“Before joining the LSSM Southampton course, I was working as a taxi driver. I had completed a massage course previously, but it never gave me the knowledge or confidence to actually build a career as it taught me a routine to follow, not how to think.
What sets this course apart is exactly that: instead of giving you a fixed sequence of movements, it gives you the tools, the anatomy knowledge, and the clinical reasoning to assess each person individually and adapt your approach accordingly. A deep understanding of anatomy isn't optional in this work, without it, you're working blind.

A huge part of what makes this course exceptional is Sarah. With over 25 years of experience across professional sport and general clinical practice, she brings a science-based approach to every topic, able to explain the reasoning behind most injuries, pain patterns, and treatment decisions in a way that genuinely sticks.

Since graduating, I have been working at a local massage studio for over a year and a half, and I am now setting up my own private practice. None of this would have been possible without this course. It didn't just teach me massage but it gave me the foundation to build a real career.”

“Before starting the Level 5 in 2022, I had just graduated from my undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science. Coming from a heavily sporting background, this course was beyond perfect and genuinely everything you could need to prepare for a career in soft tissue therapy.
The workload was spread evenly, the contact hours were fantastic, and we revisited techniques time and time again to make sure we fully understood and performed them correctly. There was so much support and encouragement throughout, and the amount of hands-on treatment experience was invaluable and so much more than I expected!

The tutors, all incredibly knowledgeable and highly experienced in their own fields, and no question ever felt too silly to ask. Everyone was approachable, supportive, and genuinely wanted you to succeed.

Sarah was especially inspiring. She was actually the person who made me think, “I can do this too!” - and that’s exactly what I did. Four years later, I’ve now left the NHS and am now into my second year working full-time from my own clinic as a soft tissue and sports massage therapist, and I honestly couldn’t be happier. I definitely couldn’t have done it without Sarah’s help, guidance, and all the brilliant business tips and tricks that were taught alongside the practical skills.

 The support doesn’t stop once the course finishes either. The ongoing support post-qualification has been amazing, with regular check-ins and opportunities for further CPD. Since completing the Level 5 course, I’ve also gone on to complete the strapping and taping and dry cupping courses, both of which I now use regularly in my treatments and have been such valuable additions to my practice.

An unexpected bonus of the course was the friendships I made along the way -I genuinely made friends for life."

All of the tutors in the course offer a real depth of experience and knowledge from different walks of life.

This course has allowed me to move beyond simply rubbing the sore bit. Before I qualified, if I couldn't progress a client, I would often find myself referring them on to another practitioner. Now I can confidently assess the restrictions in the body and logically work through what I find enabling clients to move better and more freely.

 Sarah's passion for massage shines throughout and she shares so much more than the basic course content. All the tutors are approachable and highly supportive. If you need anything outside of the course hours they will always help you out

I walked away from my office job 2 years ago and haven't looked back.

Sarah is an exceptional teacher whose passion for anatomy and soft tissue therapy is genuinely infectious. As a student, I found her ability to break down complex concepts around muscle function, movement, and clinical problem-solving both engaging and easy to understand. She doesn’t just teach anatomy academically — she brings it to life in a way that builds confidence and curiosity.

Classroom sessions encourage critical thinking and helps connect theory with practical application, which is invaluable as a soft tissue therapist. This creates an environment where questions are welcomed, learning feels collaborative, and every session leaves you feeling more motivated and capable.

I’ve gained not only knowledge, but also a deeper appreciation for the body, movement, and the art of effective treatment. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to develop both their technical understanding and their clinical reasoning skills and evolve on from just another sports massage therapist to a soft tissue therapist able to take on complex and challenging physiological problems with the confidence to work with the client to achieve an solid outcome.

There are such a great team of tutors, classes are fun, education and focus heavily on the importance of knowing anatomy to become a better therapist. I took on the course to get a seeping understanding of anatomy before going on to start a physiotherapy degree. 

