How training at MAWS works: online + in Limassol
The most common question before enrolling on a course is not “how much does it cost” but “how does it actually work”. Here is the inside view: what happens in the lectures, how the practice is organised, what to bring with you and how to earn your certificate.
Why the training is hybrid
Theory can be studied effectively online. Anatomy, physiology, indications and contraindications, ethics, the basics of working with a client — all of this is absorbed perfectly well at home, at a convenient time, with the ability to review the material.
Hand positioning, body posture, pressure, palpation and the techniques themselves, however, require in-person work and feedback from the instructor. Here no video can replace a person who can see your back from the side and correct the angle of your pressure.
That is why at MAWS the theory is online, while the in-person time is used to the fullest for practice. On the Swedish massage course this amounts to 6 hours of theory and 18 hours of practice in Limassol.
How the online lectures work
The format depends on the course and the module: some lectures take place live — online with the instructor — while others are available as recordings you can watch at a convenient time.
Live online lectures run on weekday evenings, from 18:30 to 20:30 — two hours at a time, so they can be combined with work. In these sessions you can ask questions and go over anything unclear. Between sessions, materials and tests are available on the learning platform.
How the practice works
In-person sessions are held on Saturdays, four and a half hours each. They take place in Limassol, at Spyrou Araouzou 165.
Practice is done in pairs, on each other. You perform each technique twice: first you feel it on yourself, then you carry it out yourself. This is fundamental — until you have felt a technique on your own back, you don’t understand what pressure is comfortable for a client.
Throughout this time the instructor observes each student’s technique: correcting body and hand positioning, the direction of movement, pressure and the execution of the techniques. You give and receive feedback from your partner — and from the instructor.
All learning materials and oils are provided by the academy. All you will need is comfortable clothing for practice.
What we consider a result
The main aim of the training is not to hand over a sequence of movements that a student can repeat.
We want the future specialist to understand what is beneath their hands, what they are doing, why they are doing it and when it must not be done. Hence the compulsory anatomy, the review of contraindications and the boundaries of a massage therapist’s competence in every programme.
Assessment and certificate
The certificate is not awarded simply for attendance. To earn it, you need to:
- attend at least 90% of the sessions;
- pass the theory test;
- complete the practical assessment.
After this you receive a personalised certificate. The academy’s foundation courses are accredited by IICT — the International Institute for Complementary Therapists; MAWS is an IICT Approved Training Provider. With such a certificate you can arrange professional liability insurance and begin practising: in a salon, spa, hotel or on your own.
We have written separately about what lies behind the word “accreditation”: The international massage therapist’s certificate.
Who teaches
When choosing instructors, three things matter to us at the same time: specialist education in that particular technique, current work with clients, and competence in teaching adults.
The foundation courses are taught by Irina Gitsu — the academy’s senior instructor, with 30 years of practice. Stone massage is taught by Arina Levkovski, a master of Chinese medicine. Balinese massage is taught by Clara Rainbow, a certified instructor of the Jamu Spa School (Bali). Aromatherapy is taught by Irina Olic, an aromatherapist, member of IICT and founder of the academy.
How long it takes
A foundation course runs for about five weeks: three online lectures on weekdays and four practical days on Saturdays. Between the practical sessions there is time to practise on your own — an important part of the training.
Current dates for the next intakes on all programmes are always available in the schedule and on the courses page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a medical education?
No. A medical qualification is not required to train in wellness massage, nor is prior experience.
What language is the training in?
The foundation programmes are taught in Russian.
What should I bring to the practice sessions?
Comfortable clothing that you can both work in and lie on the couch in. Everything else — materials, oils, equipment — is provided by the academy.
Can I combine it with work?
Yes, the format is built for exactly that: lectures on weekday evenings, practice on Saturdays.
