Hi all
I have a friend who is interested in training to do massage therapy but wants to work with babies and children rather than adults.
Can anyone recommend/comment on/suggest what training she needs in order to gain the right qualifications to practice professionally.
I have just had an interesting discussion with her trying to explain the difference between doing a quick 'baby massage' evening course ( fantastic if you only want to use your skills on your own children and close friends and family ) and getting the appropriate qualifications needed to offer services to the general public, obtain insurance etc etc.
I'm a Reflexologist so I'm familiar with the training required to practice professionally and develop specalist skills for reflexology - start off doing a recognised quality Qualification such as BTEC or ABC diploma then take specalist post graduate courses but I'm not sure of this also applies to Massage.
I'd like to help her avoid wasting tme and energy on courses that will not enable her to work professionally as a therapist if that is her aim.
cheers
Lou xxx
Take a look at this website, at the tuina foundation course. Talk to Maria.
I completed this course a few years back, you will learn traditional chinese medicine, massage that will enable you to treat a far wider clientele than many western systems, aswell as learning peadiatric massage 'baby tuina' as part of the course.
Maria has upto date publications if you wish to read more about 'baby tuina' i use it and its very effective.
The qualification is recognised with all insurers and Maria is the leading authority on chinese medicine in this country. Course is accessed by ITEC with a BhTEC Diploma and registration with UK Oriental Medicine.
It think it will have everything you are looking for, but its worth making the call and having a conversation with Maria.
INDO
Also Internation Association of Infant Massage (IAIM), based in London but do training around the country. I trained with them in 1999, its a 5 day course.
Also, is it worth looking into demand for baby massage and what context it is used in?
I recently qualified in swedish massage and when we were discussing what courses we wanted to do next with the tutor, someone mentioned baby massage... our tutor did not believe there was much demand for it, she saw it more as an additional skill that might be useful for midwives, or for therapists who want to run group classes to teach parents how to massage their babies for bonding purposes...
very good point george.
I started doing baby massage in 1999 and at one point was running 3 courses a week with up to 12 people in each session if booked via sure start and 6 people for my privately run courses.
I now don't advertise for groups as it really is so time consuming and only offer one to one or groups if someone else arranges it.
I probably only do baby massage 6 times a year now.
Re;Baby Massage Training
Hi There
At Essentials for Health we hold baby massage training and upon completion, you recieve an IAIM Certificate.
Visit; [DLMURL] http://www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk/courses/iaim_certificate.php [/DLMURL]
Hope this helps