What are your thoughts on this training course?

It feels like were back to square 1! I do wonder what the SST membership make of all this business with voluntary registration, Surely some are saying '2012 is here and there is no sign of stat reg as you told us, what is going on?'

Anyway........gone way off topic! One day training BAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Definitely not back to square one. We now have a nationally set minimum standard that has been subscribed to by every single PA except one; we have a sports therapy regulator, which looks highly likely to join the ranks of HPC etc, as a CHRE accredited regulator; we have a definitive NO STAT REGS white paper from goverment; we have more and more private healthcare companies accepting CNHC; we have growing numbers of people training as diplomate sports therapists; im sure I could go on.

This has all happened within the past 2 or 3 years, and has been the product of all PAs at GCMT and SRTC, working together without exception. Yes there has been fall-outs, and im sure that there will probably be many more, but this has never affected the industry, and we have always moved forward, never backwards.

Im very happy with what we have achieved, and in fact, we have achieved more in this past 2/3 years than we have in 20 years. So if SST members want to think anything, they should think how much OTHER PAs have done lots to promote them as STs and pulled the industry out of the doldrums.

:offtopic::offtopic: sorreeeee! 🙁

* mods hat on *

Indeed, the conversation does seem to be going off topic.

Please can we return to PartyFairy's question(s).

Thanks. 😉

* mods hat off *

* mods hat on *

Indeed, the conversation does seem to be going off topic.

Please can we return to PartyFairy's question(s).

Thanks. 😉

* mods hat off *

with respect, I think it highlights the fact that what was said about the OP has been justified by the explanation of why in fact it is not a good course, simply put because it doesnt meet the national accepted standards, these posts have informed other HPers of the current state of the industry and highlighted the fact that prospective students should contact the above mentioned bodies and aassociations for clarification of a courses standing in the industry and not rely on what the training school is stating on their website.

regards
BGFL

Also with respect, and my mods hat on, and as someone who has no personal interest in massage courses, the reading of this thread tends to make an outsider feel that those claiming the need for high professional standards are not necessarily coming across in the most professional manner... at least that's what it looks like. Of course it's good to highlight the need for good standards and highlight what those standards are and who adheres to them, but pointing out where someone is faltering in those standards can be done in an informative manner and not so much a "I'm going to name and shame them" style.

😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

sometimes the naming and shaming of schools will lead to people who know no better not wasting money, such as in this recent posting

If M&S or Tesco or a bank or anyone else for that matter gave bad service, we would have no qualms about naming and shaming and complaining, so why people get precious when its a therapy school, I have no idea.

I know the owners of these companies read these forums, so why dont they come on to give their side of the story, truth is, they dont have an answer.

Potential students need to be aware of what is good and what isnt so good. I stand by all my postings on HP, the emails I get sent saying thank you for the honesty, sometime blunt honesty, makes it worthwhile.

ST I agree with what you say, however, the OP was aking about one or two specific course and suddenly we have the naming and shaming of lots of schools that weren't previously mentioned. Whilst it's important that people know about them, it detracts from the questions the OP was asking, hence why I asked that we get back on topic. I'm not disagreeing, just trying to prevent the thread being lost in another discussion altogether. 😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

Whilst I agree that the amount of training that is received needs to be sufficient to give the person undertaking the training to perform what they have learnt in a competent manner.

The type of training that a Swedish body massage therapist as found in a spar environment which is what it was designed for, does not require the same level of training and expertise that a remedial or a sports injury therapist would require.

ST I agree with what you say, however, the OP was aking about one or two specific course and suddenly we have the naming and shaming of lots of schools that weren't previously mentioned. Whilst it's important that people know about them, it detracts from the questions the OP was asking, hence why I asked that we get back on topic. I'm not disagreeing, just trying to prevent the thread being lost in another discussion altogether. 😉

All Love and Reiki Hugs

I understand that and agree that it went off topic. It does stir up lots of debate, so it is always difficult to keep it on track, so hopefully we are back on topic.

Whilst I agree that the amount of training that is received needs to be sufficient to give the person undertaking the training to perform what they have learnt in a competent manner.

