Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Reflexology Certification Programs and Workshops

Foot Poster Price Reduction!

While purging my office at year-end, I came across this review of the Academy’s foot chart from the July 2006 Massage Today magazine. I felt proud as I read it and would like to share it with you.

As I read the comments from the reviewer my thoughts went back to the many months spent working on the poster. Although I created the chart of reflexes, I hired an artist to render the design (since I’m not that good of an artist!). Kevin’s girlfriend willingly modeled her feet so as to provide an accurate anatomical representation, and since he was not a reflexologist, getting the exact location of the nearly 100 reflexes took many revisions. At completion, Kevin jokingly said that he figured he had earned a certificate as a reflexologist!

There are a number of good reasons why having a chart on your wall is a smart idea. Since I want more of you to have the advantage of displaying a beautiful and accurate chart in your practice, I have decided to reduce the price of the poster by $10.  Think of it as  New Year’s gift!

Here’s why having a reflexology chart is a good move:

1. They’re fabulous for teaching, since most people are visual learners. You can point out reflexes on the chart that relate to the areas of the feet that got either your attention and/or your client’s during the session. This opens the way for a discussion regarding the health of those specific organs and systems, what actions may be weakening them, and what changes might better support the health of those structures. And that might spur your clients on to taking steps towards improving their health, including booking more appointments with you.

2. Charts are associated with professionalism. They provide a visual statement about you and your business, and give your room the confident look of a healthcare office. Charts remind your clients that you base your practice on science and recognized educational models. Trust in your credentials and abilities is increased.

3. They’re an easily available learning tool for you. A comprehensive chart, such as the Academy’s, hung near your stool, can serve as a reference point as you work. You will see the location of lesser-known reflexes that when worked into your specific sessions will increase results.

4. Clients love charts!

So here’s what Massage Today had to say about the Academy’s foot, starting with a rating of 9.5 out of a possible 10:

“This attractive, professional chart is large, and that is a good thing. The 38 by 22.5 inch size allows plenty of blank space to allow for easy visualization. Foot structures are marked colorfully against a sedate background. There are a lot of reflexology charts out there, and many are too crammed with information in a small space to be of much practical use while working. This one is easy to read for the clients and for a practitioner to use during a session. The large size allows for some structures to be indicated that are not often on smaller charts (i.e. vocal cords, Eustachian tube, axillary and cervical nodes, etc.)

Left and right views clearly are differentiated, which is particularly useful for the plantar views. There also are dorsal, medial and lateral views, which many charts either do not indicate, or the print is too tiny to be easily seen. Left & right views are included in the dorsal, medial and lateral views; this is convenient, but redundant, in that the info bilaterally is the same (my note: that is true for the medial and lateral views, not dorsal). Still, the views offer a convenient no-brainer for quick access.

The whole poster is laminated on both sides, also useful if the need arises to remove oil marks. Grommets for easy mounting are provided in the four corners. I recommend this poster, and it will find a place in my office.”

Visit here to see a picture of the chart and ordering details.

 

Dusk on the River

My intention today was to write something on reflexology, as well as remind you that you still have time to register for this year’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification beginning February 2.

I considered Parkinson’s disease, hammertoes, menopause, phantom limbs, colds & flu – some of the many conditions that certified reflexologists commonly and successfully address. And then, in one of my many moments of distraction 😉  , I came across a blog post that so totally captivated my attention that all other possible topics faded away.

The article has nothing to do with reflexology or massage, so consider yourself warned, my friends! Hopefully though, like me, you are prompted to reflect on how you choose to respond to what’s coming at you in your world. Let’s face it; life does seem to be happening at warp speed these days, with impending events often heralded by predictions of gloom and doom.

I am referring to a blog post written by a Western woman teaching at a university in Japan. She writes about a reading/discussion assignment that centers on a lovely tale written by the American Buddhist Pema Chödrön.

I read this simple story, asking myself the same questions as were asked of Ms. Thomas’s students. At the end, as I read the comments expressed by the Japanese, I was reminded how easily I can become trapped in the emotions and perspectives which my culture has cultivated in me, and how differently we all might perceive a shared experience. I am thankful for the reminder this article gifts me: that my way – my vision – is but one of many valid ways in which to experience this wild and crazy ride.

