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The Hague, The Netherlands

Massage Education

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» 👩‍🏫Private Courses in The Hague with New York Licensed Massage Therapist, Nedra van de Reep

Massage Education in Amsterdam at....

Location: Wingerdweg 32, 1031 CA, Amsterdam

Language of Instructor: English

Name of Instructor: Nedra van de Reep, LMT

Holistic Massage Course Spring 2026

Payment is made to ESOTERRA

Holistic Massage Course

Immerse yourself in the learning of Holistic Massage. Journey through the acts of stillness, movement, presence and touch in a safe and supportive environment. Holistic Massage treats mind, body, and spirit., tapping into emotions, releasing energy flow and creating a freedom of movement and space. It does this by using a combination of modalities and perspectives blended into one session. There are a lot of emotional components that go along with pain and trusting another human being to care for this pain is the highest level of what we as professionals can achieve. The modalities that you will learn to use and combine are: Swedish Massage, Lomi-Lomi, Connective Tissue Therapy/Myofascial Release/Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Polarity Therapy, Kinesthetic Awareness through Movement, and Positional Release Therapy. Through a guided intake with your fellow student you will learn about their pain, their physical and emotional stress, body concerns, possible injuries (past or present) which allows your touch to be better informed. During each class, I will demonstrate techniques and step-by-step give you time to practice them. There are moments when you may mirror my strokes in real-time. The amount of strokes taught will vary each day, as we want quality over quantity. I want to give each of you time where you (in your body, mind and spirit) can feel a connection to each stroke that can then be recreated outside of class. Not a "cookie cutter stroke" but a stroke with the power of its intention and your hands guiding it. We will discuss contraindications and practice different bolstering techniques that may assist your work and partner's comfort. You will also learn how to safely move their body into different positions on the table. The depth, direction and tempo of your strokes will be considered and therefore guiding you towards the modalities you will be using. Your techniques will vary by what you are told by your partner, what you are sensing through your touch, the non-verbal cues you look out for, and with what modality you are learning at the time. You will learn how to connect and transition from one modality to another and how to transition from one stroke to another, therefore creating your own unique DanSe of Massage. You will practice various ways to begin a session and end a session and bridging together what feels right for you, in your way of becoming and staying grounded, with what is needed by the client. Self-Care and Body Mechanics will be constantly tought as they are fundamental to your learning and long lasting physical and emotional health. This entire course, throughout all of its modalities, will concentrate on how to connect: mind, body, and spirit. A holistic treatment from start to finish.

Modalities and Moments that make up this course are listed in the following days below.

First Class

Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Introduction of Instructor and Students

Syllabus

Informational Hand-outs

Energy Game. Connect with the science of our anatomy.

What is the stroke with the deepest effect? Let's practice this.

The Power of Stillness

VIDEO: Qi Gong. A daily practice to balance and strengthen the mind, body, and spirit. This mindful movement is Qi Gong and this specific routine is to bring breath, balance, and awareness as well as to energize and harmonize the 5 Elements: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, & Wood.

Shiatsu: An Introduction to the 5 Elements. Directional Flow of Energy, The Creation and Control Cycle.

The Hara & the Qi: Self-Touch - Practice working with your own Breath. Initiating self-contact. The Power of Stillness. Bring your attention to the Details of Touch. The feeling of Fluidity. The use of Gravity. And Letting Go.

* This is all Active Learning. Please dress in comfortable clothing. Long pants with a stretchy waistband. No belts. No short pants.

🌱 Lunch 🌱

Body Mechanics, Gravity and Table Talk:

This is as much about your level of comfort as it is for your client.

Understanding and using your body, table height, sheets, face pillow (multiple uses), bolster, large pillow, cushions, different size towels, stool (multiple uses).

Draping: How to drape long hair, How to drape for abdominal massage. What could the extra material of a top sheet/blanket/towel be helpful with?

