Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Professional Therapeutic Reflexology

Celebrating World Reflexology Week

How do reflexology students fulfill one of their requirements for certification, market themselves and honor the field of reflexology? They throw a reflexology party and invite the city to attend!

A requirement for completion in the Academy’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification is that each student organize and conduct a community outreach program or some other directed independent study. Some folks choose to offer a presentation and mini-sessions to their local teachers, nurses or fire fighters, as a way to thank them for their ongoing service to the community. Others choose to educate and teach a small targeted group (such as the elderly, or those suffering from diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome or Parkinson’s disease) on how they can help themselves with reflexology.

Three Florida participants in this year’s certification decided to band together and really celebrate. Terri Bishop-Brahen (from Ponte Vedra), John Guinta (from Jacksonville) and Adrianne Metz (from Titusville) rented a space at the University of North Florida and then wrote and distributed an invitation to the Jacksonville community to join them in celebrating World Reflexology Week (held annually during the last full week of September). Their September 25th party was broadcasted as a four-hour educational and experiential event not to be missed. John also prepared an article that was published in the city’s Natural Awakenings magazine. As phone calls started coming in, they wisely decided to recruit another set of hands; Jacksonville certified reflexologist, Elke Schreiber, joined the team. On the day of the event, the four arrived 45 minutes early (along with a photographer) to dress the room with reflexology posters, handouts, fun relevant give-aways, music and refreshments. Much to their surprise, there were already people waiting at the door!

My three students each took the podium to introduce the history, theory and benefits of reflexology, describe the difference between reflexology and massage, and answer specific questions posed by the very inquisitive crowd. Guests were then offered the opportunity to receive a 20-minute session on either their feet or hands. No one declined!

What surprised the therapists most was that people stayed the entire four hours! Even after they received their own taste of reflexology, folks chose to stand around and watch the reflexologists at work.

So, what did these reflexologists gain from conducting a community outreach (other than course credits, confidence and more outreach ideas)? Here’s what they had to say in response to that question:

“We learned how hungry the public is for reflexology. More people are interested in reflexology than we realized. That is a boom to people like us just starting a business. The diversity was pronounced: young and old, husbands and wives, mothers and sons, all kinds of ethnicities represented. Most people who were at our event knew something about reflexology and had come to it after impersonal and unproductive experiences with western medicine. Our time has finally come!”

Babies, Bathwater, Bicycles, Breakfast & Spilled Milk

I received a wonderful gift today and want to share it with you. (I do so with the permission of the authors.)

This gift is actually entitled “The Gift”, and it is a book that was primarily written for students of complimentary and alternative medicine modalities. As I read this short e-book, the benefits to those of us already in practice were obvious.

So, I re-gift this little gem with love. Download and read what babies, bathwater, bicycles, breakfast and spilled milk have to do with your practice!

 

Aims, Objectives and 108 New Appointments!

Do you know the difference between an aim and an objective? Making those distinctions clearly can make the difference between being successful or not, when attempting to reach a goal. Read how one woman is parlaying her understanding of these terms into 108 new appointments!

Shea Englebright, a certified reflexologist and yoga instructor in Orlando, Florida, was so excited after her Thai foot reflexology training last month that she immediately put into action an idea that had been brewing in her brain for awhile. Eager to share her passion for Thai reflexology and, as Shea put it, “practice the bejeesus out of it until it became like breathing”, she transformed her idea into reality by first clearly identifying her aims and objectives, and then determining the best methods by which to reach her goals.

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Before looking at Shea’s successful strategy, let’s look at the difference between an “aim” and an “objective”.

An aim is a general goal. It’s not necessarily measurable and it’s usually long-term. Think what, not how. This is where you dream BIG!

An objective works towards fulfilling your aim. Objectives are specific, measurable and short-term (usually just a few months). Working with objectives will change your life; the satisfaction of reaching one is amazing.

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And now, with Shea’s permission, I share the creative and well-thought-out plan that quickly manifested her dream. You can apply this formula to any professional or personal goal.

Shea’s Aims

1. Show respect for the tradition of Eastern cultures by paying homage to my teacher, honoring the art and lineage of the work and contributing to the well-being of all humankind. (In the East, it is customary for healers to give sessions freely as a way to show this respect.)

2. Define myself as a successful businesswoman and therapist in the community.

Shea’s Objectives

1. Turn Orlando onto the many benefits that Thai reflexology has to offer.

2. Infuse my bodywork and yoga practices with increased revenue during the slower summer months.

3. Develop enough confidence and familiarity so as not to even think about it (or refer to the illustrated manual) when giving a Thai reflexology session. (With the techniques in the background, Shea was free to allow the power of her consciousness to play the leading role in both her client’s and her own experience of the work. For that to happen, she had to find a way to do lots of sessions.)

Shea’s Methods (This is where it got really creative!)

1. Invite Amplified Culture to a yoga class followed by a Thai foot reflexology session. No charge. Providing reviews of great locally owned businesses, Amplified Culture is an Orlando operation run by two bloggers who aim to inspire residents to explore the bounty their city has to offer them (as opposed to tourists). That review and accompanying photos are how people learned about Thai reflexology being offered in Orlando.* This priceless advertising cost Shea nothing other than a few hours of her time, and provided her with a target audience to which she then offered the following challenge:

2. Help her reach a goal of 108 Thai reflexology sessions by September 1.** Shea offered the first 27 people a FREE session. The next 54 sessions (27 x 2) were priced at $27 and the last 27 sessions, $54. The significance of the number 27 is that there are 27 points worked in a Thai reflexology session. (Once the promotion ends, the fee for the session goes up to $80.)

