How can I find a sports massage course?

[Dwin]

Hi guys,

I have just taken ITEC Holistic Massage and A&P exams. I'm thinking about doing sports massage this coming year whilst thinking about starting an osteopathy degree in 2006 (nuts or what?)

Our local adult ed, with whom I did holistic massage, don't do sports massage, nor does the local further education college. Any ideas where I can go to find out about local courses?

I'm in Kent, on the Sussex border, in the Tunbridge Wells area.

Aldebaran
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[natesando]

Hi there,

I had this problem when I wanted to do Sports Massage as I'm from the same area as you!

It depends what you want to do really. I would suggest that you go for a Sports Massage Association accredited course and there isn't many of those around!!

I've gone for the Raworth Centre in Dorking and so far it's been brilliant although it is VERY intense and there is a lot of home study hours involved. On top of normal course work assignments there are case studies to do for the Sports Massage part and another set for the Remedial Bodywork part plus you have to do 60 hours work experience of observing another therapist, i.e Physio, Osteopath, Massage Therapist, Reflexologist, Chiropractor etc etc. They do part-time or full-time courses. Mine is at weekends. Travelling is no problem as only takes about 40mins to drive there.

I think the other SMA one in the South East is the LSSM . Have a look at their website just to make sure though!

Hope that helps.

LoL
BT
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[quarter]

Hello Tigger -

thanks for the advice. Your course sounds very intense! The thing is, I'm not sure that I actually want to practice sports massage - I was viewing it more as a continuation of study (mainly doing the A&P in greater depth) before possibly embarking on the osteopathy degree. But if I'm balking at the idea of the intensitiy of the sports massage then perhaps I shouldn't be considering the osteopathy...

Boyoboyoboy now I'm even more confused [sm=confused-smiley-012.gif]

Are you near TW then?

Karen
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[Nick MacMillan]

Hi Karen,

You could always try the ITEC Sports Massage courses which isn't as intense as this one. There's a college in Maidstone that does it and the other one I found was in Brighton. That would give you deeper understanding of what you've already covered but I'm not sure whether it's SMA accredited....

Let me know if you'd like more details and I'll PM you.

One of my tutors at Raworth has qualified as an osteopath... took her 3 or 4 years!

Yep, I'm TW born and bred

BT
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[esofactioff]

Thanks BT,

Yes, details of the Brighton & Maidstone ITEC courses would be great. Thanks a lot!

Yes the osteopathy would be a long haul - 4 years full time at Maidstone's European School of Osteopathy or 5 years part time in London at the BSO. Phew...

Actually I'm feeling a bit downhearted about it this evening [&o] - I feel I am being blocked and thwarted at every turn in trying to bring the dream into reality. Trying very hard to trust the universe to sort things out if this is the path I am meant to be taking but, as we all know, that is usually much easier said than done!

Karen
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[xzkgfgyv]

Hi Karen

Unfortunately the ITEC sports massage courses aren't accredited by the SMA. However, as 'sportstherapy' mentioned in an earlier post in this forum:

"You dont have to do an SMA accredited course to become a member. If you have done a sports massage course anywhere other than an SMA accredited college, you can join SMA as an affiliate member (you can be an affiliate member for 3 years), and then you can either do a bridging course or sit an exam, this will give you full membership."

The list of SMA-accredited courses is available on
http://www.sportex.net/sma/pdfs/accredited_courses.pdf

Personally I would recommend the LSSM course if you are willing to travel to Regent's Park.

Alan

 

[insomzar]

Thanks for the advice Alan -

Travelling to Regent's Park isn't really an option with my home circumstances. I've been trawling the Adult Ed website today and have found a couple of colleges in Kent that are doing the ITEC Sports Massage course - think I might go down that route for the time being. As you say, I can always become an affiliate member of SMA and then do a full accreditation later.

Aldebaran
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[Kittie Nya! Nya!]

I would definately recommend a SMA accredited course. For me, they are definately the way forward for you.