Beginners' Class

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy

My Beginners' Class takes 12 hours (a weekend or three weekday mornings). I

have

chosen a set of about 14 essential oils that are fairly safe and fairly

inexpensive, for people starting out. I group the essential oils into

categories

e.g. spices help the digestion and muscles, flowers for the reproductive system

and

the mind etc., and have representatives from each category. We explore the uses

of

these oils, methods of use, safety precautions. I go a little into the history

of

AT, usually taking along some biblical oils like spikenard, camphor. Then we

also

do some basic massage techniques - I teach them on the floor as they're unlikely

to

have massage plinths at home - we work first on the hands and feet, then face

and

head, and finally back. It's important to do the back last - by that time

they've

bonded into a group and don't mind disrobing! In between all this, they get to

make

themselves bath milks, massage oils, shampoos, creams, lotions, whatever they

fancy

really, to get some blending skills and see how it's done. I give them a

handbook

that I've written, giving all the details. It's a course for fun, not to try

and

make professional aromatherapists in one weekend, so I don't expect them to

learn

all the safety precautions - but it's there in the handbook if they want to

massage

someone who is pregnant or sick.

Hope this helps!

Helen in Cape Town