic Massage that will equip you to set up your own massage practice
Starts September 2024
Whitchurch, north Shropshire
Over 11 weekends, you’ll learn all aspects of Holistic Massage, from technique to anatomy, practitioner self-care to posture, business and marketing to practice management.
The course is highly practical and uses a variety of learning methods, including massage practice, conscious movement, meditation, creativity, audio and video clips and journaling.
By the end of the course you will have a folder of 40 hours of massage given, 10 hours received, a reflective journal and a client study group paper, plus anatomy homework to build up the knowledge for your exam.
The course is examined and accredited by the Massage Training Institute, an Ofqual regulated professional association that has trained holistic massage therapists since 1988.
What type of massage will I learn?
Holistic Massage, which includes all levels of human experience - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and energetic. This means that we understand there can be many reasons why tension is held in the body. We are aware that our clients will exhibit different types of responses to treatment (they may cry for example) and to be okay with that, holding a space of non-judgement and acceptance.
One of the things I loved about my training was that we were encouraged to find our own style within holistic massage. Over the years I’ve developed this, and today I call my practice deep tissue relaxation massage - it eases chronic muscle pain through slow, deep, gentle work that is easy on the nervous system. It can lead to real, lasting change in a client’s experience of their body and the pain and stress they feel.
As an MTI-accredited course, its core values are at the heart of the training: Creativity, Sensitivity, Integrity.
Why choose this course?
This level 4 course is a longer road than many other massage trainings, but a more sustaining one. What gets left out of shorter courses are ways to care for your body. Most massage therapists burn out after 5 years without this knowledge. This course will give you the skills to maintain a long-term career.
I’ll also offer you information on how to turn these skills into a business. I can share from experience what does and doesn’t work and give you templates to get you started.
We’ll use meditation, creativity and journaling to explore and understand our inner worlds and how who we are affects our massage practise.
Being any kind of therapist requires you to be self-aware and hold a space of non-judgement for your clients. I’ll help you build that muscle so you can create client/practitioner relationships with healthy professional boundaries.
This course is comprehensive; it covers massage techniques, anatomy, physiology and pathology, practitioner self-care, self-awareness, client relationships, becoming a therapist and setting up a new business. If you don’t need to learn all those skills, a shorter course may be more appropriate. If this in-depth approach appeals to you, find out more below!
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Practical in person weekends APP Theory lessons on Zoom
1. 14/15 September
2. 12/13 October
3. 09/10 November 30 November 10am-1pm
4. 07/08 December 06 December 10am-1pm
5. 25*/26 January 18 and 24 January 10am-1pm
6. 22/23 February 21 February 10am-5pm
7. 22/23 March 21 March 10am-5pm
8. 12/13 April 11 April 10am-5pm
9. 10/11 May 09 May 10am-5pm
9b. 23 May - theory exam at training room 10am-1pm
10. 07/08 June
10b. 14/15 June**
11. ^04/05/06 July
* Includes a field trip to a spa on the Saturday evening
**Practical exam - you only need to be available for your own exam on this weekend, for a total of 1.5 hours
^First Aid at Work training for those without a valid certificate
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11 course weekends
1 per month with a break over Christmas/new year.
The first 3 weekends are Saturday and Sunday only, in person at my training school in Whitchurch, north Shropshire.
Weekends 4-9 are Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Fridays are Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology (APP) theory days, carried out on Zoom - the first 2 APP Fridays are half days with another half day the Saturday before.
Saturdays and Sundays are in person at the training school.
Weekend 5 includes a field trip to a spa on the Saturday evening. This is included in the course fee.
The APP exam is morning only, the rest of that day is free.
Weekend 10b is for the practical exam. Each student only needs to attend their exam, for which they should allow 1.5 hours.
Friday of weekend 11 is the Emergency First Aid at Work training. Only those without a valid first aid certificate need attend this day.
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Each weekend contains massage demonstrations and practices. We will cover every area of the body at least twice throughout the course.
There will be movement, dance and meditation to help anchor and ground what you are learning.
And we’ll explore playful and creative ways to work with the weekend theme, and to help embed anatomy knowledge, so it’s easier to remember.