Dusk on the River

And, by the way, I will write on those other topics at some later!

Five Chronic Conditions We Can Help

On a recent teleconference call regarding the future Healthcare Reform Bill, one of the presenters stated that the five most common chronic illnesses for which allopathic medicine has little to offer are:

1. Stress (including post traumatic stress)

2. Depression

3. Diabetes

4. Pain management

5. Hypertension

Looking at that list I can’t help but see the broader landscape of conditions linked to these common complaints. Modern medicine now acknowledges that stress plays a role in up to 90% of all chronic conditions and that depression, diabetes, chronic pain and hypertension (serious imbalances themselves) all lead to other disturbing and often life-threatening health complications.

Alternative medicine practices, such as reflexology and aromatherapy are well positioned to address these five illnesses, and in fact boast a long history of research and clinical evidence to support it. It seems to me that tackling these imbalances before they develop further is the answer (if not before they even manifest). Let’s look at some results with reflexology and a few of these complaints.

Diabetes

John Guinta, graduate of the Academy’s 2011 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification, recently completed a seven-week research case study using reflexology with a man struggling with diabetes. There’s a lot to learn from this encouraging study. One point that stood out for me was the subject’s increased motivation (and follow-through actions) to lose weight and get moving more while participating in the study, both of which are recognized stepping stones to improved health. Newfound hope, coupled with John’s care and attention, seemed to act as a catalyst to do more for himself. That itself is worth the time of the study.

Brenda Toomey’s earlier report on the effects of reflexology on Type 2 diabetes is also listed on the same page.

Depression

I have lengthy clinical experience working with people with depression. One gentleman comes to mind who once told me that reflexology was as effective, if not more, in helping him heal from depression as his “talk therapy” sessions. “Counseling sessions,” he told me, “help me to understand the thought processes that pushed me into depression: reflexology allows me to actually feel myself healthy and whole again.”

Pain Management

If you’re interested in pain management, take a look at how reflexology affects musculoskeletal pain, gout and pain associated with endometriosis and fibromyalgia.

What sort of experiences have you had working with highly stressed people, or those suffering from depression, diabetes, chronic pain or hypertension?

365 Thank Yous

I hope you all are enjoying this end-of-year holiday season in whatever way you choose to celebrate. I came across a book the other day that I really loved and want to share it – as my holiday gift to you.

The book is entitled “365 Thank Yous” and was written by US lawyer John Kralik. The book reprints 365 thank you notes Mr. Kralik sent – one every day for a year – during a very difficult time in his life.  What happened as a result of his decision is both heart-warming (especially the first note sent to his son) and inspiring. You can watch a short interview here in which Mr. Kralik explains his motivation and some of the surprising results arising from his decision.

For many years, I have believed that gratitude is the quickest route to happiness, and have regularly made my appreciation tangible in a gratitude journal as well as direct verbal expressions to others and to myself. “365 Thank Yous” has inspired me to kick it up a notch, to write a thank you note, not every day as the author did, but one every week over the next year. And I’m starting with this one to you:

Dear Readers: Thank you firstly for reading my blog posts. I love the process of selecting a topic and then reaching inside for words to share that I hope will have some usefulness or meaning for you. Without you, there would be no one to “talk” to; to listen.

Thank you for posting your own thoughts and opinions, both through this blog site and my personal e-mail. I know how busy all our lives are, and I am touched that you take time from your busy schedule to communicate with me.

And finally, thank you for sharing your hands, heart and intelligence to help others heal their lives. I acknowledge your desire to further your education, and to contribute the best you have to the world. As Wayne Muller once stated: “To dedicate a single act to the healing of others is a day well lived”.

I wish you a joyful, peaceful and safe holiday! Until next year…

 

Discount Deadline Approaching

I realize that your thoughts and attention may well be elsewhere right now, but I want to remind anyone who is planning on attending next year’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Certification program that January 2nd is the deadline for receiving a $100 early-registration discount.

Visit here to read the details of the training. Click here to go directly to the application form. You will have the opportunity to determine your own tuition, based on where you live and how and when you wish to pay.

Is This Class for You?

Imagine relaxing with your partner, parent, child or best friend and being able to easily and confidently offer that special person a soothing and relaxing hand or foot reflexology session. Better still, being able to treat yourself to the benefits of reflexology!

