Archives for February 2016

Feb 27 2016

The Day My Life Fell Apart

I was in my 20’s and having the time of my life.

I was the national publicity manager for a major conglomerate of recording companies in Canada. Big salary, an unlimited expense budget, a fast sports car paid for by the company, and a hard-working, loyal and fun staff.

I got to fly all over the country, collaborate with interesting, talented people, chauffeur around amazing, fascinating celebrities in cocktail-loaded black limousines, was given box seats at any concert or event I wanted to attend anywhere in the country, owned a record collection large enough to stock my own store, and… blah, blah, blah. You get it. It was quite the life for this small-town prairie girl.

Until I got fired.

I had made a recommendation to the Director of Marketing that we combine my department with another, because of the overlap in our areas of responsibilities. He thought it was a good idea.

However….. unbeknownst to me, the manager of that other department was having an affair with the Director of Marketing! Guess who got booted to the curb!

Along with that dismissal came a lot of closed doors. Without that fancy title in front of my name, access to a lot of what I had enjoyed the last few years disappeared. Poof! People with whom I had interacted – no longer interested in my calls. It was all humiliating, embarrassing, depressing and surreal. I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

I also really got how I had let my position and lifestyle define who I was. Big lesson there.

One morning, I decided it was time I answered the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

And that is when my life changed. That is when a setback turned into the biggest opportunity of my life.

I looked at what interested me, other than music. Like a knock on the top of my head, I suddenly realized how much of my spare time was spent studying and exploring what I will call, in the broadest sense of the word, human potentiality.

I didn’t know much more than that, but I did know that I wanted to contribute something that would improve the quality of people’s lives – as they defined it. I wanted my presence here on earth to make a difference. I wanted to give back, not just take and take.

I saw that everything I was paying attention to had to do with natural health and self-improvement.

So, I decided owning a health food store might be a good idea, so got myself a job in one. It didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t like retail much. However, that store allowed me access to a large library of books on subjects I was intrigued by; one by one I took them all home and devoured their contents.

A passion started to percolate inside me. I started to feel like I just might have put myself on the right path, even if owning a retail operation was not quite it.

And then I discovered the reflexology books. Now, that really interested me – particularly because I couldn’t really figure out from the books how to do it! It wasn’t cerebral or academic, like most of the other topics I was exploring. It had to do with health, but it was accessed in a way that was foreign to me – through the body; specifically intentional touch of the body. I was intrigued, to say the least.

As providence would have it, a regular customer of the store’s walked in one day and told me that the Reflexology Association of Canada was starting one of their training programs. He thought I should take it. I did too. So I did.

And that is how a rocky path turned into the yellow brick road. It was 1983.

Being fired turned out to be a blessing. It gave me an opportunity, early in life, to set my priorities straight and embark in a direction that has proven to provide me a wonderful, independent life that fulfills my purpose and feels successful, on my terms.

I still get to spend my time with “stars” – only now they are my students and clients. And I get to do something I love to do: sit with others and share knowledge and experience that feels meaningful, and most importantly, to inspire others to feel their own internal spark and put a match to it!

I have never thought of a setback in the same way again (and believe me, there have been many others along the way.) Setbacks, disappointments and “failures” have all morphed into stepping-stones to the next great adventure.

God knows where I would be now if that woman hadn’t seduced our boss!

How About You?

Do you believe you were put here for a reason other than (or more than) what you are doing now?

Do you want to tap into ways you can help people feel better in their bodies? Take back control of their health? (And maybe yours?)

Do you want to lead an independent, financially-secure life on your terms?

Yeah? Me too.

I decided way back that I never wanted a repeat performance of what happened so many years ago. I knew that I never wanted to put myself in a position ever again where my livelihood and employment were under someone else’s control.

That is why I created the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification program, a 315-hour credit program that prepares compassionate people to build the business and life that they want.

That program serves as the vehicle for me to share 33 years of practicing and 30 years of teaching reflexology; and ways to build a successful life and business based on integrity, meaning and compassion. My enthusiasm for what I do is infectious; I know I can inspire and ignite a fire in others – people tell me so all the time!!

If you’re interested, take a look at this video I did for the Florida School of Massage (where I teach an Introduction to Hand & Foot Reflexology). It’s sort of a Reflexology 101 explanation and demonstration that has been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people.

Feb 24 2016

Why Reflexology May Help With Fibromyalgia

Over the years, I have worked with a number of clients suffering with fibromyalgia. In all of these cases, people came to me having heard that my sessions brought more relief than just massage therapy (which they were already receiving).

I don’t for one minute believe that my skills as a massage therapist exceeded those of the other therapists – but I did have an advantage.

My protocol was to first do foot reflexology to relax the nervous system and then massage the targeted areas of tenderness. Without fail, the addition of reflexology – given first – got far better results than just massage.

What the Research Says

Studies on fibromyalgia (FM) are beginning to explain why reflexology is such an effective approach to this chronic condition. The research now points to FM as a central nervous system (CNS) disorder, not an autoimmune affliction of the peripheral tissue, as once believed.[1]

Since reflexology has such a strong positive influence on the nervous system, it makes sense that it can provide such positive benefits for people with FM.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia affects more than 3 million Americans, mostly women. It is a complex chronic disorder characterized by primary symptoms of widespread muscle pain and tenderness, fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping and irritable bowel syndrome.

fMRI tests show that when people with fibromyalgia are exposed to non-painful stimuli, areas of the brain are activated that normally are only activated by painful stimuli. Researchers believe that this may explain why people suffering with FM are often hypersensitive to all sorts of stimuli, such as light, sound, certain foods, heat and/or cold, not just pressure or touch.

