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Introducing Body Massage as a Course

Now available, is the GTi Body Massage course, which is fully accredited by the Guild of Beauty Therapy, and on offer here at Sanctuary.  You could begin taking your own clients or adding this treatment to your own list of available treatments for your clients.

Body Massage makes a good addition for a Reflexologist and Indian Head Massage practitioner, as well as being a fabulous stand alone treatment.

What could you do with this treatment?

  • Full Body Massage
  • Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage
  • Hand and Foot Massage (makes a great add on for facials – for that empty time when the mask is on)  A great way to give that something extra to your client.

Cost £265

The theory is online and covers all anatomy and physiology needed for this stand alone course.

Now available for booking online, or simply send us an e-mail at ask@sanctuarytrainingacademy.co.uk

You will have approximately 21 hours of online study to do at home, which covers all aspects from reception to videos of the body massage routine itself.  When those have been completed, you come to us for your practical session.  On successful completion of both elements, you will be able to download a PDF version of your Guild Accredited Qualification, which will allow you to gain insurance and work within the industry. The course has a CPD points value of 39.

Bookings now open.  Course can be bought by getting in touch with us, or through the product page – Body Massage Training Course

Payment is via Paypal or by direct Bank Transfer.  We can send you an invoice for payment if you would prefer to book this way instead of online.

Pre-requisies:  GTi Professional Standards for Therapists – Free with the course if you do not already have it.

On completion of this course, you will be entitled to buy the Aromatherapy GTi course, to allow you to perform Aromatherapy massage.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

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How to start a beauty therapy business.

For those who are new to the industry, or who just want to brush up on a few new skills, you’re in the right place, as the beauty therapy industry is a stable profession with a constant demand for services.  Even with the recession, people like to take care of themselves, so our industry has remained strong and healthy.

What to think about:

Mobility

In the modern age, many clients are now seeking to have services provided in their own homes, so this isn’t just a business where you are stuck having to try to find a job, or hire a room.  You can go mobile to test the waters, or convert a room in your home to give a more professional service to your clients.  If you stay open to all options, you can provide services in a business premises by renting a room for some days, and do mobile for a couple of others, which is especially helpful for older or infirm clients who might not make it to a salon, but who would still benefit from and would like to have services provided for them.  I know an 83-year-old lady, who is and virtually bed bound, but she likes to be pampered with gentle arm and hand massage, and loves a manicure.

Product Sales

Many clients look at the products in salons and then go and buy them online, where they don’t have premises costs, and can bulk buy cheaper.  Keep your investment in products low, until you are sure there is a demand for them.  It’s very tempting to go for a rep sales pitch, who wants thousands up front for starter packs, but starting off a business in debt might not be the way to go, if you are unsure of your market and whether the clients you draw will purchase them.

Website Promotion

We almost all know that we do need a website presence for the best outcome for our businesses, but they aren’t always easy to do, and if you approach a specialist, they can cost a fortune.  There are free options, such as WordPress and Google, which are great to get started off, and allow you to get a foothold on the world-wide web with a little work and attention.   With a little investment and research, you can also self-host your own website for a few pounds a year by buying a domain name and a hosting package around £25 a year.

Qualifications

Beauty therapy courses are a great way to get started, and a foothold in the industry.  As well as being qualified in the area you have studied, you can choose piece by piece, to add to your skills as your business grows.  There are several things you need to take into account.  We have a range of courses at Sanctuary Training Academy, that will be widened in 2018, and allow you to practice a variety of treatments and services within the industry on the general public.

Insurance

When you are qualified, you will need insurance to practice.  You require public and product liability to protect yourself and your products and equipment.  In the rare event that a salon has a flood, fire, or damage, you can go out of business if your stock and equipment are all lost, and you cannot afford to replace them.

Costs

Costs are easy to spiral out of control.  If you work mobile, you limit your costs to training, insurance and products to deliver your services, but you are very likely to need a method of transport, you might incur parking charges, and your equipment needs to be light enough for you to move around.

If you rent a room, you have to consider the rent cost and where you keep your products and materials to work with.  There may be other charges such as electric, internet and telephone, or possibly even a share of a receptionist if one is available.

It’s very tempting in the beginning, to try to buy everything at once, before you’ve even had one client.  Keep a handle on how much you are spending, and try to keep within your budget.

Getting Customers

The internet will refer to this as marketing.  It’s good to have an idea of who your customers will be, what they are likely to buy, and what you can afford to provide for them.  Be careful with offers and deals, as although they might attract clients initially, those clients may just hop from one business to another, depending on who has the best deal on at the time.   Look for where your customers might be, whether it’s on social media, newspapers or local magazines.

Going For It

You’ll never know until you try, right?  Once you are qualified, you have a new long-term skill, that you can pick up at any time.  Starting a new business is a scary prospect for everyone, but many people do that every day.

Paperwork

Getting your paperwork looking good is a first step for any business.  There are plenty options to ensuring you have the right tools for your day to day working.  A simple thing, such as tailoring your social media, can work wonders for a new therapst starting out without a client base.

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Benefits of Indian Head Massage

In India, Indian Head Massage has been practiced by families for thousands of years.  Traditionally, head and hair were the only reasons for a massage, to help condition the hair of women.  The treatment developed into a whole routine which also involves the upper back, shoulders, neck, arms and face.  The seated Indian Head Massage seems to be the most popular way of providing this treatment, although variations using a special massage chair, limits the ability to massage shoulders, neck and face properly.

Indian Head Massage is a relaxing experience that can be done at home, in a clinic or even in a workplace, as part of a wellness therapy scheme.  Clients receiving Indian Head Massage, report on feelings of relaxation, reduced stress, and feeling more alert and able to carry on with the day.

Performed seated, this therapy allows full access to the head, neck, shoulders and face.  Although some practitioners carry out the treatment through clothing, for best effect, skin to skin contact is more effective and easier to carry out.  Ask your client to remove upper body garments, and give them a towel or blanket to wrap around their whole body.  Ensure you give your client a towel/blanket that is big enough to wrap around their body.  They must feel comfortable while the treatment is performed.

The technique to manipulate muscles tissue is through different massage movements to promote stimulation of the head, neck, upper body and shoulders.

Benefits

Indian Head Massage has been said to:

  • relieve aches and pains
  • improve concentration
  • relieve stress
  • relieve tension from knots in muscles
  • relax muscles
  • improve circulation
  • help aid sleep
  • condition scalp and roots of hair (with oil)
  1. Learn to perform Indian Head Massage with us on an Accredited Course for £195, that allows you to gain insurance and begin taking clients.
  2. Attend a Workshop over at our therapy suite in Sanctuary Aberdeen for £75, to carry out at home.

When you train with us, you find yourself seated in a comfortable tub style chair, with a footstool for those who need it.  We carry out our Indian Head Massage the traditional way, with full access to your shoulders and upper back, as well as your head and face.  We use an aromatherapy blend for this massage, with a choice of soothing, or anti-stress essential oil blends, with a sweet almond oil base.  If you’d prefer unscented, we have grapeseed oil, which is less greasy than sweet almond oil, or coconut oil for an added skin moisture boost.