BCMB FURTHER LEARNING
Advanced Workshops and Classes for Massage Practitioners
Expand your skills, experience, and creative possibilities in your massage and bodywork practice
Our advanced workshops in Bristol are tailored to enhance expertise and skills, while igniting the creative potential of qualified massage practitioners. If you are uncertain about your eligibility for these workshops, please reach out to us for clarification.
The programme brings together a highly experienced and talented team of tutors, each of whom has at least 10 years experience in their own field. These are experienced teachers and we are confident that they are fully aligned with the BCMB/MTI ethos as well as leaders in their area of expertise.
The tutor team comprises both BCMB tutors and Guest tutors. We also host workshops from highly skilled external practioners, find out more here.
1hr of any workshop accumulates 1 CPD point
Participating in one of these workshops gains a Certificate of Attendance and meets MTI (Massage Training Institute) /GCMT (The General Council for Massage Therapy) further training requirements.
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BCMB Advanced Workshops & Classes Booking
Find out upcoming dates for workshops and classes you are interested in. Scroll through the list below. It is updated regularly so if the course you want isn't listed then watch this space.
This workshop gives insight into remedial massage techniques and the application of massage in a sport setting. This advanced workshop is aimed at individuals looking to expand their clinical massage skills, learn advanced techniques as well as gain insight into the Remedial & Sports Massage Diploma. The 2 day workshop will incorporate:
- Introduction to Remedial Massage Techniques
- Advanced Massage Techniques
- Sports-specific Massage
- Postural Assessment
- Functional Anatomy
Whether you're enhancing your current expertise or stepping into the world of advanced massage, this workshop delivers practical skills and real-world application as well as acts as part of the Introductory Bridging Programme.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Pip Instone
Advanced Skills for Remedial Massage
Info >
Working with women’s health is becoming an increasingly popular area, whether it's from menstrual problems to fertility or menopause.
Working holistically while using our understanding of the anatomy and physiology, we explore how massage can help support your female clients with issues like regulating menstruation, fertility and menopause.
This two day workshop includes:
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Safe ways to adapt abdominal work for clients with reproductive pathologies.
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How to support the sacroiliac joint and pelvis during hormonal changes and pelvis balancing.
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Ampuku Japanese abdominal massage through a sheet and directly with oils.
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Eastern energy techniques to balance our energies and release stored emotion.
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Acupressure points to support women’s health
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Non-intrusive breast work
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Self abdominal massage for self care for you and your clients aftercare.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
With Heidi Armstrong
Massage for Women’s Health
Info >
Massage offers a powerful tool to support women and babies through the journey of pregnancy. This workshop offers an understanding of the benefits of massage, as well as the areas in which you need to exercise caution. You will come away feeling more confident and excited about working with pregnant women.
This day will be perfect for you if you:
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Feel unsure or daunted by working in pregnancy
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Would like to develop a better understanding of working with pregnant women
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Already work frequently with pregnancy women but would like to learn new techniques and gain a better understanding of the postural changes
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Would like to review contra-indications and learn energy techniques that connect the Mother and Baby
The day will include:
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Contra-indications and working safely
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Specific techniques, including integrating energy and muscle work.
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Gaining an understanding of the postural changes in pregnancy and how to work with them.
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Exploration of different positions for working in pregnancy including side position.
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Relevant anatomy and physiology
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
With Heidi Armstrong
Massage and Pregnancy
Info >
A complete foot and lower leg treatment for your clients.
This can be performed on its own or as part of a longer treatment. It couples perfectly with the Facial acupressure workshop for a fantastic head & toes treatment.
The course details:
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Review of foot structure anatomy and how it affects all our body’s structures to support clients’ postural issues and with concerns like plantar fascial and other foot pain.
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Including some key Acupressure points and reflex zones on the feet to support deep relaxation.
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Learn to use crystal wand to ease areas of tension and work acupressure points.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
With Heidi Armstrong
Eastern Foot Massage Day
Info >
This workshop explores the acupressure points on the face and releasing the muscular and fascial structures.
The skin, muscles and fascia of the face have a unique structure to allow us to express ourselves intellectually and emotionally. We therefore hold a huge amount of tension and stress in our facial structure. You will learn a whole treatment working on the face, neck and shoulders, that will release tension, allow emotional processing, deeply relax the nervous system and promote rejuvenation of the facial structure.
