Welcome to the Feldenkrais Guild UK Graduate Pack!
Congratulations on finishing your training and becoming a fully-fledged Feldenkrais Practitioner. As you probably already know, this is a rewarding and beneficial practice for both you and your future clients. A wonderful opportunity awaits you, as you build a career as a Feldenkrais Practitioner. This excitement and anticipation can come along with a feeling of nervousness, especially if you have no idea where to start taking the first steps of the path ahead of you, and this pack is designed to help with a place to start.
The Graduate Pack was initially created to help with the transition from being a student on a training programme in the UK to becoming a proper practitioner post-graduation. This can be a daunting prospect if you have never previously been self-employed, and the aim of this guide is to give helpful hints, tips and information to smooth that process. Despite its name – Graduate Pack – this collection of guides and useful information is not just for new graduates, but also meant as a resource of knowledge and help for all practitioners in the UK.
As with many guides and starter packs, it is important to be clear on what it isn’t: the information in the following sections neither claims nor aspires to be exhaustive and the only way to be successful. It is rather a help to get started and to point you in a direction with some questions. There are as many ways to start the practitioner journey as there are practitioners.
The structure of the information presented is aligned with the International Feldenkrais Federation (IFF) Competency Profile. If you’re not familiar with it, you can find more information here. However, familiarity with the Competency Profile is not a prerequisite to using these resources.
We hope the pack helps with your confidence to get your business off the ground, and wish you all the best on your journey!
P.S. This is the first iteration of this resource, so any comments, requests or feedback are most welcome to graduatepack@feldenkrais.co.uk. This pack was produced in 2024. The next version will be coming out in 2025.
Being self-employed can have many advantages and benefits over employment, but there are some challenges that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Self-emplyoment
Pros
Cons
No boss – You are your own boss.
Lack of employee benefits – You won’t get sick pay, holiday pay or any other employee benefit.
Flexible hours – You decide how many hours you work.
Long hours – Your working day may be much longer and more irregular than someone who isn’t self-employed. Business commitments may mean that you spend less time with your friends and family, or struggle to switch off from work life.
Freedom of choice – You can choose your pension provider, how you do your accounting, etc.
Responsibility – You’re in charge of your pension, National Insurance, completing your self-assessment tax return and potentially registering for VAT.
Business set-up – You decide everything yourself about how your business is set up, who your target audience is, etc.
Starting from nothing – Establishing your business and building a client base can be a long, tiring and at times frustrating process.
Finances – You set your own rates and are not bound by a defined salary.
Unpredictable finances – Your income can be irregular, especially in the early days. You could go several months without earning a profit, and you’ll always have to pay running costs such as rent, insurance, internet access, etc.
Jack-of-all-trades – You get to be the practitioner, the marketing manager, the accountant…and you can do it the way you want.
Wearing different hats – You’re responsible for everything: marketing, finance, ….
Legal form choice: sole trader vs. limited company
There are many different ways in which you can set up your business. Two popular legal forms are being a sole trader or setting up a limited company. The following is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the pros and cons of each of those forms, but can hopefully give you a quick overview and steer you in a helpful direction.
Sole trader
A sole trader is an individual business owner who has 100% responsibility for their company’s operations. You can hire staff as a sole trader – but only you own and control your business.
According to current laws, as a sole trader, you and your business are considered the same. This means that, should your business incur any losses or debts, you are personally liable. But you also keep all profits after tax.
Being a sole trader is also classed as being self-employed.
Pros
Cons
100% of the profits are yours
Unlimited liability
Easy to get started
Full responsibility for the business
You make the decisions
You can only raise limited finances
Less admin
Limited scope for expansion
Personal touch
Limited company
A limited company is a private company consisting of multiple owners, managers, members or subscribers.
This type of business is legally separated from its owners. When you register as a limited company (which must be done on Companies House in the UK), this company becomes a separate entity in itself.
Limited companies are usually owned or operated by several people. However, this isn’t a legal requirement. You may choose to be the single operator or director of a limited company in order to retain the benefits of being “separate” from your business.
As the director of a limited company, you have limited liability on your business’ debt or losses. Your business is responsible for its actions, including paying its debts and liabilities.
