Learn Raynor Massage with ASBT

Bronson Bertschinger is former teacher trainer and general manager of Brandon Raynor's school of Natural Therapies and is the founder of the Australian School of Body Therapies. Bronson has had over 400 hours of training with Brandon Raynor and is one one of the most qualified practitioners of Raynor massage in the world. Bronson was the first Raynor teacher who took the Raynor technique into exorcism treatments where the movement of extreme emotions and energies are performed.

Bronson still teaches Raynor Massage under ASBT. If you are interested in learning Raynor massage from Bronson Bertschinger, call us on 02 9997 3537 or send us an email. We hold both class courses and 1 on 1 private training courses.

About Raynor Massage

Brandon Raynor's School of Massage and Natural Therapies is a world leader in massage therapy training, providing high quality individual training across the world. Due to the demand for Raynor Massage and for intensive and high quality massage training, our massage school has rapidly grown and expanded in just over 10 years from its humble origins as a small massage school in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, to become the world's leading International Massage and Natural Therapies School. We now operate in over 40 locations across 5 continents, world wide.

Brandon Raynor massage has taken the most powerful techniques from massage styles all over the world and from different traditions and developed them into this unique style of massage. There are a multitude of massage techniques throughout the world, some excellent, some good, some mediocre and some plain bizarre! Brandon Raynor has tried and tested pretty much all of them, undertaking training in the most important techniques from masters of the individual styles. Drawing on, integrating and adapting techniques seen in Swedish massage, Remedial, Therapeutic and Deep Tissue massage, Oriental styles of massage such as Shiatsu, Tui Na, Thai massage and Chinese massage, and Hawaiian massage called Lomi Lomi, Raynor massage continues to evolve making it one of the most powerful and comprehensive massage techniques available in the world today. Training with the Brandon Raynor School of Natural Therapies gives you access to a depth of knowledge and experience unique to this school.

As well as the conventional areas that most massage therapists deal with such as the back, the legs and the arms, our therapy style goes extensively into massaging parts of the body such as the feet, the hands, the face, the front of the legs, the abdomen and the chest. We also show you how the Oriental meridian system connects the various areas of the body. This means that by working an acupressure point on the foot this could then have a reflex action on another area of the body. Following the meridians or bands of tension in the body will help relax another area of the body.

As well as the conventional areas that most massage therapists deal with such as the back, the legs and the arms, our therapy style goes extensively into massaging parts of the body such as the feet, the hands, the face, the front of the legs, the abdomen and the chest. We also show you how the Oriental meridian system connects the various areas of the body. This means that by working an acupressure point on the foot this could then have a reflex action on another area of the body. Following the meridians or bands of tension in the body will help relax another area of the body.

Another unique aspect of Raynor massage, which has made it so popular, is the ability to relieve deep seated emotional conditions that many people hold in their body. This idea that emotional blockages can be stored in the body is a fundamental concept in both Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, the traditional medicine of India. It is also well recognized in the folklore of Western society by the common expressions such as "it gave me knots in my stomach", “my stomach twisted”. There is an increased awareness of how stress can cause headaches, indigestion, insomnia, ulcers and a whole host of other problems. The concept of mind - body medicine is at the forefront of current inquiries in Western medicine. Our technique of massage brings this extremely important and powerful field of medicine to the general public and allows practitioners to help friends, family and the general community.

Naturopathic physician Brandon Raynor recognized the importance that this technique can play in helping solve a lot of today's common health problems including bad backs, migraines, chronic fatigue, depression, indigestion, knee problems, neck problems, moodiness, drug, alcohol, gambling and tobacco addictions, repressed anger, lymphatic problems, poor sporting performance, and many other problems of a physical and emotional nature.

Raynor Massage 5 Day Certificate $1950

Brandon Raynor has spent over twenty years traveling around the world studying massage and this Massage Certificate course draws on techniques from many of the world's great massage traditions which are merged with techniques created by Brandon Raynor himself. These techniques, which you will learn and practice, combine to achieve the overall goal of the total release of all tension in the muscles of the body. In philosophical terms, drawing from both Chinese and Indian traditions, Raynor massage opens up the channels or meridians through which the chi or prana (life force) flows. People leave this massage with a relaxed body and mind and feeling re-balanced. You will learn how to massage in this holistic and very powerful technique.

This five day intensive massage course is an excellent way to get started with Raynor Massage Therapy. Being taught in a group of no more than 16 you will start massaging on day one of the course! Under the expert guidance of one of our teachers you will learn about, practice and experience Raynor Massage.