This treatment works at two ends of the spectrum from relieving stress and deeply supporting the nervous system to having the feel of an indulgent rejuvenating treat.
The day will include:
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Review of facial anatomy and skin types.
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Preparing the face for treatment with warm towels
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Identifying the right massage medium for your individual clients face.
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Muscular structure, fascia and acupressure point techniques for the face, neck and shoulders.
You will also learn a self-facial massage for your own use and as after care for clients.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
With Heidi Armstrong
Acupressure Facial Therapy
Info >
Seated massage is the perfect way to add versatility to your massage practice. It is usually offered through clothing, without the use of oils. Therefore making it extremely practical for those who are limited with time or who do not wish to remove clothing. It can therefore reach a more diverse customer base than a typical couch based session.
Learn new techniques and become a more mobile therapist, chair massage is perfect for the workplace, festivals, events and more.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
With Peter Kramer
Chair Massage
Info >
This 3 day Deep Tissue Massage workshop is designed to build confidence, skill and knowledge in working on a deeper level with your clients.
Over the three days we’ll explore what deep tissue massage means to us:
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What does it mean to facilitate a deeper experience
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What is deep massage good for? When is it appropriate?
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How can we comfortably affect deeper muscles?
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How can we release the key postural muscles of piriformis, psoas and diaphragm?
We’ll also use muscle energy technique (MET), neuromuscular technique (NMT), myofascial release (MFR) and Trigger Points (TPs) to get to the heart of working effectively, efficiently and enjoyably with our clients.
Emphasis is placed not just on technique, but also on:
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Communication
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Responsiveness
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Creativity
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Body use
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Self-care
The workshop is open to all massage therapists and is an excellent stepping stone to our Remedial and Sports Massage Diploma for those who wish to take things further.
Please note this workshop is open to experienced (6 months minimum) therapists only.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Sarah Hoare
Deep Tissue Massage
Info >
Effortless massage is all about working more effectively, more efficiently and more enjoyably. It starts with a state of mind and translates into action. And there are techniques, skills and approaches we can learn that support the process.
This one day workshop will explore effortlessness through a variety of exercises and activities, including plenty of hands-on massage. We’ll consider how much more ‘less’ can be, how the quality and focus of our attention makes all the difference, and how self-care, effortlessness and personal growth are inextricably linked.
If you fancy embracing the amazing side of laziness, the essential side of selfishness and the perversely paradoxical power of pausing, then come along and have some fun!
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Sarah Hoare
Effortless Massage
Info >
This 1 day Mobilisation workshop is designed to deepen your skill and confidence in using passive movement to reach greater degrees of release for your clients.
We explore:
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How passive mobilisation is about deep muscle release as well as easing joints.
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How to access and release deeply held tensions. And when not to!
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Whether emotions as well as muscles can be released through movement.
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How engaging a client can strengthen the effects.
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What related aftercare can support clients
Drawing on principles of pulsing, Tai Chi movement and remedial massage, you will learn to:
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Generate movement from your ankles, hips, shoulders and hands;
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Use vibration, joint mobilisation and focused trigger point work to release and energise your clients
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Do all these with ease, economy and flow.
We will work prone and supine and focus on the shoulders and pelvis. This will include specific muscle releases for the piriformis, pectoralis minor and subscapularis.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Jeremy Dymond
Mobilisation for Joint & Tissue Release
Info >
Two day course - working in the side lying position offers many creative opportunities and is not just for pregnancy!
The human body is 3-dimensional. Yet many massage approaches work only with clients in a prone or supine position.
By placing clients in this position, without predetermined response, they are more easily able to let go. This workshop offers a range of bodywork and energy techniques, including:
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spinal mobilisations and stretching
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connecting complementary muscle groups in the lower back and abdomen
accessing deeper muscles in the shoulder girdle
deep relaxation and energy holds
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Sarah McClellan
3D Side Lying Massage
Info >
Touch is our cornerstone. To be present with self and others is at the heart of the power and potential of touch therapy. Polyvagal Theory explores the way the body speaks of the experience of what it is to be human and feel safe and connected or not. As bodywork therapists, this science based theory exploring the intricate pathways and functions of the vagus nerve is a gift to our practice.
This two day course will present the work of Stephen W. Porges and Deb Dana, there will be theory interwoven with lots of practical exploration including applying the learning via massage practice.
