Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Reflexology Certification Programs and Workshops

Archives for 2012

Good News for the Reflexology World!

After three years of education and demonstration the Reflexology Association of America is thrilled to have received the following document from the National Foundation for Women Legislators. The resolution is a much-needed and much-deserved endorsement of the power of reflexology to support women’s health and an important step towards national recognition of the health benefits of this modality. Pleases share or forward this post with everyone you know that would be interested in celebrating with us. This is a BIG deal.

THE POWER TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU WWW.WOME N L EG I S L A T O R S .O RG * RO B I N RE A D , PR E S I D E N T & CEO * E V E N T S@WOME N L EG I S L A T O R S .O R G 910 16TH STREET, NW, SUITE 100 WASHINGTON, DC 20006 202-293-3040 FAX 202-293-5430 The Foundation qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under 501-c-3 of the Internal Revenue Code, Tax ID number 52-1480785

NFWL National Policy Committee on Health & Empowerment

Resolution: Encouraging the use of Reflexology as one approach for women’s health care and wellness issues, in conjunction with the support the Committee has previously shown for a holistic, comprehensive, and patient-centered approach to care.

(Ratified November 2012)

WHEREAS, Reflexology is a non-invasive complementary discipline involving the use of alternating pressure applied to the reflexes within the reflex maps of the body located on the feet, hands and outer ears; and

WHEREAS, the art and science of Reflexology is based on the work of three 20th century medical doctors: William FitzGerald, M.D. (USA); Joe Shelby Riley, M.D. (USA); and Paul Nogier, M.D. (France); and physio-therapist Eunice Ingham (USA); and

WHEREAS, Reflexology is recognized by many state governments as being separate from the profession of massage therapy or any other type of licensed Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) profession; and

WHEREAS, Reflexology distinguishes itself from other disciplines in that training is conducted through separate and unique educational programs; Reflexologists use distinctive Reflexology charts or maps, and clients remain clothed during a session; and

WHEREAS, the efficacy of Reflexology is documented by over 300 global research studies including a 3.1 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIH-NCCAM) to study the effects of Reflexology on women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy and is being considered for renewal; and

WHEREAS, the efficacy of Reflexology is documented by over 300 global research studies including a 3.1 million dollar 5 year grant in 2005 from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) to study the effects of Reflexology on women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, which was renewed for 2.9 million in 2011 for a second 5 year study; and

WHEREAS, anecdotally and with one Israeli study (1997) Reflexology has been shown to have a positive effect on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from military service and other traumatic situation such as spousal abuse or acute and chronic physical conditions; and

WHEREAS, frequently reported benefits by clients include stress reduction, relaxation, pain management, health enhancement, and improved quality of life; and

WHEREAS, many members of the National Foundation for Women Legislators have personally experienced the benefits of Reflexology through participation in NFWL’s Annual Health Fair Day; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Foundation for Women Legislators’ National Policy Committee on Health & Empowerment joins the state and national organizations in encouraging the use of Reflexology as one approach for women’s health care and wellness issues, in conjunction with the support the Committee has previously shown for a holistic, comprehensive, and patient-centered approach to care.

Sleep and Weight Loss

Here are four good reasons to get a good night’s sleep – every night – if you or your clients are trying to loose weight.

1. If you wake up after too little sleep, exercising is usually the least appealing thing on your mind. Even if you find the motivation to exercise, you likely won’t perform at your best and will risk injuring yourself because of poor focus on what you are doing.

2. When you’re tired you tend to crave foods that will give you a quick boost in energy. These tend to be sugar or caffeine based, and the last thing your body needs when you’re trying to lose weight is sugar!

3. Inadequate sleep also interferes with the delicate balance of adrenal and thyroid hormones in the body. This imbalance includes a reduction in leptin production (which tells your body to stop eating) and an increase in ghrelin (a hormone that triggers hunger).

4. Most growth hormone secretions (which aid in fat-burning) occur during Phase 4 and REM sleep. These are the phases that are most disrupted by sleep deprivation.

When working with clients who indicate a desire to loose weight, discuss their sleep habits. Impress upon them the importance of getting adequate sleep on a regular basis. Focus your reflexology sessions on reflexes that will assist restful sleep: CNS, adrenals, thyroid, diaphragm.

