Online and Live Massage Training Courses - which is best for you?

Can you really learn Massage online? The answer is yes – thousands of students have been successfully learning Massage online since they began in the 'noughties'. There are thousands of forum posts, emails and testimonials to prove it.

But the question is not IF you can learn it online – you can! The question is if it is right for you, your situation and circumstances, or not.

Therefore, let’s dig deeper into this subject and look at the details and your options.

We will be looking at the advantages and disadvantages of learning Massage in live training courses compared to online study. Here, we offer  live practical massage classes, and online massage courses.

LIVE Massage Course Advantages

• You can get immediate feedback and corrections from the instructor
• You are part of a motivated time and energy with the instructor which can be an inspiration
• You get the feel and aura of how to give a massage treatment
• You get to practice under supervision
• You get to practice on a variety of bodies

LIVE Massage Course Disadvantages

• Generally quite expensive
• Often involves travel to the course location, accommodation costs and lost work
• Overwhelming through lots of information in a short time, easy to forget, no repeat option
• If the teacher or the material is not what you had expected, you are stuck with it

ONLINE Massage Course Advantages

• Much lower cost
• Convenience – you can learn at home and set your own schedule
• Permanent access to training material for repeated study
• A satisfaction guarantee with refund option – no risk for you if it’s not right for you
• No time pressure. You get to work at your own pace and take as long as you need
• Make regular learning a natural part of your daily routine with easy online access

ONLINE Massage Training Disadvantages

• You have to motivate and discipline yourself to work with the online material
• No enthusiastic group energy like in live classes
• No instant and physical feedback from the instructor
• Most online courses do not offer much support, if any

This is what sets The Guild's online courses apart from others. We provide unlimited, personalized instructor support via email, forum, facebook group, and even phone contact. There is plenty of interaction and exchange in our facebook group.

When is a LIVE class your best option?

• If you have sufficient time and money and don’t mind traveling to course locations
• If you really enjoy or need the group energy in a massage school setting
• If you have a hard time disciplining yourself to follow an online training program
• If you are totally new to healing arts and need a lot of physical help and interaction

When is an ONLINE massage course your best option?

• If you don’t want or cannot get away from home for days or weeks
• If there is no live training facility anywhere near you
• If you have a good practice partner and are self-motivated to follow the program
• If your funds are limited and you want maximum results for the least investment
• If you like to revisit the training material as often as you like for years to come
• If you prefer a risk free purchase where you only have to pay if it really works for you
• If you like the convenience of learning at your own pace as part of your regular life
• If you want a cost-effective way to add new skills to your portfolio

How good is an online training course?

• Is there a money back guarantee?
• Is there an easy and quick way to get support?
• Is it possible to contact the instructor?
• Is there a convenient way to communicate with the instructor like email, facebook messaging, skype or even telephone?
• Try sending a support email message with a question before you buy. Are you getting an answer? How long did it take? Was it helpful, courteous and personal, or canned and automated?
• What is your feeling about the instructor? Do you know something about him or her? Can you see a teaching sample before you buy?
• Are you just getting a DVD with lots of material that you have to figure out yourself or is there a structured and supportive learning environment?
• Is there a way to contact other students who have taken the online training and find out if they liked it?

Now you have an outline for deciding what is right for you – live massage classes or online training. And you know what to look out for before investing in an online training course. Here, you can have the best of both if you wish!