Swedish (classic) massage

About the course

Want to learn a new profession in Cyprus, or gain a practical skill you can gradually turn into an extra source of income? Swedish (classic) massage is the best starting point for anyone who has never done massage before.

The course is 25 hours:

• 6 hours of online theory — anatomy, physiology, contraindications and the basics of working with a client;
• 18 hours of in-person practice in Limassol — 4 practical classes of 4.5 hours. Practice is done in pairs, on each other: you repeat every stroke twice — first feeling it on yourself, then performing it, giving and receiving feedback from a partner under the instructor’s supervision;
• 1 hour of independent practical work.

The academy provides all learning materials and oils — you’ll only need comfortable clothing for practice. No previous experience or medical education is required.

The course is accredited by IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists). After successfully completing it, you receive a personalised certificate that lets you arrange professional liability insurance and start practising in Cyprus — in a salon, spa or hotel, or for yourself as a self-employed therapist.

Why start with classic massage?

Classic massage is the ABC of the massage profession. Therapeutic, sports, lymphatic drainage, anti-cellulite and many other directions are built on the fundamentals of the classics: hand positioning, correct body position, dosing the effort (therapist ergonomics), understanding anatomy and being able to feel the tissues.

That’s why we don’t just teach you to memorise a sequence of movements. On the course you learn to work professionally: distribute the load correctly, control the pressure, understand the tissues’ response and adapt the massage to the individual.

Massage is done not with the strength of the hands but with the whole body — good ergonomics protects your health and gives you stamina. That’s why it’s important to set the technique right from the start: relearning from ingrained habits later is extremely hard.

The classic massage technique is far deeper than it looks from the outside: for the back alone you’ll master more than 40 techniques and their variations. Over the course you’ll learn to massage the main body areas: back, legs, arms, chest, abdominal wall, head.

Once you’ve mastered this foundation, you can refine your technique, build your practice and continue training in other massage directions.

Where classic massage fits in the training system

At MAWS, the foundational training is built around four directions of work:

• Swedish / classic massage → TISSUESWorking with muscles and soft tissues.
• Relaxing massage → NERVOUS SYSTEMWorking with a person’s state through touch.
• Lymphatic drainage massage → FLUIDSWorking with the lymphatic system and fluid movement in the tissues.
• Stone therapy → TEMPERATUREWorking with temperature: the contrast of hot and cold.

Classic massage is the foundation of the whole system: it’s where the path begins, and the other directions build on this base. Together they let a therapist do more than follow a ready-made protocol — they understand the task and consciously choose the approach for each client.

What you’ll learn

• The classic massage techniqueAll 5 groups of strokes — effleurage, friction, petrissage, tapotement and vibration — and their many variations (auxiliary techniques).
• Anatomy and physiologyThe basics of the musculoskeletal, circulatory and lymphatic systems that a therapist needs to work safely.
• Giving a full sessionPreparing your workspace, client positioning, the sequence of working the body, dosing the pressure and finishing the treatment correctly.
• Working with a clientHow to run an initial consultation, identify needs, determine contraindications and choose an individual approach.
• Therapist ergonomicsHow to use your own body weight and the position of your legs and hands to work efficiently without overloading your back and wrists.
• The basics of professional practiceLegal aspects of working as a massage therapist in Cyprus and arranging insurance. As a bonus — basic tips on finding and keeping your first clients.

What you’ll be able to do after the course

After successfully completing the course you’ll be able to start earning from massage — working for yourself or employed (in a salon, spa or hotel).

You’ll work with generally healthy people who come to feel better, release tension, ease pain (not related to chronic conditions), improve their sleep and simply relax. Specifically, you’ll be able to:

• Give a full classic massage session
• Work safely with a client and account for the main contraindications
• Start building your practice and first clients
• Arrange professional liability insurance
• Gradually combine massage with your main job
• Continue training in other massage directions

Who this course is for

Requirements to join

• 18 years or older
• Russian or English language
• No medical contraindications to practice
• No previous experience required