The type of training that a Swedish body massage therapist as found in a spar environment which is what it was designed for, does not require the same level of training and expertise that a remedial or a sports injury therapist would require.

yet the swedish/body massage standards that are prerquisite for the latter examples are in place, accepted and should be being policed. and whether you work in a spa, salon, clinic or mobile there has to be a standard, all we are saying is that there are those in the industry who do not subscribe to that standard in practice, yet do so on their marketing materials,
therefore the potential student is duped into believing the hype on the websites, and we can "fluffy" it all we want on these forums, but the bottom line is they are not good courses as they fail to prpepare the student, inevitabley leading to bad press from the end users.

regards bgfl

Options

I have read all the posts with intrest.
I totally agree that 1 day practica lwill not even screatch the surface ofwhat you requireto know to performeffective massage treatments.
I did a 2 year course in beauty therapyand 6months of that was massage based. 4 hours per week at college and practice at home as well.

I have to say however 10years down the line with many other training courses under by belt i do occationally study with home learning to keep my interest up but would never have concidered this before the wealthofknowlage i gained from practical courses.

below are some links to courses which i think are good...
[url]ITEC Diploma in Massage[/url]
[url]CIBTAC international beauty education and courses[/url]

I am sure there are more
Hope that helps
nic

I see gateway training are at it again falsely stating their level 5 BTEC meets standards and confirms eligibility of ISRM, both counts a fail, now refusing to give back deposits to students who have paid and found out too late about the exaggerations being made

I see gateway training are at it again falsely stating their level 5 BTEC meets standards and confirms eligibility of ISRM, both counts a fail, now refusing to give back deposits to students who have paid and found out too late about the exaggerations being made

An expensive lesson 😮 having just looked at the price! I have issues with a couple of their other 'offerings' too.

An expensive lesson 😮 having just looked at the price! I have issues with a couple of their other 'offerings' too.

I'm with you on that one;)

This thread is really interesting and yet makes no sense. To be honest an 1 day course with some distance learning would be great for me. I may consider as its a recognisable qualification which allows me to get insurance and work in offices. I agree with most of the posts here in that you can't learn massage from scratch but if you have done massage for years and just need to learn a routine then it would work?

I think the real issue is the industry does not police itself. To be honest I don't think the important issue is how many hours it took to do a course its the fact you can trust the standard. To do this it need external examination. Why not have outside checking of practical and theory exams and external marking. It should be like a driving licence you go to a separate impartial place where they check you are fit to practice? So easy?

This thread is really interesting and yet makes no sense. To be honest an 1 day course with some distance learning would be great for me. I may consider as its a recognisable qualification which allows me to get insurance and work in offices. I agree with most of the posts here in that you can't learn massage from scratch but if you have done massage for years and just need to learn a routine then it would work?

I think the real issue is the industry does not police itself. To be honest I don't think the important issue is how many hours it took to do a course its the fact you can trust the standard. To do this it need external examination. Why not have outside checking of practical and theory exams and external marking. It should be like a driving licence you go to a separate impartial place where they check you are fit to practice? So easy?

That is the role of the Professional Association, which is why you can't join any of them after doing these one day courses.

This thread is really interesting and yet makes no sense. To be honest an 1 day course with some distance learning would be great for me. I may consider as its a recognisable qualification which allows me to get insurance and work in offices. I agree with most of the posts here in that you can't learn massage from scratch but if you have done massage for years and just need to learn a routine then it would work?

I think the real issue is the industry does not police itself. To be honest I don't think the important issue is how many hours it took to do a course its the fact you can trust the standard. To do this it need external examination. Why not have outside checking of practical and theory exams and external marking. It should be like a driving licence you go to a separate impartial place where they check you are fit to practice? So easy?

I have to say this kind of attitude towards yuor training is laughable, I certainly wouldn't use your services, if you've done massage for years, you would know its not about learning a routine to make it work, massage is intuitive, if after years you still think a one day workshop and piece of paper will make it work, then either your'e not good at it or your'e not good at it.............

many of those who contribute to these threads are experienced tutors, assessors and masseurs who work in the industry, others are training providers. we work in the industry, policing such courses, brining them to the attention of the regulator when they dont adhere to the accepted standards, which for the record is 80 hours of in class tutoring, plus theoretical learning and 36 hours of documented case studies.

your other post on HP seeks a quick cheap massage course, yet here you speak about external assessment and impartial places of assessment, Im afraid the two dont go together, the costs would be prohibitive, and just to add the final comment, driving is a regulated activity which is policed by the government, it is only achieveable after undergoing a theroy paper and numerous hours of practice, not a quick, cheap one day workshop.
Im afraid you need to wake up and smell the coffee, its precisely attitudes like your that give the industry a bad name.

