We’re back from Paris with stories, insights, and a renewed sense of pride in representing The School of Natural Therapies on an international stage. Our principal, Marc Innes, was once again honoured to serve as a judge at the European Massage Championship 2025, held in the heart of Paris from 23rd to 25th May.
This year’s event marked the fifth anniversary of the championship and brought together talented therapists from across the globe. Marc arrived on the Friday evening and was warmly welcomed by fellow judges at an opening riverboat cruise along the Seine, where connections were made with massage professionals from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond.
Over the course of the weekend, Marc judged an impressive eight categories, with 14 competitors in each – totalling 112 massage therapists. The breadth and diversity of skills on display were nothing short of inspiring.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of the competition was witnessing the array of global techniques. In one striking example, a therapist performed an entire treatment without using their hands, relying solely on massage tools. While this approach was fascinating, it highlighted a distinctive contrast to our philosophy here in the UK. At The School of Natural Therapies, we believe in the deeply restorative and personal value of touch. The connection between therapist and client is something we place great emphasis on – it can never be fully replicated by tools alone.
Marc’s judging role not only involved assessing technical ability and flow, but also evaluating a therapist’s ability to create trust, connection and healing through their touch. That insight is directly embedded into the way we teach our students, ensuring our graduates leave with more than just technique – they leave with confidence, presence and professional integrity.
Our repeated invitations to judge at this prestigious event – as documented in our recent post about being invited to 2025 and previous years – are a testament to our standing in the massage world. Being part of such a global event reinforces why our teaching team are considered true authorities in the industry.
Whether you’re an individual looking to train at the highest level, or a spa or clinic looking to elevate your team’s capabilities, our courses are built on the very same standards we champion on the international stage. From spa-specific training, to our Training for Teams, and specialist programmes like Oncology Massage, we offer a range of pathways designed to raise the bar in professional massage.
We’d like to thank the organisers for another incredible event, and we look forward to returning again next year. In the meantime, our focus remains where it has always been: on delivering training that is informed, inclusive and internationally respected.
