Scottish Massage Schools
Scotland's leading provider of Complementary Therapies training
The Grampian School of Massage was founded in 1992 by Maggie Brooks-Carter
(DO RGN SMTO) and Nick Carter (DO MBRA FSMTO) to be a centre of excellence in the training of all levels of Massage Therapy – a science that has been used throughout time.
Massage is now a growth industry thanks to its success in treating many common disorders as well as playing an important part in health maintenance.
Despite there being very little publicity for Complementary Therapies in 1992, there was lots of interest in the first course.
It started in the teaching facilities at the Royal Infirmary at Foresterhill,
Aberdeen. In 1994, Grampian School of Massage moved to Aberdeen University.
Back in 1992, very few students had experienced massage and it was thanks to the efforts of Maggie and Nick encouraging promotional activities that the word really got
around. Students and graduates would assist Maggie and Nick in Old Folks Homes with their TOFS programme (Treat Old Folks Specially). They also attended sports events, health shows, gave talks at schools across Scotland, offered Awareness Days - Migraine Awareness, Back Pain Awareness and Stress Awareness (the latter wasn't easy as it wasn't cool then to consider oneself stressed) in major cities.
Maggie and Nick attended many Health Shows to promote Grampian School of Massage. At each venue, there would be requests for courses to be offered in those areas. The biggest event, the Massage-a-thon in 1996 had therapists across Scotland massaging on the same day - 23 venues from Shetland to the Borders. This was in aid of Cystic Fibrosis and raised several thousands
of pounds.
Remedial & Sports Massage, Clinical Aromatherapy, Reflexology and On-site Chair Massage
diploma courses were added to the career progression, due to requests and the passion that Maggie and Nick had in these therapies.
The
Highland School of Massage was born in 1994 offering courses in Inverness, and
Lothian School of Massage in 1995 offering the full career progression in
Edinburgh.
Since then the Fife, Borders and Falkirk Schools of Massage also joined forces
to offer the Swedish Massage, Remedial & Sports Massage and the On-Site
Chair Massage courses.
Scottish Massage Schools was formed in 2000 to look after all the Schools in the different areas. Students have found this extremely convenient as missed weekends can be made up at other venues.
Sadly, Nick died in September 2001.
Over the years, many, many graduates have set up in practice very successfully. Many former students are still involved with the Schools
as Practical Tutors. Some work in
clinics, off-shore, from home, others offer home visits. Companies approach Scottish Massage Schools when they have requests for work or clinic space - the information is then passed on to graduates.
Maggie sold Scottish Massage Schools to Lorna Forrester in 2009. Lorna is a fully trained Remedial Massage Therapist, Reflexologist and Aromatherapist, and brings a wealth of business experience from her 15 years of working in the finance industry. She runs her own company which delivers On-site Chair massage in the Corporate sector. She has also lectured at Scottish Massage Schools in Edinburgh since 2004.
Since taking over Lorna has added Diplomas in Indian Head Massage, Sports Event Massage and most recently the Diploma in Manipulative Therapy, plus loads and loads of Introductory and CPD workshops. She has also set up the Perth School of Massage.
Maggie is delighted that Lorna is continuing the good work of Scottish Massage Schools. So many people have benefitted from
massage based therapies over the years. People have realised that it is well worth trying massage first - it is non invasive and so, so good for you!
Maggie continues to support Scottish Massage Schools on a
consultancy basis, and still runs her Osteopathic clinic Brooks-Carter
Clinic in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. She still loves a regular massage.