The Portugal Massage Training Program
A Typical Day of Bodywork Training
At different points in the program the schedule may vary considerably from that described below. This however will give you a good idea of what to expect in a typical day on the Portugal program.
Early morning: Breakfast in your own accommodation. If you like, you can practice yoga on the beach or run along the beach or the cliff top.
Morning: Class begins with an extensive warm-up, done with attention to anatomical awareness. There are exercises designed to loosen and strengthen your body, increase your knowledge of where you hold tension and how to release it. The warm-up culminates in the “dance of massage”, a series of massage like movements set to music. Practice sessions follow the warm-up on most days. The morning period provides an opportunity to practice the massage from the beginning incorporating new sections or techniques learned the previous day. You will also usually receive a massage from a fellow student. This morning practice session gives you the chance to work independently, developing the flow of your massage but is also supervised, with someone available for feedback and to answer any questions.
Lunch: The weather usually permits lunch outside. You can bring a packed lunch or return home to make your own meal. If you prefer to eat out, there are several beach side cafes a short walk away.
Afternoon: The afternoon session begins with a circle and check- in time, providing an opportunity to get in touch with your own feelings, share what is going on with you with the group and keep in touch with how everyone else is doing. Experiential exercises to increase your ability to be fully present, enhance your sense of touch and explore your body awareness often follow. The main part of the afternoon session consists of a demonstration of new strokes and techniques for a specific part of the body or of a new modality, along with applied anatomy. This is followed by in-class practice, with close supervision and help from your teachers.
Late afternoon/dinner: A long break allows time for a walk on the beach, climbing the cliff, a visit to a cafe, personal errands, or writing in your journal. When there is anatomy or other written homework, students often take it outside to their terrace or to the rocks or beach to do there.
Dinner is on your own but there is a group potluck at least once a week
Evening class: Anatomy classes and theory classes alternate with experiential exercises to enhance your awareness of touch, increase your ability to be centered and present, and improve your communication. Additional bodywork techniques are also taught. Evening classes are usually held in one of the student apartments.
The above schedule is usually followed for the first month. After that we often switch to a schedule of 8-12, and 3-7:30. Everyone appreciates the long midday break, especially as the days grow warmer.
The program runs four days on one day off four days on. We have found that given the intensity of the program four days at a stretch is enough and also that a single day off doesn’t interrupt the flow of the program as much as two days off. However at about every 2 weeks there are two days in a row off. At the end of both the first and second months there are three free days, to give students an opportunity to integrate what they have learned so far and to travel a little if they desire. Portugal is a beautiful and fascinating country and Spain is just 2 hours away.