I take a personal pride in my students and love to hear from them after they graduate from my school. I firmly believe that with the right guidance and encouragement, you can do anything you put your mind to and this is essence of why I started my school many years ago.
Since completing their courses many students have gone on to run their own Massage Therapy Business from home or as a mobile therapist and are doing very well. Others have opened their own clinics, work for salons, gyms and health clubs or Spas.
Many keep in touch to let me know how they are doing and some have become good friends too.
Kerrie has done quite a few of my courses and is one just one of my students who has made me very proud indeed and here is her inspiring story.
'My name is Kerrie Davies and I first met Andrea Bond in 2005 when I enrolled on an Indian head massage course she was teaching, at the Adult Education College in Chelmsford. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt an awful lot. I realised after completing the course that I had a real passion for massage and discovered that the college was running a Swedish body massage course later in the same year. Andrea was also teaching and I was very keen to enrol. The standard of Andrea’s teaching was superb and her professional yet relaxed method of teaching really inspired everybody in our group.
At the end of the course I knew that I wanted to develop my massage skills and gain a professional qualification. The college offered an ITEC massage diploma but I didn’t have enough time to commit to the extensive studying. As I knew Andrea ran her own private college, I enquired about enrolling on one of her recognised Diploma courses. I enrolled on the “Aromatic Swedish Massage” course in 2006. It was an intensive course, with lots to learn, but I put a lot of practice in, completed the school homework, and passed with a “credit”. I then gained Membership and public liability insurance with the Guild of Holistic Therapists and set up my business, KJD Massage Therapies, in 2007. I’ve gone on to do more courses with Andrea: Sports Massage Techniques, Advanced Back Techniques and Indian Head Massage all of which have been amazing.
My business is going from strength to strength and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t trained with Andrea. I love my job as it gives me the chance to meet people from different walks of life. No two clients are the same. I offer Swedish/Holistic massage, Deep-Tissue massage, Indian head massage and Hopi ear candling treatments. I have a very broad client base that includes: stay at home parents, gym lovers, over-stressed city workers, elderly/housebound people and even a chiropractor! I listen to what my clients want and have been asked on several occasions if I practice pregnancy massage. As I am constantly updating my skills, I have enrolled on a pregnancy massage workshop next month, and will be able to offer specially designed massage treatments for mums-to-be.
Being self-employed gives me the opportunity to fit my work around my family commitments. With a husband, 2 children and 3 dogs it’s important to try and get the work/home life balance just right. Before my massage career began I used to work in a special needs school with 14-19 year olds. I loved my job and the students but felt I needed to dedicate more time to running my own business. It’s a very satisfying feeling when you’ve given a client a good massage and they want to rebook you. I can honestly say that I really love my job and look forward to getting up and going to work. The only regret I have is that I didn’t find massage even earlier in my life.
Andrea’s courses are perfect for students who cannot commit to longer, more intensive/expensive courses. I have been on training courses with other training schools and their standards did not match those offered by A Bond Training School. Andrea is an excellent teacher and is truly dedicated to her work and her students.'
Kerrie J Davies
www.kjdmassagetherapies.com