Continuing Professional Development – for qualified massage therapists

You’ve qualified, now what? Keep going! The Sheffield Centre for Massage Training offers a range of professional courses to help qualified massage therapists develop their practice.

Deep Tissue Massage & Direct Myofascial Release

Fri 23 Apr 2021 - Sun 25 Apr 2021, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Book here


3 Practical Days that will bring your massage onto a new level!

23, 24, 25 April 2021.

Please note that this course has an online component. The online component is especially recommended for those who want to brush up on their anatomy. It also contains an introduction to the right setup, body-use and use of elbow, forearms, knuckles and fists and the theory of techniques. The online element can also be taken separately. More information below.

Deep Tissue Massage CPD
Prerequisite: AP&P and bodywork level 3 qualification

The lines between relaxation massage and deep tissue massage can be blurry. Sometimes, people just ask for a deep tissue massage because they are worried a therapeutic or relaxation massage may not be deep enough for them. Just pressing on harder does not do the trick however, as it just causes pain and potentially damage, without allowing the body to “let you in”. Deep tissue work will always incorporate relaxation, but will be very slow, focusing on specific areas. The lengthening of short muscles and release of fascial restrictions that are brought about by posture, lifestyle, attitudes etc, may involve active participation of the client and is normally done with no or very little lubrication. Sinking deeper, without attempting to force the body, is a skill that will keep your practice interesting and attract clients.

We recommend you purchase “A Visual Guide to Deep Tissue Massage” by Art Riggs and “Trail Guide to the Body” by Andrew Biel to accompany this course.

Day 1
Please note that most of the content of Day 1 has now been put online and extended for preparation for the course (marked with an *). The online course is meant to make people who are a bit shaky on anatomy and conditions to revise. The homework for this course is however voluntary. You will receive login details to our learning environment after you have purchased the course.


Ideally, you will go through the content of the online course before the practical days, but you can also use the content for revision alongside or after the course.

The online element covers:
Introduction to deep tissue massage
Anatomy of deeper structures, cautions & contraindications
Postural imbalances
Theory and application
Palpation & techniques for release of musculo-skeletal restrictions

Through the towel techniques
Ergonomic and effective bodyuse
Save your fingers and thumbs – focus on forearm, elbow and knuckle use
Principles of soft tissue release & introduction to trigger points*

Day 1:
Effective body use for deep tissue massage
Precautions and contraindications
A host of ways to use the elbow and forearms and areas and reinforced fingers and thumbs thumbs for a flowing, oil-based full body deep tissue massage with a view to relaxation – supine and prone

Day 2
Working with fascia: Principles and techniques for direct fascial release
Going deeper: Working with minimal and no lubrication

Specific conditions which can be addressed with deep tissue massage, relevant techniques for the upper body
Side-lying techniques for the upper body.

Day 3
Specific conditions which can be addressed with deep tissue massage, relevant techniques for the lower body
Side-lying techniques for the lower body.

Combining it all:
How to combine a range of techniques learned on this course into a meaningful, flowing, client-centered deep tissue massage

The fee for this 3 day course £350. When you book onto this course, you also get our Introduction to Deep Tissue Massage online course, which has a value of £49. The practical days take what is being introduced in the online course much further. Please note that for insurance purposes and in accordance with the guidelines of our governing bodies, you will need to take the practical days in order to put deep tissue massage on your insurance. The online element, if fully completed, can however count towards your CPD points (20h+ if all guided homework is submitted).

 

This is what past students say:
“Great course. I feel I’ve learned a lot that will take my massage to a different level.” Julie
“Very informative and productive three days. Really enjoyed it!” Carole
“This course has taught me so much and I can’t wait to put what I’ve learnt into practice. The course was very well structured with the right amount of practical/theory time.
Eva is an absolutely incredible teacher. She is so knowledgeable, patient and friendly and allows the students to learn in a relaxed environment.” Kizz





Deep Tissue Massage & Direct Myofascial Release

Fri 23 Apr 2021 - Sun 25 Apr 2021, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
More info


3 day course in deep tissue massage for qualified massage practitioners. Learn how to safely apply deep techniques and provide a meaningful, individually tailored massage. Focus on ergonomic bodyuse for a lasting career. Includes specific conditions, trigger point work, soft tissue release and direct myofascial release techniques.





How To Become A Trauma Savvy Practitioner

Thu 06 May 2021 - Thu 27 May 2021, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Supercharge your practice by becoming a Trauma Savvy Practitioner.

Learn why it is essential to promote massage as a viable approach to working with people who are traumatised.