Well, my exercise teacher and some of the women in my class imagined exactly that a few months ago and took action. At their request, I spent four hours instructing them in basic reflexology. None were professionals; yet all left with skills that they could immediately use to help themselves and their loved ones.

I have been asked by others in the group to repeat the class, and have decided to open it up to the general public this time. If you are a “lay” person (or a massage therapist curious about reflexology), this is your chance to learn how this amazing discipline works and how to apply some simple techniques yourself. Join us on January 21st. I will explain the basic theories, show you how our organs and glands are represented through the reflexes on the feet and hands, and guide you on how to effectively support your body’s systems through the reflexes.

Reflexology for You and Your Loved Ones

Kindness, Generosity, Happiness and Gratitude

I found myself thinking about kindness, generosity, happiness and gratitude the last few days, and would like to share my thoughts. Although the points may seem disjointed, they aren’t to me!

Kindness

I was listening to an old Wayne Dyer CD the other day in which he passed on some very uplifting information regarding kindness. The studies showed that both serotonin levels and immune function were elevated in people who were the recipients of an act of kindness. (It made no difference whether the individuals involved were strangers or friends.) That didn’t surprise me much, but subsequent discoveries did.

As you know, serotonin is the neurotransmitter found primarily in the brain and gut, which regulates mood, appetite and sleep. It’s the body’s “feel-good” drug that is largely responsible for our feelings of happiness.

The second discovery showed that the provider of the act of kindness also benefited. S/he enjoyed increased serotonin levels and immune function equal to that of the recipient.

The third, and most exciting finding of the study was that the observer of an act of kindness experienced the same serotonin rush and strengthened immune function as both the recipient and the giver – just by being in the energy field of the action!

I say those are good reasons to practice random acts of kindness. Don’t you?

Generosity

Evolutionary biologists have longed believed that human evolution selects against generosity when there is no anticipated future payoff. Choosing to incur a personal cost with no prospect of a benefit or return has been seen as “maladaptive” and “irrational” by scientists.

But now, a study from the University of California indicates the opposite. A series of computer simulations showed that generosity – acting to help others in the absence of foreseeable gains – actually emerges naturally from the evolution of cooperation. This means that human generosity is more likely built in to human nature, not a result of social pressure, cultural conformity or self-interest.

Hmm… that doesn’t surprise me either.

Gratitude and Happiness

Years ago I learned that gratitude was the quickest route to happiness, and that each of us is responsible for creating the internal experience of gratitude. Creating the feeling of appreciation and happiness is, for me, an inside job, not something that is bestowed upon me from some external stimulus or event.

With that I leave you with a quote from Meister Eckhart that I love and am reminded of each year at Thanksgiving:

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”

So, my friends… thank you.

 

Stand Out in the Crowd!

A number of years ago, a friend who ran an antique business decided to specialize in a particular line of authentic dinnerware that was very popular and difficult to locate. With access to a substantial catalog of products, she was able to advertise a large inventory of hard-to-find items for would-be collectors. Her results taught me a big lesson.

What I learned from her business decision was that narrowing services and products actually increases, not decreases, one’s reach. I had always thought that specialization would limit one’s market, but as I learned from subsequent research and other people’s success stories – the opposite is true. By choosing specialization over diversification, a business actually gets to claim a bigger piece of the pie.

Let’s look at the field of bodywork, as an example.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 there were 150,000 working massage therapists in the United States. That’s a lot of practitioners vying for the same clients and dollars. Successful massage therapists have learned that in order to thrive they must stand out in some way.

Some folks – like yours truly – have chosen to put their passion into action, and concentrate their education, marketing and services in one or two areas. For me, it’s reflexology and aromatherapy (a perfect marriage, by the way).

The benefits and advantages to having a specialty are:

1. You become – and become known as – an expert in your field. By specializing in reflexology, I have become the “go-to” person in my part of the world. When people think reflexology, they think of me. People travel significant distances to receive sessions and study with me.

2. There’s no waste of money or time in attending trainings that “might” interest you or benefit your work, or just to earn your required continuing education credits. You know where you interest lies and can focus all your resources on your area of interest.

3. Your clients benefit. Because your expertise and training is centered on one specific approach, you are able to offer more effective, individualized sessions. Results will soar; word-of-mouth will grow your clientele.