Pros
Cons
Tax efficiency
Preparation of Annual Accounts
Easier to leave
More financial admin
Losses & Debt aren’t personal
Less privacy
Better perception
Rigid taxation rules
No personal liability
Potentially less input
You can find more information on this in many places on the internet. Here are some as a starting point:
If you decide to be a sole trader, you need to register with HMRC as self-employed. You will submit a self-assessment tax return every year.
Depending on implementation of the government’s “Making Tax Digital” initiative, it is possible that from 2026 quarterly returns will be needed. As this has changed in the past and might change again, please refer to the government website for the most up-to-date information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-tax-digital/overview-of-making-tax-digital
A good business plan is a must. If you have never written a business plan it may be advisable to get help with this. If you are newly self employed JobCentre Plus can help with this and speaking to your local office may help. There are sometimes funded courses available to help you with planning with companies such as outset.org
Budgeting & Accounting
It is good practice to make a survival budget before you start your business. This allows you to know exactly how much money you need to make as a minimum to pay for your day to day living. It can help you as part of your business plan and financial forecasting.
Once you have started your business keep accurate and up to date records. Decide if you will require an accountancy software package or if you will keep cash accounting in a spreadsheet or by hand.
Keep receipts and invoices of any business expenses for at least 7 years.
An idea would be to have a separate, dedicated business account. Usually, regular high street banks such as Barclays, HBSC, NatWest, Nationwide, Lloyds, etc. offer business accounts, but you might also want to look at online banks such as Revolut, Monzo or Tide. They often come at a (small) monthly cost.
Each provider offers varying features and benefits, so it is worth comparing several options..
It is worth noting that HMRC are due to change the reporting of self-assessment tax and this will be phased in from 2026. This is the “Making Tax Digital” initiative, and will require quarterly self assessment reporting, along with the use of a digital platform to report. More information is available here: Government announces phased mandation of Making Tax Digital for ITSA – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Setting fees
It is worth doing an analysis of what you need to earn, in the time available to you, to see what your ideal fee would be. You may not be comfortable charging that right now, but you’ll know where you’re heading.
Fees for ATM and FI are obviously different, and ATM fees may vary dependant on whether they are offered online or in person, or if a permanent recording is offered as well as or in addition to a class at a specific time.
Fees often also vary widely between practitioners. In London (2024), there are practitioners charging from £50 to £150 for an FI session. Location, clientele, and your own financial needs will have much to do with this. Along with what you are comfortable charging, especially at the beginning of your career.
Another idea is to see what your local alternative therapies charge: osteopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, to see where you want to sit in that realm.
It’s worth thinking about packages too. Do you give a certain price for a series of lessons, within a timeframe? This can be another way to help people see your value.
Finding a space
Online vs. in person
Decide which of the above you intend to do. Is it one or the other, or a mix of each?
If you are setting up in person there are a number of considerations. Are you planning to work from home or rent a space? How big does it need to be? How much will it cost?
If you want to work online, how are you going to do this? Will you use video or audio only? You need to consider camera setup and location, sound and light quality, which platforms you want to use.
There are pros and cons to each. Take the time to analyse these and see which works best for you and your target market. It may be that you can successfully blend the two, separately or at the same time. If you have a space for an ATM with good wifi, and a good camera and microphone then you could offer both. Be aware if you plan to do this that you will need to concentrate on both in person and online students and have a robust plan to be available to both equally.
Suggestions for platforms currently: Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, MS Teams
Private residence vs. hiring space
Where is the space likely to be? Does it have high footfall, which may aid your marketing strategy? Or do you prefer to be at home where there are fewer overheads and you can get jobs at home done between clients? Can you look at working from a leisure centre or would you prefer to be in a therapy clinic with other practitioners? It can be lonely working from home, so it is worth considering a networking group to ensure you have the time to chat to other business owners to avoid social disconnection. On the other hand, this quiet may suit you perfectly. Always consider that if there is no one else at home that you will be classed as a lone worker and may be vulnerable. Have a plan in place if the worst should happen. If you hire space you won’t need to change your house insurance, but you will need to pay for a room and this can affect your profit.
If you have a family and are teaching from home, you might also want to think about what you do if your child is ill for several weeks. This could impact whether clients can come to your house for lessons or not.
Mobile vs. stationary
Consider whether you want a single base, or several. This may be of benefit for classes where you can offer them to a different locality of different days.
You could also consider going to the homes of clients who have mobility issues. This would need to be a part of your insurance, both for your vehicle and your professional liability, and would add petrol charges and car maintenance into your cash flow. You also need to consider your equipment carefully if you intend to go mobile.
