Dan Scott

With a history of back and neck issues, I had my first sports massage after a cycling incident. I decided then that I wanted to help other people with the same kind of issues.  

“I was nervous going into the course but determined to do well.”

My GCSE results weren’t brilliant so I did some home study in biology and got in touch with NLSSM to talk about my options. They suggested I take the Introductory Course to get a Basic Massage Certificate to be able then to move onto the diploma. The 2-day course was a great eye opener and made me excited to do the diploma, and on January 30th 2010 I started my new journey, going back to school for the first time in 12 years.

The first 16 weeks were intense and working 50+ hours a week in my full time job did take its toll. That’s where dedication and putting a timetable and structure down on paper come in, those things were vital in making sure I was keeping up with the course work and massage hours for my logbook. “I discovered that I am Dyspraxic, so I had to develop new ways to deal with things in a positive way.”

In June I applied to do voluntary work through NLSSM with London Scottish Rugby Club and was accepted as a student soft tissue therapist. I worked alongside physiotherapists, osteopaths and doctors, looking after professional player management, rehabilitation and injury prevention as well as pitch-side first aid and pre and post match massage. This helped with my papers and my theory work and I got more confident as the course went by.

“I have learnt so much about working with professional athletes and how soft tissue therapy can be great when used with physiotherapy in a multidisciplinary environment.”

I passed my written exam but failed the practical, which was devastating as I felt I had let myself and my tutors down.

“What I needed to do was control my nerves under exam conditions and deal with the pressure.”

I managed to overcome all of this and passed in April 2011. It was such a relief, but more importantly I am proud of the fact that I am now a qualified Level 5 Sports and Remedial Sports Therapist.

I couldn’t have done this without the help and support of the fantastic tutors at NLSSM, they were my inspiration throughout the course 

In many ways 2010 was the best year of my life: studying for a new career, working with London Scottish and to end the year on a high I proposed to my girlfriend at Christmas. Not long into the New Year, it was time for exams.

I have come a long way in the past year and a half and I am really looking forward to my new career as a therapist.

Nick (& Karen) Silverstone

Karen and I came to sports massage with no academic, anatomy or sports background. Our interest in pursuing a sports and remedial massage came from our experiences having had treatments and the success they achieved.

“Being in our very late thirties it was a complete change of direction, from my sales and marketing background and Karen’s retail experience of 20 years.” 

We both found the NLSSM a hugely rewarding and enriching experience. Although combining learning, work, case studies and family was a huge challenge and balancing act, we did manage to come through it, with it all finally making sense!

Upon completing the course, we got down to designing our own marketing and branding. We set up ‘Silverstone Sports and Remedial Massage‘ – SSARM.com and designed a website, logo, business cards, fliers and had some polo shirts branded up.

“Fantastic, we look great in our branded shirts, got an OK website…now we need clients!”

Initially they trickled in but then we responded to an ad placed on the SMA job website for a physio clinic a few miles from us. Karen and I applied separately but we also offered additional clinic times, with a choice for potential clients to see either a man or woman. It worked and we were given the opportunity to join the BodyBalance Physiotherapy clinic. Attached to the University of Hertfordshire sports centre, they have a mixed base of private clients, students and gym members. This venue is also a centre for the English Institute of Sport. This is where funded athletes have support services with whom we were very fortunate to be able to join. This led on to providing sports massage for additional organisations such as the TASS and Herts Sports Partnership.

“Since graduating from NLSSM we have done regular CPD courses including a week-long Sports Therapy advanced diploma course, Myafascial Bodyworks, Seated Chair, Activate Isolated Stretching, Positional Release and others – although we really need to do so much more!

Formally trading as SSARM.com from April 2008 we built a dedicated treatment room at our home in St Albans and started promoting the company using free or inexpensive tools such as Google rankings (for which we are No.1 in our area), Google Adwords and we also communicate via Facebook and Twitter. We now have a sustainable business giving us a good income and seeing 3-6 new clients a week. Currently I am serving on the board of the Sports Massage Association, a role I am very proud to hold having been qualified such a short amount of time and feel distinctly under-qualified compared to some of my colleagues. I am also very honoured to be selected to assist with the Olympic selection process for Sports Massage personnel; I just hope I get chosen too!

“I have no hesitation in saying this is the most rewarding work I have ever done and only wish I had trained in it 20 years before.”