 

Funding Your Dream

Are the job, your age and/or your bank account stopping you from living your dream? Often what we see as reasons for why we can’t live the life we want are nothing but fears thinly veiled as obstacles. If you have something you want to do or become in your life, start believing that you CAN do it. Tell yourself that you are in the process of attracting all that you need to do, know or have to realize your ideal future. Accept that you already possess all the resources to make your dream come true.

If you want to change your life, change your thoughts. Then change how you talk to yourself. Instead of continually telling yourself, “I can’t afford this”, start asking yourself, “How can I afford this?”

If being able to offer skilled hand or foot reflexology sessions fits into your picture of a successful, empowered life, here is a strategy to fund that dream:

~ Start now. Dream, scheme, envision, plan, act, receive. Set up an Education savings account specifically for the 2013 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification.

~ Lighten up! Sell what you no longer use/need/want. Deposit all of it directly into your Education savings account.

~ Pre-sell reflexology gift certificates to family, friends and existing clients. Bundle six together for a reduced price, or sell individually. Infuse them with your passion for reflexology – ask them to support your efforts so that you can then support their efforts to get healthier. Do the math. Full tuition (and very few pay full tuition) equals less than 40 sessions at $65. That’s six bundles of six plus a few singles. You must know six people who love bodywork!

~ Create a page on kickstarter.com or indiegogo.com and ask friends and family to donate to your education. This has proven VERY successful!! (Inviting clients to participate is not recommended; it qualifies as an ethical breach of conduct.)

~ If you will be traveling to Florida from out-of-state to attend, ask friends and family to gift unused/expiring air miles to you.

~ Cut out as many daily “spending suckers” in your life as you feel comfortable dropping. For example, instead of a daily jaunt to your fave java joint, fill your own travel mug with organic, fair trade coffee or tea that you make at home. Instead of eating in a restaurant, take a healthy, delicious lunch with you when you head out into the world for the day. Then, pay your Education fund the money you save daily and weekly.

~ Offer only bills when you pay for something in cash – no coin. Throw the change into a jar at the end of every day. Deposit every month. This does ad up. (This is how I pay for my pedicures!)

~ Call me to discuss the various payment plans the Academy offers. Many people have helped me on my path; I would be honored to pay it forward.

The 2013 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification begins March 21.

 

Giving Thanks for My Hands

I lost my cell phone a few days ago. Actually, I didn’t lose it; I left it at my friend’s in Montreal, and discovered I had no phone just as I was about to cross the border into the United States. My first thought was to call my friend to alert him I was on my way back – and then realized that, of course, I couldn’t do that – I didn’t have a phone or his phone number! Then I started thinking about all that I couldn’t do without my phone, and how reliant my life had become on that smart little item. It was scary.

Later – back on the road, headed south again, cell phone safely in my purse now – I started to think about what life would be like without hands. (Believe me, I don’t know where that thought came from either.) Can you imagine your life without your hands? A life where you couldn’t caress a loved one, pet your cat, play the guitar, type on your computer, thread a needle, put an earring in your ear, chop veggies. The list goes on and on and on.

Our hands are amazing structures, capable of infinite skill and adaptation. They are the preeminent instrument of the artist in all departments – and we take them for granted. In our day-to-day lives we use our hands to “grab hold of life” or to push away that which we do not want. Relaxed, flexible and strong hands make it easier to reach out and grasp what life has to offer, or create a boundary between ourselves and the parts of the world from which we wish to keep distance.

Fortunately, most of us are blessed to have hands. Some people, however, have reduced, and sometimes no, use of their hands. These folks sadly experience the limitations and dependence on others, not to mention pain, which result from arthritis, overuse, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injuries, breaks, etc.

As I type this article, I give thanks for my hands, and remind myself of the importance of taking care of them. To stretch and strengthen the muscles of the hands and forearms, to keep the skin clean, moisturized and especially relaxed and pain-free.

Reflexology for the Hands is a two-day workshop that teaches you how to give one of the safest and most nurturing sessions you can offer your family, clients and yourself. We also practice self-care techniques that you can easily teach others. We soak, exfoliate, moisturize and just plain love-up our precious hands. All those wonderful experiences, in addition to the full-body benefits of an intentional hand reflexology protocol. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Plan to join us. Your hands will never feel so good.

