The new academy will provide accredited courses to keep professional standards high
The courses have been developed in response to operational requirements for spa therapists to offer experiences other than massage therapy
The first programme is in sound therapy
The courses include online theoretical learning and practical assessments
Jessica Sloyan, a wellness operations and training expert, has established an independent private training academy to provide professional qualifications for practitioners looking to offer immersive wellness experiences.
Sloyan created the UK Academy of Sound and Therapeutic Arts (UKASTA) in response to the evolving wellness landscape and expectations of therapists to offer more than massage therapy services.
Sloyan told Spa Business: “Today's therapists are increasingly expected to offer much more than exceptional treatments alone. They are now being asked to facilitate mindfulness, sound experiences, relaxation rituals and wellness activities that support a guest's overall wellbeing. At the same time, we've seen significant growth in independent wellness practitioners delivering experiences within hotels, spas and retreats.
“While this evolution is incredibly exciting, there has been relatively little structured, accredited education specifically designed to prepare practitioners for these expanding roles, particularly within luxury hospitality settings.
“UKASTA has been created to help bridge that gap through evidence-informed, professionally accredited education that combines scientific understanding with practical application, ethical practice and high professional standards.”
Sloyan’s own twenty-plus years in the industry has involved initial roles in personal training and spa therapy before taking on management roles at locations such as The Gainsborough Bath Spa and Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa. She is now a senior international operations associate for ESPA, a board member for the UK Spa Association and she owns a retreat company called Slo-Yin Wellness.
Sound Therapy Practitioner course
The academy’s flagship CMA-accredited programme will launch by the end of Q3. The Sound Therapy Practitioner Certification – Level 1 will be followed by the Advanced Sound Therapy Practitioner Diploma – Level 2.
Students take part in online theoretical learning modules before participating in practical assessments and advanced face-to-face training. The first in-person cohort will take place near Bath, UK, in September 2026.
The Sound Therapy Practitioner Certification – Level 1 requires no previous sound therapy experience and has been designed for spa and massage therapists, complementary therapists, practitioners, retreat facilitators, meditation teachers, hospitality professionals and individuals who want to build a professional career within therapeutic wellness.
The curriculum will cover the science and therapeutic application of sound, the nervous system and how it responds to stress versus relaxation, brain wave states, Himalayan and crystal singing bowls, therapeutic percussion and other sound effects, structuring safe sound experiences, ethics and professional practice.
The course costs £495 per student and may be funded by individual practitioners or by spa operators and hospitality businesses that want to upskill their teams.
Graduates of Level 1 can take the Level 2 Diploma, which is a two-day in-person programme that focuses on advanced facilitation techniques.
Future programming
While sound therapy forms the academy's inaugural programme, UKASTA's longer-term vision is to develop accredited education across a broader range of therapeutic arts and professional wellness facilitation disciplines.
Future practical programmes in areas such as mindfulness, guided meditation and retreat facilitation will be delivered at a variety of locations across the UK.