Guest teachers will add their specific expertise and we’ll listen to and use quotes from inspirational thinkers to help us gain deeper understanding.
There will also be time to rest, relax and absorb what you are learning, as well as supervision sessions for you to air any concerns or questions you have.
I will be available to support you throughout your massage journey. You can contact me by phone or email in between course weekends or book a 1:2:1 practice session. I will also set up an online group to share information and provide support.
I’ll encourage you to find your own style within the framework I’m offering, and to follow your passion and curiosity into areas and techniques that call you.
As well as learning techniques, to build a sustainable massage career, there are many other skills and areas of knowledge you need, which we will cover over the duration of the course. These are:
posture
self-care
how to tune into your creativity and intuition
business and marketing skills
how to take care of your practice including insurance and record keeping
how to work with clients including non-judgement, healthy boundaries and safe working
the consultation and aftercare process
anatomy, physiology and pathology
Emergency First Aid at Work.
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The diploma is a significant commitment. Each month you will carry out 6-8 hours of massage and 4-6 hours of homework, leading to a theory and practical exam at the end of the course, and a coursework folder to be handed in on weekend 9.
Many students with families and full-time jobs have successfully completed the diploma and there is no particular lifestyle needed to participate. However, do carefully consider if you have the time and space to commit to it and make a plan for how you will manage the workload.
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No previous experience of giving massage is necessary.
Students need to be able to speak and write English fluently and must be aged 18 or over by the time the course starts.
The course is a Level 4, which is equivalent to the first year of a degree programme. Students need to be able to study at this level.
Students of all abilities are welcome but each student must be physically and psychologically capable of practising massage therapy. Reasonable adjustments will be made to support students with physical or learning disabilities, and those with mental health issues. The accessible training room is on the ground floor.
Do get in touch if you have any questions about this.
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The course fee is £2,100.
A £220 non-refundable deposit secures your place, the rest is either payable in full before the start of the course or as instalments. The full fee must be paid by the course completion date.
The fee covers student membership of the Massage Training Institute and theory and practical exams.
All course materials are also included in the fee.
Reference books and home equipment, such as a massage couch, are additional costs. You will also need to buy student insurance at a cost of £15.25, and pay to receive at least 2 professional massages over the course of the training.
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The course is an NVQ Level 4, equivalent to the first year of a degree programme. On completion you’ll be a professional massage therapist with an insurance-recognised qualification.
Most professional massage therapists are qualified at Level 3. Having the higher level qualification gives you a deeper understanding of how to work with chronic muscular aches and aid relaxation.
During the course you will be a student member of the Massage Training Institute. On graduation you can join the MTI professional association, which has a range of benefits, including discount insurance and CPD.
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If you want to build a private practice, the course offers both deep tissue and relaxation techniques, which gives you a unique niche. This will help you to build a sustainable business with repeat clients looking for help with their chronic aches, while also receiving relaxation.
You will also learn how to prescribe simple aftercare exercises to help your clients embed the effects of the massage in their day-to-day life, which offers an additional benefit to your treatments.
You may choose to do extra study after the course - perhaps add another holistic therapy such as Reflexology, or a higher level qualification such as a level 5 in Sports and Remedial massage.
Or you could go straight into working in a spa, as the inhouse massage therapist at an osteopathy clinic or a hospital, as event support at triathlons or music festivals - there are a wide variety of options available.
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The course is by application only. This is to make sure that this in-depth training is the right fit for you at this time.
Click on the button below for the online application form, or request a paper copy by email.
You’ll receive feedback on your application within 5 working days. The final stage of the process is an in-person or online interview.
There is a maximum of 10 places available on each course.
Course Tutor,
Jenny Hampton, founder of Learn Massage UK
I have 13 years’ experience as a massage therapist and tutor and run a successful massage practice in Whitchurch, north Shropshire.
I’m passionate about the benefits of massage and how it can release pain from the body. I’m fascinated by the workings of the nervous system and the brain/body connection, about what it tells us about how we store and hold our life experience in our bodies.
I love to share with others what I’ve learnt about how to help support people to let go of built up stress and tension, in a way that is kind on their body too. Finding ways to massage that can be sustained over a career is all important, so you can maintain that love and passion for what you do.