Life after ITEC Holistic/What next?!

[goofy]

Hi there,
I am about to sit my ITEC Holistic Massage & A&P papers in Oct. I am wondering what I can do after... I would liketo change career into this field of massage but realise I can't do this with just the above qualification. I have been accepted onto a Sports Massage course but have just read the itinery & am panicing that I am just not bright enough for what is involved & to grasp it all doing part-time. I have no sports knowledge either I am just interested in deep tissue massage/accupressure etc.
I have looked into advanced massage technique courses/no hands etc.and think perhaps I should do these instead?
Does anyone have any suggestions or experience in any of the above?
I'm also wondering if I should just practise my Thai massage & Indian Head that I've done nothing with since I started the ITEC & get up to speed with that....
Soooo confused!!
Many thanks & warmest wishes
Firesprite x

 

[Vernon Small]

Hi Firespirit

It is important to use the head knowledge you have been given and turn it into practical hands on knowledge, this can only be achieved will lots and lots of practice, once you feel confident with your present skills, then that is the time to expand them and add extra strings to your bow

 

[Bekah Silva]

Firesprite

if you concentrate now and pass your ITEC exams then there is no reason that you cant go ahead and do the sports injury course if that is what you want to do

I dont know about you but I had not done any sort of studying for 20yrs before comencing my training - that was 4 years ago and I havent looked back since - I suprised myself - go on suprise yourself

walk before you run - make sure you spend the time studying now when it seems as though you have all the time in the world, rather than suddenly find yourself a week before the exam and still have loads to do.. the past papers forum is good , it will get you in the right frame of mind and you can use the questions which dont have multiple choice to see how good your knowledge is..

have faith, you can do it

hemelgirl

 

[teacup]

Hand on heart......are you interested in sports massage? Is this the direction you want to go in? Are you passionate about muscle groups, which parts are in distress when they are exercised, or......do you THINK this should be the way you SHOULD go?

the only reason why I ask is that I have been doing comp therapies for 10 years and have not once been drawn towards sports massage/remedial massage. I like what I do which is East/West massage and am passionate about it. Sports massage leaves me cold.

I respect people who are drawn towards this discipline, and often recommend my clients seek out a sports therapist when I feel that I cannot deal with a specific problem.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thank you all for your responses. I deff need to use the head knowledge & turn it into second nature before I run into anything else.
Patience!! & as hemelgirl says, have faith!
Thank you Daisychain...I amthinking this isthe routeI should go but its comp. therapies that I love..although I am interested in muscle groups/injuries my main passion is Thai Massage & this is what got me interested in massage & lead me to do the ITEC Holistics here. I think I would like to persue this route more than the sports. I don't s'pose you are local to Berkshire to therapy swap or know of any 'refresher' groups in Thai? Its been a year now since I done my study in Thailand...I s'pose I should just practise, practise, practise!! (After my ITEC Holistic exams of course!)
Thank you for your words of wisdom all!
Best wishes
Firesprite x

 

[Nmsbxqwtatbcj]

Sorry DaisyChain, just checked out yourwebsite & realised you are in Durham!! Mileage!
Loving the treatments you are offering!!
Feeling more inspired now! I have found my answers....
THANK YOU x

 

[Grrrrl Yeahh]

Hi Firesprite,

I took my VTCT in Swedish massage with the intention of going on to sports massage. During my course I got drawn towards energy therapies. Did a seated acupressure course then started Reiki and am currently down to start a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi course in September. Follow your heart rather than what you think you should do.

Be true to yourself,

Trevor

 

[takarajewels]

I agree with what's been said here. I was 3/4 of the way through my holistic course and rightly or wrongly my school put mild pressure on us saying that the upcoming sports massage course was filling up quickly and that we should register asap. I signed up and paid upfront, only to discover later that there was loads of places left - how naive am I?

Whilst I don't regret doing the Sports course I found it heavy going and realised while doing it, that, even though I'm a sporty person myself, don't enjoy administering sports massage as much as holistic/nuturing/relaxation massage. The good thing was that we learnt some advanced techniques and overall I feel that I have better skills than if i'd just done holistic.

Now that I'm out there looking for business I wish I'd done chair or indian head massage instead of sports, as it's more portable and sits together better with holistic in marketing terms.

So, yes, follow your heart ..... you know what's best for you.

Good luck!

 

[mwfrgkps]

Hi Firespirit,
I am based in Berkshire and like you studied ITEC Massage with A&P. I had intentions to go on to Sports Massage as i was told it would be a good career move. I was not sure about it and looked hard into myself to what i really wanted to do. I basically decided i wanted to treat people as a whole who would leave feeling totally relaxed. I eventually went into Beauty Therapy which was not what i intended at all. But now i have qualified in this too I am glad i followed my heart. I also want to expand on the comp Therapies such as Indian head Massage, Aromatheray but all good things come to those who wait and can afford the continueing price of education. I will achieve my long term goal when the time is right. I would follow the above advise and do what you think you will enjoy as the clients will benefit because of this.
good luck
lorina

 

[omzfloaera]

This is such a good discussion. When I set up a sports massage course I was interested in training people who had perhaps been drawn to one direction, and then in another. So folk who started as 'beauty' oriented, or energy oriented and then realised that there core was sports, or working with hunky rugby players.
I believe that it takes time to get to be really good at hands on therapies, and also time to discover your own self, and perhaps your authentic core.
Good luck to all embarking on a wonderful hands on journey