Note: Please have Two Sheets. One to lay on and one to lay under. One Large Towel. 2 Small Towels.

Rest & Digest: Practice Abdominal Massage. Here is where we begin learning: how to ground ourselves, how to work with the breath, how to initiate contact, and how to let go. ~ How to facilitate healing.

Beginning a Massage Session Prone (face down) Initiating Contact: *What do we check on first?* Compression techniques over top sheet, Rocking, Undraping, Applying Oil, and Strokes for Spreading Oil. Plus my favorite strokes to warm up the tissue as well as great transition strokes.

Day 1: 🪶, 🧤, 👩‍👧,🌀,💜💜💜,🍂🌬,🦋

Student Switch

Beginning a Massage Session Prone (face down) Initiating contact: - Compression techniques over top sheet, Rocking, Undraping, Applying Oil,and Strokes for Spreading Oil. Plus my favorite strokes to warm up the tissue as well as a great transition stroke.

Day 1: 🪶, 🧤, 👩‍👧,🌀,💜💜💜,🍂🌬,🦋

Circle time

Second Class

Date: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026

Today's focus is on the back.

VIDEO: Muscles & Movements of the Back

Circle time

The Importance of Palpation

Compression Techniques: The directional flow of Energy.

Rocking Techniques: The Tempo of Touch

Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology: I make this easy and fun!

Swedish Massage, Lomi-Lomi, The Flow of Energy and Polarity Therapy

Prone/Face Down

("The 5 Basic Strokes")

effleurage
petrissage
friction
tapotement
vibration

Note: These 5 strokes are the basis for hundreds of techniques. In these 8 days, you shall learn a multitude of techniques with a purpose!! ✨️

Demo & Practice: Massage Techniques on the upper, middle and lower Back.

Day 1: 🪶, 🧤, 👩‍👧,🌀, 💜💜💜, 🍂🌬, 🦋

Day 2: 💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️,🍨, 👋, ↔️, ❎️, 🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎 , 🐌, 🪮, 🕸, 👏

Student Switch

Demo & Practice: Massage Techniques on the upper, middle and lower Back.

Day 1: 🪶, 🧤, 👩‍👧,🌀, 💜💜💜, 🍂🌬, 🦋

Day 2: 💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️,🍨, 👋, ↔️, ❎️, 🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🪮, 🕸, 👏

🌱 Lunch 🌱

The Power of Informed Touch

& The Power of Gravity

Swedish Massage: Prone / Face Down

A Deeply-Relaxing experience.

("The 5 Basic Strokes")

effleurage
petrissage
friction
tapotement
vibration

Demo & Practice: Using strokes from the morning bring more Movement, and the use of Gravity, create Transitions in and out of these strokes. What do you feel under your fingers? Slowing down 🐌. Gather information with your touch.

Student Switch

Adjustments of Body Mechanics & How to practice the power Self-Care during the moments of giving.

Circle time.

Third Class

Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

Today's focus: Neck & Shoulders 360°

Video: Muscles and Movements of the Neck

Video: Muscles & Movements of the Shoulder (Rotator Cuff)

Circle time

Opening up your meridian channels

Assisted Stretching

Kinesthetic Awareness through Movement (KAM): Demonstration

Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology: I make this easy & fun!

Discover, Discussion, Self-Massage & Partner Palpation

Day 1:🪶, 🧤, 👩‍👧, 🌀, 💜💜💜, 🚢, 🦋, 🍂 🌬

Day 2: 💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️, 👋, ↔️, ❎️,🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🕸, 👏

Day 3: 🥖🔥, C-🥛,🍨, 🪮, 🫴, 🤲, 🥪, 🌱, ⭕️, 👊

Neck & Shoulders: Prone & Supine - A multitude of techniques.

