Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Reflexology Certification Programs and Workshops

Archives for 2020

What Are You Waiting For? Stand Out In The Crowd

Graduates of the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification learn how to skillfully use reflexology for the purpose of deep relaxation and/or to support people facing health challenges that threaten the quality of their lives. They help individuals confront the most challenging aspects that get in the way of living a healthy and happy life.

And that, in my opinion, is a life worth living – a life dedicated to helping others feel better.

Some of you may be contemplating a new career focus. Others may be looking for a way to embellish an already existing healthcare practice by adding another service to your menu, or learning how to combine reflexology with services you currently offer to produce noticeably longer-lasting benefits for your clients (and consequently a substantial increase in business for you).

Since this year’s program starts soon – Thursday, April 2nd – I thought I would summarize some of the pertinent details for anyone still undecided about registering for this year’s training.

The program is taught in five 5-day modules in the historic beach town of Saint Augustine, Florida. We meet basically once every couple of months, beginning in April and ending in November; Thursday through Monday. The 2020 program dates are:

April 2 through 6, 2020

May 28 through June 1, 2020

July 23 through 27, 2020

September 17 through 21, 2020

November 12 through 16, 2020

Included in the cost of the program are:
– Video access to all hands-on techniques and protocols
– 250-page manual
– Free listing on the Academy of Ancient Reflexology’s directory of
certified reflexologists
– Student membership with the Reflexology Association of America
– Placement of your research case study in over six national and
International publications
– Free on-going support during and following graduation

Curriculum Focus:
– Location of reflex points in the hands and feet, and techniques and
procedures to effectively palpate these reflexes on oneself and others
– Physiological systems of the body and the role reflexology plays in
maintaining optimum functioning of these systems
– Homeostatic imbalances that can occur in the human body and how
to design a reflexology session to address those conditions
– Theories, benefits and research conclusions regarding reflexology
– Uncovering your strongest appeal as a reflexologist, and developing
successful, ethical marketing strategies to create a unique, viable
healthcare business
– Safely incorporating adjunct modalities such as essential oil therapy and
hot and cold stones.

Activities:
– Operate professional reflexology clinics, utilizing health history and
documentation charts designed for reflexology
– Develop and implement community outreach events with your
classmates
– Prepare a research case study for national and international
publication

The total credits awarded for the Certification are 315, which more than qualifies you to sit for national board certification in reflexology and for Professional membership in the national and state reflexology associations in the United States.

I’ve structured the cost of the program to make it reachable for everyone. The base tuition is $3079, with discounts available as well as five different payment plans.

To read testimonials and more detailed information about the program, and/or to register, please visit www.academyofancientreflexology.com. Or, if you prefer, just call me! 904.553.4067

Act now though. April 2 is just over a month away!

An Amazing Life – The Road Taken

I’m sure you’ve heard this before: Follow your passion.

Well, I don’t buy into that statement.

My passion is not “out there” to be followed like some puppy chasing a ball.

My passion is inside me. And it’s something that developed from following my curiosity. I wasn’t born with the many passions that propel me through my day; they matured by my paying attention to what interested me and then checking those interests out.

It wasn’t always that way for me, however.

Years ago, when people would ask me what my passion was, I felt like a failure. I didn’t have one! I mean, where does one find passion? Are we playing a game of hide and seek here? Is it available on Amazon? I do have Prime, you know!

Here’s where curiosity took me:

🌹My love of scents and where they took me in my head – and why I liked some brands of a particular aroma and not others – intrigued me enough to sign up for a free introductory class in aromatherapy offered when I was a massage student 31 years ago.

🦶🏼My curiosity (and skepticism) about how contact with the feet could affect stress levels and health motivated me back in 1983 to enroll in the Reflexology Association of Canada’s foot reflexology certification program.

❓My interest in the role belief systems play in our ability to experience a happy and prosperous life propelled me to take a weekend course entitled Happiness is a Choice, offered by the eminent Option Institute.

Did I know where those initial steps would lead? Nope.

Did I have a plan in mind to create what’s turned out to be an amazing life for myself? Heck, no!

I was just following a tickle I felt inside; something that had grabbed my attention.

And guess what! Each of those initial steps left me wanting more!

I picked up a couple of books on aromatherapy and read like crazy. That sparked more curiosity and more questions. Decided it was time to spend face-time (the real face time) with someone who knew something about the topic. I took a weekend workshop with Christina Polnyj at Essential Education International, and that did it. Signed up to take certification training in a chemistry-based program, offered by Andrea Butje at Aromahead Institute of Essential Oils Studies. (I loved feeling like the mad scientist while learning how to formulate blends for specific needs!)

