The Spa Body N Beyond Institute, has rolled out a comprehensive professional massage techniques training, combined with scientific knowledge, communication skills and business practices, to bridge the gap in the body care service industry in Ghana.

The programme is to provide professionals all the tools and capacity building platform for exceptional massage therapy practice in the country.

Ms Hettie Mercer-Ricketts, Principal of the Spa Body N Beyond Institute, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra, that the Institute offers professional skills development training in anatomy, physiology, touch, and body mechanics.

She said, the Institute, established about two years ago, also equips students with modern trend and knowledge in the world of the massage therapist.

Ms Mercer-Ricketts noted that massage therapy was more than just a massage, and that about 90 per cent of the diseases that affected people were as a result of stress.

“Massage therapy also has a number of documented clinical benefits. Some medical conditions that massage therapy can help are bronchitis, anxiety, stress, arthritis, asthma, circulatory problems among others,” she said.

She said massage therapy provided increased relaxation, pain reduction, better posture and more flexibility as some of the long-lasting benefits provided by a therapist well trained in deep tissue massage.

On career possibilities for professional massage therapist, Ms Mercer-Ricketts noted that Spa Body N Beyond Institute creates employment opportunities for working in a health club, destination or day spa, sports facility, holistic health center, on a cruise ship, in a psychology or social work office, with a chiropractor, with athletes or in private practice.

Ms Mercer-Ricketts called on the large unemployed graduates to venture into massage therapy, as it provides huge employment opportunities, whilst urging operators of massage centres to upgrade staff skills with modern knowledge to elevate the body care services industry to international standards.

The Spa Body N Beyond Institute is offering skills development in deep tissue massage course, which focuses on deeper tissue structures of the muscle and fascia, also called connective tissue.

Deep Tissue is also a more focused type of massage, as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots (also known as "adhesions.")

Spa Therapy Course focuses on spa treatment sessions, and also covers spa history, theories, and therapeutic benefits.

Ms Mercer-Ricketts said: “You will learn to operate and care for spa equipment, develop treatment plans, and practice creating custom treatments and corresponding spa menus”.

The spa therapy course includes hands-on labs conducted in teaching clinic and is designed to train students in a comprehensive selection of body treatments.

“You will review indications, contraindications, therapeutic effectiveness, and treatment protocols”.

Others include: Exfoliation- Body Polish/Salt Glow; Body Wrap; Back Treatment; Aroma Wrap; Spa Therapy Training; Reflexology; Thai Massage Course; and Hot Stone Massage.