The School of Natural Therapies

🌿 Just a reminder - our free aromatherapy taster day is coming up fast!

Saturday 6th June is almost here, and we still have a small number of spaces left for our Energetics of Aromatherapy session in Battersea.

If you've been thinking about it, now is the time - spaces are limited and we don't want you to miss out.

As a reminder, here's what's included:

Experience essential oils first-hand and explore their energetic profiles

Work alongside a small group of like-minded people

Blend and take home your own bespoke stress-relief roller ball

Get a sneak peek at our IFA Level 5 Diploma in Aromatherapy, starting this September

Completely free. No experience needed.

👉 Register your interest before it's too late: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/free-aromatherapy-taster-day-saturday-6th-june-2026

Free Aromatherapy Taster Day - Saturday 6th June 2026 | The School of Natural Therapies To celebrate Aromatherapy Awareness Week 2026 (8th - 14th June), we're hosting a free, hands-on aromatherapy taster day at the School of Natural Therapies in

We're proud to have been featured in the SATCC Spring 2026 Newsletter, published by the Standards Authority for Touch and Cancer Care. 🎉

The feature highlighted an article co-authored by our Principal, Marc Innes, and our Director of Sport and Remedial Studies, Joseph O'Dwyer, titled "What a Difference a Massage Makes."

The article explores how cancer touch training is evolving beyond simply making it safe to treat clients with a cancer diagnosis, towards actively improving quality of life through more advanced, remedial techniques.

It covers areas including how massage can help address pain and limited mobility after surgery, the impact of radiotherapy on soft tissue, the growing importance of fascial health, and how therapists can support people once medical treatment ends.

This sits very close to our hearts, and reflects the ethos behind our own oncology massage training.

Read the full post on our website: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/featured-in-the-satcc-spring-2026-newsletter

Featured in the SATCC Spring 2026 Newsletter | The School of Natural Therapies We're delighted to share that we were featured in the STACC Spring 2026 Newsletter, published by the Standards Authority for Touch and Cancer Care.

⭐ Review Highlight

“I just completed the ITEC level 3 Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology course and want to share my experience. Helen is an absolutely wonderful teacher delivering every class with enthusiastic passion and energy. I have thoroughly enjoyed the course because of Helen's teaching style and approach. I will be considering a massage course now and look forward to returning to the school to learn more. Don't hesitate to book with SNT, fantastic team and school.” - Luci

Ready to begin your own journey? 🌟

Discover more on our website: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/courses

Massage Courses | The School of Natural Therapies Discover accredited, expert massage courses with experienced trainers since 1989. Backed by 100+ 5-star trusted reviews, we provide top-rated, professional training to advance your skills.

🌿 We're hosting a FREE aromatherapy taster day this June, and we'd love you to join us!

To celebrate Aromatherapy Awareness Week 2026, we're opening our doors in Battersea on Saturday 6th June for a hands-on, practical session exploring the world of essential oils.

Here's what's waiting for you:

Experience essential oils first-hand and explore their energetic profiles

Work alongside a small group of like-minded people

Blend and take home your own bespoke stress-relief roller ball

Get a sneak peek at our IFA Level 5 Diploma in Aromatherapy, starting this September

It's completely free, no experience needed, and spaces are limited to keep it small and personal.

👉 Find out more and register your interest here: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/free-aromatherapy-taster-day-saturday-6th-june-2026

Free Aromatherapy Taster Day - Saturday 6th June 2026 | The School of Natural Therapies To celebrate Aromatherapy Awareness Week 2026 (8th - 14th June), we're hosting a free, hands-on aromatherapy taster day at the School of Natural Therapies in

⚠️ Only a few spaces left - Sunday 17th May

If you have been thinking about adding chair massage to your practice, this is your nudge to stop thinking and actually book it.

Our Chair Massage Plus CPD Diploma is a one-day, FHT-accredited course that gives you everything you need to deliver an effective 10 to 30 minute seated massage routine - no oil, no couch, client stays fully clothed. 🪑

It is one of the most versatile additions a qualified therapist can make. Corporate environments, festivals, events, workplace wellness - chair massage opens doors that a standard couch-based practice simply cannot reach.

In a single day you will cover:

Acupressure theory and application

Adapted chair-based massage techniques

Correct client and therapist positioning

Contraindications and professional practice

At least 7 hours of hands-on practical work

At least 7 hours of that is hands-on. You will leave with a Diploma from us, 5 CPD points, and a routine you can use professionally straight away.

One date. A few spaces. Sunday 17th May at our Battersea training centre.

http://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/courses/chair-massage-plus-cpd-diploma

"What will it actually be like?" 🌿

It is the question most people have once they have decided they want to train as an aromatherapist - and it is a fair one. A course page tells you what you will study. It does not always tell you what nine months of training genuinely feels like from the inside.

So we wrote a post that does exactly that.

Here is a taster of what is in it:

How the blended learning model works in practice - which sessions are in person, which are on Zoom, and how the two fit together across the nine months.

What the practical days are really like - blending workshops, aromatherapy massage, product making, and why small class sizes make a bigger difference than you might expect.

The case study requirement (60 treatments in total) - what it involves, where most students find their clients, and why it is worth starting to think about this before the course begins.

The Kew Gardens visit, and why students consistently describe it as one of the highlights of the programme. 🌱

What happens before and on exam day - and why students who have engaged seriously with the mocks tend to find the real thing far less daunting than they expected.