Orlando, Florida – October 13 & 14

Gainesville, Florida – November 17 & 18

 

The Hand Fitness Trainer

Looks like a bionic hand, doesn’t it? It’s actually a device that slips on like a glove and has elastic bands that strap to each fingertip, providing resistance as you open your hand. The trainer (a recipient of the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Award) strengthens the extensor muscles in your hands, wrists and elbows, helping to reduce the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and tendonitis. It also claims to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and mitigate the effects of repetitive-strain injuries in the hands.

Google hand fitness trainer to locate various retail outlets. Costs about $29.95

Another option to prevent and reduce symptoms of repetitive strain injuries: join me in Orlando on October 13 & 14 for the Reflexology for the Hands workshop. In addition to learning how to give a therapeutic hand reflexology session, you will learn stretches and strengthening exercises for the hands and forearms that you can use yourself and teach to others.

 

Curious About Reflexology?

I get lots of phone calls and emails from people expressing an interest in learning conventional reflexology. They have either experienced great success from receiving treatments themselves or have heard about the positive results others have enjoyed.

The question, “What course should I take?” inevitably generates questions from my end before an answer is forthcoming. That’s because it is necessary to first uncover what their interest in reflexology is, for there are three different paths from which to choose.

To begin with, is your interest in working with the feet, hands, or both?

Is your goal to provide deep relaxation for a client overwhelmed by responsibilities and non-stop thinking? If that is your target market, then you can learn enough from a two-day course in either hand or foot reflexology to do just that.

Do you want to help people find solutions to health issues that plague the quality of their lives, such as sinus congestion, diabetes, digestive issues, depression, constipation or menstrual imbalances? A full certification program of at least 200 hours can provide the training necessary to work at this level. In addition to learning specific hand and foot reflexology protocols for about 50 different pathologies, you will learn coaching skills that can empower your clients on their road to wellness. Certification will set you on your road to earning a reputation as a therapist that gets results.

Are you a facial specialist or nail tech wanting to add a little WOW to your current services? If you are, then a weekend course in either hand or foot reflexology will help you to stand out in the crowd.

Or do you what to help relieve people’s pain, either in the feet, hands or other parts of the body? Foot reflexology can go a long way in eliminating discomfort from plantar fasciitis, gout, sprains or other traumas to the feet. Hand reflexology can do the same for carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis or various overuse injuries. Reflexology added to massage therapy sessions almost always increases results, and with less effort too.  A strong foundation of skill is required to bring about long-lasting results when people are in chronic pain; a certification program can provide this level of in depth training.

Not sure yet what your level of interest is? Then start with a weekend course. It’s a small investment of time and money to decide how you want reflexology to fit into your life.

(foot) Reflexology weekend courses (only one left this year)

Reflexology for the Hands weekend courses (two left this year)

Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification (begins March 2013)

 

High Five For Our Hands!

People most often think of the feet when they think reflexology, but there are so many conditions of the hands themselves that can be helped with hand reflexology. And that’s in addition to the overall health benefits to the rest of the body. Here are five:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the injury that probably springs to mind first. CTS is a narrowing of the tunnel on the palmar surface of the wrist through which the nerves and vascular tubes run.  Entrapment results in pain, loss of strength and motor function for approximately 250 million Americans. Although CTS can stem from a variety of conditions, a common source is repetitive activity that puts the wrist in extension and adduction (like massage, typing, cutting hair, carrying large restaurant trays).

TMI

In an earlier blog post this year I spoke about the latest repetitive strain injury to earn its own acronym: Text Messaging Injury. More than five billion texts are sent daily, and 40% of texters complain of repetitive strain injuries to the tendons and muscles of their thumbs. Not good.

Trauma

Another time where people benefit from detailed specific work on the hands is when in recovery from breaks, strains or surgery. I recall a client years ago who came to me after the cast had been removed from his broken hand and arm. He was a classical pianist and orchestra conductor who really needed a quick recovery, so as to be able to resume his touring schedule. I love working with people who are motivated and committed like this man was. Weekly hand reflexology sessions and simple daily home strengthening exercises got him back to work in just one month.

Arthritis affects 40 million adults in America, to the degree that simple activities of daily living – like brushing the teeth or picking up items with confidence – become a painful, frustrating and sometimes-risky action. Soothing hand reflexology and some simple home self-care practices can do a lot to bring function and relief back.