Online
In-person at home
Renting space
Mobile
· World-wide market · Can do from anywhere in the world if set up well. · Minimal overheads
· Requires suitable IT hardware. · Requires suitable broadband speeds. · Requires a good camera. · Requires a good microphone. · Some technical knowledge required.
· Consider whether this is for classes or for platforms e.g. YouTube/Vimeo etc
· Flexible · No rental overheads · Equipment is as you want it. · Time between clients for household tasks · Quiet
· Insurance considerations – household insurance must cover business. · Lone working considerations · Have to work around family interruptions/family time. · Hard to switch off as work is always there. · All legislation is covered by you – H&S, etc. · Investment in equipment · Consider access and parking. · Council may require change of use planning consent.
· H&S may be covered by landlord. · No change to house insurance required. · Includes all heating and lighting bills. · Equipment may be provided but may not be perfect. · Parking can be available · If not provided, transportation of equipment must be considered.
· Rental overheads come out of profit. · Limited times available · Limited flexibility · Other therapists around
· Great for seeing clients with limited mobility or disabilities · Petrol and car maintenance overheads · Time spent driving · Transport of equipment · Suitability of space · Insurance considerations · Lone working in an unfamiliar environment
Running your practice as a business
This area will be expanded upon in a future update. For now, please refer to the video “Running your practice as a business with Mamie Wisker (2023)” on this page.
If you intend to work from home you must notify your house insurance provider. If you do not do this and you need to make a claim your insurance may be affected. Standard questions will include which room you intend to use, if you are seeing clients 1-2-1 or in groups, how many clients you see in a week, and the value of business equipment to be covered. It tends to be offered only by specialist insurance companies, and can be a much higher premium than regular buildings and contents insurance.
There are websites where you can read more about different insurances and even get quotes, such as:
This covers you for working with clients. It is sometimes reduced if you are a member of a professional governing body, such as FGUK. It is critical for working as a practitioner.
The FGUK has an Affiliate Scheme with Balens insurance, which gives members of the Guild a discount on their insurance.
Working in an institution
If you intend to rent a room for ATM or FI, find out what insurance they have, and how this covers you and your clients. You need to ensure that your Professional Liability Insurance covers the hire of a room, and you may need to risk assess the venue to ensure the insurance is valid.
Income protection insurance
This is not mandatory, but as you will be self employed you will not get sick pay if you are ill or injured and cannot work. It is well worth considering some form of income protection to cover your income and give you peace of mind if you cannot work for a period. It can be for the amount you earn, or for enough to cover your major household bills. Ensure you have an up to date monthly budget so you know what this amount is.
The first contact with a potential new client can feel daunting if you’re not sure what to tell them. The following list gives you some ideas as a starting point:
Short explanation of the Method (NB not always useful, as many people come for you, not the Method, most of the time.)
Client history
You could do this before or in the first session
How long are your sessions?
How regularly do people see you?
Maybe you recommend x amount of sessions to start with?
What does a session look like?
Maybe mention what the student’s part is in the lesson
Where are you based? Any travel directions or access issues to point out?
Being self-employed and running a practice with clients (and potentially a portfolio career), you need to find the best way for you to organise your diary.
You can do this in a more traditional way with a paper diary and phone/text/email conversations with your clients. Or you could go digital and use a scheduling software, such as “Acuity Scheduling”, “Google Calendar”, “Calendly”, “SimplyBook” or “Sign In Scheduling”.
A good website to compare a vast amount of software is www.capterra.com.
Note-taking
Most insurance companies will require you to take notes of every lesson you give. The exact requirements differ from company to company and can include (excerpt from Balens insurance policy 2023):
ATM classes
Name of student
Brief details of the student
Date of lesson
Any other relevant observations
FI lessons
Full details of
the consultation process
the “treatment”
the result of the “treatment”
any aftercare instructions given where appropriate
The record shall be kept for at least 7 years following the last occasion on which “treatment” was given. In the case of “treatment” to minors, it is advisable that records should be kept for at least 7 years after they turn 18.
Irrespective of what your insurance company requires, taking notes is a very good idea, so you can remember what you’ve worked on and write down your thoughts for future sessions.
It is also possible that you are required to give evidence (for example if you are sued or required to give police evidence) which is another reason for taking notes. Your notes are your proof for what you have said and done.