I checked in with Shea a few hours ago to see how her “hearty special” (as she calls it) was doing. Here’s her response, five weeks after announcing her new specialty:

“It has been a HUGE success and pleasure for me. So far, I have booked 70 sessions before the end of August, and another 12 in September. People LOVE this bodywork and really appreciate a break on price of course. Everyone who came in for a free session came back or sent someone else in for a paid session. I have met dozens of new clients through the promotion and also made myself well known in my new studio where I offer the work.

I can’t speak highly enough of Thai foot reflexology on its own. It is a pure joy to practice the art and know that it works. After administering 38 already, I have only had one person not totally love it to death, and his verdict is still not certain.”

I thank Shea for sharing her successful experience with us, and invite everyone to take example from the simple process of clarifying aims, objectives and methods to attain your goals.

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PS. While writing this post, I was very much affected by Shea’s generosity, and found myself unconsciously visualizing a version of her strategy to introduce a new class that I want to start offering this year. The details are not totally worked out in my head yet, so I’ll withhold saying anything right now; however ….

If you are not already signed up to receive blog posts, I urge you to do so right now. (The registration form is at the top of this page.)  I will announce very soon what will be an incredible opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge in one day of fun, hands-on activities. The cost to do so will be hard to resist – guaranteed!  The offer will be made on this blog site only, and will be open to readers of this blog only.

In the meantime, if you want to learn how to give a Thai foot reflexology session, check out the two remaining workshops scheduled for this year. The first is next weekend, May 21 & 22, in Gainesville, Florida. The second is August 6 & 7 in Seattle, Washington.

* Read why Shea chose the number 108. Scroll down to Religion and Arts on the page.

** Read what the women from Amplified Culture had to say about their time at Shea’s studio.

 

Reflexology: Recreation or Healthcare?

There seems to be a growing trend in the United States to offer reflexology at settings other than a healthcare or wellness facility. It started out west, drifted eastward, and has recently debuted in my home state of Florida.

Practitioners are promoting an evening of foot massage or reflexology, along with enticing hydrotherapy services; all delivered in a tasteful salon setting. Guests lounge in comfy recliners (often leather) in a relaxing den-like decor, along with other folks enjoying foot treatments. Marketing materials invite you to “make a date of it”; to bring your best friend, mom or “main squeeze” – and a bottle of wine. The idea for these new ventures began with the need to create more revenue, and includes the goal of encouraging “healthy” dating.

That led me to recall a delightful Friday evening a few years ago at a famous hydrotherapy facility out west. When my friends and I walked into this very popular spa, I was surprised to see so many people relaxing in the common areas. Some were fully dressed; most were lounging in thick, fluffy bathrobes provided by the facility. People were rehydrating themselves with exotic non-alcoholic fruit drinks following their bodywork or “tub”. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. The owners had very successfully built a reputation as a healthy date destination. Guests received their bodywork in private rooms; hydrotherapy soaks were available communally for groups of friends or privately for couples.

At the same time as I was pondering these business models, I learned that the state of Utah has just replaced the word “therapeutic” with “recreational” in its scope of practice for massage therapists. (Reflexology is governed by the massage therapy act in Utah.)

The synchronicity of these events got me thinking about the direction of reflexology. Do we want to create more of a “social” atmosphere (including an association with alcohol), or do we want to continue to set our goals on being recognized as a bona fide “healthcare” modality? Can both models exist compatibly?

I think this is an important dialogue for those of us interested in the field of reflexology. Should the economic market and/or our culture’s insatiable need for social connection and multi-tasking dictate who we become? What do you consider to be the benefits of reflexology and how are they best delivered? These are critical questions, the answers to which will determine the path we take in the years to come. What do you think?

World Reflexology Week – For a Healthier World

Ten years ago, the International Council of Reflexologists (ICR) embarked on a bold initiative to inform the world of the benefits of reflexology. Since that historic decision, their statement “global awareness begins at the local level” has fostered an ever-increasing worldwide movement known as “World Reflexology Week” (WRW).

Annually, during the last full week in September, reflexologists around the globe take time to step out and educate their local communities about hand and/or foot reflexology. This year’s WRW takes place September 20 to 26.

Being a part of a global event such as this will leave you feeling supported and “warm & fuzzy” inside . It’s fun to think of people in far-away places out there doing exactly what you’re doing at the same time! A wonderful approach is to join up with other local reflexologists in your own community to pool your ideas, resources and time. (Make sure to take pictures and send them and a report of your event to both the Reflexology Blog and the ICR to post.)

The International Council has posted information on their website to help even the worst organized and promotion-shy of us to shine during this year’s celebration. The free package provides step-by-step instructions on how to plan an event to generate lots of local awareness around reflexology and health. (Fulfilling this much-need role in your community will of course also lend exposure to your own practice as a reflexologist.) The package includes an event planning worksheet (and sample), news release template (and sample), brochure, poster, WRW logos that you can use and discount coupons to give away to promote your event and business. They suggest many, many ways in which you can expose your community to the benefits of reflexology and your services, so check it out.

World Reflexology Week can serve to promote reflexology, generate more consciousness in regards to health, and establish your position in the community as the go-to person for therapeutic hand and foot reflexology. What other reasons do you need to participate?

What are you planning to do for World Reflexology Week? What wonderful things have you done in past years? Share them with us please!