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Course videos
12 Lessons-
StartLeg massage in Supine
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StartLeg stretches in Supine
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StartFull run through of massage and stretches in Spine on 2nd leg
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StartLeg massage and stretches in Prone
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StartLeg massage & stretches in Prone on 2nd leg
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StartBack massage
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StartArm & hand massage in Supine
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StartOther arm and hand massage in Supine
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StartDecolletage, head and face massage
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StartForearm on the leg in Supine
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StartForearm on the leg in Prone
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StartForearm on the back in Prone
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Sports Massage Diploma, starts 26 May 2025. In-person level 3 professional course, accredited by FHT
Become a fully qualified Sports massage therapist in just 4 months. There are 8 days of in-person training with supporting video lessons.
Course Summary
Become a Sports massage therapist in just 4 months.
Our level 3 course is accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists, so you can be sure it's thorough and fully recognised in the industry. On completion you will be able to get insurance to work as a professional Sports massage therapist.
Sports massage is one of the most popular and sought-after massage treatments. Learn how to give this form of deep-tissue massage that can alleviate chronic pain and help your clients recover from recent injuries.
Our Level 3 Sports massage diploma is suitable for beginners who want to become professional sports massage therapists. There are no pre-requisites and it includes anatomy and physiology training alongside the practical training in sports massage.
Have any questions? Please see our FAQs section below (at the bottom of the page)
Let's first talk about who this course is for...
You’re someone who's completely new to massage and you are keen to give up the 9-5, become your own boss, and earn a good income through helping others. Maybe you've always enjoyed having sports massage yourself and would like to start your massage career with this style of treatment.
Or maybe you're a qualified PT who’s looking to help your clients even more by expanding your business to offer a strong, effective massage that can help alleviate any potential injuries and/or help them to increase their performance.
You’re keen to learn within a small class where the ratio of student to teacher is maximum 6:1. You feel that face-to-face learning is particularly important but understand that training videos can help remind you of what you learned in class, rather than substituting for in-person training altogether.
You're not ready yet to commit to a longer, more expensive level 4 or 5 course at this stage, but might be interested in a few years once you have an established massage business.
Most importantly, you recognise that sports massage isn't just a form of "normal" massage that is painful (for therapist and client) because it's delivered in a faster, more forceful way. Instead, you understand that it's a form of deep tissue massage, effective through the best application of advanced techniques and a comprehensive knowledge of the musculo-skeletal system within the anatomy & physiology of the body.
On successful completion of this course, you will:
Become a fully trained Sports massage therapist with a recognised, level 3 professional qualification, accredited by FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists).
Be able to use sports massage techniques including how to use forearms, elbows and knuckles with good body mechanics to ensure maximum effect with minimum effort.
Confidently know when and how to use effective stretching techniques including soft tissue release and muscle energy techniques
Know when and how to use trigger point therapy within your treatments
Understand the principles of soft-tissue dysfunction and how it's different to injury
Understand the role that sports massage plays in helping to recover from recent injuries and to alleviate chronic pain
Develop professional practice in sports massage and know the principles of health and fitness
Have a keen understanding of anatomy and physiology related to sports massage
Develop a loyal client base by providing a highly sought-after treatment
Course Curriculum
In-Person Training
Our next course starts on 26th May in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. All our in-person training takes place in a specially-built massage cabin in the front garden. The training is not just a couple of days of back-to-back teaching with you then left to your own devices! It is a full immersive experience where you will be welcomed into a small group of fellow, like-minded students and encouraged to enjoy the homely surroundings.
The course focuses on establishing great techniques from the start. We emphasise good posture and body mechanics to ensure that you learn how to use your body with the minimum of effort and maximum of ease. We want to make sure our students are equipped with the best skills to guarantee a long-lasting career.
The schedule is:
Monday 26th - Thursday 29th May 2025:
Four days of covering the fundamentals of massage and learning how to massage the whole body in a holistic way.
6 weeks of home learning and case-studies to consolidate your learning from the first four days. You will have access to the videos to help you in your learning and practice.
Wednesday 9th - Friday 11th July:
Three days of further learning, building on your case-study experience. We use these 3 days to really examine the musculo-skeletal system further to get a fuller understanding of how the body works, and how we can effect change through the use of massage. You will also be introduced to specific sports massage techniques, such as soft-tissue release (STR), muscle-energy techniques (MET) and trigger point therapy.
6 weeks of home learning and case-studies to consolidate your learning from 7 training days. You will have access to the final set of videos to help you in your learning and practice.
In this break between the training days and assessment day, you have access to me via our dedicated WhatsApp group to ask any questions and specific issues you've encountered in your practice. Students can benefit from the other students input as well as the expertise of the instructor.
