Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Professional Therapeutic Reflexology

Reach For The Sky!

Saturn moves into Capricorn today, and in the astrology world, that is considered the most important transit of the year. Why?

Saturn’s job is to help you to realize great accomplishments, to push you to make a difference in the world, leaving behind something you can be proud of. In a nutshell, Saturn is here to help you fulfill your mission in life; why you were born.

Saturn helps you to become the best version of yourself through maturity and introspection, hard work and determination, and by learning the skills you need to create your mark on history.

Capricorn is associated with the Midheaven, the highest point in the sky at the time when you were born. So, when Saturn enters Capricorn, you have the rare opportunity to see things clearly. Capricorn points to who you aspire to be and what you aspire to do. Capricorn brings forth ambition, action, and self-motivation.

Now is the time to reach for the sky, fulfill the promise of your natal chart. Now is the time to think deeply about what it is you really want to do with your life. With Saturn and Capricorn on your side, expect clarity, patience, and perseverance to guide your path.

Since you are reading this, I am going to imagine that reflexology has played around in your imagination to some degree. So, I’m going to be bold here and say that if your pull has always been to help others, earn a decent living while doing so, and feel proud about what your work, then I respectfully suggest you register for the 2018 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification. No one who has ever taken this program has regretted it!

Think seriously about it. With Saturn in Capricorn, it has never been a better time to embrace the next best version of you. Make 2018 the year you actualize your purpose!

The Ideal Learning Environment

I’ve been teaching for over 30 years. One thing I have noticed over that time is that many people have a lot of anxiety around learning environments. A lot of adults remember really awful classroom experiences from their childhood, where they were shamed for having a different learning style, endured test anxiety, or were expected to just sit there all day breathing in information and never being given the opportunity to breathe out any questions or opinions or doubts.

Those past experiences, when carried into the present day, can really spoil an amazing opportunity to re-frame the experience of learning. To allay as many fears as I can in advance, I like to provide a blueprint for what people can expect during the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification.

So here is what the Academy instructors strive to create in the classroom:

Our intention is to provide ample time for the study and experience of Reflexology within a safe, stimulating and supportive environment.

We will begin each day preparing ourselves for the work that we do. There are many ways: quiet contemplation to focus attention on what’s important; a body-scan while following the breath; simple body movements relative to the day’s studies; a chance to “check-in” – report anything of significance in our lives that we need to clear before we can be present.

Working from a holistic model of education, we have designed this program to nurture, not control. The Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification is a feast for learning that uses a variety of teaching methods that will grab your interest and guarantee your success in grasping the program’s extensive content. We seek to encompass and integrate multiple layers of meaning and experience, rather than narrowly define human possibilities.

The classroom space will be what is termed both bounded and open – the instructor will guide discussions towards the topic, while at the same time allowing students the space to formulate and share their own ideas. The environment shall be open to the voice of the individual and the collective; shall honor the “little” stories of the individual as well as the “bigger” stories of the world’s disciplines and traditions, and shall respect speech and solitude as essential to the full realization of what the inner teacher is trying to say.

The quality of relationship within the community is held to be sacred, dynamic and authentic, not manipulative or hierarchical. Participants will take responsibility for co-creating the classroom experience along with the instructor. Respect and kindness are assumed. Sacredness, humor, silence, seriousness and fun co-exist smoothly.

Are We A Good Match?

When I was in the process of registering for a reflexology workshop recently, I paid attention to the thought process I go through in choosing classes for myself.

I’m very selective when it comes to spending my precious time and money – as I suspect you are, too. In the area of education, I expect my money’s worth; I want to leave the class feeling personally enriched and armed with knowledge and skills I can incorporate immediately into my life. I want to be in the presence of instructors who, not only know their “stuff”, but also know how to “teach”; how to clearly get the information across, and inspire and empower those of us looking to them for guidance.

That led me to think about the conversations that typically occur when people call to inquire about the Academy’s certification training. I realize that in calling you want to get a sense of me as much as you want to know what you can expect from the program. Naturally, you want to know if we’re “on the same page”, and if the material will meet your goals, and if the program format matches your learning style, and if you’ll be shown how to introduce your new skills and knowledge to your community once the training is over.

Click to learn more about the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Professional Reflexology Certification . If you have some questions, please do call. My phone number is 904/553.4067 EST.

