I am often asked how I got “into reflexology”. I’d like to say that my career choice was the result of a well-thought-out trajectory or a middle-of-the-night dream-induced epiphany – but that would be lying.
I actually just wandered into it. At the time (1983), I was thinking that I would like to open a health food store in Toronto and had taken a job working in one to see if that really was what I wanted to do. (It didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t want to work in retail.)
One day, one of my regular customers came into the store and told me that the Reflexology Association of Canada was about to start up their next certification training and that he thought I should enroll. I thought, “Why not?”. I was totally consumed by anything that had anything to do with what I called the human potential movement and was eager to gobble up whatever information and training that I could. I had or was already immersed in nutrition, herbology, meditation, yoga, Bach Flower remedies; so, reflexology – why not?.
Fast-forward to 1989, now living in Florida, and having just received my state massage therapy license (so that I could practice reflexology legally) – when one of my massage teachers informed me of a chiropractor in town looking for a new therapist to join his team. I had never even considered working for a chiropractor, but once again, thought, “Why not?”
I worked with this man for four years, offering a combination of reflexology and “spot” massage to patients prior to their adjustments. Wow! Such a fabulous learning experience for me – and for the doctor. At first hesitant about the efficacy of reflexology in injury cases, he was won over by the added benefits his clients received from prefacing their massage with foot reflexology.
Looking back on how my careers in Toronto and Florida started, what I see in common was that I pursued what I thought would fulfill me. Learning how to offer bodywork that brought so much relief and pleasure to others harmonized with a core desire of mine to make a difference in the world. Over the years, I have often reverted to that means of decision-making – and have never regretted it. I continue to choose a “career” of living a happy and intentional life rather than looking for work that manifests enough money so that I can buy and/or do things that make me happy.
How and why did you get started?
I’m about to debut two short classes, one for people who live with foot pain and the other with headaches. Both classes, part of a series I call “SELFcare is HEALTHcare”, will go beyond teaching specific reflexology techniques to define causes, and offer holistic approaches and resources to manage or mitigate these afflictions. Both classes are suitable for the layperson.