What Causes It?

Two factors seem to contribute most to the likelihood of developing FSM: genetics (FM tends to run in families) and post traumatic stress syndrome. (Although there is an association between PTSD and FM, it’s important to remember that one does not necessarily cause the other.)

Review of a study of 600 participants with FM suggested that trauma often causes a person’s limbic system to go into overdrive, contributing to the CNS hypersensitivity as discovered in other studies.[2]

Treatment

Working with the fibromyalgia population is definitely not a one size fits all situation. What works for one person may not for another, so flexibility, patience and compassion are essential.

Most people dealing with FM find multiple strategies necessary in order to even decrease stress, improve sleep, reduce depression, and reach any level of daily functionality. Approaches, such as gentle reflexology and massage, acupuncture, yoga, as well as prescription meds are common methods amongst sufferers.

I can tell you though, from my own personal experience, that to bring any level of relief to people living with fibromyalgia is very rewarding. I encourage you to offer reflexology to those you know with FM, and if you’re also a massage therapist, add that in as well to add to the results.

[1] Michael J. Schneider, DC, PhD, David M. Brady, ND, DC, and Stephen M. Perle, DC, MS (2006) Differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome: Proposal of a model and algorithm for patients presenting with the primary symptom of chronic widespread pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2006 Jul-Aug;29(6):493-501.

[2] Walen HR, Oliver K, Groessl E, Cronan TA, Rodriguez VM. Traumatic events, health outcomes, and health care use in patients with fibromyalgia. J Musculoskeletal Pain 2001;9: 19-38

Feb 10 2016

Brain Development and Stress

Data from a Princeton University study adds still another reason to reduce stress in our lives.

Prior to Professor Elizabeth Gould’s research, modern neuroscience was predicated on the hypothesis that all brain neurons emerge during prenatal and early postnatal development; that brain cells were thereafter fixed. Brain development was believed to be determined by effort and determination.

Her research demonstrated two important findings to the contrary:

1. The primate brain (that includes ours!) is always creating new neurons.

2. The structure of the human brain is largely influenced by its surroundings, not by individual effort and determination. The research proved that chronic stress halts the production of brain neurons. This groundbreaking study revealed that the brains of stressed primates literally stopped creating new cells and neural pathways. In addition, evidence showed that existing cells retreated inward. (The brains were said to “disfigure.”)

Gould’s research carries monumental implications when we consider, not only our personal health, but also a society in which stress factors continue to mount.

Fortunately, there is much we can do with reflexology for our clients and ourselves when it comes to both combating stress and encouraging brain development. Reflexology is a modality proven to shift the autonomic nervous system from its “flight or fight” response to stressors to the healing state of “rest and repair”.

When people request a stress-reducing session from me, I immediately focus in on the reflexes of the central nervous system and the solar plexus; add in the adrenal reflexes to support those busy glands in their efforts to respond to excessive stimulation and the diaphragm reflex to aid in deep, relaxed breathing and improved oxygen delivery to the brain.

It’s nice to know, isn’t it, that both stress reduction and brain development can result from something as simple as a soothing session of hand or foot reflexology?

Please join us for an upcoming Reflexology for the Hands workshop or (foot) Reflexology workshop and learn more!

Feb 05 2016

Baby Boomers’ “Healthstyles”

I’m one of them!

The baby boomers – those of us born between 1946 and 1964. We make up 26% of the US population: 70 million people strong.

We’re the group that vowed to change the world – and we did! And fooled ourselves into believing we would never get old, or sick. Surprise!

A study conducted by the Merrill Lynch financial management company identified four baby boomer “healthystyles”:

Lucky, but Lax – 10%. This group may have been blessed with great genes and a healthy start to life. Because they have enjoyed a relatively healthy life so far, they lack interest or motivation in maintaining their health as they age. They don’t see the need to change anything that so far has worked just fine.

Healthy & Proactive. Twenty-nine percent (29%) engage in exercise & proper nutrition; maintain a positive attitude about their health and future. They recognize that self-care is health-care.

Course-correcting and Motivated – Another twenty-nine percent (29%) are starting to realize the importance of vital health, and taking steps to make up for past bad health habits. This group is eager to learn.

Challenged and Concerned. The largest group – 32% of baby boomers – are facing health challenges. These folks are not practicing good health habits, and are worried about their health.

Identifying to whom you are talking is necessary if you want to recommend someone receive reflexology on a regular basis. Each of these populations has different physical and psychological needs that must be met.

The Lucky ones can be encouraged to maintain their optimum health status by supporting all the operating systems of their body through a weekly (or even monthly) session designed to sustain their good luck.

The Proactive members are more likely to be taking advantage of – or, at least, open to – bodywork, yoga, meditation, etc. These people will appreciate knowing that you can focus your sessions to offer extra attention on certain systems or organs.

The Motivated group will see results from focused sessions as well, and will benefit from experiencing the results of deep relaxation. These folks will be grateful for referrals to other practitioners, educational literature and other resources that will support their decision to improve their health.

The Concerned category needs to relax. Start there – relaxation is the basis of health. Work on reflexes to the central nervous system, diaphragm, solar plexus and adrenals. The experience of deep relaxation might interest the client in learning other ways to feel better in their body and less anxious about the future. Be a resource; a coach to any in this group who want to make changes.

And what about you? What piece of the pie do you find yourself occupying?