FAQ - A massage course in English

It's always a challenge to give the right amount of information. It is possible that you still have some questions. Here are the main ones that people ask. Please don’t hesitate to mail with anything else.

1. Do I receive a diploma and can I start my own practice?
Strangely enough, in this superorganized country, anyone can call him- or herself a masseur and in principle set up a ‘massage practice.’ But there are laws and you would need insurance (even though relatively little can go wrong) once you start accepting payment for massage, and the bottom line is a diploma recognized by the Dutch government. Most masseurs in the Netherlands have a diploma that is gained after 120 classroom hours and two exams. This really is the minimum as far as we are concerned. It is less than some countries require (though in fact more than many others), but in practice it is sufficient to get going. What Touch is offering is a beginners’ course of just 22 hours and no exam, so you’ll understand that this does not count. You receive a certificate of attendance, but nothing more. The course does, however, give you a very solid foundation for further study elsewhere, especially if this is likely to be a correspondence course with relatively little hands-on work. We do not know of an advanced study programme in English in the Netherlands, but again, should you opt for a correspondence course, which will usually offer very limited hands-on training, our highly practical course can fill the hands-on gap.

2. Do I have to undress?
Classical massage is done on the bare skin, so the part of the body we’re working on is bare. The short answer is therefore: yes. On the other hand, we realize fully that this is no problem for some people but quite a barrier for others. Remember that there will be only two, at most four, of you learning, so it's not as if you have to 'bare your all' in a large group. It really needn't be a problem. The opposite of this is that naturists can request a course done on this basis (it is then only for naturists and of course this is made very clear in advance: no surprises!). But it must be absolutely clear that naturist massage is not erotic massage: this is a common misconception. Whatever your preference, you are in safe hands.

3. How large is a group and how old?
Since we offer only personally arranged courses involving two or at most four people these days, this common question is less relevant. If you apply on your own for a course, we will bear age in mind to some extent when welcoming a second person, though we are in principle allergic to age discrimination!

4. So am I too young or old?
The minimum age is 18. A 16- or 17-year-old may, however, follow a course along with a parent or guardian. There is no maximum age limit. If you are older, just consider realistically your capacity to learn a lot of new things in a short time and also be realistic about your coordination skills and your health in general. The decision is, however, up to you.

5. How does practising go?
You can compare learning massage with learning the piano. Without practice the course will just be a waste of your time and money, and you are letting your fellow students down. With some luck you have people in your circle of friends who will be ‘willing victims’ (though if you are new to the Netherlands, we realize that this can be a bit limited). Practising with other student(s) on your course is, however, even better, as you can give each other feedback. Working in a group of three is also a good idea: the two people massaging can give even better feedback to each other and the person lying can also help even more. In any event, you should aim for at least one practice session per week. It’s easiest to make appointments during the course itself. A spin-off is that massage is a great way to make new friends.

6. May I attend with a friend, or is this in fact compulsory?
Of course two friends are most welcome, or a couple. If you wish to attend on your own, we will ask you to provide a 'model' to work on or to wait until a second person applies, bearing in mind your preferred group composition (mixed, etc). Remember that we can offer a course for any gender combination (mixed (m/f), two or four women, two or four men).

7. Can there be medical reasons for not massaging or being massaged?
There are various contraindications for receiving massage. If you suffer from any condition which makes you doubt about the advisability of being massaged, do consult your family physician. Say that you will be undergoing strokes and kneading. Do this in case of the slightest doubt. The massage you will be learning has quite a profound effect on the body. For giving massage there are fewer contraindications. You do need to be in good health, and a physical or mental handicap can make things difficult (discuss this with the instructor). Although massaging is in itself not really hard work if properly done, the course sessions are intensive and quite tiring.

8. What happens now?
If you are seriously interested in the possibility of a course, please send us an e-mail giving you name (and gender if not immediately obvious from your name), the course location that best suits you (Amsterdam or Deventer) and the group composition you would prefer (mixed (m/f), women only, men only). The instructor will contact you to discuss with you personally the various options open to you. At this stage there is no obligation: you commit to a course only when everything is cut and dried. You can also rest assured that your personal data will be handled with the utmost care and will be deleted from our files at the earliest opportunity.

We specialize in:

Individual massage

Everyone needs time out, an hour for him- or herself. Touch masseurs have considerable experience in providing good, deep massages for stress release. You are in good hands! Read more ...

Courses

These present pages concern the courses.