Welcome To Calming Influences
If you are up for the challenge of branching out on your own, or you just want to learn a little more and improve your own wellbeing, have a look at the courses we offer. Our main focus are the core holistic therapies of Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Massage, but we also cover the business and marketing skills you need to build a successful business. A course with Calming Influences will equip you to be the best complementary therapist you can be. Our courses may be challenging, but they are fun.
We are also changing. Although the majority of our courses, and all of our practical courses are face to face, we are using more online methods, such as Zoom calls, to cover some of the areas which can be covered remotely. This means more of our time together will be focussed on the important part - the practical.
Start this new phase of your life with Calming Influences. Courses include comprehensive courses such as Reflexology, Massage and Aromatherapy and shorter first courses, such as Indian Head Massage, as well as a whole range of courses which will help you develop as a therapist. We also offer a range of CPD courses for qualified therapists.
Based in Bursledon, Southampton, just 5 minutes from junction 8 of the M27, Calming Influences is a great place to take a course. The school attracts students not just from Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Basingstoke and Andover, but from the whole of Hampshire, the surrounding counties, as well as international students.
![]() |
Above you can see Calming Influences very first group of reflexologists. We are pictured celebrating accreditation with the AoR. I am standing centre. (I look a little different now - see my photo below!). Above right you can see the GreenHouse room which is where our main teaching sessions are carried out. To see lots more photos in our gallery click here
Why train with Calming Influences?
Calming Influences is dedicated to offering courses in Complementary Therapies - we don't offer courses in other subjects.
Most of our therapy courses take place at the weekend, so you can train for your new career while you are still working or looking after your family
You will always be taught by a tutor experienced in their subject and experienced at teaching. I attend all teaching sessions
Learning at Calming Influences is varied. All sessions are designed to be interesting and appealing, containing games, group work and various props to make everything come to life. We don't do sitting listening to a lecturer for 3 hours! You may find yourself colouring the bones of the foot, sticking organs onto a blank body or any number of other fun activities which hopefully will bring the learning to life
You will meet a variety of Assessors during the course who are experienced therapists. Generally they are ex. Calming Influences students.
For most practical sessions there will be additional help available; often ex Calming Influences students; to ensure you receive constant attention - our aim is to teach you the right technique from the start
If you need more help, for example if you have dyslexia or English is not your first language, we will ensure you receive additional support
As an independent school we can offer more flexibility. So if you suddenly need to take a break from the course because your circumstances change, courses can either
be extended or you can swap to the same course running the following year
Age and education are no barriers to learning - We have successfully taught students from age 19 to late 60s. Our students include those who left school at 15 and this is the first course they have taken, to qualified nurses, podiatrists and physiotherapists. Everyone is welcome
Online student resources available from the Calming Influences website
All the students on the course want to be there. They often have similar values and many students have made friendships which have continued well after their course has finished
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me on 0780 5278 620 or 02380 406672 or email jackie@calminginfluences.com. You can also sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date with my courses by clicking here. Looking forward to meeting you. Jackie James