Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Professional Therapeutic Reflexology

The Academy’s Foot Reflexology Poster

Allow me to brag here for a few minutes. Rather, let’s let Massage Today do the bragging for me! They rated my foot reflexology poster a 9.5 out of 10! Here’s what their reviewer, Ronnie Ginsberg had to say:

“This attractive, professional chart is large, and that is a good thing. The 38-by-22.5-inch size allows plenty of blank space to allow for easy visualization. Foot structures are marked colorfully against a sedate background. There are a lot of reflexology charts out there, and many are too crammed with information in a small space to be of much practical use while working. This one is easy to read for the clients and for a practitioner to use during a session. The large size allows for some structures to be indicated that are not often on smaller charts (i.e., vocal cords, Eustachian tube, axillary and cervical nodes, etc.).

Left and right views clearly are differentiated, which is particularly useful for the plantar views. There also are dorsal, medial and lateral views, which many charts either do not indicate, or the print is too tiny to be easily seen. Left and right views are included in the dorsal, medial and lateral views; this is convenient, but redundant, in that the info bilaterally is the same. Still, the views offer a convenient no-brainer for quick access.

The whole poster is laminated on both sides, also useful if the need arises to remove oil marks. Grommets for easy mounting are provided in the four corners. I recommend this poster, and it will find a place in my office.”

If you would like to own one of these informative and attractive wall charts for your office, please visit this link. They are a great visual teaching tool to use with clients after their sessions, and provide a good-looking professional wall hanging for your practice space. With close to 100 reflexes identified, you might just learn something too!

Academy Foot Reflexology Poster

I Have A New Foot Toy!

For years, I have used and recommended the wooden footsie roller as an easy and effective way to release muscle tension in the feet and reduce plantar
fascia pain. footsie-roller

In fact, I remember one day, years ago, walking into a Target store and seeing a bin of footsie rollers in the $1 bins at the entrance to the store. I bought 10 or 15 of them and gave them away to clients. I wish now I had grabbed the whole lot – every time I walk into a Target I still look to see if they have another shipment! No luck yet.

Fast forward to today: I was up in Vermont last week teaching and was gifted a version of a foot roller that I like even more.

It’s called a Foot Wheel. foot-wheel

It’s not as long as the wooden versions and is made of nylon and steel – virtually impervious to water or bangs.

What I like most about it is the roundness of the spindles that you roll into your tissue. They’re not as sharp-edged as the wooden footsie roller, which allows you to better use this tool standing, in addition to sitting. You can attain great depth without it hurting.

The large spaces between the three wheels also allow you to invert and evert your foot a bit and work the medial and lateral sides of the foot, which is a really nice feature.

Amazon carries the Foot Wheel if you want to try one for yourself. They would be a great item to sell in your practice if you want to recommend them to clients with sore feet.

Have Tub Will Travel

A challenge to anyone traveling by air to a reflexology training is packing a foot tub. Kind of impossible to squeeze a Rubbermaid-like dishpan or enamel pot into one’s luggage! An ingenious Canadian woman arrived at one of my workshops – on a motorcycle – with a wonderful solution to the problem.

An avid outdoors woman, she had discovered that the inflatable tub she used to wash her dishes and clothes when camping did double duty as a pedi-bathtub to soak her tired feet after hiking. Deflated, it folded down to a very small and manageable article to pack.

After quite a bit of research I discovered that not only are these items available from beauty supply stores and camping/outdoor equipment websites, but also from trusty ole Amazon. Starting as low as $5, they’re certainly an inexpensive fix, even if traveling by car. Here’s the link.

 

Empty or Full?

Should I fill with treasures or daydreams? If I do, which is it – empty or full?

Such were the thoughts of one person who was gifted a beautiful fabric bowl by Florida artist Lisa Myers. Since receiving mine, I find my eyes constantly wandering over to this lovely addition to my desk. What to put into mine?

Here’s why I’m telling you about these fun bowls:

To begin with, they’re gorgeous; also reversible (two bowls for the price of one), functional, well made, very reasonable (make great gifts) and absolutely spot-on for a clinical practice.

This is the perfect place to invite clients to deposit their jewelry, keys, money-clip and/or phones whilst zoning out on your table – or for you to display gift certificates or business cards. To add icing to the cake, you get to support a creative small business owner who loves paisley. (Learn where the word “paisley” originates at Lisa’s online marketplace, Alemah Boutique.)

 

Sole Salvation

We all know that lubricants moisturize, soothe and seal tissue. Do you know that they can also “feed” your feet with beneficial nutrients? We’ll look at three common ones here: an oil, a butter and an ester.

Castor Oil:

Castor is a pure vegetable oil obtained from the seed of the castor plant, and in its natural state is a pale yellow liquid with a mild odor (as opposed to the adulterated, “stripped-clean” white version often found in drugstores).

Castor has long been recognized for its ability to soothe dry, cracked tissue. A high preponderance of ricinoleic acid (a powerful anti-inflammatory) makes it a perfect remedy for red, itchy feet and undecylenic acid, another active ingredient in castor oil, is widely acknowledged as an effective anti-fungal treatment. Last, but not least, castor oil has been proven to have analgesic (pain-reducing) effects, according to a study published in the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery.