I promise to answer your questions honestly and help you to determine if becoming a certified hand and foot reflexologist is the best move for you right now. I will not try to talk you into anything; I am not interested in having people in my program who are not excited and passionate about being there.

Before you pick up the phone, you may want to read a short questionnaire I created to help people determine whether or not the Academy’s program is right for them. The answers to the questions will go a long way towards informing you whether you are in the right place or not.

10 Benefits of Being a Certified Reflexologist

Massage therapists who are certified reflexologists STAND OUT!

Don’t believe me? Read Massage Magazine’s article Reflexology Combined with Massage to Improve Treatments – and Business.

I also recommend you read the article I was asked to write for Massage Magazine (Reflexology is NOT Massage) to learn how both the public and massage leaders in the US are fed up with unqualified people claiming to practice reflexology.

Reflexology is effective – on its own, and in combination with massage.

Below are 10 ways reflexology will help you STAND OUT IN THE CROWD:

  1. Extremely effective as a relaxation modality (for many people, more than massage).
  1. Can be used therapeutically to address many physiological imbalances not accessible through other hands-on modalities, especially conditions affecting the endocrine system.
  1. Beginning a massage session with targeted reflexology makes the massage easier on the hands and way more effective.
  1. One of the few modalities that can be used directly following surgery to help speed healing.
  1. Very popular. High level of interest from the public.
  1. Very portable, flexible and cost-effective way to help people.
  1. Can be used as an introduction to full body massage.
  1. Appealing to folks who are uncomfortable with disrobing and being touched.
  1. Easy on the therapist’s body.
  1. Certification indicates your seriousness and commitment to helping people return to health.

The Answer is No – and Yes

cameraI have struggled for years when asked if I teach reflexology classes online or have videos of the demos from my continuing education classes.

In response to the first part of that question, it took time and a lot of self-examination to feel comfortable just saying,

“No, I don’t teach hands-on classes remotely.”

I’ve watched how education has moved more and more towards Internet learning over the years, and how many bodywork teachers and schools are converting their programs to these new formats.

I’d ask myself,

“Am I shooting myself in the foot here?”

“Will people interested in learning reflexology just click off my website to pursue someone else’s classes because they’re more convenient?”

“Am I a dinosaur?”

I would drive myself crazy!

But the truth – my truth – is, I just can’t do it.

I have taught hundreds of people reflexology for over more than a quarter of a century, and I have NEVER – I repeat, NEVER – had even one person who was able to watch the demo and then execute the techniques and flow without some feedback and correction from me. I just don’t think it’s possible, even for a very seasoned therapist.

I don’t want people to purchase a video of my work and then start offering it incorrectly, claiming to have learned the protocol from me. That doesn’t sit well with my ethics.

It’s important to me that people leave my trainings having been given adequate attention at the tables; that they leave with some level of confidence and skill regarding what was demonstrated; that their time and money was well spent; and that they leave with something useful to add to their practices.

That said, I also totally get that people who have attended the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification, the How to Relieve Chronic Foot Pain workshop and/or the Traditional Thai Reflexology workshop might really appreciate a visual resource for review purposes. There’s a lot to remember in those classes.

So, it’s time to say YES to the request for a visual resource of hands-on procedures!

I have spent a lot of time this year researching and developing a platform that would provide video access to the hands-on protocols of the above trainings for those people who have attended.

The students in this year’s Certification program were the first to enjoy the benefits of a hybrid program, and are loving having videos of all the live instructions. From my end of things, I see the impact having review videos has had on their hands-on work.

I am super excited to announce that beginning with the next weekend workshop in Winter Park (Orlando), Florida on August 20 and 21, attendees of all How to Relieve Chronic Foot Pain classes will be given access to a video of the hands-on protocol that I teach in this highly-popular training. The video has been shot, and my videographer, Chrissy Martinez, is editing it right now.

Anyone who has taken the workshop in the past is invited to send me an email at karen@academyofancientreflexology.com if you would like to receive an invitation as well. (Please mention when and where you took the training.) You have all paid for this information – I’m thrilled to be able to offer you the gift of live images of how to execute the techniques for your review. I really want to see you all out there offering this great service to the public, and I think this resource will support that.

Beginning with the September scheduled dates, the same bonus will be available to all past, present and future attendees of the Traditional Thai Reflexology training.

