what do you think to this?

[Rick-E]

Hot Stone Massage is truely lovely - and a lot of the Hot Stone schools provide a range of pre-blended Aromatherapy oil to use with the treatment. I have previously questioned the use of these oils with the schools - ie do they teach the practitioners about the different EOs, or are they only for qualified aromatherapists - I was told no EO training is given as it would take too long. What worries me about your treatment was that you were not told about the the contraindications of citus oils - ie that they are phototoxic, and that you should avoid sitting in the sun for at least 24 hours after application, otherwise you could end up with a very serious rash/burn.

Regarding the legislation - I believe that if this is passed only qualified aromatherapists will be able to use essential oils in treatments and provide any sort of "aroma" treatment. Other therapists will not be insured for giving any sort of "Aroma" treatment to the public, and therefore cannot receive payment for treatments that use EOs or are called "Aroma" anything.
I think the pre-blended oils will be continued to be sold to the public in shops, as long as it's for "personal" use only, as they are of a lesser blended percentage - but I see a great big loop-hole though!

Rima x

 

[Catelehas]

Hi, Just seen this post - sorry to be so late with my comment. I finished the VTCT certificate in aromatherapy in June this year - we were taught about contraindications, blending, proper consultation etc. It was a very good course - a very good tutor always helps. I always seem to be made to feel inferior about my VTCT courses - A&P, Reflexology, Swedish Massage and Aromatherapy. Going on to Indian Head Massage this year again, VTCT - there is no choice in my area anyway and I really don't feel badly done by - although have had cause to complain about bad organisation etc. It comes down to how good the tutor is and what you do with the knowledge you get from the course - up to you how much too! and also what you do with it afterwards. I would hate to have missed out on the joys of being able to blend the oils according to the client needs/preferences - it's the best bit! I hope regulation does come - it's needed across the board in therapy. I hear of some very dubious statements accompanied by very poor sounding treatments by allegedly qualified therapists!

 

[Mr. Spork]

I was just chuckling to myself and wondering if I should point out my views...and I thought I will.
I can without shame say that I have no qualification in any field what so ever.
Nil.
It is a long story why this is so, but I can assure that I have a very good full time job...

Now as it comes to aromatherapy, I got interested because I like nice smells and I have bad knee and back pains. So instead of going to see an aromatherapist, I bought a bunch of books. I then studied them for a few months. Then I ordered 40 bottles of essential oils and few litre bottles of carrier oils.
I figured they will get used, if for nothing else, the fragrance in the end.

Then I blended and tested, blended some more and tested some more. I started making blends for the family and always asked for feedback.
Then I bought some more books...and read some more.
Tested some more....

This has gone on for approx 3 years. I feel that you don't need to go to school to learn anything, if you are motivated to learn at home.

I would not consider starting to offer massages for people for money, as I am not qualified, but I have been giving massages to my family since I was 11 and I know pretty well how to give a wonderful massage.
I also have 6-7 books on different types of massage techniques, all which have been tried and tested.

I do firmly belive that a diploma does not neccessarily mean anything, just as the comment about every person who gets a driving licence a good driver, of course not!

I dare say that I have great amount of knowledge without a diploma and if I was to take a test, I am confident I would score as high as the students.

Great example about this is the fact that 1 year ago, I knew I wanted a website, I just had no clue how to go about it.

It is now 12 months later and I have a website that works wonderfully and has had lots of praise. I made all the graphics and logos and everything myself and I am damn proud of it.

I did not need to go on a course in college to learn how to build a website...I just decide to learn it myself.

These days information about anything you ever want to know is at your fingertips, and I don't think I am stupid or somehow less that other people just because I don't have a wall full of diplomas.....

Just my opinion....

 

[Baby Gurl]

Amaris

It's really great that you have taken the time to learn about something that you feel so passionate about.

There is lots of information out there in books, on the internet, etc and this is a fine way to learn about aromatherapy for your own use and use on family and friends.

However (you knew there would be one, didn't you?), many books contradict each other, particularly where contraindications are concerned. A course is interactive, you can question the tutor when you come across some information that doesn't make sense. You get lots and lots of hands on experience in a safe situation, allowing you to get feedback on what works and what doesn't work.

