About Us
With 40 years of experience, we provide a comprehensive approach to therapeutic massage, offering a unique learning experience designed to inspire, and equip students with the skills needed to become confident, competent, and professional massage therapists. Our training gives you advanced skills and a deep level of learning, ensuring a long-lasting successful career.
Our roots are very firmly planted in the foundations of The Oxford School of Massage (OSM), which was established in the early 1980s. The OSM Holistic approach to massage still guides us as we grow our courses to reflect the demand for quality massage training for adult learners who are looking for an accredited qualification to give them that little bit extra to allow them to stand out from the crowd.
The Oxford Massage Academy (TOMA) became a limited company in 2024 with co-directors Sarah Toplis and Julie Masters. For over 40 years, OSM provided high-quality holistic therapeutic massage training combining Classical Swedish techniques with the unique signature strokes created by OSM founder, Judith Earnshaw.
Today, TOMA represents the rich history and ethos of OSM with its unique approach to holistic and therapeutic massage combined with upgraded and enhanced course content, which recognises the need for massage therapists to be qualified to a higher standard than previously accepted.
Our small class sizes are taught by Sarah Toplis and Julie Masters, our TOMA Directors, both experienced teachers who hold City & Guilds Teaching in Education Certificates and 30-plus years of clinical experience between them.
About Sarah Toplis
Sarah graduated from the Oxford School of Massage (OSM) in 2009 and went on to run her own successful practice in Oxfordshire, which she still today gets so much enjoyment from working with her clients and seeing the profound effect holistic and therapeutic massage can have on their overall wellbeing. In addition, Sarah has over 14 years of teaching experience as upon qualifying she was approached by OSM to become a tutor for them and went onto gain her City & Guilds Teaching in Education Qualification in 2009 and became a registered ITEC Tutor, she was one of two lead tutors for OSM until 2018 when she took over ownership of the school. Her happy place is teaching, and she is on a mission to offer the best learning experience for students to release their potential, through continuous development and evaluation of the learning cycle.
Sarah, through personal and family experience, developed a deep understanding of mental health and the impact that poor mental health can have on individuals, each in their own unique way. Through the power of touch with massage, Sarah has provided a sanctuary of nurture and support for her clients in a relaxing safe space. Allowing the truly holistic approach to massage therapy to restore and relax clients both mentally and physically, in turn releasing body tension and aiding pain relief, and much needed sleep! It is not unusual for her clients to nod off during their treatment with her. Like, Julie, Sarah has enhanced and deepened her skills and knowledge through numerous CPD courses though out her career.
Sarah’s background is in Human Resources, previously working in the corporate sector for over 20 years with a strong focus on Training and Development and Organisational Development. She has taken the wealth of knowledge and experience within HR to be able to enhance her approach to teaching and learning and loves nothing more than watching her students develop and grow into wonderful therapists, whilst supporting, coaching and mentoring them through their time with OSM and now TOMA.
Qualifications
Various CPD courses e.g. Covid H&S, Infection Prevention,
Mental Health First Aid, Japanese Holistic Facial Massage, First Aid, Deep Tissue
Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Introduction to Crystal Healing, Mindfulness in Practice, Indian Head Massage,
OSM Diploma Holistic & Therapeutic Massage –Distinction
ITEC Level 3 Anatomy & Physiology
City & Guilds PTTLS Certificate Teaching in Education
Certificate in Social Marketing
Certificate in Coaching Training
360 feedback facilitator Training
Counselling Training for HR Practitioners (1week)
Advanced Facilitation Skills
Feedback Training
Facilitation Skills Training
Assessor training for assessment centres
About Julie Masters
Julie graduated from the Oxford School of Massage (OSM) in 2006 and still has her own thriving clinical practice based in Buckinghamshire and Germany. Over the years, she has attended many CPD courses ranging from Indian Head Massage and Reiki to Manipulative Therapy and Scar Work. In 2012, she was among the first UK massage therapists to graduate with a BTEC Level 6 in Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage.