I love technology and love exploring ways in which to use it to make my life easier and to offer more value to the people I interact with. I feel certain that these videos will contribute to your success. Let me know below what you think!

 

The Heart of a Reflexologist

yin:yang heart:footRecently, I was asked to describe what sorts of people are attracted to my reflexology certification. Who is a good fit? Turns out the answer is both simple, and not so simple!

Participants in the Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification tend to be self-motivated, responsible adults with a passion for reflexology and a strong interest in personal growth and development. That part is simple; however…

they can also be grouped as young adults, elders, healthy and not so healthy, confident and not so confident. Not so cut and dry.

What they have in common though is a sincere desire to heal themselves and through that process to touch the lives of as many other people as possible, to help them improve the quality of their lives.

Through skilled touch and loving respect, grads help individuals confront the most challenging aspects of their lives. These skilled practitioners have learned to appreciate the difficulties inherent in charting a path of recovery through the maze of conflicting information and personal beliefs that get in the way of living a healthy and happy life. They have learned how to gently support their clients’ efforts to reinvent themselves as healthy, happy, self-actualized citizens.

I have no interest in turning out technicians; people who have memorized reflexes and can apply appropriate techniques. My intent is to graduate skilled, compassionate therapists with strong business goals.

If this sounds like you, then I invite you to join this year’s team of eager participants. Adding reflexology to your “tool kit” will enhance the services you have to offer and establish a satisfied clientele who will market your business for you.

Enrollment is happening now! Act today. Classes start April 7.

 

 

Why I Love To Get Up Every Morning

ikigaiIkigai is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being”. According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai. It’s why you were put here on earth; your raison d’être; your purpose in life; why you get up every morning.

It is said that finding one’s ikigai often requires a lengthy self-examination. And I can attest to that, because I have only just discovered – or rather, recognized – what my true purpose is in this lifetime. (Yeah, maybe I’m a slow learner!)

I have practiced and taught reflexology for 30+ years, and have loved every minute of it. I feel blessed to have played some small part in helping others to feel better. That work has rewarded me financially and in the nontangible ways that have built a life of meaning, fulfillment and happiness.

But that, it turns out, is not my ikigai.

My true ikigai is to inspire others to recognize their value and gifts, and to give them the tools to express themselves in a way that brings joy into their lives and makes it possible for them to create a successful life on their own terms. If I can inspire someone to his or her greatness, I have served well.

It really has been a lengthy search for me to discover that. A search that I have enjoyed and have never been able to define until last month, when some specific writing assignments given to me in a course I was taking slowly unraveled the truth – MY truth.

My truth – my passion – is to inspire others on their chosen path of self-inquiry. I believe very strongly that from that path of self-discovery will arise strength, confidence and a life worth living.

I also believe that the more empowered, confident and happy people are, the more creative the ideas and innovations that are birthed. An army of inspired possibility-seekers is what will save this planet.

Therefore, the mission of the Academy of Ancient Reflexology is to create an environment in which people learn how they can improve first the quality of their own lives – and then others – through the vehicles of reflexology, aromatherapy, service and self-awareness.

No matter where you are in your life – whether you want to embark on a new adventure or enhance an existing wellness-based practice – you can create a viable business for yourself doing what you like to do that also serves other people. I know you can, because I did.

You don’t need a University degree (I don’t have one.) and you don’t need thousands and thousands of dollars to do it (I didn’t have that kind of money.)

All you need is a heart, your hands and a desire. A desire to make a difference – to change the world – one sole at a time.

I can provide the rest. I know I can because I’ve been doing it for years.

I can teach you the hands-on skills, powerful communication skills and proven business strategies based on integrity that will provide you a life and livelihood that you will be excited to get up every morning to face.

Would you like to work the hours you set in an environment that you create? You can. Like me, you can love “going to work”. (Frankly, for me, there is barely a separation between ‘work’ and ‘play’.)

When I have been asked what I would do if I suddenly came into possession of millions of dollars, I honestly must say, “Nothing much different than what I’m doing now.”

I LOVE what I do; how I spend my days – and the icing (chocolate, of course) on the cake: people pay me to do it!

So, here are FIVE REASONS why I want to connect with more people and share what I know and love:

1. It pains me to see people who are unfulfilled, whose lives either bore or disappoint them, who believe they have no value, who have barely scratched the surface of their potential.