*Demo & Practice

Student Switch

Neck & Shoulders: Prone & Supine - A multitude of techniques

*Demo & Practice

🌱 Lunch 🌱

Blend all Three days

Class 1: The Mind, Body & Spirit of Touch
Class 2: Back in Touch
Class 3: The Shoulders, Neck, and Pec

Back, Neck, Shoulders & Pec 360°: Prone & Supine

Student Switch

Back, Neck, Shoulders & Pec 360°: Prone & Supine

Circle time

Fourth Class

Date: Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

Today's focus: Arms & Hands

Video: A Deep Dive into the Arms & Hands

Let's create Function out of Dysfunction!

"Creating a space for healing to take place."

Circle time

Body Reading: What have you been told? What do you see? Walk in their shoes. What do you feel?

The Parasympathetic Nervous System

KAM

Muscles & Movements of the Arms & Hands

Positional Release Therapy: Adding Movement to Massage and Bodywork.

Working with Gravity

Day 1:🪶, 👩‍👧, 🧤, 🌀, 💜💜💜, 🚢, 🦋, 🍂 🌬

Day 2: 💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️, 👋, ↔️, ❎️,🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🕸, 👏

Day 3: 🥖🔥, C-🥛,🍨, 🪮, ⛷️, 🫴, 🤲, 🥪, 🌱, ⭕️, 👊

Day 4: 🚢, 🤏, 🫳🫴, ✊️, 💪, 🖐, 🫷, 👋, 🙏, 👐

Demo & Practice: Arms and Hands

Student Switch

Demo & Practice: Arms and Hands

How Body-Mind Awareness and the Power of Breath has the Ability to Facilitate Healing!

The Power of Presence

The Power of Informed Touch

🌱 Lunch 🌱

What is Medical Massage?: ....As a Holistic Approach towards Healing.

Positional Release Therapy: .....As a Holistic Approach towards Healing.

Arms and Hands Continued ~ Supine....

Demo & Practice - Supine: Continue the Neck & Pec Connection with the Arms and Hands.

Student Switch

Demo & Practice - Supine: Continue the Neck and Pec Connection with the Arms and Hands.

Connective Tissue Therapy: Discussion for a future course.

You are halfway through. What have you learned? What can you do? By the end of today's class you will have journied halfway around the upper body. What have you discovered about this work, your body, the human anatomy and the emotional landscape of Therapeutic touch? Now we shall journey our way to the feet and back up to the mind. Does the phrase "It's all connected" have more meaning for you now?

Circle time

Fifth Class

Date: Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

Today's focus: Legs and Feet - Prone

Video: Muscles of the Theigh

Video: Muscles & Movements of the lower leg and foot

Bonus Lesson! Learning how to safely and securely open up the hips by keeping the client's modesty in your forethought.

The Power of Intention

Circle time

Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology: Keeping it fun and easy!

Muscles & Movements of the Legs & Feet

45 Minute Practice Time

Demo & Practice: Techniques on Legs and Feet

Student Switch

Demo & Practice: Techniques on Legs and Feet

🌱 Lunch 🌱

60 Minute Practice Time

Blend all Five Days

Class 1: The Mind, Body & Spirit Touch
🪶, 👩‍👧, 🧤, 🌀, 💜💜💜, 🚢, 🦋, 🍂 🌬
Class 2: Back in Touch
💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️, 👋, ↔️, ❎️,🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🕸, 👏
Class 3: Neck & Shoulders
🥖🔥, C-🥛,🍨, 🪮, ⛷️, 🫴, 🤲, 🥪, 🌱, ⭕️, 👊
Class 4: Arms & Hands
🚢, 🤏, 🫳🫴, ✊️, 💪, 🖐, 🫷, 👋, 🙏, 👐
Class 5: Legs, Feet & Figure 4 Technique
🫳🫴, 👍👎, ⭕️ ⬆️⬇️, 🔄, ↘️↙️, ↙️↘️, 🦋

A mirrored Practice: Techniques on Legs and Feet

Student Switch

A mirrored Practice: Techniques on Legs and Feet

Circle time

Sixth Class

Date: Wednesday, May 13th, 2026

Today's focus Legs & Feet with a touch of Reflexology

The Power of Stillness

Circle time

Kinesiology

Stretches

Let's go back to the Back: Understanding its connection to the glutes and how the Glutes can also be the cause of low back pain.