Your clients have a right to see your notes if asked, so they should be taken with that in mind as well.
The style of note-taking can differ greatly from practitioner to practitioner. Some like to write detailed, full sentences, others only note buzz words or abbreviations, and others again work more with drawings and pictures.
You need to find your own system that works for you. Whatever you decide, it can be a good idea to create a template that you can reuse.
If you are tech-savvy and like digital solutions, there are a variety of programmes/websites out there that can help you take notes. You could go for a simple notes software like “Evernote”, “OneNote” or “Google Keep”, or look at more sophisticated solutions that might integrate with a booking system, your website or other systems.
DBS
DBS checks are carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, also known as DBS. A DBS check is a record of a person’s criminal convictions and cautions. When working with children and vulnerable adults, this can sometimes be a requirement.
Self-employed people cannot apply for Standard, Enhanced, or Enhanced with Barred Lists DBS checks for themselves. There must be someone employed to make a decision about organisation or recruitment agency. They can however apply for a Basic DBS check.
The Guild has a Social Media Handbook available here.
Mailing lists
You own your email list, and whereas followers on social media can be lost if the platform goes down, or may not be your ideal target client, an email list can help manage this. Ensure that you gain permission from clients or potential clients to opt in to your email list and have an easy way to unsubscribe if they no longer want to be on your email list. Regular newsletters are a great marketing tool.
There are many providers for mailing lists, among the most popular is Mailchimp. Mailerlite is another, cheaper option.
Website
It is not essential to have your own fully developed website initially, although a landing page with contact details as the bare minimum is crucial. You can decide whether to employ a web designer, or platforms such as GoDaddy or Wix have very easy templates to allow you to build your own site.
Search Engine Optimisation (where you appear on search pages such as Google) is critical. This can be done by a web designer or SEO specialist but comes at a cost. Build your own templates have some SEO functionality built in.
Using key words so your ideal client can find you with simple search terms is key. Platforms such as Google Analytics can help you streamline these search terms. Search engines look for websites that are active, so a regular blog and changing and updating the site are critical. Again, this can be done by a web manager or self-managed fairly easily. You need to buy a domain name. The trick here is to keep the domain name simple and related to your company or brand name.
Traditional marketing channels
Alongside the more recent marketing channels such as social media and the internet in general, there are of course still more traditional avenues that shouldn’t be neglected. It all depends on your target audience and the area you live in. If you are targeting a more senior audience or are located in a more rural area, it might be worth advertising through some of the following channels:
Online village websites
Postcode magazines
Local publications
Notice boards
Village hall websites
Facebook groups
Advertising can take a lot of time as you are trying to find the right channels and producing the materials needed to advertise in them. You might also want to think about timing your adverts (season, month, day, time of day, etc.).
Finally, it can be a good idea to monitor the success of your marketing, so you can figure out what works and what might not be the best use of your time.
Corporate Design
Logo / Branding A logo or branding is worth consideration. There are cheap ways to do this that will help minimise set up costs. Platforms like Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone can help you design your own logo cheaply and easily. Once you are successful, this can be revised with a professional graphic designer if necessary.
Another way of creating a logo is by using platforms such as freelancer.com and creating a “contest”: freelance designers can submit their logo ideas, trying to win a prize (the amount you set for this is up to you).
Mentoring is a really useful way to develop your practice and to gain advice and support from an experienced practitioner. Contact details of current Feldenkrais Guild members offering mentorship are to be found on the Guild website by following the above links. It may be that mentoring is required in an area around running a business or self employment. Business mentors can be easily found locally and offering appointments online. It is important to ensure they have credentials that are appropriate to your needs. A good mentor can hold you to account, help you discover your strengths and weaknesses and help you set goals to improve both your practice and running your business.
IFF Network (International Feldenkrais Federation)
Non Feldenkrais practitioners, for referral.
The IFF Network is like a private Feldenkrais Facebook. It was developed by the International Feldenkrais Federation (IFF) and aims to bring all Feldenkrais practitioners of the world together in one digital space. There are various groups one can join or potentially create. Just try it out, connect with practitioners around the world and get involved.
You can find more about practitioner development on the website.
Currently, there are no annual CPD requirements. As the Feldenkrais Guild UK is in process of joining the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), this might change in the next few year.
There are a number of good ATM lessons to start with when you begin teaching ATM. The following list is by no means exhaustive, but will hopefully give you starting point.
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