I want people to realize their value, to feel good about themselves and what they have to offer; to feel successful (however you define that), and feel empowered.

That’s what it really all comes down to for me. I want people to feel their own personal power, and then to go out and share their talents with a world so desperately in need right now.

I know it’s possible for all of us because I did it for myself. Believe me, I was not born with this level of confidence and fire in me.

I can help you uncover your spark, just as others showed me the way. My purpose here on earth is to inspire others to be the best they can be.

2. For years I have read people far more educated than me state “The number one priority needing fixing to save the world is….”.

I’ve watched myself sitting on the fence about this, incapable of choosing just one, so have made small contributions to a number of deserving organizations over the years. All the issues seem equally important – environment, inequality, violence, justice, population growth, healthcare, water quality – the list never ends.

I have always believed though that, as one of the fortunate ones, it is my obligation to give back. I want to give back.

Maybe it’s the growing examples of terrorism we are experiencing now that has finally led me to land on one that has the ability to grow people capable of making sound decisions regarding all the rest: EDUCATION.

I could go on and on about this topic, but won’t right now, other than to say that, as a white female born in the western world, I have been given opportunities that are denied half the population in many parts of the world.

My declared intention is to contribute to the education and empowerment of the 60 million girls around the globe who are denied the basic right of safe access to education.

Beginning this year, the Academy of Ancient Reflexology will donate 10% of its income to the Malala Fund  to help all young women find their voices and contribute to a more sustainable, healthy future for us all.

3. I truly believe that relaxation is the basis of health (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual), and I don’t know anything that helps the body and mind to relax more than reflexology. I doubt that anyone would argue with me when I say we all could do with a little more relaxation in our lives!

4. Reflexology is easy to do and to learn. It not only relaxes the body’s muscles, but also supports every single operating system in your body to function more optimally. What an amazing gift to be able to give your family, friends and the people in your community who are struggling with their health. Do you know people with digestive issues? Respiratory allergies? On blood pressure meds? Battling thyroid imbalances? Reflexology can support those struggling systems.

5. And finally, I am 66 years old. I’ve been practicing and teaching reflexology for half of my life. It’s time for me to pass the torch!

 I created the Therapeutic Hand and Foot Reflexology Professional Certification program in the mid-1990’s. It’s based on the values and intentions of much of what I’ve shared here, so it’s probably not for everyone.

If you are searching for a path to a new business venture or a way to differentiate yourself from other wellness-based practitioners, I suggest you first take this short quiz to determine if the Academy’s program is right for you.

 

 

The Day My Life Fell Apart

Yellow Brick RoadI 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.

Curiosity and Passion

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

Well, I have to admit that I don’t buy in to 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.

But it wasn’t always that way for me.

Years ago, when people would ask me what my passion was, I felt like such 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?

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 about 25+ years ago.

My curiosity (and skepticism) about how contact with the feet could affect stress levels and health motivated me 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 this stuff. Took a weekend workshop at the Florida School of Massage with instructor Christina Polnyj, and that did it. Signed up to take certification training in a chemistry-based program, offered by Aromahead Institute of Essential Oils Studies. (I liked feeling like the mad scientist in my kitchen!)

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. Started offering sessions to friends in exchange for services, and taking note of how their emotional, mental and physical lives were changed. And that’s when curiosity turned into 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.

What gets you thinking “Hmmmm” every time you see or hear something? What will you explore?

If you have even an inkling of curiosity about reflexology, I urge you to join Jenny and me for one of our 2-day introductions to either hand or foot reflexology:

Reflexology for the Hands

 foot Reflexology 

You’ll either feel inspired afterwards 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, then jump in! Read about this year’s Therapeutic Hand and Foot Reflexology Professional Certification.

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

The Tragedy of Parkinson’s Disease

Reaching outParkinson’s disease is tragic. It’s challenging to live with – on levels I can’t even imagine – and heartbreaking for loved ones to witness. The incredible success that actor Michael J. Fox has had in managing his symptoms is due in no small part to his financial ability to resource the absolute best treatments available world wide. Sadly, that option is not available to most.

Erica Blinkhorn, a graduate of the Academy’s 2015 certification program, decided to see if a combination of hand and foot reflexology might help an 81 year-old woman with her chronic symptoms. You can read Erica’s exact protocol and the results of her research here. The study revealed a surprising outcome with a non-related health complaint as well.