10 Tips For Succeeding With Massage Training

There is a very big difference between just learning a set of Massage techniques and a holistic healing art. Techniques in themselves are necessary, of course. But there is a lot more that has to happen in order to make these techniques effective. Massage can be nothing more than a mechanical system of moving the body around, or it can be an amazingly effective, inspiring holistic system. It just depends on how you learn it.

Here at my al Covo suite in Southampton, it has been my mission since 2007 to teach Massage from the heart, with a soul. Sure, I teach all the techniques in our online training courses within the practical training sessions at the suite - but ! don't stop there. ! like to take it several steps further. I am not satisfied by helping students to become 'massage mechanics'. It is my goal to help them to become intuitive, creative, inspired healing artists who not only have an amazing repertoire of techniques, but also a sense of energy, of connection, and a wonderful touch.

I want to help students to become truly excellent at helping their clients effectively. I want them to fall in love with Massage and become so good at it that they never have to worry about competition. I want them to attract and keep clients and build an excellent reputation.

How do I do that? How do you succeed with Massage online training? What elements should you be looking for when choosing a Massage school? Which Massage courses are best for you? Live training might not be available where you are based, or the cost might be prohibitive. Therefore an online option might be the right solution for you. The online training I offer is developed for an international audience and by international  board of therapists, which is why I am a member of the International Council of Holistic Therapists. Through 'Guild Training International', you can register and learn remotely, 24-7, 365 days a year, going backwards, skipping forwards, and pausing your training modules whenever you like. This has the benefit of allowing you to take the course learning at your own pace. This allows so much more freedom than set times and dates usual with many massage schools. How many sessions may you miss because of travel disruption, work, family and friends' events tempting you to miss classes, or COVID-19 and other sudden events affecting classes? Online training allows you to avoid lost attendance at teaching classes and ensures you learn everything!

Together with online learning, the learning from physical presence and feeling, when a client is with you, is also important. Online courses don't touch this essential element of a massage therapist's skills. The initial meeting with a client, the consultation, the eye contact, the way a client's body reacts to your touch, the body consciousness, language, behaviour, and responsivness, the mental rapport, the intuition that you feel as a therapist as to what the client needs, the conversation throughout your 1:1 therapy, the aftercare, the contact by video, text or talk, between appointments, how you interact with each other, how you take bookings, payments and rescheduling, the venue of your treatment - all these elements to being a therapist, matter just as much as learning the techniques. When we put both the online training and physical hands on practical training together in the best way - in my opinion by mixing together the online techniques, anatomy and physiology, together with 1:1 practical learning sessions with an experienced therapist such as myself... bingo! You have an ultimate combination of massage learning methods to succeed as a therapist.

The following is a guide to help you with making the right choice and determining what kind of training might be best for you. Here at al Covo, I have been providing Massage training since 2007. For the first 8 years I only did live training. Then, in 2015 I introduced online training with the Guild of Therapists Training International. After a few years, the online aspect or our school developed with better technology, videos, online content and a wider, worldwide market. This happened because there was a need for good Massage online training, and the demand was growing. During these years we developed an effective system of presenting online education in a professional way which helps students learn best.

When we started with the online Massage school, we were the only ones doing this joint approach of online and practical training. We pioneered it. Nowadays, there are many options to choose from. The question is which training is best for you and your needs. I cannot compare our school with other training options, but I can tell you how our training helps you and what makes our Massage School unique. Then you can decide if this feels right for you.

1. Who are the teachers and school background?

The Guild of Therapists and myself, on the International Council, are an established professional UK team offering insurance to practice. The Guild of Therapists is the largest UK professional body in Therapies. Guild training is totally international, a 'gold standard' allowing you to practice to standards in many countries. I myself have trained and practiced in many countries including the UK, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, the Philippines, East Africa, USA and Italy. This provided me with an excellent variety of knowledge, skills and experience, the best mix of international treatments' standards, which I have provided to students since 2007. 

2. How easy is it to follow the training?

Our training is very detailed and in depth, but at the same time we avoid complicated language and dry theory with lots of fancy anatomical terms. We made our training as user friendly as possible.

It is an easy to understand, practical, hands-on approach to learning Massage which anyone can follow easily, even if English is not your first language.

3. What’s the focus of the training?

We don’t just teach techniques and sequences, but you will learn a creative, intuitive, and flexible approach to work with your clients in the most effective way.

