Raynor Massage Diploma Course

This intensive massage course is designed for those wanting to enter the massage profession or for those who want to develop their massage skills further. It can either be studied in one block or you can opt to study week one (the Certificate Course) at one time and then the second week at a later date. Most of our students do the course in one go but it is designed to be flexible to fit around your existing commitments and budget.

Under the expert teaching of one of our teachers you will study in a group of no more than 16 people and we expect that everyone completing the course will be a very good massage therapist by the time they qualify. Because Raynor Massage is such a unique massage style you can become incredibly effective with just two weeks of training and be able to integrate both reflexology and aromatherapy into your massage practice.

The first five days of the course are the same as the 5 day Raynor Massage Certificate Course, in fact you will receive the Certificate on completion of week one before going on to graduate with the Diploma. To see the details of week one please click here.

As with the Certificate course this unique form of massage is taught in a very hands-on way. The same 20% of tutor input, 40% massaging and 40% being massaged applies for the Diploma course as it does for the Certificate, this is because you will learn so much from both giving and receiving the massage. You will again work with different people across the week so that you can gain experience working with different body types. On the final day of the course we open the doors for our ‘student clinic’ when we invite friends, family and members of the public in to receive free massage. This is an integral part of the assessment of the Diploma where you carry out everything learnt on the course, from taking a case history, selecting oils, giving the actual full body treatment and discussing aftercare advice with your client.

The aim of the massage remains the same for the Diploma as for the Certificate, you are learning to find tension in the body and then learn how to eliminate it. On the Diploma course this tension release is taken to a deeper level and it is often possible to access tension that has been stored for many years, even since childhood. The Diploma trains the massage therapist to work in greater depth with the meridians, or channels, through which Chi (Prana) flows, releasing stagnant Chi and dealing with deep set muscular tension.

This Diploma in Raynor Massage Therapy is designed by Brandon Raynor and is only available through the Brandon Raynor School of Natural Therapies. It is run in locations throughout the world. All teachers are Advanced Practitioners in Raynor Massage who have been trained by and have worked with Brandon and whom he has personally approved. Brandon has spent over twenty years travelling around the world studying massage and continues to do so today. The Diploma course specifically draws on two additional disciplines from worldwide understanding of massage in its focus on both reflexology and aromatherapy.

It is a pre-requisite of the course that you have first studied the Certificate Course in Raynor Massage , the pace and teaching on the course assumes Certificate level prior knowledge. Course days are very intensive and usually run from 9-5pm, Monday to Friday.

What does the course comprise?

For details of Days 1 - 5 please see the 5 day Raynor Massage Certificate Course

Day 6 of the Massage Diploma will look in further detail at the full practitioner/client interaction including each student taking a case history and giving a full massage to suit the client’s needs within a specified length of time.

During this treatment the teacher will carry out a formative assessment and give feedback to the student to highlight areas that each individual needs to develop further. This will give the student a focus for the areas that they will need to work on during the next 4 days of the course.

On Day 7, the teacher will introduce the use of aromatherapy oils to the massage treatment. S/he will cover the properties and use of some of the most commonly used aromatherapy oils. You will be taught how to diagnose which oils are suitable for particular clients and learn the contraindications of each oil. You will learn how to mix oils to their correct blending ratio.

You will then experiment with their use during practice with both deep tissue massage and also lighter massage, mixing oils to suit the needs – and nose - of your massage partners.

Day 8 of the diploma course will be the reflexology course day. We will learn the reflexology areas of the feet and the hands. You will explore the importance of the feet and hands in massage and how they affect and benefit the whole treatment. The zone theory of reflexology and the use of reflexology charts will also be discussed. You will then both carry out and experience this powerful and relaxing reflexology massage.

Day 9 of the course will concentrate on the specific aspects of face and scalp massage and the use of acupressure points in the head to help alleviate stress, tension, headaches, neck problems. We will explore the relationship between releasing tension in the head and the effect this has in helping release the emotional tension stored in the belly and chest. This incredibly relaxing day of massage inevitably results in a good night’s sleep before the final day of the course – we wouldn’t advise planning any evening activities or operating heavy machinery after this day!