Assessment day in Aug/Sep 2025 (date tba)
This is your assessment day but is also an important learning session. There will also be a viva where you will be quizzed on certain sports massage techniques. You will then receive one-to-one feedback and expert tips on how to refine your work further and tips for making a success of your sports massage business. There will also be a short, multiple-choice exam on Anatomy & Physiology.
Assuming you've completed the course fully and successfully passed all sections of the course, you will be qualified to become a Sports massage practitioner!
Kathryn Ellis
My name is Kathryn Ellis and I've been working as a full-time massage practitioner for almost 20 years. Although I practise many different types of massage, Thai Yoga massage is my first and favourite discipline. I love the way this type of massage helps create a deeper connection between mind and body (for me as well as for my client) and as a result is often a more effective treatment for most types of pain.
I've been teaching massage for over 15 years face-to-face in my beautiful cabin in Leamington Spa and now also teach a number of courses online using video and Zoom. I run full practitioner training (FHT accredited) as well as short courses which act as an introduction to this amazing form of massage treatment.
Course overview - what you get!!
- Course length: The course lasts 3 months and starts on 26th May 2025
- The course is a mix of 8 days of in-person teaching with over 6 hours of video training plus online Anatomy and Physiology modules.
- This professional qualification has been awarded a level 3 status and is accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT.org)
- You will need to practise the techniques you learn throughout the course (this works out as 30 hours of logged case-studies)
- The videos are supported by downloadable pdf manuals. All videos will be available for a minimum of 12 months
- Ongoing support: there is an opportunity to work 1:1 with Kathryn by having coaching in your massage business (this can be specific massage techniques - using Zoom or equivalent - or how to build your massage business further). This is an additional charge and is done on a bespoke, individual basis. Get in touch with Kathryn to discuss further.
In Summary
Our next 225-hour intensive Level 3 Diploma course in Sports Massage (accredited by FHT) consists of 8 days of training over 4 months.
This is the perfect course for complete beginners who are looking to qualify as a professional Sports massage therapist.
It includes eight days of hands-on massage training and in-depth anatomy and physiology.
There is also an assessment day with 1-2-1 mini "business" coaching session to help you set up and market yourself as a therapist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Do I need to study Level 1 or 2 before doing this course?
- No, this is an entry-level qualification that allows you to work at a professional level.
- Will I be able to work as a Sports Massage Therapist once I qualify?
- Yes, you will be able to work and get insurance to practise as a Sports Massage Therapist after you've successfully completed the course (having passed the final assessment and completed all coursework including case-studies).
- If I get stuck, is anyone available and accessible to answer questions?
- You'll get a chance to ask questions in a private WhatsApp group for each course. You can email Kathryn throughout the course to get extra help if required.
- Can I study further courses in massage?
- Yes, you can go on to study at level 4 or 5 in sports massage once you have your level 3. You can also study other forms of massage (e.g. Thai yoga massage, Hot Stones, Pregnancy massage etc.).
- Can I study this course online?
- This is only available as an in-person course. As it takes you from complete beginner, you need to learn the hands-on skills in an environment where your techniques are carefully monitored by your teacher. Once qualified, you can go on to study further massage skills online.
- Where does the course take place?
- This course takes place at The Cabin in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. It's a purpose-built studio set up for massage training with underfloor heating and skylights allowing us maximum ventilation whilst still keeping warm.
- Will I be fully qualified, insurable and able to work at the end of the course?
- Assuming you’ve attended all the training days, completed all your case-studies, and passed the final assessment, then yes, you’ll be fully qualified as a Sports massage therapist and, most importantly, will be able to charge for your work!
The best of both worlds?
I have to admit, I’d been a sceptic about online massage courses. Surely it’s not possible to learn something as hands-on as massage via video?
Well, my students didn’t agree with me and in 2020, due to Covid, they were so keen to learn Thai yoga massage that they persuaded (a very reluctant) me to record the course on video. Each week they studied another video or two and then we met up via Zoom. Finally we came to the end of all the video training and we arranged for me to observe them practising their newly-learned techniques…
…I was gobsmacked! All the students were incredible! They’d learned the routine and all the different techniques amazingly well. Every detail was there - even the stuff that can get overlooked or forgotten when students go home to practise after a weekend of learning in-class. And, they loved learning this way. It truly was fantastic to share their journey with them.
From that course onwards, videos now form a vital part of all of our courses. Each student can really be present in all the in-person training without pausing to take notes and wondering if they've missed anything.
The videos are all filmed professionally and there are close-ups so it's easy to see the different positions and techniques. You'll have access to the videos beyond the length of the course so you'll be able to revise and remind yourself as you start working with your "real" clients. You can watch the videos over and over again, as many times as you like.
I’ve always stressed the importance of regular practice between teaching sessions, believing it to be an integral part of the course. But with online learning as well as in-person, you can now have teaching sessions between your practice sessions.
How perfect is that?!
