Part of the Functional Body Series
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out massage therapy. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 80% of adults will experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. As massage therapists, understanding the complexity of back pain is essential if we want to offer safe, effective, and lasting support for our clients.
In The Functional Back workshop, we will take a deep dive into the functional anatomy of the back with a focus on the lumbar spine, building your confidence to assess and treat common conditions such as Sciatica, Disc Pathologies, and Facet Joint Syndrome—issues you are highly likely to encounter in clinic. Techniques include sports massage techniques such as Muscle Energy Techniques and Soft Tissue Release. We will explore pain science and the Biopsychosocial Model of Care, ensuring you leave with both practical tools and a compassionate understanding of your clients’ experiences.
This workshop also includes postural and movement assessment, helping you link function with form, and develop strategies for supporting clients through movement-based recovery.
As soon as you enrol, you will gain access to our comprehensive online theory modules so you can arrive in the classroom ready to get hands-on. Our blended approach maximises your practical time with your tutor and fellow students, giving you the space to refine your skills, ask questions, and build your clinical toolkit.
All workshops in the Functional Body Series are CPD approved and come with a certificate upon completion.
Led by the knowledgeable and inspiring Ruth Bell, this workshop promises to be engaging, practical, and full of insight. Whether you are looking to deepen your anatomical understanding, improve treatment outcomes, or simply gain fresh inspiration for your clinic work, this course offers an excellent foundation.
Dates:
Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November 2026
Please note: A minimum of 6 people is required for this workshop to take place. We will aim to give you 4 weeks' notice if we need to postpone so please book early if you are wanting to attend, so that we don't rearrange unnecessarily. Please do not make non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements.
Fees:
Early Bird Offer - just £295 when you pay your deposit before the 20th September 2026.
Pay £175 to secure your place and remaining balance due one month before the course start date.
Full Course Fee £345
Course fee to be paid in full if booking your place within 2 months of the start date.
Time:
10am to 5pm each day
Venue:
Exeter, Devon. UK
CLICK HERE for details
Tutors:
Important - please read:
Students must hold a recognised minimum of a Level 3 Massage Diploma and Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology.
If you have no previous experience of Advanced Techniques such as METs, STRs, Trigger Points etc, then we recommend that you attend the Deep Tissue and Advanced Massage Techniques weekend workshop or arrange some 121 tuition first so that you are comfortable with the theory and application before focussing on specific areas. This will enrich your experience on the more focussed days.Â
Upon booking your place on any of our courses, you will automatically receive a receipt and an email containing course information. Please ensure that you check your spam folder as this email contains vital information about attending your course, what to bring and how to access online course material that may form part of your course. Please inform us if you haven't receive anything within 24 hours of booking.
Please ensure that you read our Terms & Conditions prior to booking onto this course.
At the School of Bodywork, we’re passionate about therapist longevity. That’s why we not only teach technique but also focus on practitioner body mechanics, presence, and developing your individual style—so you can thrive in your career for years to come.