We will also explore the work of Betty Martin, The Art of Giving and Receiving, The Wheel of Consent, Nick Pole ‘Words that Touch, How to ask Questions your Body can Answer’ and Peter Levine and Gabor Mate’ ‘In an Unspoken Voice’, as their work amongst others offers tools that empower Polyvagal Theory for the touch therapist.
Stephen W. Porges (a psychophysiological researcher and scientist) developed the Polyvagal Theory, first presenting his findings in 1994, he continues to work on and develop the theory to date. His work has been interpreted, primarily for talking therapists, by Deb Dana, it is their work that is being presented at the core of this two day workshop. However as bodyworkers and touch therapists we need to go a step further.
This two day course will present the core of Polyvagal Theory, woven through with touch, massage and theory order to:
Deepen our appreciation of the profound impact and potential of body work therapy.
Create the bedrock to develop a ’trauma informed’ practice, working towards greater safety and connection for our clients and ourselves as practitioners. (Please note this is different from a training which supports you to actively invite and work with people who are experiencing trauma’)
Begin to befriend our own autonomic nervous systems in order to explore ways of working with clients which embrace and embed the implications of Polyvgal Theory in our practice.
This is a big topic and attendance of the 2 Day CPD will give access to a monthly ‘hands on’ study group,
where this topic can continue to be explored together with curiosity over a 12 month period.
BCMB ADVANCED MASSAGE
with Sarah McClellan
Developing a Polyvagal Informed Practice
Info >
Massage and Bodywork through the lens of Polyvagal Theory
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Ask a question / contact usPlease get in contact with your query, our team will aim to get back to you within 3 working days. Email enquiries@bristolmassage.co.uk Telephone 0117 946 6371 Address BCMB Lower Ground Floor 109 Pembroke Road Clifton Bristol BS8 3EU Office Open Hours Mon 9:30am – 4:30pm Tues 9:30am – 4:30pm Wed 9:30am – 4:30pm Thu 9:30am – 4:30pm Fri 9:30am – 4:30pm
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How to find usFinding: BCMB Bristol 109 Guthrie Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3EF, UK Our What3Words is ///burst.moods.back We are only a 10min walk from Clifton Down train station and are on local bus routes, with a stop just outside the college. When you arrive at the venue, the entrance is on Guthrie Road. Through the entrance, please follow the gravel footpath to the right of the main entrance. Stairs lead down the side of the building, to the entrance of the college. By Car – Pembroke Road is easily accessible from the city centre and the A4 Portway if traveling from the south, or from the A4018 if travelling from the north of the city, and has easy links to the M4, M5 and M32 motorways. Alternatively, the Long Ashton Park and Ride offers cheap parking and has a bus stop at the top of Pembroke Road. Please note – from Monday 28 November 2022 Bristol City Centre will become a Clean Air Zone which covers the city Centre, part of the Portway and Bridge Valley Road. Some vehicles (not all) will be subject to a charge of £9 per day to access these areas. See which roads are affected Check whether you will need to pay a charge for your vehicle Electric vehicles – find the nearest charging points here Camper vans/motorhomes If you are planning on travelling and staying in a motorhome or camper van, please refer to the Bristol City Council parking information to find out where you can park. Please note that we are in a mixed and busy business, residential and schools area and be considerate of our neighbours. Electric Scooters – a great way to get around if you haven’t got too much to carry, especially from the city Centre and Temple Meads station. There is a drop off point on the corner of Guthrie Road right next door to BCMB. Book and hire here. By Bus – The number 8 and 9 Firstbus bus services run from the city centre through Clifton with a bus stop right outside the building on Pembroke Road. From North Bristol, the number 505 Wessex service runs from Southmead Hospital through Horfield and Henleaze, and stops at Bristol Zoo which is a 5 min walk away. By Bicycle – There are railings on site at the back of the building for you to securely lock your bike to, and we have a shower on site if you need to freshen up before.
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ParkingThere is no parking on site including weekends and out of office hours. At the weekends and after 5pm Mon-Fri on-street parking is free of charge. During the week the roads surrounding the college are restricted to permit holders or pay & display. You can come into the college to collect one of our 4 permits (first come first served – these cannot be reserved) or pay at a meter which costs £1 per hour for a maximum stay 5 hours. Free parking is available on the downs, which is a 10-minute walk away, though availability can be limited.