It’s not just a mechanical system of massage moves, but a holistic body-mind-spirit system. This is not only good for the clients. It is inspiring and fulfilling for you, the therapist, as well.

4. Standard or unique training?

We have actually improved the traditional system which most schools teach. We have developed a refined version with unique techniques which make Massage even better. For example, we teach gentle and effective rocking techniques, which clients love and which are easy on the practitioner. This is unique to our style. You cannot learn this in some Massage schools.

All practical sessions are 1:1 with Steve, meaning he can adapt the training to your requirements. If you want more time on a specific aspect, eg facial massage, or foot massage, then he can do this.

5. How flexible and adaptable is the training?

We don’t just teach you one-size-fits-all techniques that every client gets no matter what. We teach a very flexible and intuitive system that includes many ways to adjust and modify techniques.

This is extremely important so that you can work on many body types and sizes and weights. It also helps small therapists to work on large clients without straining.

The online courses are availalbe 24-7, 365 days a year, so you can dip in and out, go back and flick forwards as you wish, take weeks or months off so you can complete it all in your own time.

6. How therapist-friendly is the training?

Here is a big one. Our training is designed to be as therapist-friendly as possible. You will learn to get maximum results with least effort. This is done by using ideal body mechanics and by working with body weight instead of muscle power. 

That makes sure that you will never have any problems with your hands and wrists,  and that you work with much less effort than you ever thought possible.

That’s the secret to a long career as a massage therapist right there.

7. Technical Massage training or artistic flow?

Techniques by themselves are not enough. You need to know how to connect them into a beautiful flow. We don’t just teach you techniques, but also the transitions that connect them all together in a flowing and artistic way. This is often neglected in Massage schools. 

It’s kind of like music. The individual notes are not music. What makes it into beautiful music is the way how all these individual notes are connected. That’s what turns notes into a song or a symphony.

The same applies to Massage. You can know tons of techniques, but without the skill to connect them together through good transitions, it is not complete, and it doesn’t flow. We teach you how to do that beautifully.

I am a trained pianist and my mother a concert pianist, and I learnt how to use ryhthym, pace and pressure from a very early age on the piano. I consider this a great enhancement to my massage career, as music is key to the soul.

8. Will I learn how to actually help my clients?

We don’t just teach you the techniques of Massage, but you will get an understanding of the therapeutic application of those techniques so that you can really help your clients effectively.

Massage has always been used to help people with their aches and pains. It is part of a system of natural medicine, and its effectiveness has been proven over hundreds of years.

9. Mechanical versus holistic training

We don’t just teach you a mechanical system of bodywork, but a holistic program with a focus on energy, on the true spirit of Massage, on the artistic expression and a healing intention. 

All this will take your Massage skills to a much higher level than just learning the mechanics of bodywork.

10. Will I get support? Is there a community?

I have a large and active student community, from former students and current students, since 2007. I can put you in contact with many past and current students and also with local practioners. I also provide lots of different role models to practice on. 

Successful students have gone on to open their own prcatices in a huge range of forms. Jobs have included the cruise industry spa departments with Carnival, whose headquarters are here in Southampton, for those that wish to travel the world on an ocean liner, to salon work with other holistic practitioners such as Chiropractors, Reiki Masters, Kinesiologists, Reflexologists in their home town, to practicing massage while travelling the globe wherever their heart takes them! Building a community and learning from others in the business will prvoide a key elemnt in your success and career development.

Training is 1:1 with Steve, giving you all his time and experience in each session. Many schools provide group classes only. I beieve this is the best way - you get individual attention, but I can get you introduced to the contacts that you need..

Every student has access to me as their tutor, for any questions or whatever help is needed. And this access is not limited to texts and emails, but it can be done through face to face, individual support.

So you won’t be alone with this course. You can be part of an inspiring community of therapists who help and support each other. It is much more fun that way.

So, how can I summarise? 

Massage training should be with heart and soul Massage is not just something that you do. It is something that you are. It becomes part of you. It doesn’t just come from your hands – it comes from your heart.

We teach Massage in a way that is inspiring, fun, interesting, healing, and transforming. If you want to learn Massage from the Guild and me, you will find not just techniques and courses, but a healing art that touches your soul. It will transform your massage career, it will inspire you, and it will help you to improve the health and well-being of your clients.

To learn Massage or to improve your existing Massage skills, check out my extensive online training courses on my website:

Namaste! Steve