Low back pain and it's connection to tight Hamstrings.

An introduction to: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

*Demo and Practice One technique

Positional Release Therapy Techniques

*Demo and Practice

Discussion for a future course to continue your learning at Esoterra.

🌱 Lunch 🌱

DanSe of Massage

45 minute Demo

Slowing down the Effleurage to Integrate Connective Tissue Therapy: Body-Mechanics, Hand Position, Power of Stillness, Power of Intention, Attention to Detail, Breath, and Transitions.

Class 1: The Mind, Body & Spirit Touch
🪶, 👩‍👧, 🧤, 🌀, 💜💜💜, 🚢, 🦋, 🍂 🌬
Class 2: Back in Touch
💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️, 👋, ↔️, ❎️,🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🕸, 👏
Class 3: Neck & Shoulders
🥖🔥, C-🥛,🍨, 🪮, ⛷️, 🫴, 🤲, 🥪, 🌱, ⭕️, 👊
Class 4: Arms & Hands
🚢, 🤏, 🫳🫴, ✊️, 💪, 🖐, 🫷, 👋, 🙏, 👐
Class 5: Legs, Feet - Prone (face down)
🫳🫴, 👍👎, ⭕️ ⬆️⬇️, 🔄, ↘️↙️, ↙️↘️, 🦋
Class 6: Legs & Feet - Supine (face up)
🫱🫲, 👏, ⬆️⬇️, 🫴🫳, 👍👎, ☝️, 👋, ⭕️

DanSe of Massage

30 minute Demo

Bonus Lessons⬇️ (If there is time)

Pin & Stretch

*Demo and Practice

How to treat a cramp

*Demo and Practice

Circle time

Seventh Class

Date: Wednesday, May 20th, 2026

Let's Breathe & Blend it all in...

Today's new lesson is Head & Face

Circle time

The Hara

Opening up meridian channels. ❤️💛🤍🖤💚

Practice Day 1 through Day 6, and add today. Day 7, the Head & Face.

Class 1: The Mind, Body & Spirit Touch
🪶, 👩‍👧, 🧤, 🌀, 💜💜💜, 🚢, 🦋, 🍂 🌬
Class 2: Back in Touch
💧, 🚢, ⬆️⬇️, 👋, ↔️, ❎️,🫷🫷, 🙌, 🐌, 🐱🚶‍♀️👎, 🐌, 🕸, 👏
Class 3: Neck & Shoulders
🥖🔥, C-🥛,🍨, 🪮, ⛷️, 🫴, 🤲, 🥪, 🌱, ⭕️, 👊
Class 4: Arms & Hands
🚢, 🤏, 🫳🫴, ✊️, 💪, 🖐, 🫷, 👋, 🙏, 👐
Class 5: Legs, Feet - Prone (face down)
🫳🫴, 👍👎, ⭕️ ⬆️⬇️, 🔄, ↘️↙️, ↙️↘️, 🦋
Class 6: Legs & Feet - Supine (face up)
🫱🫲, 👏, ⬆️⬇️, 🫴🫳, 👍👎, ☝️, 👋, ⭕️
Day 7: Head & Face
💆‍♀️, 🏞, 🙏, 👐, 🤲, 🖖, 🫳🫴

Demo of Face & Head Massage

When you turn your partner over to Supine you will be in Active Learning mirroring my strokes on the face and head.

Look at all you've learned!!!

Show your knowledge & new skills.

Beginning a session: Initiating contact, Undraping, Bolstering for different clients, the Techniques for Applying Oil.

Deep~Relaxation: Using the modalities & techniques you've learned. Transitions!!!!