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What is Holistic Massage?The giving and receiving of nurturing touch is a fundamental human need. Holistic massage draws techniques from many traditions, combining them with natural sensitivity to meet the needs of each individual as a whole. Physically, this can relax tight muscles and improve circulation, nervous function and joint mobility. This increases the body’s fluidity and can ease many short and long term ailments such as back pain, arthritis and insomnia. At an emotional level, massage can provide the caring, non-intrusive touch we have longed for. This soothes the busy mind, reduces stress and makes us feel loved again. At a deeper level, massage can release the personal history we have stored in our body tissues. This can lead to powerful changes in our energy and provide a vital alchemical ingredient in each person’s process of growth. For further information about ‘What is Holistic Massage?’ > blog post
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What qualification will I receive from this course?Anyone can take this intro course for fun, or to begin gaining your qualifications. In order to be awarded the Intro to Holistic Massage qualification you will also need to also undertake the level 3 APP qualification (We recommend Gillian Tree). You can either have your Level 3 APP qualification before hand, undertake it during this course or get it afterwards, so its not a requirement to have it to access the course, it is a requirement to have it to be awarded the qualification.
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Workshop Booking T&CsTerms and Conditions These are the terms and conditions on which you must comply with when accessing our Website and booking a workshop. They incorporate our Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy, and tell you who we are, the workshops, other services we offer, how to book Workshops with us, details of how you and we may cancel Workshops and Appointments, what to do if there is a problem, and other important information. You will also need to register for an individual account if you want book any Workshops with us. Please read the full Terms and Conditions here >
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Workshop Cancellation PolicyCancellation Policy If we have incorrectly described a Workshop, you may have a legal right to end the contract between us (or we may place you onto an alternative Workshop that satisfies your requirements). If you change your mind and want to cancel a Workshop more than 14 days before a Workshop is due to start, we will offer you a full refund less any fees we have been charged by the card payment company for processing the booking.This is usually 3.98% of the ticket price paid plus £0.40. If you change your mind and want to cancel a Workshop within 7 to 14 days before a Workshop is due to start then provided we can refill your space, we will offer you a full refund less any fees we have been charged by the card payment company for processing the booking. This is usually 3.98% of the ticket price paid plus £0.40. If we cannot refill your space you will not be entitled to any refund. No refund is offered for cancellations received by us within 7 days of when a Workshop is due to start or for any no shows on the day. Please read the full Cancellation Policy here >
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Who can take this course?There are no prior requirements to access this course. Anyone can take this intro course for fun, or to begin gaining your qualifications. In order to be awarded the Intro to Holistic Massage qualification you will also need to also undertake the level 3 APP qualification (We recommend Gillian Tree). You can either have your Level 3 APP qualification before hand, undertake it during this course or get it afterwards, so its not a requirement to have it to access the course, it is a requirement to have it to be awarded the qualification.
More CPD Workshops
Experienced external tutors also run courses from BCMB
As well as our own in house massage workshops at BCMB, we are very pleased to host a number of other experienced workshop tutors who run courses from BCMB, many of whom are leaders in their fields. These workshops are open to qualified massage or other bodywork practitioners only.
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Ask a question / contact usPlease get in contact with your query, our team will aim to get back to you within 3 working days. Email enquiries@bristolmassage.co.uk Telephone 0117 946 6371 Address BCMB Lower Ground Floor 109 Pembroke Road Clifton Bristol BS8 3EU Office Open Hours Mon 9:30am – 4:30pm Tues 9:30am – 4:30pm Wed 9:30am – 4:30pm Thu 9:30am – 4:30pm Fri 9:30am – 4:30pm
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How to find usFinding: BCMB Bristol 109 Guthrie Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3EF, UK Our What3Words is ///burst.moods.back We are only a 10min walk from Clifton Down train station and are on local bus routes, with a stop just outside the college. When you arrive at the venue, the entrance is on Guthrie Road. Through the entrance, please follow the gravel footpath to the right of the main entrance. Stairs lead down the side of the building, to the entrance of the college. By Car – Pembroke Road is easily accessible from the city centre and the A4 Portway if traveling from the south, or from the A4018 if travelling from the north of the city, and has easy links to the M4, M5 and M32 motorways. Alternatively, the Long Ashton Park and Ride offers cheap parking and has a bus stop at the top of Pembroke Road. Please note – from Monday 28 November 2022 Bristol City Centre will become a Clean Air Zone which covers the city Centre, part of the Portway and Bridge Valley Road. Some vehicles (not all) will be subject to a charge of £9 per day to access these areas. See which roads are affected Check whether you will need to pay a charge for your vehicle Electric vehicles – find the nearest charging points here Camper vans/motorhomes If you are planning on travelling and staying in a motorhome or camper van, please refer to the Bristol City Council parking information to find out where you can park. Please note that we are in a mixed and busy business, residential and schools area and be considerate of our neighbours. Electric Scooters – a great way to get around if you haven’t got too much to carry, especially from the city Centre and Temple Meads station. There is a drop off point on the corner of Guthrie Road right next door to BCMB. Book and hire here. By Bus – The number 8 and 9 Firstbus bus services run from the city centre through Clifton with a bus stop right outside the building on Pembroke Road. From North Bristol, the number 505 Wessex service runs from Southmead Hospital through Horfield and Henleaze, and stops at Bristol Zoo which is a 5 min walk away. By Bicycle – There are railings on site at the back of the building for you to securely lock your bike to, and we have a shower on site if you need to freshen up before.