Although the course doesn’t provide any ucas points towards higher education, the strong anatomy focus has helped so much with my first modules.

Sarah’s years of experience really shine through in all her teaching, and her ability to teach in a way that the whole group can understand is a real skill.

“I recently completed my sports massage qualification. What stood out straight away was how all the tutors adapted their teaching to suit everyone in the group, with there being young and old individuals in our group. No two people learn the same way, and the tutors clearly understood that. Sarah took the time to make sure each student got what they needed, without it ever feeling like the course was being held back or rushed.

Sarah also went above and beyond by organising additional sessions outside of the scheduled course time. That kind of commitment to her students isn't something you take for granted, and it made a real difference when it came to the exams.

The tutors are personable and approachable, very relatable to a lot of us which made things easy and meant asking questions never felt awkward - something that really mattered to me when getting to grips with the new skills.

I'm now a fully qualified Soft Tissue Therapist, and a big part of that is down to the quality of the teaching. I'd recommend Coastal Academy without hesitation to anyone considering this course.”

Sarah’s teaching has had a huge impact not only on my development as a soft tissue therapist, but also on my confidence as a practitioner and business owner. What makes Sarah truly stand out is her human approach — she genuinely cares about her students as individuals and creates a supportive, encouraging environment where you feel seen, capable, and inspired to grow.

The teaching goes far beyond technique and theory - we were taught to understand the “why” behind what you do, while also building the confidence to trust your own clinical reasoning and connect meaningfully with clients. The tutors teach with warmth, authenticity, and a real passion for helping others succeed.

I have a thriving business as a soft tissue therapist, and the knowledge, confidence, and mindset taught shaped the way I work every day and would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking not just to qualify, but to become a truly skilled and compassionate therapist.

At 45 years old, I decided to retrain as a sports massage therapist with London School of sports Massage after receiving sports Massage from Sarah for a couple of years.  In my life before children I was a financial advisor so this was a huge career shift, but one I have never looked back on with regret.

I loved learning a new skill and loved attending each weekend in Southampton with Sarah and the team and now operate my business from home and have loved every minute of it. I can work at my own pace, my own hours and within my own limits around family which is perfect. 

I have no hesitation in recommending The Coastal Academy to anyone who is interested in working and helping people with their bodies, aches and pains. 

Initially my course was delayed by COVID, which meant when we did finally get together as a group there were a lot of precautions in place. Sarah and Tanya were lead tutors and everything felt comfortable right from the start. All tutors were so approachable and helpful, always happy to answer any questions - despite them probably being asked a number of times!

Right before the end of my course I lost my Dad which really had an impact on my ability to study. I felt like giving up the course, as in the moment nothing else mattered. However Sarah was amazing, she was so supportive and told me there was no way she was going to let leave without my qualification. She gave me the help I needed to pass.

I would highly recommend to anyone looking to get into a career in soft tissue therapy.

I am now the lead therapist at a semi professional football club and have never looked back.

I trained with LSSM Southampton in 2021, and would highly recommend this course to anyone looking for a detailed, professional, and highly skilled massage training programme.

The course offered an excellent balance of theory-based study and practical, hands-on training, providing a strong foundation of knowledge while developing the confidence and skills needed to work effectively with clients.

The tutors were supportive, professional, and genuinely invested in the success of their students. Sarah, in particular, stood out for being approachable, down-to-earth, highly experienced, and incredibly knowledgeable. The tutors explained techniques clearly and shared their own real-life experiences, which added invaluable insight to the learning process.

The assignments were well structured and spread out throughout the course, making the workload manageable and allowing plenty of time to absorb the material and develop practical skills.

Overall, the course and tutors were brilliant. Since qualifying, I have gone on to establish my own part-time massage business, and the training I received gave me the confidence and skills to take that step. I am extremely grateful for the knowledge, support, and encouragement I received throughout my time at LSSM.