This unique form of massage is taught in a unique way. There will be tutor input for 20% of the course, 40% of your time will be spent giving hands on massage and for the remainder of the course you will learn by experiencing the massage. Working with different partners of different body types across the five days you will learn to find tension in the body and then learn how to eliminate it.

Muscles hold tension for all kinds of reasons; the stress of modern living, sports training, injuries, bad posture, hours spent hunched over the keyboard, problems experienced at work or home – all of these things are held in our muscles and lead to problems of tension and pain. Untreated this tension can lead to longer term problems both physically and in our mental wellbeing, as a trained Raynor Massage therapist you can have a positive effect on people and learn to release them from this muscular tension.

This course is only available through the Brandon Raynor School of Natural Therapists and is run in locations throughout the world. All of the teachers have trained under and worked with Brandon Raynor and each bring their own experience and backgrounds to their classes. You cannot get this training at your local college, you cannot do it on-line – this is hands on training taught by people who have developed their art and whose role is to pass it on to you and help you develop you massage. All teachers are appointed directly by Brandon Raynor to ensure that the quality of teaching and training is of the highest standard.

The five days are very intensive and usually run from 9-5pm, however, it is not unusual to find that people are so involved in giving or receiving massage that they will stay until at least 6pm. The teacher is available at all times to guide, coach and answer questions.

Some people come to the course already having massage experience, perhaps in Swedish or Thai massage, some will come with no experience and the course will be their first attempt at massage. Raynor Massage has at its heart the belief that every person you massage will be different and have different needs, there is no one technique that will work for everyone. People taking the course who have massage experience may have the advantage that they have hands on experience and are already confident working with people’s bodies, equally those without any experience have the advantage that they do not have to ‘unlearn’ any techniques as they master the unique form of Raynor Massage. Our experience is that you can do this massage course from either starting point, our teachers work with you from where you start – whether this is your first massage or you have been in the industry for years, by the end of the week we expect you to be able to give an effective Raynor Massage.

What does the week comprise?

During the morning of Day 1 of the Massage Certificate course you will discover and discuss:

* The history of massage and the different types of massage.
* What the contraindications to massage are.
* How to take a case history from clients.
* Important hygiene issues to do with massage.
* You will learn how to drape your client to make them feel safe, warm and comfortable.
* The professional ethics expected by a Raynor Massage therapist will be outlined and we will explore the qualities of a good massage therapist.
* We will examine the tools of the trade looking at different types of base oils used in massage and the properties of a good massage table.

This will be followed by a demonstration of massage techniques by the teacher on a volunteer from the group and we will begin to explore strategies to loosen up tension and blocked energy in the back, the back of the legs, buttocks, feet, arms and hands. You will also be shown the bands" of tension” that make these areas interconnected.

In the afternoon, students will be asked to pair up and commence working on each other under the close supervision of our teacher, half way through the afternoon you will swap over so that each person in the pair both massaged and is massaged.

On Day 2 of our Massage Certificate course, the massage teacher will cover the release of tension in the front of the body, especially the abdominal area and the head. Many people store emotional tension in their bellies as revealed by common expressions such as "it gave me knots in my stomach" or "I felt that in my guts". Conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, ulcers, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, menstrual problems etc. can be helped by Brandon's techniques of releasing emotional tension stored in the abdominal area, combined with proper breathing techniques.

The teacher will again demonstrate on a (different) volunteer from the group how to massage to get this front of body tension release and in the afternoon you will pair up with a different person from the group to give and to experience this part of the massage.

A good massage therapist will learn as much from receiving a massage as they will from giving one, which is why we put emphasis on you receiving massage as well as giving it. You will learn how working to different depths feels and you will experience the powerful release of tension that your future clients will experience.

As you work, revision of the previous days work will also be covered and your teacher will also discuss on the concept of the release of toxins in the body and the natural therapies term “the healing crisis" and what it means to you as you practice Raynor Massage.

On Day 3 of the Massage Certificate course, the teacher will cover a side position that we use to release deep seated tension in the sacral area, which when released can help loosen up higher areas in the back, neck and cranial (head) areas - this same position is also used for pregnancy massage. We also introduce some important stretches that can be combined with massage.

Many massage schools regard pregnancy as a contra-indication to massage, at the BRSNT you will learn how massage in pregnancy is natural and can be highly effective and you will be taught how to do this safely.

By this stage in the course you will be growing in confidence and will be impressed by how effective you can already massage.