I am aware that you may be offended by my post, but your post and attitude to training has offended many decent hard working therapists who took their taining seriously.
kind regards
BGFL

You seem to think its ok to judge and patronise someone you have never even met? I feel like I am talking to a child. I have never said you can learn massage in a day. I have also never said you can learn massage without practicing. The best massage I have ever had was from a former flatmate. She learned from her mum who had learned from her mum. Have any of them been in a class to learn massage, no. I have also had some really bad paid for massages, from people who have trained but have little skill and no empathy for their client. In my humble opinion the best massage comes from empathy for people, passion for the subject and lots of practice.

Just because someone sits in a class for 80 hours and does 36 case studies does not mean they will give good massage. It just means they have time and money. What would be more use is a exam body who test the student properly, no matter what route they take. From the outside it just looks like a way to make money. I can see the point in sitting in a class to learn things that are totally new to you, but home learning also works for some things. Training to do massage is not cheap and I would guess many people never recoup this money?

I am fairly likely to do a course in Shiatsu and they seem to regulate themselves much better. Although it’s a 3 year course with a lot of theory they do offer short cuts to people who already have some experience and knowledge (not me). They also don’t seem to have a baffling array of bickering awarding bodies. It looks like there is one Shiatsu society and they look to be internationally recognised?

I am not saying I give perfect massage. I don’t work as a therapist and I don’t want too. I do give massage about 3 times a week for about 6 years. This started as volunteer work for a charity. Because of this I have met a few therapists of different types and in most cases given them massage also. I currently give massage to therapists, personal trainers, physios, some social workers and some other people I have met on the way. I don’t advertise or self promote. Most of my clients I have had for years. They are not really general public more a friend of friend of friend. The only reason I though having qualification would be useful is one of my clients asked me if I could do some regular event work for a charity. I don’t want to do event work without insurance and to get this I need qualification. I only need to help out a charity. There is no financial benefit for me and I don’t have a lot of time. I do however know how to do massage and understand A&P. If I can do a short course that ticks the boxes and is not too expensive then yes this works for me. I am not looking to learn, I already know. I am not arrogant I have just trained on the job and have a passion. I have read books and picked up lots of techniques from people on the way.

I have to say this kind of attitude towards yuor training is laughable, I certainly wouldn't use your services, if you've done massage for years, you would know its not about learning a routine to make it work, massage is intuitive, if after years you still think a one day workshop and piece of paper will make it work, then either your'e not good at it or your'e not good at it.............

many of those who contribute to these threads are experienced tutors, assessors and masseurs who work in the industry, others are training providers. we work in the industry, policing such courses, brining them to the attention of the regulator when they dont adhere to the accepted standards, which for the record is 80 hours of in class tutoring, plus theoretical learning and 36 hours of documented case studies.

your other post on HP seeks a quick cheap massage course, yet here you speak about external assessment and impartial places of assessment, Im afraid the two dont go together, the costs would be prohibitive, and just to add the final comment, driving is a regulated activity which is policed by the government, it is only achieveable after undergoing a theroy paper and numerous hours of practice, not a quick, cheap one day workshop.
Im afraid you need to wake up and smell the coffee, its precisely attitudes like your that give the industry a bad name.

I am aware that you may be offended by my post, but your post and attitude to training has offended many decent hard working therapists who took their taining seriously.
kind regards
BGFL

I find it incredible that someone could expect to grasp even the basics of a providing a safe, effective and professional massage treatment from attending such short courses, as discussed here.

But if you don't have the knowledge in the first place, I guess it's very tempting to take the quick fix route for a bit if paper with Diploma printed on it. It's the same innit?

For what it's worth, my opinion is that you cant beat the 'long' way - go to college for 2 or 3 hours a week (over 1 academic year), practice and network with your fellow students in between classes. Do this and you will raise questions that can be answered by your tutor the following week ('what actually is a knot?' 'why is it there?' 'what does it effect?' 'how do I get rid of it?' 'what happens to the bits?!') Really basic stuff I know, but amazing when you don't know!
I could go on about the correct stance for working, contra indications......bread and butter stuff that would get skimmed...but I won't!

You will miss out on so much depth of knowledge if you fast track your first course in massage. By all means do some 'top up' short courses once you have a solid base to work on (hands free methods to save your thumbs for instance!)

Anyway, gotta go. Just been on a 1 day bricklaying course and I've read a couple of books on it, so I think I'm ready to build my first house.....

Keep smiling!
Kerry 🙂