Draping Skills: How to keep a client feeling safe and secure while still being able to be effective in your work.

Shiatsu: Directional Flow of Energy❤️💛🤍🖤💚

KAM: Kinaesthetic Awareness through Movement

Reflexology: Those Four Powers & More.....👣

Swedish: Using the multitude of learned techniques from this course based on the 5 stokes.

Lomi-Lomi: Blending it in. 🌊🦥

Connective Tissue Therapy: 🕸🐌💧Show me how you can "Slow your roll" (from your introduction to a future course at ESOTERRA)

Breath: The Power of Breath 🌬

NMT: Demonstrate that one NMT technique to show the basic knowledge you've gained. 🧠 (This can grow your curiousity for continued education at ESOTERRA.)

Positional Release: Demonstrate techniques you've learned on the hands, arms, neck, shoulders, hips, legs and feet.

Polarity Therapy: Blending it in.

Ending a session: Adding in a new sense of awareness.

Demo & Practice: 75 min Massage

Switch

Demo & Practice: 75 min Massage

Lunch

Circle time

Intake Questions
Contraindications
Pathologies
Body Reading
Beginning a session & Ending a session.
Draping
Stretching
Bolstering: Supine, Prone
Bolstering for different body types
Bolstering for Side-lying position
7 points of Contraindications for Pregnancy Massage

Do we have time for Side-lying???

Who, What, Where, When, Why & How

Use of towels
Compression over sheets
Oil, Butter or Wax?
Mini-Practice with Jojoba Oil
Mini-Practice with Shea-Butter
Mini-Practice with Coco-Butter
Mini-Practice with Coconut Oil
Experience Essential Oils (100% Organic)
Choose a Combination

75-minutes Practice

Demo & Practice:Holistic Massage ~ Head to Toe

Switch

Demo & Practice:Holistic Massage ~ Head to Toe

Circle time

Eighth Class (Final)🥳👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓👨‍🎓🥳

Date: Wednesday, May 27th, 2026

Head to Toe!

45 minutes Demo Massage by Instructor! - A student will volunteer. If their are multiple volunteers then we'll pull a name from the sound bowl.

Full session Demo: 10 minute Intake Form (Subjectve, Objective), 45 minuntes quiet demo massage (Assesment/Action), 5 minutes Out-take (Plan). At this time all other students take written or voice recorded notes about what they observe. Be mindful of Body-Mechanics, Strokes, Transitions, Fluidity, Details of Touch, the Tools of Touch, the Tempo of Touch, Communication, etc......

• Intake Form •

• SOAP Notes •

Circle time

Circle Time: Let's discuss all that we've learned and why we've learned it and how it's effected your thoughts and beliefs and approach to Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Let's decribe our knowledge of movement, Body-Mechanics, flow of energy, keeping a client feeling safe and secure, working with the breath, the Four Powers, the effects of tempo, communicating with your client, timing yourself, Beginning and ending a session and any other thoughts in your mind or feeling in your body.

60 minutes Practice Holistic Massage

Student Switch

60 minutes Practice Holistic Massage

🌱 Lunch 🌱

90 Minutes: Head to Toe ~ Holistic Massage

Student Switch

90 minutes: Head to Toe ~ Holistic Massage

Your new Skills are of valuable use!!

Using the many learned strokes and techniques, your knowledge of Kinesiology, your understanding of Energy Flow and Palpation, your awareness of breath, attention to detail, your Body Mechanics, plus your draping skills....

....you will know how to: Create comfort and a feeling of safety for the client, Initiate contact, safely and securely open up the hips, know how to create a treatment session for clients with various needs and concerns such as: From first time receiving a massage, to a holistic approach in treating soft tissue pathologies along with giving a space to facilitate healing to take place. From: Stress, Anxiety, Burnout, Depression, Low self-image, Grief, Loss and or Loneliness - you'll feel a sense of purpose within yourself, knowing that you have the tools to make a difference in someone's life. You can now provide a safe space for one to drop-out and to drop-in to themselves.