Day 4 of the course is spent combining the techniques performed in the last 3 days to perform a complete massage and is spent examining how the tension in the muscles on the front of the body can hold the muscles on the back of the body tight.

On the afternoon of Day 5, the teacher will conduct a practical assessment to make sure that students understand the concepts taught, this will involve assessing your practical massage skills, maybe even giving the tutor a massage so that your massage can be experienced by them! At the end of this day, provided that you have understood and can demonstrate the techniques and satisfy the professional conduct requirements of BRSNT, then you will qualify as a Raynor Massage Therapist at Certificate Level.

The Certificate level is enough to allow you to practice massage professionally in some countries, including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada some parts of the United States, most of Asia and Africa.

Most students completing the Certificate decide to progress onto the 10 Day Diploma Course so that they can further develop their skills and add treatments such as aromatherapy into their practice. Some people choose to do this straight away and our Diploma courses always run the following week of the Certificate courses, others choose to gain more experience first and then return to do the Diploma Course. We frequently have students who sign up initially for the first week but then, having experienced this massage for themselves, want to continue straight on to the next level.

Demand for course places can be high and the amount of students for each course are capped at 16 so we recommend early booking to secure your place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have never massaged anyone before. Will I really be able to do this after just one week?
A: Yes! We have trained hundreds of people with no massage experience who have left the course and become successful and highly effective therapists.

Q: I have been working in the massage industry for years, will I find the Certificate too easy and should I start straight on the Diploma course?
A: No! Raynor Massage is so different from any previous massage you will have done that you will be learning a lot of new things from day one. You need to complete the Certificate Course before you can progress to do the Diploma.

Q: I am not 20 and not skinny won't I feel too embarrassed being undressed for massage?
A: First of all we place great emphasis on professional draping. You will be covered by towels at all times while being massaged with only the part of your body being massaged being uncovered. Belly and side on massage is done through a towel for privacy. While we have trained people from 16-84, the majority of people on our courses have already had some experience of life so you won't feel out of place. If you are particularly body conscious or for religious / cultural reasons you cannot undress to underwear for massage, then you can be massaged through loose clothing. Remember you will be draped in towels at all times!

Q: Is the course residential?
A: No. You will be responsible for your own accommodation, food and travel, we can however offer suggestions for accommodation near to our massage schools. We may in the future offer residential courses and these will be clearly marked and costed as residential courses.

Q: What do I need to bring on a course?
A: You will need to bring comfortable clothing, flat shoes and at least four large towels. We provide the massage tables for use during the course and all oils.

Q: I have never heard of Chi or Meridian lines. Does that matter?
A: No. The course does not assume any prior understanding or knowledge.

Q: I don't really believe in Chi and people's energy. Can I still do this course?
A: Yes, you don't necessarily need to agree with a particular philosophical point of view to be able to learn Raynor Massage and give an incredibly effective massage. Do try to come to the course with an open mind - many people do go home with a different understanding of the human body and the body-mind interaction and recognise that there is much to learn from these ancient traditions even if their personal belief system does not integrate it.

Q: Do I have to do lots of reading and academic study?
A: No. We will provide a detailed course handbook and give you suggestions for further reading should you wish to add to the knowledge gained on the course. You do not need to learn the Latin names of muscles and body parts, we believe it is more important to find and eliminate tension in the body than be able to give it its scientific name. Some of our students go on to read further after the course as part of their ongoing development and we will give guidance for this if its wanted, its not essential to you becoming a good Raynor Therapist.

Q: Can I get insured from this course?
A: We work with a number of insurance companies who offer insurance for our students click here to view the full details.

Q: What do people do after the course?
A: Some will work full time as a Massage Therapist, others work part time and others massage friends and family. Most who want to work professionally in this field will go on to do the Diploma course either immediately or after gaining more experience of practical massage.

Raynor 10 Day Diploma $2995

This ten day intensive massage course is designed for those wanting to enter the massage profession or for those who want to develop their massage skills further. It can either be studied in one block or you can opt to study week one ( the Certificate Course) at one time and then the second week at a later date. Most of our students do the course in one go but it is designed to be flexible to fit around your existing commitments and budget.