Jojoba

Although often referred to as an oil, jojoba (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is actually a liquid ester wax derived from the seed of the Simmondsia chinensi plant. What makes jojoba particularly sweet to work with is the fact that its molecular structure closely resembles that of the body’s own sebaceous secretions and therefore absorbs easily into the skin. It contains high amounts of the alpha, delta and gamma tocopherols, natural forms of the anti-oxidant Vitamin E. It is non-allergenic and non-comedogenic (does not clog pores), and because it contains no fragile triglycerides, which easily break down and oxidize, jojoba does not go rancid or stain linens. I love it.

Shea Butter

This luscious butter – another of my faves – is cold-processed from the seed of the karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii). In addition to being a great moisturizer, one attribute for which it is highly reputed is that of soothing conditions of heat in the tissue, such as eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, dermatitis and burns (including sun-damaged skin). The list of benefits of this traditional African-derived butter is a lengthy one.

Pure shea butter is pale yellow in color. Beware of white shea butters; they have been treated with hexane (a toxic solvent) to remove both color and the butter’s natural nutty scent. Shelf life is a minimum of one year.

Quality

If you add up the number of times in a day that you put lotions and creams on your hands – you will realize the importance of using chemical-free products. Always purchase organic. You’re worth it.

If you add essential oils to your carrier, choose GC/MS tested oils so you know what you’re getting. Choose oils specific to whatever condition is being presented and you will have a doubly powerful adjunct to your hands-on work.

What do you massage into your clients’ feet at the end of a reflexology session?

90 Reasons to Like Me!

Got your attention, didn’t I?

So, here’s the deal: I’ve created a business page on Facebook and I want you to join. So, to entice you to “like” me, I am going to run a random draw for the next five days. Each day I will draw the name of one person who liked me that day and send that person my detailed, colorful foot reflexology chart as a thank you.

The 22.5 x 38 inch chart displays and labels 90 recognized reflexes (hence 90 reasons to like me!) found on the plantar, dorsal, medial and lateral aspects of the feet. In addition to being a beautiful interpretive work of art that may be proudly displayed in your clinic, the chart will assist you to create individualized sessions for your clients presenting with homeostatic imbalances. So, go ahead and like me now!

http://www.facebook.com/AcademyofAncientReflexology

 

Foot Poster Price Reduction!

While purging my office at year-end, I came across this review of the Academy’s foot chart from the July 2006 Massage Today magazine. I felt proud as I read it and would like to share it with you.

As I read the comments from the reviewer my thoughts went back to the many months spent working on the poster. Although I created the chart of reflexes, I hired an artist to render the design (since I’m not that good of an artist!). Kevin’s girlfriend willingly modeled her feet so as to provide an accurate anatomical representation, and since he was not a reflexologist, getting the exact location of the nearly 100 reflexes took many revisions. At completion, Kevin jokingly said that he figured he had earned a certificate as a reflexologist!

There are a number of good reasons why having a chart on your wall is a smart idea. Since I want more of you to have the advantage of displaying a beautiful and accurate chart in your practice, I have decided to reduce the price of the poster by $10.  Think of it as  New Year’s gift!

Here’s why having a reflexology chart is a good move:

1. They’re fabulous for teaching, since most people are visual learners. You can point out reflexes on the chart that relate to the areas of the feet that got either your attention and/or your client’s during the session. This opens the way for a discussion regarding the health of those specific organs and systems, what actions may be weakening them, and what changes might better support the health of those structures. And that might spur your clients on to taking steps towards improving their health, including booking more appointments with you.

2. Charts are associated with professionalism. They provide a visual statement about you and your business, and give your room the confident look of a healthcare office. Charts remind your clients that you base your practice on science and recognized educational models. Trust in your credentials and abilities is increased.

3. They’re an easily available learning tool for you. A comprehensive chart, such as the Academy’s, hung near your stool, can serve as a reference point as you work. You will see the location of lesser-known reflexes that when worked into your specific sessions will increase results.

4. Clients love charts!

So here’s what Massage Today had to say about the Academy’s foot, starting with a rating of 9.5 out of a possible 10:

“This attractive, professional chart is large, and that is a good thing. The 38 by 22.5 inch size allows plenty of blank space to allow for easy visualization. Foot structures are marked colorfully against a sedate background. There are a lot of reflexology charts out there, and many are too crammed with information in a small space to be of much practical use while working. This one is easy to read for the clients and for a practitioner to use during a session. The large size allows for some structures to be indicated that are not often on smaller charts (i.e. vocal cords, Eustachian tube, axillary and cervical nodes, etc.)

Left and right views clearly are differentiated, which is particularly useful for the plantar views. There also are dorsal, medial and lateral views, which many charts either do not indicate, or the print is too tiny to be easily seen. Left & right views are included in the dorsal, medial and lateral views; this is convenient, but redundant, in that the info bilaterally is the same (my note: that is true for the medial and lateral views, not dorsal). Still, the views offer a convenient no-brainer for quick access.

The whole poster is laminated on both sides, also useful if the need arises to remove oil marks. Grommets for easy mounting are provided in the four corners. I recommend this poster, and it will find a place in my office.”

Visit here to see a picture of the chart and ordering details.