The basics of aromatherapy in a massage therapist's practice

About the course

An introductory 4-hour course for massage therapists who want to use essential oils in their work with clients competently, safely and consciously.

You do not need to study dozens of essential oils to take the first step in aromatherapy. What matters is understanding the basic principles: what essential oils are, how they act on the body, how to choose quality products, correctly calculate the concentration and use them safely in massage.

On the course you will gain this foundation and study in detail 5 oils and aromatic blends that are easy to start with: Lavender, Wild Orange, Balance®, AromaTouch® and Deep Blue®.

After the course you will be able to start integrating the oils and blends you have studied into your massage practice — not simply choosing a scent the client likes, but understanding what you are using, why, in what concentration and what safety measures need to be taken into account.

Start with five. To use aromatherapy in massage, you do not need to study dozens of essential oils straight away. Start by understanding the main principles and five oils and blends — learn to use them competently, safely and consciously.

Why does a massage therapist need the basics of aromatherapy?

Essential oils can become an additional tool in a massage therapist's work and make the procedure more holistic — combining touch, scent and an effect on the emotional perception of the procedure. But the professional use of aromatherapy is not "adding a few drops of oil to the massage oil". It is important to understand how essential oils act on the body, how to dilute them correctly, which concentrations to use, which limitations to take into account and how to choose a quality product. It is precisely this foundation that you will gain on the course.

Consciously complement massage with aromatherapy. You will understand how essential oils can be integrated into massage techniques you already know and how to choose an oil or blend depending on the aim of the procedure.

Understand how it works. We will cover the basic physiology and mechanisms of action of essential oils: how aromatic molecules interact with the body, the role of the sense of smell and the limbic system, the link between scents and the nervous system and emotional responses, as well as the features of topical application.

Work safely. Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic substances. You will learn the main rules of dilution, dosage, contraindications and precautions when working with clients.

Increase the value of the massage procedure. Well-chosen aromatherapy makes it possible to create an additional sensory component of the procedure and broaden a massage therapist's possibilities within a wellness practice.

What you’ll learn

• Understand how essential oils act on the bodyYou will cover the main mechanisms of action of essential oils — physiological, pharmacological and psychological — and understand how their properties relate to their chemical composition and method of application.
• Understand how essential oils enter the bodyYou will learn the main routes by which aromatic molecules enter, what happens on inhalation and application to the skin and how they then interact with the body.
• Understand what affects the absorption of essential oilsYou will examine how penetration and action are affected by the concentration, the area and site of application, the condition of the skin, the carrier oil, the duration of contact and other factors. This will help you approach the choice of concentration and method of application consciously.
• Use different methods of aromatic and topical applicationYou will get to know various methods of inhalation and external application of essential oils and understand which method to choose depending on the aim and the situation.
• Correctly dilute essential oils and select the concentrationYou will learn to work with carrier oils, calculate the dilution and choose a suitable concentration taking into account the method of application, the task of the procedure and the main safety factors.
• Navigate the quality of essential oilsYou will learn what the quality of an essential oil depends on, what to look for when choosing and storing it and why quality is especially important in professional work with clients.
• Safely use essential oils in massage practiceYou will cover the main contraindications, limitations, sensitisation, precautions and the principles of safe work with clients.
• Work with 5 oils and aromatic blendsYou will study in detail Lavender, Wild Orange, Balance®, AromaTouch® and Deep Blue®: their composition, properties, features of action, limitations and options for use in massage practice.
• Consciously integrate aromatherapy into massageYou will learn to choose from the oils and blends you have studied a suitable option for the task of the procedure, prepare simple massage blends and understand what you are using, how, in what concentration and why.

What you’ll be able to do after the course

After the training you will have the basic understanding of aromatherapy needed for the first conscious step in its professional application. You will be able to:

• Understand what essential oils are and the basic principles of their action on the body
• Navigate the main criteria of essential oil quality
• Understand the role of the sense of smell and the limbic and nervous systems in the perception of scents
• Choose a suitable carrier oil
• Correctly dilute essential oils and calculate basic concentrations
• Take into account the main contraindications and safety measures
• Understand the properties and features of application of the 5 oils and blends studied
• Choose from the products studied a suitable option for the aim of the massage procedure
• Prepare simple aromatic blends for massage
• Start integrating aromatherapy into your massage practice safely and consciously

The course is not professional aromatherapist training. It is an introductory educational module that gives a massage therapist the basic knowledge and tools for the safe application of the essential oils and blends studied within their practice.

Who this course is for

Requirements to join

• No prior knowledge of aromatherapy required
• The course is aimed at massage therapists and wellness specialists
• Format — online, language of instruction Russian
• The course is theoretical, but geared towards practical application in a massage therapist's work