VTCT Body Massage Certificate Outline 

• Cost: £410 (this may vary)
• Lifetime VTCT registration: £30 

Orchard Therapies is offering a 10-week course:

• 3 contact hours per session
• 10–1 on Sundays
• Start date 11/01/09
• End date 22/3/09

The course consists of 2 level 3 qualifications: 

• M2 Support health, safety and Security in the workplace
• M74 Support Employment Standards

These units are completed as self-study modules.

• M17 Prepare for and provide body massage

This is a practical unit encompassing the safe application of massage techniques within a full body massage routine. Also included here are preparations for, and evaluation of practical treatments and relevant underpinning knowledge.

M149 Relevant Anatomy and Physiology for Swedish Massage is under review by the VTCT but the likely content is as below.

There are self-study assignments for the following body systems:

• Cells
• Skin
• Skeleton
• Muscles
• Blood vascular
• Lymphatic
• Nervous 

Student competence is comprehensively assessed by observed practical task, self-study assignments, oral questioning, case study and multiple choice questionnaire examination.

A portfolio of work is completed and submitted as evidence of competence.

Assessment and verification are by VTCT procedure.

Guidance

Students will need to complete a self-study assignment each week, practice massage techniques and routines and complete background reading as well as attend the contact sessions.

You will need time, a place and volunteers to practice on and to study. A massage couch is highly recommended.

Reading list

There are many useful books available. All massage/A&P books at VTCT, ITEC and NVQ 3 are at the right level although some are better than others.

• You do not need a lot of pictures of a massage routine, as you will quickly learn this in class.
• You do not need a huge reference textbook on A & P at this stage but you may eventually get one.
• You will be given learning materials form your tutor but it is important to do your own research and to take a breadth of information from a variety of sources.
• Cooperate with fellow students – share resources.
• There will be some reference books available to you at the clinic.

These are good simple clear books at the right level:

• Massage and Aromatherapy, Lyn Goldberg
• Body Massage Basics (2nd Ed), Mo Rosser
• Therapy Basics, Helen McGuinness
• Anatomy and Physiology for Holistic Therapists, Francesca Gould
• Anatomy and Physiology, Helen McGuinness
• Basic Anatomy and Physiology, John Murry

Titles in bold are the current course books.

Other useful books for aspects of the course or because they are more advanced:

• The Concise Book of Muscles, Chris Jarmey
• The Muscle Book, Paul Blakey                       
• Indian Head Massage, Helen McGuinness
• The official Guide to Massage, Adele O’Keefe

Please contact Orchard Therapies to make a booking.

Orchard Therapies, 8 Portland Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK, SO14 7EB · 02380 230 251