-
ParkingThere is no parking on site including weekends and out of office hours. At the weekends and after 5pm Mon-Fri on-street parking is free of charge. During the week the roads surrounding the college are restricted to permit holders or pay & display. You can come into the college to collect one of our 4 permits (first come first served – these cannot be reserved) or pay at a meter which costs £1 per hour for a maximum stay 5 hours. Free parking is available on the downs, which is a 10-minute walk away, though availability can be limited.
-
What is Holistic Massage?The giving and receiving of nurturing touch is a fundamental human need. Holistic massage draws techniques from many traditions, combining them with natural sensitivity to meet the needs of each individual as a whole. Physically, this can relax tight muscles and improve circulation, nervous function and joint mobility. This increases the body’s fluidity and can ease many short and long term ailments such as back pain, arthritis and insomnia. At an emotional level, massage can provide the caring, non-intrusive touch we have longed for. This soothes the busy mind, reduces stress and makes us feel loved again. At a deeper level, massage can release the personal history we have stored in our body tissues. This can lead to powerful changes in our energy and provide a vital alchemical ingredient in each person’s process of growth. For further information about ‘What is Holistic Massage?’ > blog post
-
What qualification will I receive from this course?Anyone can take this intro course for fun, or to begin gaining your qualifications. In order to be awarded the Intro to Holistic Massage qualification you will also need to also undertake the level 3 APP qualification (We recommend Gillian Tree). You can either have your Level 3 APP qualification before hand, undertake it during this course or get it afterwards, so its not a requirement to have it to access the course, it is a requirement to have it to be awarded the qualification.
-
Workshop Booking T&CsTerms and Conditions These are the terms and conditions on which you must comply with when accessing our Website and booking a workshop. They incorporate our Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy, and tell you who we are, the workshops, other services we offer, how to book Workshops with us, details of how you and we may cancel Workshops and Appointments, what to do if there is a problem, and other important information. You will also need to register for an individual account if you want book any Workshops with us. Please read the full Terms and Conditions here >
-
Workshop Cancellation PolicyCancellation Policy If we have incorrectly described a Workshop, you may have a legal right to end the contract between us (or we may place you onto an alternative Workshop that satisfies your requirements). If you change your mind and want to cancel a Workshop more than 14 days before a Workshop is due to start, we will offer you a full refund less any fees we have been charged by the card payment company for processing the booking.This is usually 3.98% of the ticket price paid plus £0.40. If you change your mind and want to cancel a Workshop within 7 to 14 days before a Workshop is due to start then provided we can refill your space, we will offer you a full refund less any fees we have been charged by the card payment company for processing the booking. This is usually 3.98% of the ticket price paid plus £0.40. If we cannot refill your space you will not be entitled to any refund. No refund is offered for cancellations received by us within 7 days of when a Workshop is due to start or for any no shows on the day. Please read the full Cancellation Policy here >
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Who can take this course?There are no prior requirements to access this course. Anyone can take this intro course for fun, or to begin gaining your qualifications. In order to be awarded the Intro to Holistic Massage qualification you will also need to also undertake the level 3 APP qualification (We recommend Gillian Tree). You can either have your Level 3 APP qualification before hand, undertake it during this course or get it afterwards, so its not a requirement to have it to access the course, it is a requirement to have it to be awarded the qualification.
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