holistic vs swedish?

[quelineebbycakes]

Hi
I'm new to this site and i want to study a massage course but I can't seem to find what the difference is between the VTCT Swedish massage and the ITEC holistic massage.
Both seem to be entrance level before going onto aromatherapy or Indian head but I don't understand the difference. sorry to sound dumb but can someone explain.

thanks

 

[clorox ribbon]

I've done ITEC holistic massage and ITEC aromatherapy diploma's.
The swedish and holistic will basically teach you the same massage techniques the difference will be that swedish is basically teaching to massage physical conditions. The holistic will teach you to treat a client on all levels; physical, emotional and mental. Holistic refers to the fact that all these things are interconnected. Tense muscles does not always come from physical factors but also emotional.
This is what i think although i have no real knowledge of what the swedish massage course offers in full. You are probably best off getting the syllabus for both courses and comparing. I know ITEC syllabus is avaliable if you go to their website.
I really benefitted from my holistic course, not only as a therapist but i learnt alot about myself, i did have a very good tutor who taught us above and beyond what was required of her.
Good luck in whateva you decide.

 

[IcyLollies]

It might be worth reading the earlier thread [link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=63327]VTCT or ITEC?[/link]
[link=http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=63327]http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=63327[/link]

In general I would agree that the ITEC syllabus is slightly better than the VTCT, and the expression ‘holistic massage’ is a more accurate description of what massage therapists actually do than ‘Swedish massage’ (we’ve discussed this on earlier threads). But both ITEC and VTCT have a lot of affiliated colleges, and the standard of teaching seems to differ greatly between the different colleges: both ITEC and VTCT have some very good tutors and some who appear to be sub-standard. It might also be worth asking whether anyone on this forum has trained at the specific colleges you are considering. At one time there was a thread which was very critical of a particular college in Manchester. One recent contributor has reported that her VTCT tutor taught her not to massage male clients between the navel and the knee, which most of us would regard as ridiculous – and which would probably lose the therapist clients !!

Alan