4. Following your passion guarantees that you will never lose interest in your career, never “burn out”. The possibilities to expand your knowledge and services are limitless.

5. Your specialty’s professional association will include only like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasam, challenges and clinical experiences.

6. Less competition.

I urge you to make 2012 the year that you follow your passion; uncover the niche that you can own; serve more people more; create the financial success you deserve.

If reflexology is the discipline that’s been calling you, then fulfill your dream now. Allow yourself to stand out in the crowd!

 

Two New Stones

For years the standard stones in hot and cold stone therapy have been basalt and marble. Now there are a couple of new contenders in the game, and I am happy to add them to our toolbox in the upcoming Reflexology Rocks! class. Let me introduce them to you.

Himalayan Salt Crystals

Surrounding the earth is an electromagnetic field that vibrates at 7.83 cycles/second. Known as the Schuman Resonance Frequency, it is the most commonly found frequency in the natural world (including the human body), and provides optimal resonance for overall health and well-being.

The modern world of computers, smart phones, televisions, refrigerators and microwaves bombards us with man-made frequencies that emit much higher electrical wavebands than our own natural vibration of 7.83Hz.  Continual exposure to these higher oscillations (known as Electro-Magnetic Frequencies [EMFs]) causes and promotes physical imbalances (especially to our central nervous system), interferes with cellular development and contributes to the build-up of harmful free radicals in the body.

Salt crystals, on the other hand, emit a vibration of around 8Hz and help to neutralize the harmful effects of EMFs. There are many simple ways to introduce crystal salts into our lives (which I will explain during the Reflexology Rocks! class on November 12th); one of which is the use of Himalayan crystal salt stones within a foot reflexology session.

Himalayan crystal salt is different than regular sea salt and a wonderful adjunct in healing:

1. It has been exposed to enormous pressure and heat for millions of years. The high compression creates the salt’s perfect crystalline geometric structure, and its inherent ionic energy. Our cells absorb elements easiest when they are in an ionic state, and research indicates that Himalayan crystal salt, whether applied externally or ingested, is extremely bio-available to human cells.

2. The Himalayan Mountains are one of the most tranquil, undeveloped regions of the world, untouched by modern pollution. Use of dynamite during the mining process is strictly prohibited so as to preserve the purity and structure of the crystals.

Soapstone

Soapstone has been discovered to be the best thermal conductor of any stone. It retains heat and cold longer and more uniformly than many other kinds of stones commonly used in thermal therapy. The nature of soapstone allows it to provide a very silky but deep uniform pressure. Because soapstone is non-absorbent, hygiene maintenance is very easy.


The Lasting Effects of Reflexology

During the final module of the 2011 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Professional Reflexology Certification classes, the interns completed two full days of combined foot and hand sessions with the public. One of the recipients asked a question following her session, and it initiated a wonderful discussion amongst the three of us.

As background, the woman who posed the question is an experienced receiver of reflexology and many other forms of bodywork, and is herself a Polarity therapist.

Our guest commented that for her the positive effects of reflexology far outlast those of massage or any other form of bodywork. She was curious as to why.

I recalled how much of our scientific understanding of reflexology is owed to the Brits, who focused much of their scientific research in the late 1880’s on documenting the human reaction to the environment (including touch).

? In 1883 an English physiologist, Marshall Hall, introduced the concept of “reflex action” in the body.

? Scientists conclusively proved the neurological relationship that exists between skin, tissue and internal organs, and charted the reflex action between skin sensitivity and internal disease.

? Sir Charles Sherrington, who with Edgar Adrian earned a Nobel Prize for his work on the physiology of the nervous system, proved that the entire nervous system adjusts to a single stimulus in its effort to coordinate all the activities of the organism.

Back to our guest’s question, I suspect that it is that interconnectedness of the parts of the body, awakened by the stimulation of reflexology points, that provides the longer lasting effects that our guest spoke to. When function and balance are restored within the individual organs and systems, ultimately the whole organism adjusts, not just the musculature. The return to body-wide homeostasis is what creates the long-lasting feeling of wellness.

As we concluded our conversation I was left to marvel – once again – at the incredible drive for wholeness and order that we humans have been gifted.

Have you or your clients been surprised by long-lasting and seemingly unrelated responses to reflexology?