I really feel that with aromatherapy and massage you will nearly always see benefits in what you do and yes, there are many ways to do it, none of which are wrong. My worry, with someone without a qualification is them knowing when not to treat or what oils not to use in certain circumstances - as you know they are so powerful so have the ability to do harm as well as good. And of course, you wouldn't be able to get insurance without a qualification.

Of course, you don't need to be insured if you are treating family and friends and not getting paid for it, so what you are doing is fine. I just wanted to point out, for the benefit of all our members, that there are no shortcuts (and nor should there be), to becoming an aromatherapist.

Lesley

 

[Missy.]

Hi Aromababe!

I agree with you, I have noted that there are some various opinions in different books and this is why, no matter what I study (and that seems to be many things) I like to try things out myself so I can get first hand experience, and then I know I can comment on something with confidence as I know on a personal level it to be true.

Don't get me wrong, I would actually love to get aromatherapy qualification, but my current situation does not allow it as I work shifts and would have to skip lessons every other week. But life changes and maybe I will have my chance. But because of the nature of my work, I also have lots of time when I can study, at my pace at home. And if you go out and pay for a service, of course as a customer, you should be treated by a person who know what they are doing and are qualified.

However, I belive that on a lot of other fields you can actually work without a qualification, healing and medicine are different, I have no qualifications but most of my life I have worked in jobs that have been highly paid and professional and this covers many fields. I have lived and worked in 11 different countries and done variety of jobs.

Currently I am boss to 45 truck drivers in Finland and I take care of deliveries of hazardous goods and am the first point of contact in an environmental/life threatening emergency situations, which is quite a heavy responsibility. I have achieved that by continually trying to improve and learn new things, and I also belive that if one wants something badly enough and gathers enough knowledge of that matter, school per say is not neccessity, information and experience on the other hand is.

To be honest I thought about posting twice...I knew that there would be some discussion about this, but then again I thought it would also be interesting to see what other people thought of my story [sm=animal-smiley-085.gif]

I also look forward learning more from all the people in this forum!

 

[yuhlndty]

Amaris

I think your story is very interesting and I am truly impressed by your quest for knowledge and experience. I visited your website and was absolutely knocked out by the set up. I take my hat off to you, you've done an amazing job. There is just one thing though - the Om sign is back to front. Is this significant, does it mean something? I hope you don't think that I'm putting you down, because I'm not. I hope we see more of you on HP, it's a great forum.

Love and blessings
Sunanda xx

PS My teacher, Amma, has many devotees in Finland. Have you met her?

 

[Donkey_kong]

Hi!

Thanks for visiting the website, I haven't got it listed properly yet as it has only been live for few weeks, so it is nice to get visitors![sm=1syellow1.gif]

The logo was inspired by the om sign, but as the site is called universal essence, there is U and E although the E looks like 3 wrong way around.
I thought it would be quarky having a logo that in a way resembles the om which is a sign that has facinated me for a long time. But, yeah it stands for UE=universal essence.

I have been spending time on some really nice discussion boards that are finnish, but for a while I have been looking for english discussion board that I would really be interested in and I certainly have found it here.
A whole lot of the stuff that I am interested in is right here and I am really glad I stumbeld accross this by accident (or divine intervention?)

I have not met Amma, is she active here?
I have lived in UK for 8 years now and I only visit Finland few times a year, but thanks to internet it is easy to keep in touch with people over there.

I am also going to make the website in finnish as well, so from the start page you can choose the language, once I have some time!!![sm=scratchchin.gif]

 

[Matthew Teti]

just an update
the salon that i started this whole thread about has closed
a friend went to use some vouchers she had been given and its closed down , no contact number so the vouchers her kids bought her are useless which is such a shame.

i doubt that it has closed because of the therapist saying that aroma training isn't necessary, its probably more a question of location but i just thought i would let you know
its a shame because the interior was beautiful .........wish i had the money to buy it
oh and i have completed a correspondence aromatherapy diploma which i am sure that many of you will frown upon, but with 20 years of interest in and personal use ofessential oilsan extensive library and massage and IHM qualifications (from college attended courses,) i don't have any qualms about using my skills if i ever decide to practice
I did the correspondence because i really couldn't face another round ofclasses where the places were taken up mainly by bored and sometimes disruptive teenagers doing beauty therapy but i appreciate that was just my experience

 

[Roloch]

i was taught th ITEC way, and they say that you cannot use essenial oils prebleded or not, unless you are qualified.