Once I finished my reflexology training, I was, to say the least, fired up! I was eager to see how people other than my classmates would respond to the work. I started offering sessions to friends in exchange for their services and taking note of how their emotional, mental and physical lives were changed. And that’s when my curiosity turned into a passion! I just had to offer it to everyone I could in my hometown of Toronto! A business was born!

After the 2-day workshop in belief systems, I felt like an addict – I had to have more! I was mesmerized and loved my teacher. I took another weekend course and then took the plunge to explore all my beliefs in an 8-week residential program that changed my life. That experience formed the foundation upon which I have built my entire life and business.

Every one of these actions was triggered by my curiosity. Following what interested me is what developed the passions that inspire and drive me still today. I didn’t follow my passion; I followed my nose. My curiosity lit the match that sparked the fire that I bring to my work and life.

So, what are you curious about? What gets you thinking “Hmmmm” every time you see or hear something? What will you explore in 2020?

If you have even an inkling of curiosity about reflexology, I urge you to join me for a 2-day introduction in Reflexology for the Hands on May 16 and 17 in Gainesville, Florida.

You’ll either feel inspired afterward or not. But, you’ll know if this is a path to meander for a while longer. You’ll either feel it or not.

If curiosity has already kicked you down this road, and you’re ready to discover where a comprehensive training in hand and foot reflexology might lead you, well, what are you waiting for? Jump in!

Read about this year’s Therapeutic Hand and Foot Reflexology Professional Certification. The program starts on April 4, so don’t waste any time!

Who knows – your curiosity may explode into a passion! And God knows, the world needs more passionate, compassionate people right now with a burning desire to contribute something of value!

Change the World One Sole at a Time

I’m on a mission. A mission to help as many people as I can to relax.

Obviously, I can’t do this alone, so, I must share with others of like mind all that I have learned over the last 40 years of professional practice and personal experimentation. I’m writing today to recruit a tribe of people with the same goal as me: to help as many people as they can to feel better and enjoy their lives more.

I believe too that we learn to relax by experiencing it, not by telling ourselves (or heaven forbid, being told by someone else) to “just relax”. The experience of feeling ourselves in a relaxed state is what creates the desire for more. The body wants to feel relaxed. It functions better that way.

The wisest, smartest part of me will find a way to give me more of what I want. With each experience of relaxation, my ability to let go increases and deepens. With each experience, I want more.

That is one reason why I teach reflexology live, and not through an electronic medium. I want everyone enrolled in my programs to experience the benefits of reflexology and deep relaxation for themselves, not just copy some hands-on techniques that I might demonstrate.

What Stress Does

In this crazy world we live in right now, the importance of learning to relax has never been greater. Here’s just a sampling of what happens when the body is under chronic stress:

*The heart beats faster.

*Blood pressure increases.

*Breathing becomes shallow and rapid, reducing the amount of oxygen available to your body. (Remember, oxygen is our primary food.)

*Blood sugar rises, paving the way for diabetes.

*Endocrine functions are disturbed, including a surge in the production of adrenalin and cortisol.

*The immune system weakens, making you more vulnerable to illness.

*Digestion is halted.

*Aging is accelerated.

Scientific studies have found, over and over again, that chronic stress increases the likelihood of developing really serious illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, panic attacks, depression, stomach ulcers, chronic fatigue, and migraine headaches.

And that’s why I LOVE reflexology!

What Reflexology Does

Reflexology is a very enjoyable and highly effective way to reduce stress. I’ve never had anyone get up from my table and not give me that feedback. Personally, I’d have a session every day if I could!

Reflexology is also easy and fun to learn to give.

What former participants have to say about the Academy’s 315-hour Professional Certification:

“Though I know it’s just the beginning, I feel like I really KNOW this stuff, and I’m getting good at educating the public, which feels like a very important thing. This was very well-rounded, as it dealt with not only reflexology, but also business, communication, and tying it all together…..‘Enlightening and encouraging’ is actually a good summary phrase for the whole program!”

“I’ve learned a lot and have added work that my clients are loving, and even gotten new clients. There’s a fresh buzz in my business, and my brain is full of new ideas. I’m really glad I decided to do this…… It’s really enlivened my practice, and I look forward to what happens next.”

“Karen is incredibly knowledgeable about reflexology, aromatherapy, marketing, and has really created what feels like an excellent ‘graduate program’. I really appreciated being able to ask so many questions and keep getting clarifications. I felt very well supported during the program.”

We might not be able to help everyone on this planet, but we can make a difference in our clients’ lives, and also our own. Whether you offer reflexology as a stand-alone session or combine it with massage, everyone wins. Your clients feel better; they tell others and return for more.

