This 3-day programme provides the knowledge, skills and even some course experience, for teams who wish welcome spa guests who are being treated for, recovering from or living with cancer.
Historically, the beauty and spa sectors have restricted, and even contraindicated clients affected by cancer. This emanates from four key areas: – Fear, lack of knowledge, robust training and insurance to practice oncology treatments, such as massage and facials. Consequently, for many therapists there has been a desire to help, but this has been overshadowed for the aforementioned reasons.
Despite these restrictions, and over the last 10 years, many individuals and organisations have worked tirelessly to change this – thus creating robust training programmes with robust medical, clinical knowledge and guidance to make it possible for therapists to lose the fear and open their doors.
With sobering statistics from world health experts, it is predicted that one in two people will experience some form of cancer in their lifetime. For this reason, it is more important than ever to support clients who are living with cancer or have a history of cancer. It is also worth considering that any individual with a cancer diagnosis will automatically fall under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, now replaced by the Equality Act 2010 – spa and salon guests should therfore be afforded the opportunity to receive a treatment of their choice, adapted where necessary.
It is also worth noting that there are numerous global studies to support the use of light touch, gentle massage to ease the burden of cancer related side effects. Massage has been shown to be safe, effective and is the most sought-after complimentary therapy in cancer care.
This 3-day programme is taught by award winning educator and Principal of the School of Natural Therapies (SNT), Marc Innes, who has a medical background spanning 23 years in the NHS.
Alongside Marc is the Director of Remedial Massage studies at SNT, Joseph O’Dwyer, who co-teaches this course.
In 2019, Marc Innes was presented with an award from the TPOT (The Power of Touch) foundation for Inspirational Trainer of the Year, for his work in oncology education, massage and touch therapy.
The course is accredited by FHT (15 CPD points) and adheres to the standards of education set by the Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) of which Marc is an advisory board member since its inception.
Working with massage under Joseph’s guidance is also a great opportunity for therapists to become acquainted with vital information on the fascial network, movement and myofascial lines, all of which are disrupted by cancer related surgery. This always results in loss of range of movement, pain and dysfunction.
This is a gifted opportunity to learn some remedial techniques alongside massage, which is adapted for clients being treated for, living with, or recovering from cancer related surgery.
The programme will also cover topics such as skincare and hand & foot rituals specifically adapted for clients with compromised health.
