In the 1920’s Rhythmical Massage Therapy was developed by Dr Ita Wegman, a medical doctor schooled in physiotherapy and massage. She founded a clinic in Switzerland were Anthroposophical Medicine began its development. It was at this clinic that she applied the anthroposophical spiritual scientific understanding of the human being to therapeutic massage, thus not only addressing the patient’s physical being but also their soul and spirit nature. After Dr Margarethe Hauschka joined the clinic, she and Dr Wegman collaborated for 12 years to develop this new approach to massage therapy. In 1962 Dr Hauschka opened the first school for Rhythmical Massage in Boll, Germany.
During the course for Rhythmical Massage training students will learn how to use and transform their hands. They will be taught grips and movements that work with levity rather than gravity to strengthen and enliven the rhythmical processes in the human body. We will work with subtle aspects of the human being and through a gentle rhythmical quality of touch, which penetrates deeply, help to harmonise the imbalances in the individual.
Training as a rhythmical massage therapist involves not only mastering the techniques of the massage itself, but also developing an understanding of the human being in health and illness, both from a conventional and anthroposophical perspective.
“The hands are the most formative, the most sensitive of our living tools. They can change very much in the course of life. Soul and spirit that permeate them in training them, do not only form them but flow beyond them into the world as objective power of love, as blessing, as healing forces.”
Dr Margarethe Hauschka
Rhythmical massage has a harmonising and integrating effect on many bodily functions including breathing, circulation, digestion and muscle tone.
The Rhythmical Massage Training
The Training consists of six courses, of four and five weeks, spread over two years. In addition, students will have practice placements with a trained rhythmical massage therapist.
The next course will be starting in September 2008.
The training includes the following subjects
Medical studies: the four elements, the four kingdoms of nature, human biology and embryology (the main systems and organs of the body) from the point of view of Natural Science, Goethean Science and Spiritual Science, fundamentals of the anthroposophical approach to somatic and psychiatric illness;
Studies in general Anthroposophy, including the following themes: the spiritual constitution of the human being in health and illness, philosophy of cognition and volition, cosmic history, karma and reincarnation;
Professional, personal and spiritual development;
Art, eurythmy, singing and speech in relation to the above themes.
Method of Study
All the subjects taught will have a strongly experiential character. Students are encouraged to become self-directed in their learning and adopt an attitude of active researchers. The aim is to train capacity for reading the spiritual phenomena that stand behind the sense perceptible phenomena in nature, in the human being and in illness processes.
The Location of the Training
The medical and general anthroposophical studies and related artistic work will take place at the Centre for Science and Art in Stroud. Massage students will join the artistic therapy students and members of other professional groups for part of the Anthroposophical Health Studies Programme. The practice sessions in massage will take place at the nearby St. Luke’s Medical Centre, an anthroposophically orientated NHS practice with three doctors and a team of therapists.
List of Main Tutors
Aoine Landweer-Cooke works as a Rhythmical Massage Therapist at Park Attwood Clinic in Worcestershire. She has an extensive experience in teaching massage in Germany.
Hélène Martin works as a Rhythmical Massage Therapist at St. Luke’s Medical Centre in Stroud, and has taught in the U.S.
Adrian Large is a Rhythmical Massage Therapist, also with many years of experience.
Dr Michael Evans is an anthroposophical doctor working as an NHS General Practitioner and will be leading the main medical studies.
Ursula Browning, a Eurythmy Therapist at ST. Luke’s in Stroud, will be leading regular Eurythmy sessions.
Other tutors from the Art Therapy Training at Hibernia and the Rhythmical Massage Therapy Association will be involved in some of the teaching sessions and in supervising and offering practical placements.
Admission Requirements
The course is meant for mature students. Admission is based on a personal interview. Students who do not have an adequate knowledge of anatomy and physiology will be required to take extra courses in these subjects. Applications should include a brief biography with professional qualifications and experience and a description of your interest in the course.
Completion
A diploma recognised by the Rhythmical Massage Association in the UK and Eire and by the Medical Section of the School for Spiritual Science will be awarded on satisfactory completion of the course.
Fees
The cost of the course is £2,800 per annum. A deposit of £300 is required when registering and the fees are paid in termly instalments in advance. Students need to provide their own board and accommodation, however, help can be offered finding suitable accommodation on request.