This course is also useful for those wanting to get an Australian Governtment recognised Diploma of Remedial Massage as if a student does this courses they will be exempt from all the practical massage components of that course with our partner school Health Schools Australia.The benefits of studying our course in association with them is that as Stephen Eddy, the principal of Health Schools Australia, and a committee member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Scoiety, has publicly said, our training is way above government standard, which is why he is happy to give Recognition of Prior Learning for all of our subjects.This means that you will be able to complete our course and immediately get covered by insurance companies for malpractice etc, while then completing the rest of the course with Health Schools Australia, entirely by correspondence, In addition, you would then be able to receive Austudy for the costs of the rest of Health Schools Australia's course so then eventually when you complete the theory subjects with Health Schools Australia you will then have government recognised qualifications, which will enable you to give clients Health Care Rebates. In addition, if you are already a nurse or other health practitioner, you will probably be exempt from all the theory as it is mostly anatomy and physiology, practice management, occupational health and safety etc so you could then complete our Diploma course and be exempt from possibly all or almost all, the theory subjects and then receive your Australian Government Diploma of Remedial Massage right away from Health Schools Australia. The combination course is actually the best priced way on the market to get you qualifications, as well as offering the highest quality level of training as Stephen Eddy has confirmed.You are also dually qualified in both a government recognised qualification andan internationally recognised private qualification.

Health Schools Australia has also International Accreditation so that students from other countries can also get recognised for skills based training that they have completed between our two colleges. For example, in Hawaii, Brandon was able to get his licence for massage therapy merely by showing that he had completed his Diploma of Remedial Massage with Health Schools Australia in 1991. So, many US states may also recognise qualifications from overseas  and you may be able to study with our two collegse in order to get licenced. We are presently researching this further.

Here is more about our Diploma Course in Raynor massage

Under the expert teaching of one of our teachers you will study in a group of no more than 16 people and we expect that everyone completing the course will be a very good massage therapist by the time they qualify. Because Raynor Massage is such a unique massage style you can become incredibly effective with just two weeks of training and be able to integrate both reflexology and aromatherapy into your massage practice.

The first five days of the course are the same as the 5 day Raynor Massage Certificate Course, in fact you will receive the Certificate on completion of week one before going on to graduate with the Diploma. To see the details of week one please click here.

As with the Certificate course this unique form of massage is taught in a very hands-on way. The same 20% of tutor input, 40% massaging and 40% being massaged applies for the Diploma course as it does for the Certificate, this is because you will learn so much from both giving and receiving the massage. You will again work with different people across the week so that you can gain experience working with different body types. On the final day of the course we open the doors for our ‘student clinic’ when we invite friends, family and members of the public in to receive free massage. This is an integral part of the assessment of the Diploma where you carry out everything learnt on the course, from taking a case history, selecting oils, giving the actual full body treatment and discussing aftercare advice with your client.

The aim of the massage remains the same for the Diploma as for the Certificate, you are learning to find tension in the body and then learn how to eliminate it. On the Diploma course this tension release is taken to a deeper level and it is often possible to access tension that has been stored for many years, even since childhood. The Diploma trains the massage therapist to work in greater depth with the meridians, or channels, through which Chi (Prana) flows, releasing stagnant Chi and dealing with deep set muscular tension.

This Diploma in Raynor Massage Therapy is designed by Brandon Raynor and is only available through the Brandon Raynor School of Natural Therapies. It is run in locations throughout the world. All teachers are Advanced Practitioners in Raynor Massage who have been trained by and have worked with Brandon and whom he has personally approved. Brandon has spent over twenty years travelling around the world studying massage and continues to do so today. The Diploma course specifically draws on two additional disciplines from worldwide understanding of massage in its focus on both reflexology and aromatherapy.

It is a pre-requisite of the course that you have first studied the Certificate Course in Raynor Massage , the pace and teaching on the course assumes Certificate level prior knowledge. Course days are very intensive and usually run from 9-5pm, Monday to Friday.

What does the course comprise?

For details of Days 1 - 5 please see the 5 day Raynor Massage Certificate Course

Day 6 of the Massage Diploma will look in further detail at the full practitioner/client interaction including each student taking a case history and giving a full massage to suit the client’s needs within a specified length of time.

During this treatment the teacher will carry out a formative assessment and give feedback to the student to highlight areas that each individual needs to develop further. This will give the student a focus for the areas that they will need to work on during the next 4 days of the course.

On Day 7, the teacher will introduce the use of aromatherapy oils to the massage treatment. S/he will cover the properties and use of some of the most commonly used aromatherapy oils. You will be taught how to diagnose which oils are suitable for particular clients and learn the contraindications of each oil. You will learn how to mix oils to their correct blending ratio.

You will then experiment with their use during practice with both deep tissue massage and also lighter massage, mixing oils to suit the needs – and nose - of your massage partners.

