Following our recent presentation at the UK Spa Association Summer Networking Event 2025 at Center Parcs Woburn Forest, we are delighted to share the impact it has had on spa managers, training coordinators and business owners across the country!

Opening Eyes to the Root Causes of Staff Sickness

We delivered back-to-back talks addressing one of the spa industry’s most pressing challenges: high sickness rates among massage therapists. We outlined how musculoskeletal injuries, particularly how to avoid thumb pain from massage and wrist strain, are often the result of poor body mechanics, insufficient training in Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology, and a lack of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses.

Many attendees admitted they had not realised why sickness rates were so high within their teams until hearing our talk. Several managers from high-profile spas approached us after the presentation and we are now in contact with them to organise bespoke training programmes. Our previous partnerships with Mayfair’s Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel and Aman Spa at The Connaught show the calibre of training and results these businesses can expect.

Conversations That Continued Beyond the Stage

The presentation generated a wave of interest. Throughout the day, spa leaders approached us to share their own challenges and to explore solutions. These conversations reinforced the importance of our work in bespoke training for spa and wellness teams and highlighted a real appetite for change across the sector.

If you manage a spa and want to understand how to reduce therapist injury and improve retention, explore our bespoke training for spa and wellness teams for more information.

Measurable Outcomes

Since the event, we have seen an increase in enquiries for team training packages. Many are already discussing in-house programmes tailored to their therapists’ needs, from entry-level qualifications through to advanced skills.

We are also hearing from spas that want to implement Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology modules for all therapists, regardless of their current qualification level, to ensure strong technical foundations.

Why This Matters

By investing in evidence-informed training, spa businesses not only protect their therapists from injury but also elevate the quality of treatment and client satisfaction. This in turn improves staff retention, reduces absence, and strengthens the spa’s reputation.

You can read more about our approach to excellence and why so many spas trust us as their training partner in our reasons to choose The School of Natural Therapies as your massage training provider.

What’s Next

We will continue to work with spa leaders who attended the UK Spa Association event, offering bespoke massage training plans that are both practical and commercially beneficial. If you are ready to future-proof your spa team, contact us to arrange a consultation.