Two weeks, hotel, hot country and best of all it has a purpose! But how did it come about that I was stepping off a plane into the balmy, sun filled air of Turkey to study for a Sports Injury and Massage Diploma? Let’s go back, way back, way, way back…to the autumn of 2007.
“This won’t just be a sun seekers escape from the beginnings of a cold and wet British autumn, but an extravaganza of pathologies, a veritable cornucopia of massage techniques wrapped up into two weeks of sun on foreign soil, it will be fantastic!!!”…
Now, I can’t recall if this was quite how Jane Johnson actually sold the idea about what she and her partner in crime, Zoë Fitzpatrick, wanted me to join them on, but it encapsulates the enthusiasm with which I have come to know and love from Jane and it had the desired, and rather infectious, effect on me!
As Jane had just finished teaching me all I needed to know about Anatomy and Physiology, I had no doubts about her ability to turn me from a relative novice into some sort of Sports Massage Guru! Now look, there’s no harm in aiming high, so I was aiming for Guru, ok!!!!
I was determined to go on this course, even if I had to sell my house to do it, which, coincidentally, is what I did!
The idea of an intensive didn’t sound scary with the knowledge that Jane and Zoë were on the case taking the everyday worries out of the equation by taking us to studying abroad. It was an added bonus. So, armed with course file and a whole load of enthusiasm I boarded the plane with a group of like-minded therapists keen to have some fun in the sun, massage style!
I won’t go into massive detail about the course content as you can have a look at what you would have in store on The London Massage Company website. It’s all about my experience and what I got out of it.
The hotel was great, the rooms simple but more than adequate and the staff brilliant. This of course lulled me into a false sense of security as I began to believe I was on holiday!
Suffice to say the first day blew me away! It was like taking the amount I learnt in my previous course, putting it in a blender and making me drink it down in one! I think I am safe in saying that the whole group was shell shocked after the first day and scared about the next!
The relief came when we recapped the following morning and started to realise how much information we had retained. At this point I have to say hats off to Jane and Zoë’s advanced training methods, they work wonders! With this revelation we all soon began to unwind and relax into being students again and little routines began to enter into my day.
Every morning would start for me with a swim in the empty pool as the sun rose above the mountains. I would greet a couple of the other students who also swam at bleary eyed o’clock in the morning and watch as the cold water jolted them, like it had jolted me, into the land of the living! I miss those mornings!
A quick shower and change and then down for copious amounts of breakfast, then a short shuffle with my coffee to the veranda to look over the ocean before lessons. The lessons started on the same ‘coffee’ veranda with a run down of the day and a recap on the previous one. And then…let the learning begin! If you’re like me and you get excited by knowledge and training this course was like being a child in a sweet shop!
There were a variety of teaching methods mixed into the theory and practical sessions. Demonstrations from Jane and Zoë and client sessions galore! Once the locals caught wind of what was going on and that it was all above board you couldn’t keep them away with their aches and pains. Many of us massaged people from the town out of teaching hours as demand was high and practice was what we all needed. Free meals and discounts in carpet and jewellery stores being the unsolicited, but gratefully received, payment!
As is the nature of small close knit communities once word spread we were all greeted warmly as the people from Club Phellos Hotel who “do good massage!”.
Lessons finished at six and the nights where ours to do with as we pleased. For dinner we would find a nice restaurant, of which there are many, or stay and relax at the hotel. The group had quickly gelled and so going out in force was frequent and a joy to be part of.
With every fourth day to do as you please, it gave you time to look back at the trail of devastation you had left and check to see if there was anything your learning whirlwind hadn’t quite grasped hold of and shaken to bits! Sometimes it was just a case of relaxing and letting the knowledge sink in with a sunbathe by the pool, a walk into town for some retail therapy, or a well earned drink! It also helped you recharge your batteries and get fired up for what was to come in the next set of lessons.
This continued for an amazing two weeks of learning and laughter and I was very sad when I realised we had reached the end of the journey. It was an experience I will never forget and one I miss on a daily basis. I also miss the group, the people, the staff, the location and strangely the call to pray from the minaret of the mosque, which has a rather soothing quality to it. Although at six in the morning I’m not so sure!
I can’t thank Jane and Zoë enough for the chance to learn in this way and feel intensely jealous of the next group of lucky people who choose to go out and face jumping in the deep end of learning, and the pool…chilly! On reflection, now that I have seen and been taught intensively, I think I may like to look again at the word intensive! This was one roller coaster, thrill seekers, hold onto your knickers experience! I don’t think intense really covers it. Prepare to be thrilled and scared in equal measure with the speed of delivery, but amazed at the amount you will have retained without even realising your learning. I had forgotten what my comfort zone looked like at the end of the course and quite frankly I don’t want to go back to it! I am now happy living by the seat of my pants where learning and massaging are concerned and I’m sure you will be too!
And as a parting note for those who go…don’t leave having a Hammam until your trip is almost over it’s a wonderful experience that you will want to have again and Club Phellos have the best Hammam in town, on site! Enjoy!
To find more about the Intensive Advanced Sports Injuries & Massage Diploma in Turkey or see student testimonials visit : www.thelondonmassagecompany.com or email us:
ask@thelondonmassagecompany.com
