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Foundations of Therapeutic Massage

An Osteopathic-Informed Approach to Safe, Confident Wellness Massage

November 5 – November 8

Sanctuary Hill, New Plymouth
Small-group practical training | Limited to 6–12 students

Learn the foundations of safe, confident therapeutic massage

This online learning and four-day practical course is designed for people who want to develop meaningful hands-on massage skills with a deeper understanding of the body.

Taught by experienced osteopath and acupuncturist Andrew Lawson, this course introduces students to wellness-focused massage through an osteopathic-informed approach. Rather than simply memorising a routine, students learn how to think about the body as an integrated whole — including posture, tissue tension, circulation, the nervous system, stress, communication, consent and safe treatment planning.

The course combines online preparation, four practical training days at Sanctuary Hill, and a supported practice period after the course to help students integrate their skills into real life

  • “An excellent, well-structured course with the perfect mix of theory and practical work.”
    Kate Lepper
  • “This course gave me the fundamentals and so much more, building real confidence in my massage skills.“
    Tim Chadwick
  • “I now feel confident carrying out a full-body massage and using targeted techniques to relieve tension.“
    Gentry Simpson
  • “An excellent, well-structured course with the perfect mix of theory and practical work.”
    Kate Lepper
  • “This course gave me the fundamentals and so much more, building real confidence in my massage skills.“
    Tim Chadwick
  • “I now feel confident carrying out a full-body massage and using targeted techniques to relieve tension.“
    Gentry Simpson
Apply for a position Request Course Information

This course may be suitable for you if you are:

  • exploring massage as a future career direction
  • interested in developing a second income stream
  • already working in wellness, fitness, yoga, Pilates, beauty, retreats or recovery services
  • wanting to support a partner, family member or loved one safely at home
  • returning to hands-on practice and wanting to rebuild confidence
  • curious about bodywork, touch, anatomy, connection and whole-person care
  • looking for a practical introduction before committing to longer massage training

No previous massage experience is required, although the course may also suit people with some prior training who want a fresh, whole-person perspective.

This is not a generic massage workshop.

The course is taught from an osteopathic-informed perspective, which means students are encouraged to understand the body as an integrated system rather than a collection of isolated muscles.

You will be introduced to core osteopathic principles, including:

  • the body as a unit
  • the relationship between structure and function
  • the body’s capacity for self-regulation and recovery
  • the importance of circulation, the nervous system and tissue health
  • the value of applying the minimum appropriate intervention with care and precision

The aim is to help students develop not only massage technique, but also sensitivity, awareness, professional judgement and confidence.

Over the course pathway, students will be introduced to

Professional foundations

  • professional conduct and therapist responsibilities
  • consent, communication and boundaries
  • privacy, modesty and draping
  • hygiene and treatment-room preparation
  • client-centred care
  • record keeping and safe practice
  • understanding your scope and when to refer

Safety and clinical awareness

  • contraindications and cautions for massage
  • red flags and reasons to refer
  • working safely with different client needs
  • adapting pressure, positioning and technique
  • endangerment sites and areas requiring caution
  • managing client expectations

Body understanding

  • basic anatomy relevant to massage
  • soft tissue, skin, muscle, fascia, tendons and ligaments
  • circulation and lymphatic function
  • the nervous system and stress response
  • posture, movement and tissue tension
  • basic observation and palpation skills

Practical massage skills

  • body mechanics and therapist self-care
  • safe use of pressure
  • effleurage
  • deep effleurage
  • petrissage
  • compression
  • soft tissue release
  • stretch and draw techniques
  • massage of the back, neck and shoulders
  • massage of the arms and hands
  • massage of the legs and feet
  • how to structure a safe, coherent wellness massage session

1. Online preparation

Before attending the practical training days, students will complete introductory online learning. This allows the in-person course to focus more heavily on hands-on skill development.

The online preparation will introduce key concepts such as safety, consent, professional conduct, contraindications, basic anatomy and the osteopathic-informed approach.

2. Four-day practical intensive

The practical course runs from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th November 2026 at Sanctuary Hill, New Plymouth.

During these four days, students will practise hands-on techniques in a supervised, small-group environment. The focus will be on developing confidence, sensitivity, safe pressure, good body mechanics, client communication and treatment flow.

Students will both give and receive massage during the course. Consent, privacy, draping and professional boundaries are treated as essential parts of the learning process.

3.Supported practice period

After the four practical days, students will complete a supported practice period to help integrate the skills into real life.

This may include practice massages, written reflection, case notes and follow-up support. Certification is completed after the supported practice requirements have been met.

This structure is designed to help students move beyond the excitement of the course and begin developing genuine confidence through practice, reflection and feedback.

Dates: Thursday 5th – Sunday 8th November 2026
Online Learning: Online Content Learning will commence one month prior to the contact portion of the course, 5th of October
Venue: Sanctuary Hill, New Plymouth
Class size: 6–12 students
Course fee: $2,600
Format: Online preparation + four practical days + supported practice period

Sanctuary Hill provides a peaceful setting for focused learning, practical development and connection.

