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?
My initial interest in bodywork started back in the early 80’s when I was living in the Caribbean. I frequented a health food store because the island I lived on had very few grocery options at that time. I became friends with one of the folks running the store who was an herbalist. It was his influence that got me initially looking into alternative health modalities. However, I was in the first few years of what turned out to be an exciting career as an air traffic controller.
When I retired from my career in aviation a few years ago I decided to renew and pursue my interest in bodywork. It was on a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail that I made my decision to focus on reflexology, and not just because I focused a lot on my feet during that hike. It was after I met and hiked with a massage therapist for a few days, who I told of my interest. He suggested I look into reflexology instead of strictly massage, because he said massage was harder on the practitioner. Today with a few weeks left in my massage class, and after having completed a hand and foot reflexology certification last year, I can say that I believe his statement. While I enjoy both forms of bodywork and know that both offer the receiver a great amount of relaxation, I believe reflexology has more benefits to both the practitioner and the client.
My reflexology sessions today include techniques from both modalities, and I am confident that the benefits of my work today have positive effects on my clients. Having had a high-paced and often stressful career, it is nice to see that I can now bring some relaxation to others. That alone has been worth the time and money I have invested in this work.
Peace,
John
Thanks for sharing your story John.