Blog: Interested in Massage Therapy? Here's our Top Tips for Success

Studying Massage Therapy can be an intensive and strenuous experience but it is an incredibly rewarding process with great opportunities for career progression. The Centre for Short Courses and Continuous Professional Development at St Mary’s University, Twickenham spoke to Stefanie O’Brien about her experience studying massage therapy at the University to find out more. Having always enjoyed giving people massages, Stef chose to take her passion for massage to the next level with the support of her family. Stef said, “It’s clear that everyone has enjoyed my massages, as my family all clubbed together to set me off on the path to become a fully qualified massage therapist.” Stef, a full-time mum who works three different jobs, has gone through the process of completing the Intensive Level 3 Diploma in Body Massage (ITEC) on to the Intensive Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage at St Mary’s, taking control of her career and paving the way to become her own boss. “The intensive and condensed nature of the course has allowed me to make childcare plans and make important preparations, which ensure that I can focus on and complete the course. By definition the course is intensive, and I knew that I was buying into a rigorous and fast-paced course.” After completing the Level 4 Sports Massage qualification, Stef aims to become an independent full-time massage therapist. Stef said, “By September 2016 I hope to have launched my own company, Holistic Massage Therapy Limited. My business will have its own clinic based in West London, which will offer a high quality service from therapists in different disciplines.” Massage Therapy tutor Kevin Moran, partnered with St Mary’s network of driven and likeminded professionals, inspired Stef to make the most of her time at the University and the course. “The course has a market-leading reputation which carries weight amongst the industry. The tutor motivates students to achieve their best, through high expectations in both the practical and theoretical parts of the course.” Stef’s five top tips for people considering enrolling on to the Intensive Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage are:

1. Make preparations for the course. Understand that the course is intensive and you need to make preparations to enable you to study every-day for three-weeks.
2. Communicate with the tutors. The tutor and Short Courses team are there to help, if you have any extra requirements let them know and they will be on the case.
3. Make the most for the facilities. You will be studying whilst using state of the art facilities. Don’t forget to use the library either.
4. Study! The intensive course really is intensive. You will need to study in the evening, to ensure that you understand the day’s syllabus.
5. Enjoy it – you will spend a lot of time massaging.

If you would like to change your passion in to your career, click through to find out how to progress from the Level 3 Diploma, to the Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage course.