Jennifer MacAskill

I began lecturing here at UHI Moray in August 2022. I currently teach Body Massage Techniques and Body Systems and Wellness at level 6 and on our degree programme I teach Aromatherapy and Remedial Massage. Massage and aromatherapy were all I ever wanted to do since I was a wee girl.

I studied Swedish Massage at the age of 16 then went on to get my degree in Occupational Therapy. Whilst working and travelling in New Zealand I had an epiphany and decided it was time to return to my real passion of complementary therapies. I spent the next few years studying Clinical Aromatherapy and Remedial Massage as well as Hot Stone Massage and Indian Head Massage. I also studied Reiki and eventually became a Reiki Master.

I have worked in spas, including the award-winning Fletcher’s Cottage Spa, where I was a senior therapist and responsible for training all new members of staff, as well as providing treatments to a few sports and music personalities. Whilst there I also became a train the trainer for Aromatherapy Associates. One of the product houses we used were Voya and I got to go to Sligo in Ireland to hand harvest the seaweed which they use for their products.

Laterally, I was self-employed and had a very successful business providing a range of all my complementary therapies to my customers. At one point I even worked from a Yurt on a farm!

During COVID, I was unable to work so set about writing my own short course in massage. A major achievement in my life and career was getting this accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists. I was able to take this course out to a few of my local spas and that is when my love of teaching and sharing my passion started and now, here I am – a lecturer on the Integrative Healthcare at UHI Moray.

About me: I don't have much spare time because I have a wee boy however, when I do get some time to myself, I enjoy swimming and spending time at the beach ...no crazy hobbies these days!