Apply by filling in the form below and we will be in contact

Foundations of Therapeutic Massage
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Andrew Lawson is an experienced osteopath, acupuncturist and clinic owner based in New Plymouth.

Andrew has spent many years working hands-on with patients and has a deep interest in anatomy, physiology, movement, stress, recovery and whole-person healthcare. He created this course to share the value of skilled therapeutic touch and to help students develop safe, confident and meaningful massage skills.

His teaching style combines practical instruction with clinical insight, helping students understand not only what to do with their hands, but why they are doing it.

Andrew is passionate about helping people appreciate the intelligence of the human body and the importance of connection between therapist and client.

Is this a professional qualification?

This course provides foundational training in wellness-focused massage.

It does not qualify graduates as osteopaths, remedial massage therapists or medical practitioners. Students are taught to work within their level of training, understand when to refer, and practise safely and professionally.

Students who intend to use massage commercially are encouraged to seek appropriate insurance, comply with relevant business requirements, continue their education, and work within their scope of competence.

This course may be used as a starting point for further study, personal development, wellness work or future massage training.

What students can expect to leave with

By the end of the course pathway, students should have developed:

  • a practical foundation in wellness massage
  • greater confidence using touch safely and respectfully
  • an understanding of professional boundaries and consent
  • improved body awareness and palpation skills
  • a basic understanding of anatomy and body systems relevant to massage
  • the ability to structure a safe massage session
  • awareness of contraindications and when to refer
  • practical experience giving and receiving massage
  • a clearer sense of whether massage is a pathway they wish to develop further
Who this course is not for

This course may not be suitable if you are looking for:

  • a full professional massage diploma
  • a remedial massage qualification
  • osteopathic training
  • medical diagnosis or treatment training
  • a guaranteed employment pathway
  • a quick certificate without practice, reflection or professional responsibility

This course is best suited to students who are genuinely interested in learning safely, practising respectfully, and developing their skill over time.

When will Online Learning commence?
Online Content learning will commence one month prior to the contact portion of the course, 5th of October

Do I need prior massage experience?
No. The course is designed as a foundation course and is suitable for beginners. Students with previous experience may also benefit from the osteopathic-informed approach and practical refinement.

Will I be able to practise professionally after the course?
This is a foundational wellness massage course. It introduces safe practice, professional conduct, basic assessment and massage technique. Students who wish to practise commercially are responsible for working within their scope, seeking appropriate insurance, and continuing their education.

Why is certification completed after the supported practice period?
Massage is a hands-on skill that requires practice and integration. The supported practice period helps students apply what they have learned, reflect on their experience, and build confidence after the practical training days.

Will I have to give and receive massage during the course?
Yes. Students practise on each other as part of the learning process. Consent, privacy, draping and professional boundaries are emphasised throughout the course.

What should I bring?
Students will be advised what to bring before the course begins. This will include appropriate clothing and towels for practical training.

How many places are available?
Places are limited to a small group of 6–12 students to allow individual guidance and practical feedback.

Fill in the form to request information

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Early bird price of $2300 before the 5th of September.

$2600
Apply for a position Request Course Information

Reviews From Our Students

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the therapeutic massage course with an osteopathic approach. 😊
    For me it was nice to revisit some anatomy and physiology from my previous, somewhat historic degree. 
    Day one was packed with information, to cover all necessary information in regards to professional ethics and contraindications, as well as an introduction to some massage techniques and individual case studies. 

    The rest of the course I thought was well structured, starting each day with a re-cap and any questions from the previous day before moving into new material. It was a good mix between theory and practical work. The delivery of the course,  passion and enthusiasm from Andrew was fantastic. He was very personable and considerate of everyone throughout the course. 
    I feel like we got through a lot in the time we had and this made the course well worthwhile. The course material we have been given before, throughout and after has been helpful also. 

    It was an excellent course and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to start out or develop their massage techniques with a focus on reducing fatigue and delivering effective massages. The osteo focus also encourages and enables you to help people with some rehab and prevention strategies as well as have the confidence to be able to work with other practitioners 😊

    Thanks for this opportunity and helping me start my journey to help others and their wellbeing. 
    Kate Lepper
  • I was looking for a course to teach me some fundamentals. This course gave me that and so much more. The practical and theory were delivered in a way that was easy to understand yet thorough. 
    I would recommend this to anyone wanting to be more confident in their massage skills, for personal or business use. 
    Tim Chadwick
  • I chose to enrol in the Vivian Street Osteopaths’ massage course as I will be training to become an Osteopath and was advised that familiarising myself with therapeutic massage would be beneficial
    for the course. Obviously this course stuck out more so than others, as it was run by Osteopaths.
    This course was delivered in a professional and friendly manner, where students felt comfortable to make mistakes and every mistake became a learning experience for the whole group. It was an
    intense 5 days, but the pace was appropriate and all aspects were unpacked thoroughly. I really enjoyed my time on this course, I feel confident to carry out a full body massage, and also learnt some valuable techniques for isolating particular areas of the body to relieve tension. I would absolutely recommend this course to any beginning masseuse.
    Gentry Simpson