Register now to attend this year’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification. Added bonus: you’ll get to hang in the beautiful beachside resort of Saint Augustine, Florida! The program begins on April 2, so act now!

Together we can become an army for good, changing the world one sole at a time! Are you in?

Helping Those Who Help Themselves

I don’t know why, but I woke up this morning remembering a client from a few years ago, who had called seeking help with her painful plantar fasciitis. During the phone call, she shared that her doctor was suggesting surgery and that she did not want to go that route. She had heard that I had a protocol that helped that condition a lot. She said that she had tried cortisone shots and stretches the physical therapist had prescribed, but that she was still experiencing excruciating pain in both feet. I invited her to come in to see what we could do together.

Imagine my surprise when she hobbled in on crutches and sporting three-inch heels!!!

When I inquired if she had considered changing her shoes, she quickly informed me that was not something she was willing to do! It was then I understood why nothing was helping her and that the only plan of action the doc could suggest was surgery.

I basically told her that unless she was willing to make some significant changes, beginning with a change in footwear, all reflexology could do is bring her some temporary relief – no recovery. I told her that as long as she understood that, she was welcome to come in for a specialized plantar fasciosis session as often as she wanted. She received the session that day, left feeling some relief, and never returned. No surprise.

I think that woman was a bit of an exception though. Most people living with chronic foot pain do want to get better and are willing to do something to change the situation.

If you have people who are willing to participate in their own healing with any number of chronic foot pain conditions they are living with, then I invite you to attend the ‘How to Relieve Chronic Foot Pain’ workshops scheduled in Toronto and Pennsylvania this year. We’ll look at dozens of painful foot situations and how we can provide hands-on support and education for each. You’ll leave knowing a highly-effective hands-on approach for plantar fasciosis (what’s the difference between plantar fasciitis and fasciosis?), tarsal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy (as well as video access to that protocol so you can review whenever you want).

March 28 & 29, 2020
Toronto, ON

September 26 & 27, 2020
Harrisburg, PA

 

What’s Eating You?

Believe it or not, the first piece of research linking stress with digestion was recorded in 1883! The study revealed that the digestive system is much more than a ‘cement mixer’ and ‘delivery truck’. Results showed that our daily food includes emotions and all of life’s experiences, not just edible substances. Everything we take in is ultimately broken down and ‘judged’ by our digestive systems.

And why is a healthy digestive system important? All organs and systems of the body rely on the health of the digestive tract. Without REAL food (not food-like substances) to sustain them, the cells – and ultimately, the organs and glands – are unable to function. It’s that simple.

Importantly, today’s scientists have also discovered that 75% of the cells necessary for the immune system to function effectively are connected to the gastrointestinal tract! And that means a high-functioning digestive system is key to health and quality of life.

Join Marian Thompson, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and me to learn simple ways to reduce the impact of stress on your digestive system. Discover how easy it can be to make wise food choices in the care of your digestive system, and practice simple reflexology techniques to relax and support smooth operation of your ‘second brain’.

This is a free class offered on Thursday, February 6 from 1 to 3 pm. No reservations; first come – first served.

St. Johns County Public Library
Anastasia Island Branch
124 Seagrove Main Street
Saint Augustine Beach, FL 32080

 

The Role of Reflexology in Treating Autoimmune Diseases

Your immune system plays a key role in keeping you healthy. It safeguards your body against infections and diseases by blocking pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites from entering and wreaking havoc in your body.

But what if your immune system turns on you and begins attacking your body instead? This is the reality of those who have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

The Basics of Autoimmune Disease

A properly functioning immune system would be able to tell the difference between invaders and your body’s cells. An autoimmune disease, however, causes your immune system to mistake healthy body cells as foreign ones. Thus, it attacks your body by producing proteins called ‘autoantibodies’ that impair the body’s tissues.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences notes that there are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases that stem from an interplay of genetics and environment. Some of the most common ones are type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Celiac disease. Typically, medication is prescribed to help ease the painful symptoms of an autoimmune disease. From oral medication to injections the kind of medicine depends on the condition. There’s still no cure for them, but their reaction on the immune system can be managed with immunosuppressants — medications that weaken the immune system’s activity.

Researchers still cannot pinpoint a clear reason as to what causes an autoimmune disease to develop. What’s more, Parsley Health reports that a worrying 20 million Americans currently have some form of autoimmune disease — but most don’t even know. Unexplained rashes, body aches, fatigue, and hair loss are just some subtle but common signs you may be suffering from an autoimmune disease. If these are symptoms you experience, it would be best to consult with a medical professional to check the condition of your immune system.

