Her clients have become more sophisticated because massage is no longer a luxury. They’ve read the articles, they’ve had the conversations and they’ve often self-diagnosed.

They’re familiar with all the current and newly emerging trends:-

• gut health
• the microbiome
• hormonal health
• remedies for peri-menopause and menopause
• cyclical living … to name but a few

As a therapist, she’s become ever more interested in female health and the nuances surrounding all of the above. She wants to consider the following:-

• preserve her own health whilst continuing to serve clients
• offer deeper work, both emotionally and physically
• be able to address female specific health issues
• have a better vision of what her business looks like in the future
• streamline her service offering but still add new modalities – yes, it’s tricky!

My own therapy practise – How to create Holistic Fusion

I would like to think I’ve created my entire training business around solving these issues. Let me tell you what happened in my own therapy practise first. Like many of us, I fell back on hands-on therapies when I became a carer for my parents. It’s a skill you never lose and if you have the passion for it, it serves you well. I left the high-flying job, returned to the UK and got stuck in where I was needed most. I thought it would be a temporary measure but the more I did it, the more I loved it. It was completely different to being a therapist first time around, over 20 years ago.

I could pick and choose what I offered. I eliminated a lot of treatments. All of my treatments would be a tailor made, combination of reflexology, Indonesian massage, facials and Temple Therapy (for womb and reproductive health). I occasionally throw in lymphatic drainage, Indian head massage and cupping.

Selling treatments by time

I mainly sell treatments by time. My clients come in for 2 hours or 90 minutes and most of the time they let me decide what they need that day. So … when I relaunched my training business in 2022, I created courses for all the therapies I offer. An holistic experience can be made up of any of the following:-

• Swedish massage
• Indonesian massage
• Reflexology
• Indian Head massage
• Cupping (yes, I sometimes throw this in too for tight shoulders and backs)
• Lymphatic drainage
• Temple Therapy

Initially, I created packages called Journey to the Temple, The Sensory Experience and Body Temple Bliss. They were all unique combinations of the above.

Here’s what my treatment menu looked like

I’ve created these deeply indulgent packages based on your favourite combinations

THE SENSORY EXPERIENCE Indonesian Power Massage & an ageLOC results driven facial

BODY TEMPLE BLISS Indonesian Power Massage & Reflexology Zone Therapy

JOURNEY TO THE TEMPLE 3 treats in 1 Fusion Back & Beyond, Aroma Essential Facial & Reflexology

The packages were from 90 minutes upwards and although they went down a treat, most of my clients didn’t care what they were called, or even what they included. They knew how long they wanted to be on the bed, so I started creating unique combinations of what they needed that day.

Peri-menopause

I had found as I got older, reached peri-menopause and became more conscious of my own health and limits, adding reflexology to a back massage, an Indian head massage to a facial, switching Swedish for Indonesian and introducing cups for deep work, added depth to my work, was kind to my body and very importantly – made my clients happy.

The knowledge gained over time, with life experience and studying different modalities means I can pass this on to my clients. Now, they come for more than the treatment. The experience goes beyond ‘the bit on the massage bed’.

I guess this is where my training academy strapline came from …

Education . Empowerment . Evolution

My hope is that my course offering, content and mentorship, educates and empowers therapists to continue to evolve, re-invent and adapt and create a business that’s around for a long time. I also hope that at the heart of that is a therapist who puts her own health first, invests in herself and has complete faith in what she’s offering and why. We don’t need to be everything to everyone. No two treatments need to be the same – that’s why you have a toolkit of therapies.

The majority of my students come back and do a second course and often a third. Once you understand how the treatments can fit together, compliment one another and offer added value, the model starts to make sense.

Today, my most popular 2 hour treatment combination is an Indonesian back massage, facial and reflexology. My students often reach out to ask for help to put packages together, create treatment descriptions and marketing strategies. I’m always on hand for this.

Let’s talk and see what could work for you.

Email me on sughra@thebodytemple.co.uk or whatsapp07942 477 601 to arrange a chat.

Thank you for reading this months blog, How to create Holistic Fusion & a long term business. If you would like more information about How to create Holistic Fusion please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Have a lovely day,

Sughra

The post How to create Holistic Fusion & a long term business appeared first on The Body Temple.

Here are the common questions I’m asked …

• Can I learn massage from scratch in 2 days (or any treatment for that matter)?
• What about the theory?
• Am I safe to go off and practise?
• What if I forget the routine?
• What if I need help after the course?

Deciding to take a short course to learn any modality is a choice. The courses are out there so I suggest doing your research. Before you start, you must decide what your goal is. Are you going to be working for yourself or an employer?

Qualifications

If you’re going to find a job, it’s most likely an employer will want you to have any of the following:-

• an NVQ
• a VTCT
• a FHT
• an ITEC
• or a CIDESCO

Check with employers

They’re all different and the qualification they want you to have may be based on the requirements of their insurance company or their specific requirements. It’s also all about standards. Each qualification will have its unique set of criteria be it case studies, number of hours, theory modules and assessments.

Back in the day when I started out, the above were the only options. My qualifications include NVQs, VTCT and ITEC. If I had the choice then to take a short course, what would I have done? I certainly would have done the research and made comparisons.

Recognised Qualifications

I eventually ended up working abroad so these recognised qualifications served me well. Years later when I returned to the UK, short courses were fresh on the market, and I started teaching reflexology as a 2 day course. Keep in mind that I’d done it as part of a year long ITEC Diploma. I soon added Swedish massage, facials, manicures and pedicures and Indonesian massage to the list of courses I was teaching. I found students went away feeling pretty confident, completed their case studies and started working. In those first 7 years of teaching for Pinks Training Academy, there were no more than 2 students who didn’t receive their certificate. They couldn’t get the hang of the treatment, and it just wasn’t for them.

Short courses

This is where the answers lie to the questions at the beginning. What was different about these students and how could I teach in 2 days what I’d taken a year to learn in the past?

• Short courses focus on the practical. 2 days of practical equates to at least 10 hours. This is often the same or more practical than you’ll do on a 3 or 4 month course. I remember my ITEC reflexology was excellent, but most evenings started with theory and a little practical would be thrown in
• The onus is on the student to continue their learning of the anatomy and physiology. The foundational knowledge, guidance and written materials are provided but the learning must be ongoing. If you’re serious about taking this path, then you’ll continue your learning
• You’re NOT a massage therapist after 2 days. You’re a student, equipped with a solid routine and basic knowledge. You should have the confidence to go off and practise and complete your case studies

I can safely say that all of the above areas are my focus. The majority of my students were and still are mature students, women with different careers making a choice for their future. The majority, very serious about their choice and giving it full focus and with the right tools and training, equipped to go and make a success of it.

Necessary tools to get started

The beauty of the short course in my eyes is that it’s not a massive time and financial commitment but it should give you all the necessary tools to get started. You may decide to go and take a longer course once you’re a little more experienced or you’re clearer on the route you want to take.

It should include help and advice on getting started, offer some form of ongoing support and inspire you to feel clear and confident about where you’re going.

Best of luck!!

Side note: all my students have the choice of being added to a private facebook group for on-going support. They have access to my mobile, social media and also a monthly zoom call.

Next in person course

• 2 day Diploma in Swedish Body Massage – 16th & 17th Feb (London)
• 1 day Certificate in Fire Cupping – 17th Feb – (Derby)
• or at your spa/salon on a date of your choice

Thank you for reading this months blog, You can’t become a therapist in 2 days. If you would like more information please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Have a lovely day,
Sughra

The post You can’t become a therapist in 2 days appeared first on The Body Temple.