Whether it is genuinely manageable alongside a full-time job. (Short answer: yes, with honest commitment.)

If you are seriously considering enrolling and want a realistic picture of what you are signing up for, this one is worth a read: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/what-to-expect-from-an-aromatherapy-diploma-course

What to Expect from an Aromatherapy Diploma Course | The School of Natural Therapies Wondering what aromatherapy diploma training actually involves day to day? Here is an honest, detailed look at what you will study, practise and experience.

⭐ Review Highlight

“Joseph was probably the best teacher I had over the years studying various modalities. Great attitude, very approachable, knowledgeable with a great sense of humour.

Highly, highly recommended!” - Marcin

Ready to begin your own journey? 🌟

Discover more on our website: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/courses

Massage Courses | The School of Natural Therapies Discover accredited, expert massage courses with experienced trainers since 1989. Backed by 100+ 5-star trusted reviews, we provide top-rated, professional training to advance your skills.

Dreaming of a career working with essential oils? 🌿

Aromatherapy is one of the most established complementary therapies in the UK - and becoming a qualified practitioner is more structured and professionally recognised than many people realise.

A few things worth knowing if you are considering training:

Our IFA Level 5 Diploma in Aromatherapy is open to complete beginners. You do not need any prior experience in aromatherapy to enrol.

The course runs over nine months with a blended learning format - practical sessions in person at our Battersea training centre, and live theory sessions via Zoom - so most people can train without giving up their existing income.

IFA-qualified aromatherapists are included on a PSA Accredited Register, recognised by the NHS and referenced by the General Medical Council. This is a proper professional credential, not a hobby certificate.

The course includes a guided visit to Kew Gardens as part of the programme, plus an optional lavender farm trip. 🌸

You will work in depth with over 65 essential oils across the nine months, covering chemistry, botany, blending, clinical practice, and a lot more besides.

We have written a full career guide covering qualifications, entry routes, what the training covers, and what you can do once qualified.

Find out more: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/how-to-become-an-aromatherapist

How to Become an Aromatherapist in the UK: A Career Guide | The School of Natural Therapies Thinking of training as an aromatherapist in the UK? This guide covers qualifications, career routes, what to expect from training, and how to get started.

This year marked a first for us. 🎉

Our ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Massage filled up as it always does - but this year the waiting list grew so large that, for the first time in over 37 years, we opened a second overflow intake to meet demand.

That filled up too.

We have kept our class sizes deliberately small for over three and a half decades because we know that intimate learning environments produce better therapists. We are not going to change that. But the response this year tells us something important: more people than ever are looking to begin a new career or build an additional income in massage therapy - and they are choosing us to help them get there.

If you missed out, please do not be disheartened. The next intake is in September, and if this year has shown us anything, it is that places go quickly.

If you are thinking about training, now really is the time to look into it - not next month.

Full details and course dates are on our website: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/massage-course-overflow-intake

Our ITEC Level 3 Massage Course Filled Twice Over - Here's What That Means for You | The School of Natural Therapies Demand for our ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Massage reached a new high this year - so high we opened an overflow intake for the first time ever. It filled up too.

Thinking about a career in sports massage? 💆‍♂️

It is one of the most in-demand areas of complementary healthcare in the UK right now - and the routes into it are more accessible than most people realise.

Whether you are starting from scratch with no massage experience, already hold a Level 3 qualification and want to go further, or are a physio or osteopath looking to add a recognised soft tissue therapy credential, there is a clear pathway for you.

Here are a few things worth knowing:

The ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage takes around three months and is delivered over weekends - so you can keep working while you train.

From Level 3, you can progress to the BTEC Level 5 Diploma in Clinical Sports and Remedial Massage, one of the highest qualifications in the UK and equivalent to undergraduate level.

Already hold a Level 3 elsewhere? Our Bridging Programme takes you straight to Level 5 in six months.

Our Level 3 course holds a 99% pass rate, and we are one of only a small number of ISRM-validated schools in the UK.

One of our graduates, Robin, made the switch after 37 years in the legal industry - and now works in Premier League football. It is never too late.

Full guide on our website: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/how-to-become-a-sports-massage-therapist-uk

How to Become a Sports Massage Therapist in the UK Thinking of becoming a sports massage therapist in the UK? This complete guide covers qualifications, career routes, and how to get started with our accredited courses.

Sports massage or deep tissue massage - what's the difference? 🤔

It's one of the most common questions we get, and it's easy to see why the two get confused. Both involve firm pressure and work with the deeper layers of muscle tissue. But they have different purposes, different techniques, and suit different types of client.

Here's the short version:

Sports massage is focused on physical performance, injury prevention and recovery from activity. It typically includes a postural assessment and consultation before treatment, and draws on a broad range of techniques including NMT, pre and post-event massage, and soft tissue release.

Deep tissue massage is more focused on resolving chronic muscular tension, adhesions and postural imbalances - and suits a wide range of clients, not just those who are physically active.

Can a therapist offer both? Absolutely - and the best ones often do.

Whether you're trying to decide which treatment to book, or you're considering training in massage therapy yourself, we've written a full guide breaking it all down.

Read more: https://www.schoolofnaturaltherapies.co.uk/sports-massage-vs-deep-tissue-massage

Sports Massage vs Deep Tissue Massage: What's the Difference? What's the difference between sports massage and deep tissue massage? We explain the techniques, benefits, and who each treatment is best suited for.