You'll know how to blend the learned modalities of Swedish, KAM, Deep Tissue, Lomi-Lomi, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Energy Palpation, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Polarity Therapy all in the support of Mind-Body Awareness of the Vital Life-Force. This, is Holistic Massage.

I am here to help you, guide you, remind you and support you in your journey. I truly hope to inspire your love of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and give you the tools for a long lasting career. I look forward to seeing you for your continued learning of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. There is so much more to learn🌱.......

Circle Time

Angel Walk Ceremony

Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is a Practice.

Keep practicing. Keep learning. Keep an open mind and have your hands be as warm as your heart.❤️

Dates of Course

8 Day Holistic Massage Course

7 Hours per day including lunch and breaks

Class size is usually around 12 students

10:00-17:00 🔶️ Students arrive atleast 10 minutes early so that we may begin precisely at 10:00. Your instructor arrives at 9:10 to prepare the space. Feel free to arrive as early as 9:20 to enjoy the tea or coffee that is available for you in the dining room. *Please put your dishes in the dishwasher or wash them by hand. We share this space with other classes. This is a great time to mingle.

Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026

Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

Wednesday, April 15th, 2026

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026

Wednesday, May 13th, 2026

Wednesday, May 20th, 2026

Wednesday, May 27th, 2026

Sign up

The direct link to sign up for this course is down below. This course is being taught in English, by instructor Nedra van de Reep. To follow the instructions and agenda of the course you must view your Esoterra account with its videos plus the daily details here on this website from your instructor.

The payment is made to Esoterra. To see the price and learn more about Esoterra, please click the link below. The price is shown on the Esoterra website. Thank you!! I look forward to seeing you soon!

https://www.esoterra.nl/product/holistic-massage-course-amsterdam/

What to bring & what to know (???)

Please arrive on time (10 minutes early) so we can partner up.
90x200 Bed Sheet Set (flat and fitted or two flat).
One Large Bath Towel.
Two Hand Towels.
One Face cloth.
A pillow if possible.
Notepad and pen/pencil or Note/Voice App.
Folder to put handouts in.
Wear Stretchy or Loose Fitting pants. No jeans. Jeggings are fine. No skirts, no dresses - unless these are worn over the leggings. Wear clothes that allow full range of movement.
I encourage students to be barefoot. You may want to wear leg warmers if you are prone to be cold. If you wear socks, they should be cotton and anti-slip. Wool socks are very slippery! Grip is essential for controlled movements. Barefoot is best!
Simple Black t-shirt. Or a T-shirt that you don't mind the possibility of oil getting on. Be sure that it's not too loose (as this could rub against your fellow student's body). Be sure that it doesn't hang down too low from your chest. This would be considered clothing that is not appropriate for a professional learning environment.
Fingernails must be cut and filed.
No rings or bracelets. (These often get forgotten as they must be taken off to give and receive massage.)
Full presence from instructor 🪞 Full presence from students. I will not be on my phone. Should you?
Daily plan: 45 min lessons, 10 minute breaks every hour. 45 minutes for Lunch. To follow this more easily - On the top of every hour there is a new lesson, or a switch of students, a new exercise or a new experiment. This education is fun and exciting but only fully rewarding if all of us honor and respect the process and are open to this experience. We must also be forgiving to any miscalculations of time. Life happens so do your best to flow back into class without interruption. This daily plan will change when we practice 60 and 90 minutes sessions.
Bring your own Water bottle!! There is a kitchen with coffee and tea always ready for you. You may use the ESOTERRA glasses and mugs but please clean up after yourself. All plates, cups, and silverware are to be rinsed and put into the dishwasher after use. If full, then please wash and dry by hand. All of your trash must be thrown into the garbage and please wipe your area of the lunch table after eating. Thank you!💝