Question:
[size=2]A couple of people have emailed and asked what I thought of the Active Health Group sports massage course I recently attended, so I thought I'd post a review here. Sorry it's so long, but I wanted to share my enthusiasm with others! I hope you will find it useful [8D]
I attended the intensive 10 day Sports and Remedial Massage course, which also doubles as the first part of either the full Advanced Sports Therapy diploma or Advanced Remedial Massage diploma. I should stress at this point that all of these courses are being extended by 5 days next year, so the structure that I describe below may well change!
First of all, the entire course is very hands-on. By lunchtime on day one we had each worked on 3 or 4 other students – there is very little sitting behind desks, and even the A&P theory lessons get you up on your feet and working on each other to palpate the structures being learnt. Incidentally, this course had the best A&P instruction I've yet to experience, taught by a tutor with infectious enthusiasm for the topic.
This style of hands-on learning works well for me, but there were a couple of gasps from people who expected to have their noses in books for the first day or two. All I can say is "don't forget your shorts” – you'll be getting to know your fellow class-mates very well over the next few weeks! :D
All of the tutors have years of experience behind them and come from a variety of backgrounds (including physiotherapy, sports therapy, military remedial instruction, and personal training) and really know their subject inside-out. In addition, they all actually continue to work in the profession – it's a refreshing change to attend a course where the tutors still practice what they preach! Also, the directors teach most of the classes, so they are able to maintain a firm grip on the high standards they obviously set for themselves.
As with all of us, each tutor has their own speciality and particular interests which they were keen to share with students, and they rotated classes to ensure we got a mixture of teaching styles and techniques.
Sessions were fast-paced and packed with information, but structured logically so that I never felt like I was drowning. Tutors also sat in on each other's classes, so there was always someone available during practical sessions to give additional support and advice on techniques where needed. This support was also available in the evenings and at weekends after the formal lessons had finished – now that's dedication!
The training centre doubles as a working sports clinic, and from weektwo we were expected to work on real clients (under supervision). There was also the opportunity to attend off-site injury clinics at a local rugby club, which was certainly an eye-opener! It's these kind of valuable insights to the real world of sports therapy that really set the training apart for me and made the whole experience more concrete.
The centre has a well-stocked resource library of books and DVDs, plus a quiet-room for personal study, and we were encouraged to stay on after classes had formally finished to make use of the facilities and to practice what we had learnt during the day. I'd really advise people attending the course to buddy up and practice after class wherever possible, as there is a lot of information packed into the daytime which will click quicker if you work through it with fellow students.
In fact, by the middle of weektwo my brain was beginning to creak with all the information, but the benefit of the intensive course is that you literally eat, drink and sleep sports therapy for the entire time you are there – there was a definite "a-HA” moment for me during weektwo when things suddenly started to come together, and I know it was the same for others on the course.
Practical topics covered on the Sports Massage syllabus included: pre, inter and post-event massage; neuromuscular techniques and trigge
Thanks Andy. I was hoping that you'd let us know how you got on. The course sounds excellent. The only thing I feel when I get back after attending a non local course is that I wish I had someone around to go over things and practice. Anyway,your comments are much appreciated.
Vivien
thank you for that excellent review, I am going to book on the course tomorrow.
I have to say that they have been the most helpful of all the colleges and training centres I have called, but its always good to hear good (or bad) experiences from people, so that we know we arent throwing our money away!
Thanks again!
I attended the intensive 10 day Sports and Remedial Massage course, which also doubles as the first part of either the full Advanced Sports Therapy diploma or Advanced Remedial Massage diploma. I should stress at this point that all of these courses are being extended by 5 days next year, so the structure that I describe below may well change!
First of all, the entire course is very hands-on. By lunchtime on day one we had each worked on 3 or 4 other students – there is very little sitting behind desks, and even the A&P theory lessons get you up on your feet and working on each other to palpate the structures being learnt. Incidentally, this course had the best A&P instruction I've yet to experience, taught by a tutor with infectious enthusiasm for the topic.
This style of hands-on learning works well for me, but there were a couple of gasps from people who expected to have their noses in books for the first day or two. All I can say is "don't forget your shorts” – you'll be getting to know your fellow class-mates very well over the next few weeks! :D
All of the tutors have years of experience behind them and come from a variety of backgrounds (including physiotherapy, sports therapy, military remedial instruction, and personal training) and really know their subject inside-out. In addition, they all actually continue to work in the profession – it's a refreshing change to attend a course where the tutors still practice what they preach! Also, the directors teach most of the classes, so they are able to maintain a firm grip on the high standards they obviously set for themselves.
As with all of us, each tutor has their own speciality and particular interests which they were keen to share with students, and they rotated classes to ensure we got a mixture of teaching styles and techniques.
Sessions were fast-paced and packed with information, but structured logically so that I never felt like I was drowning. Tutors also sat in on each other's classes, so there was always someone available during practical sessions to give additional support and advice on techniques where needed. This support was also available in the evenings and at weekends after the formal lessons had finished – now that's dedication!
The training centre doubles as a working sports clinic, and from weektwo we were expected to work on real clients (under supervision). There was also the opportunity to attend off-site injury clinics at a local rugby club, which was certainly an eye-opener! It's these kind of valuable insights to the real world of sports therapy that really set the training apart for me and made the whole experience more concrete.
The centre has a well-stocked resource library of books and DVDs, plus a quiet-room for personal study, and we were encouraged to stay on after classes had formally finished to make use of the facilities and to practice what we had learnt during the day. I'd really advise people attending the course to buddy up and practice after class wherever possible, as there is a lot of information packed into the daytime which will click quicker if you work through it with fellow students.
In fact, by the middle of weektwo my brain was beginning to creak with all the information, but the benefit of the intensive course is that you literally eat, drink and sleep sports therapy for the entire time you are there – there was a definite "a-HA” moment for me during weektwo when things suddenly started to come together, and I know it was the same for others on the course.
Practical topics covered on the Sports Massage syllabus included: pre, inter and post-event massage; neuromuscular techniques and trigge
Answers:
Thanks Andy. I was hoping that you'd let us know how you got on. The course sounds excellent. The only thing I feel when I get back after attending a non local course is that I wish I had someone around to go over things and practice. Anyway,your comments are much appreciated.
Vivien
Answers:
thank you for that excellent review, I am going to book on the course tomorrow.
I have to say that they have been the most helpful of all the colleges and training centres I have called, but its always good to hear good (or bad) experiences from people, so that we know we arent throwing our money away!
Thanks again!
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