Day 8 of the diploma course will be the reflexology course day. We will learn the reflexology areas of the feet and the hands. You will explore the importance of the feet and hands in massage and how they affect and benefit the whole treatment. The zone theory of reflexology and the use of reflexology charts will also be discussed. You will then both carry out and experience this powerful and relaxing reflexology massage.

Day 9 of the course will concentrate on the specific aspects of face and scalp massage and the use of acupressure points in the head to help alleviate stress, tension, headaches, neck problems. We will explore the relationship between releasing tension in the head and the effect this has in helping release the emotional tension stored in the belly and chest. This incredibly relaxing day of massage inevitably results in a good night sleep. Before the final day of the course we wouldn't advise planning any evening activities or operating heavy machinery after this day!

The final Day 10 of the Massage Diploma course will involve any final revision necessary, as well as a 50 point assessment which will grade each student on the following qualities: empathy, communication, techniques, professionalism, correct pressure, and overall effect. The last day of the massage course will see us invite friends and families of the students as well as members of the public to the class to get a massage.

Your assessment will be based on you understanding of the role of the patient in the three categories of communication, understanding the importance of breathing with a practitioner, and on your proper understanding and appreciation of the benefits of massage. At the close of this day, having passed your assessment, you will be awarded the Diploma in Raynor Massage Therapy.

Demand for course places can be high and numbers for each course are capped at 16 so we recommend early booking to secure your place. Deposits are non-refundable, if you need to cancel and we fill your place on the course you originally booked we will transfer your deposit to another course.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I can only afford one week, can I do the Certificate course now and return to do the Diploma at a later date?
A: Yes! Provided you have completed the Certificate course previously then you can return to do the Diploma course at any time and in any location.

Q: I have been working in the massage industry for years, can I jump straight into the Diploma course?
A: No. Raynor Massage is very different from any previous massage you will have practiced and the pace of the Diploma is fast so we assume Certificate level prior learning before you can complete the Diploma.

Q: I am not 20 and not skinny. Won't I feel too embarrassed being undressed for massage?
A: First of all we place great emphasis on professional draping. You will be covered by towels at all times while being massaged with only the part of your body being massaged being uncovered. Belly and side on massage is done through a towel for privacy. While we have trained people from 16-84, the majority of people on our courses have already had some experience of life so you won't feel out of place. If you are particularly body conscious or for religious / cultural reasons you cannot undress to underwear for massage, then you can be massaged through loose clothing. Remember you will be draped in towels at all times! Because everyone on the course is both massaging and being massaged you will soon become comfortable being on the table and draped in towels.

Q: Is the course residential?
A: No. You will be responsible for your own accommodation, food and travel, we can however offer suggestions for accommodation near to our massage schools. We may in the future offer residential courses and these will be clearly marked and costed as residential courses.

Q: What do I need to bring on a course?
A: You will need to bring comfortable clothing, flat shoes and at least four large towels. We provide the massage tables for use during the course and all oils, including the aromatherapy oils for use on day 7 and day 10.

Q: I have never heard of Chi or Meridian lines. Does that matter?
A: No. The course doesn't assume any prior understanding or knowledge.

Q: I don't really believe in Chi and people's energy. Can I still do this course?
A: Yes, you don't necessarily need to agree with a particular philosophical point of view to be able to learn Raynor Massage and give an incredibly effective massage. Do try to come to the course with an open mind - many people do go home with a different understanding of the human body and the body-mind interaction and recognise that there is much to learn from these ancient traditions even if their personal belief system does not integrate it. During the Diploma you may experience or witness the emotional release which come with Chi movement. Nothing is forced or outside of your own control. If you don't want to experience it you won't!

Q: Do I have to do lots of reading and academic study?
A: No. We will provide a detailed course handbook and give you suggestions for further reading should you wish to add to the knowledge gained on the course. You do not need to learn the Latin names of muscles and body parts, we believe it is more important to find and eliminate tension in the body than be able to give it its scientific name. Some of our students go on to read further after the course as part of their ongoing development and we will give guidance for this if its wanted, its not essential to you becoming a good Raynor Therapist.

Q: Can I get insured from this course?
A: Yes we work with a number of insurance companies who offer insurance for our students click here to view the full details.

Q: What do people do after the course?
A: Most people who complete the Diploma course will work full or part time as a Massage Therapist although some just want to be incredibly good at massaging friends and family

Q: Can the Diploma course gain professional recognition?
A: Yes, successful completion of this course will qualify you for membership of the International Natural Therapies Association and may qualify you for other memberships within the country in which you practice.