Reflexology’s Role in Treating Them

Tracing its roots as far back as ancient China and Egypt, the art of reflexology is a form of therapy where pressure is applied to the hands, feet, and outer ears. Reflexology has healing effects like providing deep relaxation, decreasing body pain, and strengthening nerve stimulation, which was previously shared on the Academy’s post ‘The Real Benefits of Reflexology’.  So, how can reflexology help aid those with autoimmune diseases?

Living with an autoimmune disease can be extremely stressful, as the bodies of those diagnosed will most likely be attacked by their own immune system for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, a study published in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion found that anxiety, depression, and stress in women with multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder, significantly decreased thanks to reflexology treatments. This is because its relaxation techniques have the ability to release muscle pain, which has severe implications on both a person’s physical and mental health.

More than just a massage, the pressure applied to the body part touched by a reflexologist can reach different body systems, such as the digestive system, the endocrine system, the nervous system, and the circulatory system. This, in turn, can help bring balance to an immune system that’s not functioning properly. By stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system that helps calms down high-energy functions in the body, reflexology lowers the amount of stress-inducing hormones while helping the body harmonize and relax.

Although autoimmune diseases are complex conditions, the simple power of touch can make all the difference for the pain they cause.

A Scary Experience

My hands are essential to all aspects of my life, and I put at the top of that list, my ability to make a living. So, developing hand pain that made it difficult to exert any effort without extreme discomfort and weakness was not good news!

About three weeks ago, I started to feel fairly constant pain on the dorsal side of my left wrist and hand and a little on the lateral side as well. Now, before you go ahead and say it’s because of 37 years of performing reflexology (and 14 actively practicing massage also), let me say this:

I am uber careful about body mechanics and ergonomics when working (and am always ‘on’ my students about this, too). Although I use both hands – thumbs and fingers equally, I am right-hand dominant.

I started on a serious self-care routine of almost constant massage and reflexology of the hand in question, paraffin treatments, massaging and stretching the muscles of the forearm, applying a CBD lotion a few times/day, and of course, resting it as much as I could. (In all honesty, I didn’t have much choice on that last one.)

Nothing was really making much of a difference though.

At my bi-weekly scheduled reflexology session about 10 days ago, I requested a paraffin treatment and hand reflexology. I also mentioned to my reflexologist, Julie Wesling, that I had noticed that my hand did not feel any better in the morning after a long night’s rest. In fact, I thought it felt worse. We both wondered if I was somehow placing my hand in an awkward position while asleep.

Julie suggested I try a wrist brace and I am sooo glad I followed her suggestion!

First off, it was not uncomfortable to sleep with. I don’t know that I was even aware of it once I fell asleep.

The first morning, I thought it felt a little better, but questioned whether I was just wishing that to be so. The second morning, there was no doubt. And the third; even better. It probably only took four or five nights of sleeping with an inexpensive drugstore wrist brace to bring my hand back to full pain-free function.

That experience reminded me of how fortunate I am to have chosen a path of bodywork for my life. I am so grateful for the fact that I have a good grasp of anatomy and kinesiology, and know so many self-care techniques to try before turning over the welfare of my body to an allopathic approach.

I think acting quickly also contributed to my speedy recovery. Waiting to see what happens might have developed into something far more serious requiring an invasive procedure to right.

And In The Beginning Was the Word

Another year has ended, and as is the custom for so many, today is the first day to put into action all those well-intentioned, laboriously thought-out New Year’s resolutions.

I am going to confess here that I have never written even one New Year’s resolution for myself. I’ve never started going to a gym or yoga class in the first week of a new year either. If I’m honest, I have to admit that it is probably because I did not trust myself to actually repeat said action for the next 365 consecutive days. It seemed daunting to me, and not wanting to feel like a failure, I just never engaged in this public practice. Instead, I watched everyone around me confidently voice their resolutions for the year and then slowly (or sometimes quickly) abandon them without another peep.

But, this year a friend shared an idea that resonated with me; one that I could get on board with and just felt right.

The idea is to pick a word – just one word – as yours for the year ahead.

As I listened to and read about, others’ words that inspired them, I realized that they were, for the most part, all nouns. That didn’t work for me. Nouns are words that identify something, and I have no problem naming things I want to do or accomplish or change. The challenge is actually doing.  So, I decided to choose a verb, an action word.

So, in the beginning – of my new year – is my word: COMMIT. Commit is a word that encompasses resolve, strength, dedication, responsibility, and accomplishment, and implies drive, initiative, and action.

This year I COMMIT to being as accountable to myself as I am to others. My word will guide me in the direction I want to take and the choices that will get me there.

Want to join me? What’s your word for 2020?