Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Reflexology Certification Programs and Workshops

Archives for July 2012

My Feet Are Killing Me!

How many times have you heard that? From either your own mouth or that of someone you know. Maybe the more accurate statement would be “I’m killing my feet!”

I don’t why I continue to be surprised by the number of people who complain of pain in their feet – but I do. Somehow/somewhere I created this belief that “pain-free peds” are normal/common, even though my nearly 30 years of working with the feet says otherwise.

Canadian reflexologist, Donna Holst came to the same conclusion after hosting an educational day for the public. She scheduled a number of short informative classes on various topics, and was shocked that 80% of respondents were concerned and interested in plantar fasciitis. That caused her to want to learn how to better help these folks. She decided to organize a specific training event for herself and her fellow reflexologists – and that’s how I come to be teaching this important work in Guelph, Ontario in September.

How many people do you know that stuff their feet into poorly designed, ill-fitted shoes, proceed to stand on them hour after hour without rest and then wonder why their feet hurt? (As I was writing that sentence the image of Lady Gaga and her publicity-garnering “shoes” came to mind – a bit of an exaggeration on what many fashionistas wear, but you get the idea.) Or those who suddenly decide to pound the pavement or dance floor for literally miles without preparing and supporting their feet?

Add to those choices tight calves and hips, weak foot muscles, gravity, excess weight and/or prior foot injuries, and you’ve got the ideal set-up for plantar fasciitis.

If you want to learn how you can help the people in your life who suffer with plantar fasciitis, I invite you to join me at one of three remaining workshops this year:

Saint Augustine, Florida – August 25 and 26

Guelph, Ontario – September 15 and 16

Montreal, Quebec – September 22 and 23

 

 

 

An Honor and a New Responsibility

I have just been elected to the governing board of the US national reflexology association! Along with six other professional reflexologists, I will serve as a director of the Reflexology Association of America for a two-year period beginning this summer. I’m eager to be part of the movement to propel reflexology to its next level of professionalism and recognition.

The Reflexology Association of America (RAA) is a non-profit membership organization that aims to advance its members’ interests through public relations, government lobbying efforts, a quarterly magazine and a national referral system for its members. RAA’s next biennial conference will be held in 2014 in Sante Fe, Mexico. I, for one, can hardly wait! Love that part of the country.

American residents: Please consider a RAA membership, if you don’t currently hold one. The fee for practicing professionals is only $50/year; for students and/or schools $30. The more the merrier!

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This is probably as good an opportunity as any to introduce the other various organizations within the field of reflexology. Links to all are on the left side of this page.

On an international level, we have the International Council of Reflexologists. ICR is a membership organization modeled after the United Nations. This means ICR is not incorporated in any country. ICR provides a worldwide forum to share education and ideas through its quarterly e-magazine, biennial conference (2013 scheduled in Johannesburg, South Africa!) and the annual celebration of World Reflexology Week in September.

On a national level, we have three primary organizations in North America; the:

American Reflexology Certification Board. ARCB is a non-profit corporation that acts as a national independent testing and certifying agency in the United States. Its primary objective is to protect the public by certifying the competency of people practicing reflexology on a professional level.

Reflexology Association of America, which I described above.

Reflexology Association of Canada. This is the organization that I was originally trained and certified by, both as a practitioner and reflexology instructor. RAC was incorporated in 1978 as a federally chartered non-profit organization, with by-laws, policies and procedures that regulate the management of the Association. RAC was formed to provide training and educational standards for reflexology in Canada, and to distribute information about reflexology to all interested in the modality.

Most of the states and provinces have state or provincial reflexology organizations as well, with many of them affiliated with the national membership organization. Check the RAA or RAC websites or google “reflexology organization” and your state/province to locate yours.

I hope that all of my readers will consider joining hands (and feet 😀 ) with their fellow practitioners by taking out a membership in their respective organization. Remember: there is power in numbers!

 

Just Starting Out?

Recently, I was asked by the national publication Massage Magazine to write a spotlight on reflexology for massage students. In it, I explain the difference between massage and reflexology, why the public seeks out reflexology, levels of training, employment opportunities and continuing education options. As I was writing the article, I thought the information might also be useful for existing therapists trying to figure out in what direction to focus your practice; how you can stand out in the crowd. What do you think?

Wordle “Feetback”

I love the look of Wordles – the internet toy that allows you to create random “word clouds”. I got into playing with it today and this is what resulted. My first attempt – “feetback” from the foot reflexology workshop from the weekend. What do you think?

 

My Youngest Client

… was just three days old, when he stopped breathing. His life was saved by quick-acting paramedics, who whisked him to the hospital after connecting all kinds of electronic gadgets that took over the respiratory function of his young lungs.

I met the child two days later, when his parents asked me to visit in the hospital. The medical personnel wanted to keep the baby on life support for 30 days. The parents didn’t. (There are unwelcome side effects to doing that.) They wanted to give his little lungs another chance – while under the careful observation of the pediatric ICU team.

At the parents’ request I performed a very short reflexology session. Seeing the immediate results on the high-tech monitor was – well, jump-for-joy elating.

As I explained to the eager parents, the brain, not the lungs, regulates breathing. It was the young boy’s brain that was just a little “slow” to assume its responsibility of communicating with the diaphragm, the primary muscle that allows the lungs to draw air into the body. (We later learned that this is not uncommon with newborn infants.)

Using my baby finger – the fifth digit – I gently made contact with the brain, diaphragm, lung and bronchial foot reflexes, with a focus on the brain. The increase in the baby’s intake of air was remarkable. I showed the parents where to touch their number one son’s feet and left them with instructions to do so for five minutes at a time, several times a day. They brought their beloved boy home two days later.

Have you ever had the joyous privilege of giving reflexology to a newborn?

Success with Asthma

One reflexology session ends a young 5-year-old’s scary and regular runs to the emergency ward of his local hospital.

I got talking yesterday to a colleague/friend, and she shared this story with me. Her son has suffered with severe asthma for a couple of years now, so much so that runs to the hospital have become almost normal for the family. One night last year, the young boy’s asthma really acted up. He could barely breathe, and it looked like a hospital visit was inevitable. Having just learned how to work the lymph and lung reflexes in class with me, she decided to apply what she knew, before resorting to pediatric emergency procedures one more time. Her son’s breathing resumed normally and he has had no asthma attacks since.

I find that children respond very quickly and positively to reflexology. Why do you think that would be the case?