And lastly, deQuervain’s syndrome, a debilitating condition of the common tendon sheath of the hand that can bring a person’s career to a screeching halt and bring devastation to one’s personal life, has also been shown to respond favorably to hand reflexology. You can read about Terri Bishop-Brahen’s experience working with a massage therapist suffering with deQuervain’s here. Terri completed a four-week study with a colleague as part of her training for the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification.

There are only two dates left this year to learn Reflexology for the Hands:

Orlando, Florida – October 13 & 14

Gainesville, Florida – November 17 & 18

 

Same-same

I love the Thai colloquialism “same-same”. Reminds me of the western response to certain questions: “It depends.”

You know what I’m talking about if you have ever had a client ask, “How long will it take for me to recover from….?” Well, that depends – on how long the condition has existed, what caused it, the current strength of the individual’s immune system, how often the person is willing to schedule regular therapy sessions, the client’s compliance with “homework”, the level of stress in the person’s life, the person’s willingness to eliminate (or at least reduce) lifestyle habits that exacerbate the situation and introduce habits that support health, and the person’s belief system regarding her ability to change the situation.

When students ask me how Thai Foot Reflexology compares to our western model, I respond in the way the Thais do with “same same”, which translates as “similar and not the same”. Again, think of clients with the same health imbalance or injuries; they each experience their pain and recovery differently.

As far as the difference between Thai and western reflexology goes, in the west, the focus is on points, with the intent to improve the functioning of the related organs and glands. As a reference, we look to a map of reflexes reflected on the feet.

Although the Thai practitioner certainly shares the same desire to foster better health within the organs, the focus is more on encouraging the flow of lom (energy). The traditional Thai practitioner rarely thinks of points – in fact, the charts visitors find everywhere in Thailand these days were created simply to satisfy foreign students’ demand for one! Thai practitioners trust that every part of the body is being stimulated through their well thought-out and time-proven protocol. The ordered sequence of moves and techniques are all designed to systematically open up the sen (energy lines) and free blocked lom. With that accomplished, the body is then free to restore itself and to correct whatever imbalances are present within the organs and glands.

This attitude of same-same asks that the practitioner be willing to give up the ego-driven illusion of “fixer”, and to enter into the role of witness and facilitator; to trust the wisdom of the client’s body to direct the individual’s journey back to health. I know that for myself (a woman born with a strong western inclination to understand and control everything!), working within the realm of ambiguity and uncertainly taught me that the responsibility and possibility for healing lays within each of us, not outside. Same-same. Only our paths are different.

2-day Thai Foot Reflexology trainings:

Taos, New Mexico – September 29 & 30

Minneapolis, Minnesota – October 6 & 7

Houston, Texas – November 10 & 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edema

Edema can result following an injury, during pregnancy, or as a side effect of a more serious condition. No matter the provocation, it causes pain.

Edema occurs when circulation is such that the extremities (more often the lower) are unable to return fluid efficiently to the body’s core. Lymph and interstitial fluids accumulate in the legs, ankles, hands and/or forearms.

Pregnancy

Seventy percent of women experience edema in the third trimester of pregnancy. Lifestyle changes that include regular exercise and daily elevation of the legs can prevent this unnecessary symptom; one that can lead to pre-ecclampsia (seizures in the absence of a brain condition) and even pre-term birth.

Regular reflexology sessions beginning in the first trimester is an outstanding preventative approach for this population. When starting out in reflexology in the early 1980’s, I built my practice working primarily with pregnant women. None experienced edema during their term.

If your client shows up well into the pregnancy with edema, take comfort. It’s not too late to bring relief. Read the very successful protocol that Moshe Kruchik, a fellow reflexologist and friend from Israel, has perfected. Then take a minute to watch him working on a 34-week pregnant woman with pronounced edema.

Protocol

Here is an effective edema protocol that Moshe shared at the recent Reflexology Association of America conference. It is a good preventative procedure for pregnant women and excellent when edema exists for any reason. If the edema is a result of an injury to the foot, then be very careful with the first two steps. Move the joints slowly and only so much as to not inflict pain on the individual.

1. Pump – fast dorsi-flexion, many repetitions.

2. Rotate the ankle joint, many times in both directions. Take through the full range of motion.

3. Specific attention to the urinary, lymphatic and colon reflexes. Lymphatic reflexes are worked distal to proximal.