Mental health services are dealing with a rise in urgent and emergency cases, there is a fear that there might be a ‘tsunami’ of mental illness after the pandemic – Royal College of Psychiatry.

We, massage therapists, know without a doubt that massage can calm & soothe people. But do you know how?

This course is based mainly on Deb Dana & Stephen Porges’ work on the Polyvagal Theory plus other trauma savvy experts.

Polyvagal theory tells us that being under chronic threat has a direct impact on our body and our mind. When we meet a stressor, known or unknown, it takes us out of loving connection with ourselves and others and into either shutdown or fight/flight. Moving from a loving connection to one of the other fearful states is called dysregulation, but it is not a state that is ‘wrong’. It is not wrong to protect yourself when you sense that you are not feeling safe, it is necessary for survival. Shifting states is a protective and sophisticated dance and like any dance, it’s good to know the steps well.

Course Content:

• Learn about the essential conditions massage therapists should provide for clients with trauma.
• Explore embodiment & how your nervous system communicates to your traumatised clients’ system.
• Learn signs & symptoms of trauma.
• Self-exploration of your autonomic nervous system using mindfulness practices.
• Exploratory exercises in small groups & pairs.
• A fundamental framework that includes brain science & anatomy.
• Strategies for self-care for working with traumatised clients.

This course is on Zoom and is experiential using many of the interactive features of this online platform. The course will be held over four weeks on Thursday morning for two hours per week.

Scope of the course: please note that while How To Become A Trauma Savvy Practitioner is offered with an intention to upskill you on the subject of trauma, it is not designed specifically for attendees currently struggling with traumatic or post-traumatic stress. While I will teach about trauma – and the importance of integrating an understanding of trauma into our practices and lives – this is not a course to learn massage techniques to heal trauma as the healing that takes place is a unique experience for each client.

 

In Praise of How To Become A Trauma Savvy Practitioner:

Loved your choice of upbeat music and the openness and kindness of your teaching – KM

‘I liked the self-reflection on me and on my work; connection with others; the physiology of trauma; resources given out to help me to continue with this work’ – CF

‘Re delivery – it was excellent Vicky, great repetition of information (as there was a lot) – applying all the principles of working with trauma in your presentation’ – LH

‘Very informative, essential knowledge and understanding for anyone working with clients, particularly at this time’ – LR

‘I’m in awe of your zoom/technical knowledge and use of it’ – SM

‘Enjoyed the ‘bringing up to date’ with the intergenerational trauma – so important. Also the effect of that ‘drip, drip’ trauma which many probably don’t even think it’s trauma but is reflected in them in some way’ – CD

‘The digital presentations were the best I`ve seen on zoom. The moving diagrams and so on were of an exceptionally high standard. Great use of different mediums to engage interest and appeal to different learning styles’ – AM





How To Become A Trauma Savvy Practitioner

Thu 06 May 2021 - Thu 27 May 2021, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
More info


Supercharge your practice by becoming a trauma savvy practitioner. Learn why it is essential to promote massage as a viable approach to working with people who are traumatised.





Focus on Feet - postponed

Sun 13 Jun 2021, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
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A day to freshen up on feet.

So you probably covered foot massage in your course and your clients love it…you might start with feet or end and you might visit them during a massage… but do you ever feel that feet are forgotton? that feet are foolish? or that feet are foreign?

We are going to spend the whole day getting fascinated by feet. We’ll look at different ways to massage the feet but we’ll go further than foot massage. We’ll look at the whole session, how to set it up as well as the massage itself. We’ll also consider bodymind connections and feet in everyday language.

At the end of the day you’ll have some new tools in your tool box and be able to give a 60 minute foot massage that becomes a favourite with your clients!

This course is for qualified massage practitioners. You may also attend as a massage student as this day is a good way to extend your knowledge as well as be inspired by qualified therapists.

Praise for Focus on Feet

Thanks again for a good day focusing on feet. I enjoyed it and feel fresh with inspiration. Thanks for your creativity and effort it was appreciated very much. Susan

 The day was really well structured and not only did I learn some really useful new techniques and approaches to use in my practice but felt energised and refreshed by spending the day connecting with other massage therapists. Thank-you! Jo


 

 





Focus on Feet - postponed

Sun 13 Jun 2021, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
More info


Fascinating Feet, Flowery Feet, Fancy Feet, Fat Feet, Feeble Feet, Feminine Feet, Fickle Feet, Fierce Feet, Fine Feet, Firm Feet, Flexible Feet. Free them Feet! Come and focus on feet and learn a foot massage that becomes a whole one hour session.