The final Day 10 of the Massage Diploma course will involve any final revision necessary, as well as a 50 point assessment which will grade each student on the following qualities: empathy, communication, techniques, professionalism, correct pressure, and overall effect. The last day of the massage course will see us invite friends and families of the students as well as members of the public to the class to get a massage.

Your assessment will be based on you understanding of the role of the patient in the three categories of communication, understanding the importance of breathing with a practitioner, and on your proper understanding and appreciation of the benefits of massage. At the close of this day, having passed your assessment, you will be awarded the Diploma in Raynor Massage Therapy.

Costs

The 10 day Raynor Technique of Therapeutic Massage Diploma fee is £1,795 (£500 deposit).

Demand for course places can be high and numbers for each course are capped at 16 so we recommend early booking to secure your place. Deposits are non-refundable, if you need to cancel and we fill your place on the course you originally booked we will transfer your deposit to another course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I can only afford one week, can I do the Certificate course now and return to do the Diploma at a later date?
A: Yes! Provided you have completed the Certificate course previously then you can return to do the Diploma course at any time and in any location.

Q: I have been working in the massage industry for years, can I jump straight into the Diploma course?
A: No. Raynor Massage is very different from any previous massage you will have practiced and the pace of the Diploma is fast so we assume Certificate level prior learning before you can complete the Diploma.

Q: I am not 20 and not skinny – won’t I feel too embarrassed being undressed for massage?
A: First of all we place great emphasis on professional draping. You will be covered by towels at all times while being massaged with only the part of your body being massaged being uncovered. Belly and side on massage is done through a towel for privacy. While we have trained people from 16-84, the majority of people on our courses have already had some experience of life so you won’t feel out of place. If you are particularly body conscious or for religious / cultural reasons you cannot undress to underwear for massage, then you can be massaged through loose clothing. Remember you will be draped in towels at all times! Because everyone on the course is both massaging and being massaged you will soon become comfortable being on the table and draped in towels.

Q: Is the course residential?
A: No. You will be responsible for your own accommodation, food and travel, we can however offer suggestions for accommodation near to our massage schools. We may in the future offer residential courses and these will be clearly marked and costed as residential courses.

Q: What do I need to bring on a course?
A: You will need to bring comfortable clothing, flat shoes and at least four large towels. We provide the massage tables for use during the course and all oils, including the aromatherapy oils for use on day 7 and day 10.

Q: I have never heard of Chi or Meridian lines – does that matter?
A: No – the course doesn’t assume any prior understanding or knowledge.

Q: I don’t really believe in Chi and people’s energy – can I still do this course?
A: Yes, you don’t necessarily need to agree with a particular philosophical point of view to be able to learn Raynor Massage and give an incredibly effective massage. Do try to come to the course with an open mind - many people do go home with a different understanding of the human body and the body-mind interaction and recognise that there is much to learn from these ancient traditions even if their personal belief system does not integrate it. During the Diploma you may experience or witness the emotional release which come with Chi movement – nothing is forced or outside of your own control – if you don’t want to experience it – you won’t!

Q: Do I have to do lots of reading and academic study?
A: No. We will provide a detailed course handbook and give you suggestions for further reading should you wish to add to the knowledge gained on the course. You do not need to learn the Latin names of muscles and body parts, we believe it is more important to find and eliminate tension in the body than be able to give it its scientific name. Some of our students go on to read further after the course as part of their ongoing development and we will give guidance for this if its wanted, its not essential to you becoming a good Raynor Therapist.

Q: Can I get insured from this course?
A: Yes we work with a number of insurance companies who offer insurance for our students click here to view the full details.

Q: What do people do after the course?
A: Most people who complete the Diploma course will work full or part time as a Massage Therapist although some just want to be incredibly good at massaging friends and family