Over the years, Julie has not lost touch with her Holistic Therapeutic training she received through OSM and has gradually formulated her own unique way of working with her clients. This involves truly listening to the body to assess not only physical restrictions and pain, but emotional trauma stored within the soft tissue. This evolved way of working is her driving force behind the course development with TOMA because she believes everyone is capable of ‘listening with touch’.
Julie originally started out as a professional dancer, acrobat, singer and actor, working in West End Theatre, cabaret, TV and film for 13 years. This career helped her to develop a deep understanding of the body’s limits, strengths, and weaknesses, and its ability to excel, perform and grow. Unfortunately, she has first-hand experience of injury along with the physical and emotional trauma this can cause. But she also knows that with the right treatment and rehabilitation, how amazing the body is at healing.
Her desire is to educate the next generation of massage therapists to be able to offer complete treatments to clients with a wide range of injuries and conditions in an intuitive and non-invasive way. You don’t have to cause pain to help someone out of pain.
Qualifications
Anatomy & Physiology, Level 3 – ITEC
Holistic Therapeutic Massage, Level 3 – Oxford School of Massage
Indian Head Massage, Level I and II – The Oxford School of Reflexology
Advanced Clinical and Sports Massage, BTEC 6 – Jing Institute
Manipulative Therapy – Cameron Reid Training
Oncology Massage – Jing Institute
Reiki Level I and II – Course Pal, Nishu Dirosa
Scar Work, Level I and II – Sharon Wheeler
Anatomy Trains, Thomas Myers – attended at Jing Institute
Reasons to choose TOMA
- TOMA’s mission is to empower, enable, and inspire students to become competent, confident and professional massage therapists at a level above industry standards to ensure longevity of career.
- We recognise and support the diversity of learning styles and lifestyles of our students to ensure that they reach their full potential in a fully supportive and flexible environment.
- We are more than a massage training academy because we offer career long support and mentoring through our TOMA community support program and higher level CPD courses to deepen and upgrade knowledge and facilitate growth.
- We bring massage to life through a nurturing, uncomplicated and fun learning environment with small class sizes led by an attentive and patient team, who hold City & Guilds Certificates in Teaching and Education.
- We acknowledge and celebrate the importance of supporting our students to become independent thinkers capable of supporting a wide range of clients’ needs.
- We are passionate about laying down a strong foundation of skills in Holistic Therapeutic Massage which provides a strong platform for students to build their own unique independent practice.
- We recognise the links between physical, emotional and spiritual experiences and a person’s physical pain through our truly holistic approach. We encourage the practice of a listening, respectful touch and empathy.
- Our courses combine technical skills with the sensitivity and awareness of the subtle aspects of supporting healing.
- Our Level 3 course offers exceptional value for money with 105 hours over 15 days, hands on, face to face learning. Combined with an additional 250 hours of guided learning. Offering our students an internationally recognized and fully accredited professional qualification.
- Family feel. Our courses are delivered by two Brilliant but Bonkers Aunties! There’s never a stupid question. Learning is a discussion led, fully immersive experience which takes our students on a learning journey, which often positively impacts their perspective on other areas of their lives.
In the quiet sanctuary of touch, where skilled hands weave their magic, holistic massage whispers to the soul, a symphony of healing, gentle and profound.
The oils, fragrant and warm, ease tired muscles, unravelling knots, as tension melts away like morning mist, and the body surrenders to deep relaxation.
From head to toe, the rhythm flows, stroking away the cares of the day, balancing energy, restoring harmony, holistic massage dances with grace. In this sacred space, time stands still, breath deepens, heartbeat slows, and the spirit sighs, remembering that we are more than flesh and bone.
So, lie back, dear traveller of life, let the hands of the healer guide you into the peaceful place of serenity, where body, mind, and spirit unite.