This is a question I get asked a lot and the answer is usually the same: it depends…

…It depends on if you’re a complete newbie to massage, or a qualified therapist already

…it depends on what you’re looking to gain from an online massage course

…it depends on your preferred learning-style

…it depends on whether you have someone you can practise the techniques on and who’s happy to be your guinea-pig

So, are you an existing massage therapist already or are you completely new to massage?

Online massage course for existing therapists

For existing therapists, online learning can be a really useful way of learning some new techniques.

As you’re already experienced in quality of touch (assuming you’ve been working for a while), it can be very straightforward to learn new massage techniques. You will also probably have a network of other therapists who you can learn with or they can give you valuable feedback.

You might already have spent time looking at YouTube clips where there’s a wealth of experienced massage therapists keen to share their particular style or interesting techniques.

But there are also more and more advanced massage training courses for existing therapists. Many of the massage schools turned to providing online courses during lockdown and they were generally popular.

My suggestion is to look for examples of those courses and see if you like their teaching style. If you can’t find any of them on YouTube, you can contact them and they should allow you access to a lesson or two so you can sample them.

Online massage course for beginners

If you’re completely new to massage, an online massage course can be a great way to learn something new  and to test it out to see if it’s something you’d like to study further. The courses are usually generally inexpensive, so you won’t waste money if you find you don’t like giving massage.

If you are completely new to massage though, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a course that will qualify you to become a therapist and so get insurance to practise.

If the course is accredited by a reputable company (e.g. FHT or VTCT), they will require an amount of in-person training (i.e. face-to-face teaching). So check first before you sign up to a course that promises you fully qualified status from doing a course 100% online.

What’s your preferred learning-style?

You have to ask yourself if you’d actually enjoy learning this way?

For some people, they love the interaction with other students and can’t imagine learning on their own, or outside a group.

However, there are others who are uncomfortable in a group and who find it difficult to speak up and ask questions, fearing that others might think them stupid. They might also be very nervous about travelling to a location that could be far away. They might also take a while to learn new techniques and prefer the idea of learning at their own pace.

There’s no question that being able to watch and re-watch as many times as you like can really aid your learning. So having videos available to watch whenever you like can be a huge advantage. This does require a certain amount of discipline and self-motivation though.

You do have to be sure you’re the sort of person who’ll follow through and do the learning!

Do you have someone that you can practise massage on?

Massage is a very hands-on therapy and so you have to practise your new techniques on someone. 

Whilst it’s great to have a free massage from someone you know, you do have to find someone who will give their time willingly as you progress through the course.

If you can find a fellow therapist, then this could be the perfect situation. You can both learn the course at the same time and give each other quality feedback. I’ve done this on a few courses and it’s been a great way to learn. And fun too!

So, maybe you’re inspired to try out an online massage course?

Before you go ahead and buy one, here are some questions to ask to find the best online massage course for you

Best online massage course for you?

When choosing a massage course ask yourself the following questions...

1. Is it self-paced or guided with regular online calls (such as Zoom)?

If you think you might struggle to stay motivated, then a guided course with online calls might suit you. However, if their timings don’t work out for you, consider a self-paced course.

2. What will you learn?

This might sound obvious, but you should check the curriculum carefully. Make sure there’s enough detail so you know exactly what the course covers. If those details aren’t readily available, contact the school to find out more.

3. What’s the school’s reputation with other therapists?

Look for testimonials and check their social media presence. If you can’t find anything, then contact the school to ask them if they can put you in touch with a past student.

4. Do the teachers also still practise as a therapist?

It’s so important that the teachers are still keeping on top of their therapy and have regular clients. Good teachers are also good therapists!

5. Is the school accredited?

Accreditation is usually sign that the school has met certain industry standards. The accreditation companies will also check that the teachers are properly qualified and meet certain safety standards.

Online Massage Course - next stage

So, you've decided to take a course and you've decided on which course you'd like to do. How do you make sure you make a success of it?

1. Little and often. Don't try to learn everything at once. Set aside some time each day or week to spend time watching and learning.
2. Allocate time to actually "doing" as well as watching. This means practising your techniques. You'll learn best by putting the techniques into practice, not just by watching.
3. Watch, practise, re-watch, practise again, watch again. You'll need to repeat each section a number of times and watch the video trainings a number of times. This of course is the advantage of online learning - you should be able to watch the videos as many times as you want.
4. Take advantage of any group learning that might be available. This might be Zoom calls or FB groups. Don't be afraid to ask; if the teacher isn't around to answer you, you'll often find another student or two who's more than willing to help!
5. Enjoy! Learning should be fun and online courses can be a great way to learn. Online courses will never replace in-person teaching completely, but they can be a great complement to face-to-face teaching and can give you access to teachers from all around the country and the world!

Kathryn Ellis teaches all the Thai yoga massage courses at Central School of Massage which is based in Leamington Spa in the Midlands. Central School of Massage offers several massage courses online as well as face-to-face courses.

I've been a full-time Thai Massage therapist since 2007 and learned my Thai Massage skills in both the UK and in Thailand. I have also learned many other types of massage, including Sports and Remedial massage, Holistic massage and Myofascial Release. You can learn with me online as well as in-person in Leamington. All the professional qualifications I offer are accredited by FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists).