Reflexology - Association of Reflexologists

Transcription

✽
reflexions
No.103 * June 2011
T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E A S S O C I AT I O N O F R E F L E X O L O G I S T S
www.aor.org.uk
✽Special feature ✽
Reflexology
& Pain (part 2)
HEALTH
✽ DEVELOPMENT ✽ NEWS ✽ EXPERT ADVICE ✽ MORE!
AoR reviews exclusive members’ insurance scheme
Knowing that we are offering AoR members excellent value for money,
comprehensive policy cover and brilliant service is important to us. Very
important.
That’s why, twice a year, the AoR and Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers
review the cover, benefit and cost of the insurance scheme offered
exclusively to AoR Honorary, Fellow, Full and Associate members.
We take time to compare other schemes & websites to review policy
wordings, excesses, types of therapies and student cover – to name just a
few areas! We do this as part of our service to you.
Our scheme still offers a £5m limit of indemnity as standard and covers
over 250 therapies. Teachers can be covered with no restriction on where
they teach or the number of students.
It is so important that members feel their cover is sufficient, that should
a claim occur or an allegation of unprofessionalism be made by a
dissatisfied client, cover is in force.
The AoR continue to endorse & recommend Alan Boswell Insurance
Brokers Ltd, who work on behalf of all Honorary, Fellow, Full and
Associate Members to ensure the scheme is competitive, comprehensive
and the service is online. Their online facility is for new business, mid term
adjustments and renewals. Documentation is emailed back instantly.
Available only to AoR Honorary, Fellow, Full and Associate Members. To
find out more, buy cover or obtain a quotation, contact:
www.alanboswell.com/aor
Call: 0845 6180207
Email: [email protected]
Preferred Supplier
✽
Contents
✽
4
CHAIR’S & CE’S WELCOME
5
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES
7
40 YEARS OF REFLEXOLOGY
A life in reflexology explored
8
9
AREA GROUP LIST
12
VERTICAL REFLEXOLOGY AND SPORTS INJURIES
Lynne Booth HMAR looks at reflexology and sports injuries
14
REFLEXTHERAPY
In the context of chronic pain
17
REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY
David Wayte FMAR and Andrew James MAR discuss this common condition
CHILDBIRTH AND PAIN
Exploring the fear/pain cycle with Gill Thomson MAR
19
PAIN: MESSAGE SYSTEM OF THE BODY
Moss Arnold discusses pain’s significance in Chi Reflexology
20
HOW TO BE AWARE OF DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES
Writing case studies using self-reported measures
21
AVOIDING SUPINE HYPOTENSION
When providing reflexology for pregnant women
22
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
23
WHAT EVERY REFLEXOLOGIST SHOULD BE SELLING
24
WEBHEALER
Exploring the ASA regulations
25
FIRST STEPS TO SUCCESS
A seminar for newly qualified and student reflexologists
22
27
BOOK REVIEWS
28
CPD LISTINGS
29
AoR SALES
THE LEARNING ZONE
A spot of quick revision for everyone!
We’re here to help!
✽Special feature ✽
Reflexology
& Pain (part 2)
Pages 9 - 19
www.aor.org.uk
The AoR are here to help you. From reflexology
queries to membership queries, phone us on...
01823 351010
Alternatively, you can write to us at:
5 Fore St, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HX
email: [email protected]
or fax us on: 01823 336646
June 2011 ✽ Reflexions 3
Welcome to your June
2011 edition of Reflexions.
This edition, we return to the subject
of reflexology and pain. This is a topic
that many of you will find especially
relevant to your practice, as many
clients report pain as high on the list
of their symptoms that they’d like
reflexology to affect in a positive way.
As you may be aware, we have
received reports that reflexologists
in Uganda are taking their Government to court to contest the
Ugandan Government’s directive in March for the immediate
closure of all reflexology centres in the country.
An application for a judicial review (to be heard on 20 April
2011) was made by umbrella body United Reflexologists’
Association of Uganda, as well as Alleluia Reflexology Health
Solution and Nutrition Centre Limited. They are contending that
the government never consulted with them before the ban was
made and “The impugned closure and banning of reflexology
centres in Uganda and their activities failed to separate the
wheat from the chaff and were therefore gratuitously unfair.”
We at the AoR know that a few of you have close ties with
Uganda, either through Reflexology Outreach International
or as trainers and practitioners, and this news has been truly
devastating. You have told us about the complex political,
cultural and social fabric of Ugandan society which helps us
understand a little of how the government came to make such
a sweeping decision. But this will offer little comfort for the
professional reflexologists whose livelihoods are affected or
for their clients. It is another example of where untrained and
unscrupulous individuals have laid a shadow over our profession.
Here at the AoR it has led us to reflect on the importance of
our own aims and objectives; to set the bar for professional
standards, whilst at the same time keeping a constant dialogue
at parliamentary level, in the NHS and maintaining practice
standards through self regulation here in the UK.
At this time we are awaiting the judicial review and offering to
extend assistance in terms of our experience and organisational
model to The United Reflexologists’ Association of Uganda if
they are able to turn this judgement around and persuade the
government to have dialogue with them.
With best wishes,
from Karen
I am sure you will have noticed on our front cover that this
edition continues our special feature of Reflexology and Pain.
Members responded so enthusiastically to our request for input
on the theme that we thought the subject deserved further
exploration.
Refining and enhancing our reflexology skills and techniques
is always a high priority for members, as it allows us to provide
even more effective treatments for clients. Hence, the articles in
this edition (covering subjects such as sports injuries, chronic
pain, RSI, fear and back pain) will assist in furthering that aim.
The March edition of Reflexions saw the arrival of a new page,
entitled the Learning Zone. This is the brainchild of Laura
Occleston, our editor, originating from her desire to support
students’ learning with quick, handy and not forgetting fun
ways to revise facts and information. However, for those of us
who trained some time ago, it will also serve as a reference and
reminder page too.
We would like the Learning Zone to be written by members
for members, and so with that thought in mind, we do request
member input. If you have any useful and helpful tips for newly
qualified reflexologists, please send them in. Better still, if you
could write a short article of about 300 words on the theme of
Perfect Tips for Newly Qualified Reflexologists, we would love to
hear from you and receive it. Please make this page your own,
and let’s all have fun whilst learning and sharing knowledge,
wisdom and experience.
Continuing with the theme of knowledge and learning is CPD.
We are aware that some members felt concern about how to
acquire their CPD points to maintain their AoR status without
financial outlay. Being mindful of the continuing economic
climate, the March edition featured a page on acquiring CPD
points without cost and we do hope this has proved helpful.
Don’t forget – the most up-to-date CPD information is always
available on the Members’ Area of our website, and if you still
have questions, our staff are available to answer them, so feel
free to give them a call.
Finally, may I wish everyone happy days of summer sunshine,
good health and well-being in the months ahead. Happy reading.
✽
✽
Carolyn Story
Chief Executive
✽
4 reflexions ✽ June 2011
Welcome
Karen King MAR
Chair of the AoR Board
www.aor.org.uk
✽✽
Notice of Annual General Meeting
ASSOCIATION OF
REFLEXOLOGISTS
(Registered in England and Wales with registered number 5651575)
Notice is hereby given that an Annual
General Meeting (AGM) of the Association
of Reflexologists (the Company) will be
held on 24th September 2011 at 9.30am at
the Strand Palace Hotel, 372 The Strand,
London, WC2R 0JJ.
Ordinary Business
1. Welcome and Housekeeping
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Acceptance of Minutes of 2010 Annual General Meeting
4. Acceptance of Minutes of 2011 Extraordinary General Meeting
5. Matters Arising
6. Chief Executive’s Report
7. Chairman’s Address
8. To receive and adopt the Company’s annual accounts for the financial year ended 31st December 2010 together with the last Directors’ and Auditors’ report on those accounts.
9. To appoint Knox Cropper as Auditors to the Company until the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company
10. To authorise Directors to fix the Auditors’ Remuneration
11. To note the following board member change:
a. Kalok Bonar resigned as a director in January 2011
12. Nominations of Directors
13. Election of Directors
14. Notification of a minor change in the AoR Code of Practice and Ethics
15. Any other Business (notified in advance)
16. Date of next AGM
17. Close of Meeting
NOTES
1. A Member of the Company is entitled to attend and
vote at the AGM. A Member is also entitled to appoint
a proxy to attend and, on a poll vote, to vote in his/her
place. A proxy must be a Full member or Fellow of the
Company. To appoint a proxy, please request a proxy
form from Central Administration. Please note when
completing your proxy form that it will be necessary for
you to delete either “for” or “against” as appropriate.
Please ensure that your proxy form is completed and
returned to the Association of Reflexologists, 5 Fore
Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HX no later than 48
hours before the time appointed for holding the Annual
General Meeting. Completion of the proxy form does not
preclude a member from subsequently attending and
voting at the meeting in person if he or she wishes.
2. The register of interests of the Directors and their
families in the membership of the Company will be
available for inspection at the registered office of the
Company during normal business hours
(Mon - Friday 9am - 5pm) from the date of this notice until
the conclusion of the AGM.
✽✽
By order of the Board of Directors
Ireen Goulding
Honorary Secretary Registered Office:
5 Fore Street
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 1HX
Please note:
The following documents are now available from the AoR
Central Administration office:
• The end of year accounts for 2010
• The minutes of the 2010 AGM and 2011 EGM.
To obtain a copy of these documents, please visit the
Members’ Area of the AoR website, email [email protected]
or call us on 01823 351010.
Please also note that the AGM will finish in time for the start of
the AoR Introductory Seminar on Reflexology for Pregnancy
by Susanne Enzer at the same venue.
Dated this 12th April 2011
www.aor.org.uk
June 2011 ✽ reflexions 5
✽✽
Membership
Changes for Honorary/
Fellow Members
From the 1st April 2011, we are changing
the suffix AoR Hons to HMAR for
Honorary Members and from FAoR to
FMAR for Fellow Members. This, we hope,
will continue the distinction of these titles
whilst keeping suffixes for all members
consistent and progressive. Please do
be aware of these changes, as for some
of you, this may mean that you need to
make some changes to your promotional
materials to reflect your new suffix.
HMCA (Hospital & Medical
Care Association)
HMCA (Hospital
& Medical Care
Association)
is a specialist
provider of
membership
benefits to
professional
groups and has
been offering Medical Care Plans as part
of their range for over 20 years.
HMCA’s Medical Extra Care Plan provides
benefits for complementary medicine
treatment so long as it is under the referral
of the patient’s General Practitioner.
All Complementary Medicine providers
(including reflexologists) are covered
where they hold a certificate of specialist
accreditation recognised by a competent
authority. This includes MAR and FMAR
certificate holders.
Please note that MAR and FMAR
certificate holders do not need to be
registered with HMCA to treat Medical
Extra Care Plan subscribers.
Updates
Joining together in support of
the 40 Commando project
Board Changes
✽✽
We recently had to say farewell
to our Honorary Treasurer/
Financial Director Kalok Bonar.
As you might remember, in December
2010’s edition of Reflexions, we
announced that Beautelle (a leading
supplier of medical and therapy
equipment) were going to offer a fabulous
prize of a compact saddle stool to be won
at our Summer school in Harrogate.
With the winner’s stool now in production,
we continue to celebrate our 12 year
association with Beautelle through their
offer for all Full, Fellow, Honorary and
Student members to obtain a preferential
10% discount on all of Beautelle’s product
lines (including their clinic sale items). The
discount is applied only at the time you
order your items through your use of a
special code in conjunction with your
membership number - so if you do need
to order any equipment, large or small,
please don’t forget to have both of these
to hand at the time you order. If you would
like this code, do contact the AoR office,
as we would be happy to provide it to
you. Please bear in mind that the discount
is especially for you as a member, so it is
not transferable to anyone else.
The Board of Beautelle have also kindly
agreed to donate one of their famous
compact saddle stools for use in the
40 Commando project mentioned in
December’s edition of Reflexions – we
promise to use it well! As some of you
may know, in early March our Reflexology
Support Manager Tracey broke her
foot, so the project has been on hold a
while; however, we are hoping that by
the time you read this article she will be
fully recovered and treating marines once
more.
Kalok held this position for
over three years and has
been an active member of the
Board, providing expertise and
knowledge in the financial area
of our work.
We would all like to express
our sincere thanks to Kalok for
all her valuable contributions
during that time and her
dedication to the role.
We wish Kalok the very best for
all of her future endeavours.
✽✽
www.aor.org.uk
✽
40 Years of Reflexology
and still going strong! ✽
Max Dickson first came over to England from
Germany in July 1939 when he was 13 years old.
Having already worked part time on a farm for
three years beforehand, he was the last of three
brothers to leave Germany following the events of
Kristallnacht, when attacks on Jewish people in
Germany were becoming ever more frequent and
war was bubbling beneath the political surface in
Europe.
When Max arrived in the UK, he attended school for just two
years before training to be a baker at the tender age of 15.
It was this career, he later added, that helped to ensure his
hands were strong enough to avoid RSI and sore thumbs as
a practising reflexologist.
Max enjoyed several careers since his bakery training,
including being a soldier, farming and carpentry, but one thing
has always come through: he worked best in careers using
his hands.
In 1970, Max’s eye was caught by an article written in the
Daily Mirror about reflexology by Doreen Bailey. In response
to it, he called her and asked her how much education one
would need to study reflexology; her reply has stayed with
him ever since. She said, “all I want of you is enthusiasm and
hard work,” and that is exactly what he gave. Max trained
under Doreen Bailey herself in reflexology, being examined by
Dwight Byers at the end of his course. Over the next seven
years, Max trained under Robert St. John in the Metamorphic
Technique (he was in the same class as Gaston St. Pierre),
as well as learning massage, lymphatic drainage, polarity
therapy and orthobionomy (where he met and trained
alongside Tony Porter).
Following this period of training, Max started to build up a
clientele – not by advertising as one might expect – but purely
by giving talks and demonstrations of reflexology to people
in his local area. Being the only reflexology practitioner on the
South Coast of England at the time, Max became more and
more popular as word of his skill spread, and soon, at the
encouragement of his first wife, he left full time employment
to follow the career he had fallen in love with. Max describes
his first few talks as “quite hair-raising,” but goes on to say
that “you’ve got to go through all that...when people see
what you do, that makes a lot of difference.”
Despite a busy home life living with his first wife, his motherin-law and his five children, Max started out as a mobile
practitioner, becoming known as someone his clients could
rely on to come out to them, even if they needed him over the
Christmas period. For approximately five years, Max shared
www.aor.org.uk
his knowledge of the physical side of practising reflexology
with others through teaching courses, and it was at one of
these courses that he met and taught one of the founders of
the Association of Reflexologists - Hazel Goodwin.
✽✽
Max’s top tips for...
Avoiding RSI, sore thumbs and sore arms
When asked what he would
advise others to do to avoid
these injuries, Max immediately
said, “bake bread!” He
explained that working on the
strength of your fingers, hands
and arms is very important, also
advising members to exercise and stretch their hands and
arms thoroughly every morning to the same purpose. A
good, quick exercise technique could be to push one’s
fingertips together hard with the hands straight, then
whilst maintaining the pressure between the fingers, pull
the palms away from each other. This is shown in the
picture above.
Other things that he believes would be
helpful are receiving hand massage
(or giving oneself hand massage) and
making sure that good technique
is used in your reflexology
movements (such as in
caterpillar walking).
Being a practitioner forever
“Always be positive,” Max advises. He went on to explain that
“we can’t relate to everybody; if you ever feel that you don’t
want to treat – it has happened to me twice in my career – for
goodness’ sake, don’t treat them!” However, Max is also very
sure about what to do if you find a pair of feet that you do feel
comfortable with: “just get on with it and treat them!”
The AoR are building up a portfolio of interesting
lives in reflexology. If you know someone who has
lived a very interesting life in the field and who
might have hints and tips to share, please feel free
to contribute a profile to [email protected].
✽
✽Area Group Details
Country/Region
Area Group Name
Area Group leader
Contact no.
Email
England
Country/Region
Berkshire
East
Area Group
AreaBerkshire
Group Name
Cathy
Ewbank
Area Group
leader
01628
621266
Contact
no.
[email protected]
Email
Buckinghamshire
England
Buckinghamshire Area Group
Barbara Firman
01494 671802
[email protected]
Cambridgeshire
Berkshire
Cambridgeshire
AreaGroup
Group
East Berkshire Area
Nicki
CathyNunn
Ewbank
01638 621266
610091
01628
[email protected]
[email protected]
Country/Region
Cornwall
Buckinghamshire
Cornwall
AreaName
GroupArea Group
Buckinghamshire
Area Group
Antonia
Eden
Barbara
Firman
Area Group
leader
07739
344179
01494
671802
Contact
no.
[email protected]
[email protected]
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cumbria
Cambridgeshire
England
South
Cumbria Area
Cambridgeshire
AreaGroup
Group
Angela
Pollard
Nicki Nunn
01539
01638 535119
610091
Country/Region
Derbyshire
Cornwall
Berkshire
Country/Region
Cumbria
England
Buckinghamshire
East
Area
Cornwall
AreaName
Group
AreaMidlands
Group
Berkshire
Area Group
Group
Sheila
Heywood
Antonia
Eden leader
Area Group
Cathy
Ewbank
01773
604982
07739
344179
Contact
no.
01628
621266
[email protected]
[email protected]
Email
[email protected]
Area Group
Name
South
Cumbria
Area
Group
Buckinghamshire
Area
Group
Area Group
leader
Angela
Pollard
Barbara
Firman
Contact
no.
01539
535119
01494
671802
Email
[email protected]
[email protected]
England
Dorset
Derbyshire
Berkshire
Cambridgeshire
Dorset
Area Group
East
Midlands
Area
Group
Berkshire
Area
Group
Cambridgeshire
Area
Group
Angela
Inwards
Sheila
Heywood
CathyNunn
Ewbank
Nicki
01300
341295
01773
604982
01628
01638 621266
610091
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Berkshire
Essex
Buckinghamshire
Cornwall
East Berkshire
Area
Group
Essex
Colchester
Area
Group
Buckinghamshire
Area
Group
Cornwall
Area Group
Cathy Ewbank
Neena
Pandya
Barbara
Firman
Antonia
Eden
01628
01206
273488
01494
671802
07739 621266
344179
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Buckinghamshire
Gloucestershire
Dorset
Cambridgeshire
Cumbria
Buckinghamshire
Area
Group Area Group
Gloucestershire
and
Wiltshire
Dorset
Area Group
Cambridgeshire
Area
Group
South
Cumbria
Area
Group
Barbara
Firman
Eileen
Ford-Price
Angela
Inwards
Nicki Nunn
Angela
Pollard
01494
671802
01285
643958
01300
01638 341295
610091
01539
535119
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cambridgeshire
Hampshire
Essex
Cornwall
Derbyshire
Cambridgeshire
Area
Group
Andover
and Winchester
Area Group
Essex
Colchester
Area
Group
Cornwall
Area
Group
East
Midlands
Area
Group
Nicki Nunn
Linda
Price
Neena
Pandya
Antonia
Eden
Sheila
Heywood
01638 344179
610091
01264
772144
01206
273488
07739
01773
604982
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cornwall
Hampshire
Gloucestershire
Cumbria
Cornwall
Area
Group
Hampshire
North
Area
Group Area Group
Gloucestershire
and
Wiltshire
South
Cumbria
Area
Group
AntoniaFord-Price
Eden
Rosalind
Guy
Eileen
Angela
Pollard
07739
01252
845281
01285 344179
643958
01539
535119
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cumbria
Hampshire
Derbyshire
Dorset
South
Cumbria
Area
Group
Hampshire
South
Area
Group
Andover
and
Winchester
Area Group
East
Midlands
Area
Group
Dorset
Area
Group
Angela
Pollard
Margaret
Palmer
Linda Price
Sheila
Heywood
Angela
Inwards
01539
02392
592675
01264 535119
772144
01773
604982
01300
341295
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Derbyshire
Herefordshire
Hampshire
Essex
East
Area
Group
Herefordshire
Area
Group
Hampshire
North
EssexMidlands
Colchester
Area
Group
Sheila
Heywood
Gillian
Rosalind
Guy
Neena Ternouth
Pandya
01773
604982
01432
01252
845281
01206 880366
273488
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Hertfordshire
Hampshire
Dorset
Gloucestershire
Hertfordshire
Area
Group
Hampshire
Area
Group Area Group
Dorset
AreaSouth
Group
Gloucestershire
and
Wiltshire
Linda
Margaret
Palmer
Angela
Inwards
Eileen Hinshelwood
Ford-Price
01923
02392
592675
01300
341295
01285 255315
643958
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dorset
Kent
Herefordshire
Essex
Hampshire
Kent
Essex
Hertfordshire
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Dorset
Area
Bromley
Area
Group
Herefordshire
Area
Group
Essex
Colchester
Area
Group
Andover
andGroup
Winchester
Area Group
Angela
Inwards
Diane
Noad
Gillian
Ternouth
Neena
Pandya
Linda Price
01300
341295
0208
01432
880366
01206
273488
012643131820
772144
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Essex
Colchester
Area
Group
Hertfordshire
Area
Group
East Kent
Area
Group
Gloucestershire
and
Wiltshire
Hampshire
North
Area
Group Area Group
Neena
Pandya
Linda
Hinshelwood
Seersha
O'Sullivan
Eileen
Ford-Price
Rosalind
Guy
01206
273488
01923
255315
01285
643958
07809
01252 722097
845281
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kent
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Gloucestershire
and
Wiltshire
Area Group
Mid
KentArea
Area
Group
Bromley
Group
Andover
and
Winchester
Area Group
Hampshire
South
Area
Group
Eileen
Ford-Price
Alison
Belsom
Diane
Noad
Linda Price
Margaret
Palmer
01285
643958
01233
501466
0208
012643131820
772144
02392
592675
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Andover
and
Winchester
Area Group
East Kent
Area
Group
Hampshire
North
Area
Group
Herefordshire
Area
Group
North
West
Kent
Area
Group
Linda
Price
Rosalind
Guy
Seersha
O'Sullivan
Gillian
Ternouth
Angela
Davies
North
Area
Group
Mid
Kent
Area
Group
Hampshire
South
Area
Group Wells
Hertfordshire
Area
Group
West
Kent/East
Sussex,
Tunbridge
Area
Group South
Hampshire
Area
Group
Herefordshire
Area
Group
Bromley
Area
Group
North
West
Kent
Area
Group
Lincoln Area Group
Herefordshire
Area
Group
Hertfordshire
Group
East Kent
AreaArea
Group
West
Kent/East
Sussex,
Tunbridge Wells
Central
London Area Group
Area
Group
Hertfordshire
Group
Bromley
Group
Mid
KentArea
AreaArea
Group
North
& North
West London & Herts Area Group
Lincoln
Area
Group
Bromley
Area
Group
East Kent
Area
Group
North
West
Kent
Area Group
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✽ June 2011
8 reflexions
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www.aor.org.uk
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Childbirth
and
Pain
exploring the fear/pain cycle
1. Physiology of pain
The pain impulses cause the release of pain
neurotransmitters.
This section will refresh your knowledge/
understanding of anatomy and physiology,
with an emphasis on the pain/fear cycle and
the role of the reflexologist.
Pain is a complex, personal, subjective, multifactorial
phenomena which is influenced by psychological, biological,
socio-cultural and economic factors and, although pain
is universally experienced and acknowledged, it is not
completely understood (Walding 1991).
✽
The experience of pain can be discussed on three
levels: pain transmission and perception, pain reception
and pain modulation. Pain is a complex process and is
experienced differently depending on the physiological
process, the context and the previous experience of an
individual. Pain can be modulated at different points in the
physiological pathway and by education aimed at achieving
an understanding of the accompanying events and the
meanings attached to them by individuals and by their
culture (Stables & Rankin 2005).
Table 1
2. Effects of pain on the body
Pain can cause an increase in both adrenaline secretions and
catecholamine levels. These can affect the following systems
(Mayes 2002, Stables & Rankin 2005):
Pain can be classified as Somatic or Visceral. Somatic
pain arises from skin, muscles or joints, and can be deep or
superficial. Superficial pain tends to be brief, highly localised
and sharp in character. This pain is transmitted along large
myelinated fibres (A-∂fibres). Deep somatic pain is more
likely to be described as burning or aching; it is more diffuse,
longer lasting and always indicates tissue destruction.
Impulses travel along small unmyelinated fibres called
C-fibres. A third type of fibre, the myelinated A-ß fibre, relays
light touch (Stables & Rankin 2005).
Visceral pain results from the organs of the body cavities;
it is described as burning, gnawing or aching. Visceral
sensory neurons accompany autonomic sympathetic and
parasympathetic fibres and send information about chemical
changes, distension or irritation of the viscera (Wylie 2005).
Both somatic and visceral pain stimuli pass along the
dendrites of the first-order neurons to their cell bodies in the
dorsal root ganglia. Their axons leave the dorsal root ganglia
to enter the spinal cord and synapse with second-order
neurons in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord, which travel
up to the brain via the cerebral cortex and along the third
neuron (table 1).
Cardiac an increase in output, heart rate and increased blood pressure
Respiratory hyperventilation (which decreases cerebral and uterine blood flow via vasoconstriction, thus reducing uterine contractions); also maternal acidosis which may cause fetal hypoxia
Genitourinary delay in bladder emptying
Gastrointestinal delay in emptying stomach,
leading to nausea and vomiting
Skeletal systems weak limbs
There are several other gateway theories to pain; however,
due to the limitations of this article, the author has not
explored or discussed these.
2. Pain/fear cycle with childbirth
In the late 1960’s Grantly Dick-Read (1969) studied the
subject of pain in childbirth and concluded that fear increases
the amount of pain experienced.
www.aor.org.uk
✽
He advocated antenatal education and preparation for
childbirth to reduce the cycle of fear, tension and pain
associated with childbirth in Western culture. In a recent paper,
Walding (1991) tends to confirm a relationship between pain,
anxiety and powerlessness and agrees that active participation
by the women may reduce the perception of pain (Sweet et al,
Mayes Midwifery 2002).
During her teachings, Maggie Howell (a very successful Natal
Hypnotherapist) describes mammalising birth. She explains
that all the cells and organs within a woman’s body are
designed to fulfil a function and instinctively know what to do.
All the woman’s body systems work continually 24 hours a
day. In the same way, her body was designed to give birth to
her baby without severe pain. It is only when there is a block
from things such as fear, tension or anxiety that the natural
process becomes unbearably painful, according to Howell
(2009) (also referred to in Table 2)
Table 2
Pain/fear cycle modelled from the work of www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk
4. Reflexology and the role of
the reflexologist with maternity
clients
There has been research about reflexology in this area. Four
publications refer to research showing that reflexology towards
the end of pregnancy contributes to spontaneous onset of
labour, improves progress and outcome, and reduces maternal
pain perception (Feder et al 1994, Motha & McGrath 1994,
Clausen et al 1996, Surakka 1998).
Denise Tiran (2010) writes that ”there is a growing body of
evidence to demonstrate touch and therapies involving manual
contact as a pain-relieving strategy, since touch impulses
reach the brain before pain impulses and the impact on
endorphin release aids this. It has also been demonstrated that
anxiety and cortisol levels may be reduced, specifically with
reflexology”.
Is it the therapy or is it the talking and relaxation which helps
clients - or is it a combination of all these factors? From the
author’s point of view…. does it really matter? This is where
our role as reflexologists might be so beneficial to pregnant/
birthing clients.
For up to an hour (depending on her gestation) this woman will
have you with your experienced hands and your listening ear,
solely to herself. Your reflexology touch will register within her
nerve receptors as discussed at the beginning of this paper,
and she will often talk about issues which are on her mind.
You do not need to be medically trained; however, it would
be good to have an understanding of the changes which are
happening within her body, and through her feet or hands you
can relax these reflex zones, helping to harmonise and balance
(Enzer 2004).
As a midwife, reflexologist and Maternity Reflexology tutor, I
always use a ‘third party’ perpective when discussing issues
such as post dates and labour, finding that women and their
partners relate much better to this style of teaching. Using
the natural birthing scenarios of animals that do birthing so
instinctively is a great model, again learnt from the teachings of
Maggie Howell:
“Imagine a buffalo mother who lives very happily with her
herd…
This buffalo is due to give birth, but there is unrest within
the herd as there is no water… this then manifests fear. The
adrenaline circulating within the mother’s bloodstream will
suppress the oxytocin hormone which is required for labour
to commence and progress. It is not safe to have her baby
with this uncertainty; she needs her energy in her legs and
head to drive her on to finding water and a safe haven. Labour
will not start. However, once water or safety is found, the
mother buffalo starts to relax and it is now safe to give birth;
with relaxation comes oxytocin and labour will start if the
environment is right.”
How many pregnant women who are anxious and fearful go
‘overdue’ in your experience as a reflexologist, friend or family
member? It’s certainly food for thought…
Women often feel anxious and fearful in labour as
well - unfamiliar surroundings, unfamiliar people around her,
bright lights, equipment…she will already be anxious, but
these things may lead to fear setting in… So often women will
come into a labour room having been beautifully contracting at
home and it all stops!
In summary, fear and anxiety have a profound effect on
the level of pain felt by all humans. This is especially relevant
for women within their child birthing experience. Receiving
reflexology regularly during pregnancy might help to relieve
these fears and anxieties, as well as hopefully contributing to
a spontaneous, uneventful labour with a relaxed mother and
baby.
Gill Thomson MAR
Midwife, reflexologist and member of the Maternity Reflexology
Consortium ©
www.reflexology4pregnancy.co.uk
www.aor.org.uk
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References:
Clausen, J & Moller, E
1996
Foot reflex therapy in the treatment of primary inertia during
labour
Conference Proceedings of the 24th Triennial Congress of the
International Confederation of Midwives, Oslo.
Enzer, S
2004
Maternity Reflexology Manual
Published by Soul to Sole Reflexology (July 2004)
Feder
1994
Zonal therapy in relation to women in childbirth
Jordemodern 107;(5):
168-170
Fraser, D et al
2009
Myles Midwifery 15th
Comfort and support in Labour
Ch.27
Churchill Livingstone
Howell, M
2009
Effective birth preparation
Intuition UN Ltd; 1st edition
McVicar, et al
2007
Evaluation of anxiety, salivary cortisol and melatonin secretion
following reflexology treatment
Complement Ther lin Pract 13(3): 137-145
Motha, G & McGrath, J
1994
The effects of reflexology on labour outcome
Journal of Association of Reflexologists 2:4
Dick Read, G
1969
Childbirth without fear
London. Pan
Physiology in Childbearing
Ch.38.p.495
Elsevier
Stables, D and Rankin, J 2005
Surakka,T
1998
How to measure the effectiveness of reflexology as a labour
painkiller
Conference Proceeding 3rd European Conference of
Reflexology, Tampere, Finland. September 18-20. Pp. 57-8.
Sweet, B et al
2002
Mayes Midwifery 12th edition Relief of pain in labour
Ch.32.
Bailliere Tindall
Tiran, D
2010
Reflexology in pregnancy and childbirth
Walding, M
1991
Pain, anxiety & powerlessness
Adv Nursing 16: 338 - 397
2005
Essential Anatomy & Physiology in Maternity Care
Elsevier.
Wylie, L
Specific relaxation techniques
Suggested techniques with reflexology therapy
Sedating any areas of unrest; anti clockwise rotation on these points
Endocrine balancing
Using techniques to balance and harmonise the whole endocrine system; include the placenta in the
uterine reflex as it is an endocrine organ
Enzer, S. (2004), p.33
Pituitary
Relax this reflex; unwind in an anti clockwise direction
Adrenals
Relax this reflex, anti clockwise. Be very gentle with this stressy organ
Pituitary/adrenal linking
Link the pituitary to the adrenals and give the balancing intention
Relaxation techniques
Extra techniques to aid relaxation:
• Fish ripple
• Heel hold
• Pelvic rotations • Pelvic stretches
• Lung presses
• Spinal twist
• Urinary flush
• Spinal rub
Enzer, S. (2004) p.51
Visualisation techniques
Get the client to take deep breaths, concentrating upon each inhalation on taking fresh breaths down
to their baby. If you are not at ease doing this then consider using a relaxation CD. Maggie Howell offers
a free 15 minute natal hypnotherapy CD which can be used instead of your voice (the author does this
within her sphere of practice). This gives a good opportunity for client to relax and close her eyes, allowing
endocrine balancing technique etc
✽
www.aor.org.uk
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General relaxation treatment
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Vertical Reflexology
and Sports Injuries
I have worked for seven years
as reflexologist to a professional
Championship football club, and I
also treat individual clients with sports
injuries. I have observed firsthand how
reflexology and Vertical Reflex Therapy
(VRT) can support the work of doctors,
physiotherapists, masseurs and other clinical staff. The aim
of all athletes is to reach optimum performance levels and
maintain their health and fitness. When various injuries occur,
many will look for non-invasive and effective complementary
therapies to accelerate their recovery further. The term sports
injury is a generic term for conditions ranging, for example,
from long-term damage of a knee cruciate ligament in a
professional athlete to the slightly strained arm muscle of an
amateur cricketer starting the season after a winter of inactivity.
Reflexology aims to support long term recovery from serious
injury, to accelerate recovery from minor impact or over-use
injuries and also to work in a preventative capacity to create
homeostasis and better health in general. Little attention is
normally paid to toning or massaging the feet of sports people,
despite their pivotal role in transporting super-fit athletes. Many
footballers have reported that their feet feel more flexible and
their boots more comfortable following a reflexology session
before training or a match.
Some of the most interesting discoveries I have developed to
help increase mobility and decrease pain for sports people
have been made at my other reflexology clinic. This is based
at the St Monica Trust, Bristol, where for the past 16 years I
have treated older people in residential care [Ref:1 and 3] (VRT
Pain and Mobility Study 1997). I have used the same brief VRT
weight-bearing techniques on a 24 year old rugby player who
landed heavily on his knee as I have on an 85 year old woman
who had fallen down and suffered a severely swollen knee.
The application of synergistic VRT (working the weight-bearing
knee reflexes on the hand and foot simultaneously) resulted in
a noticeable decrease in fluid and pain in both cases. It also
proves that the ageing body has an immense capacity for
regeneration given the right impetus.
What is VRT and how does it
work?
Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT) is a unique reflexology technique
that I discovered and developed in the early 1990s. VRT’s
therapeutic response is often quicker, possibly because all
nerves, and therefore the actual reflexes, anatomically become
sensitized when weight-bearing. VRT may often help stubborn
conditions and musculo-skeletal conditions often respond the
quickest. A five-minute VRT treatment on the weight-bearing
hand or dorsal foot reflexes might accelerate the healing
response of the body. This treatment can be applied in its own
right, as first-aid or preferably as a brief part of a conventional
reflexology session. Other investigations have concentrated
on hand VRT and the unique way of working a grid system
of reflexes on the nail. A reflexologist can now work very
precisely, nail-on-nail, to access the whole body through the
dorsal reflexes on the hands and feet. (Fig 1, Fig 2, Fig 3).
VRT techniques may also be very helpful as a preventative
measure for anyone who exercises in the gym, swims
occasionally or enjoys a good walk. The hands are equally
as responsive as the feet, and I encourage reflexologists to
introduce some hand reflexology techniques into all their foot
reflexology sessions. A therapist gave her 16 year old son, an
accomplished amateur rugby player, regular VRT on the hands
or feet for minor injuries throughout a season. She reported
that he had experienced less pain, less on-going injuries and
less time off than in any previous year. In many cases, hand
reflexes are more effective (i.e. sinuses, some neck conditions)
and many clients report a lessening or cessation of aches or
pains following a few minutes of daily self-help VRT.
A few minutes of Self-help VRT/
reflexology may be the key to
quicker recovery
In 2002 I conducted a small workplace study with six
employees in a large company. Each had experienced a
chronic health problem for 6-12 months e.g. Repetitive Strain
Injury (RSI), and were given one half-hour reflexology/VRT
treatment a week for 4 weeks [Ref 4: VRT and Reflexology in
the Workplace Study, July 2002]. They were asked to work
three priority reflexes, e.g. neck, lower lumbar and hip on their
weight-bearing hands for two minutes, twice a day for four
weeks. After one month, all six people reported an 80-100%
improvement in their chronic condition. These exceptional
results encouraged me to give clients, including sports
persons, a short specific homework sheet of instructions.
Many VRT practitioners now give their clients a routine
homework schedule (Fig 4).
www.aor.org.uk
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Fig 1.
Case report: 19 year old professional athlete
with groin strain and tight hamstrings
An athlete twisted his body as he ran and felt a muscle spasm in his right groin, resulting
in only 50% extension in his raised right knee. His hamstrings were often tight and his
training programme was impeded by these problems. He was receiving physiotherapy and
massage as well as reflexology. I worked the dorsal groin, knee and lower lumbar reflexes
of his standing feet (linking them to his nail reflexes one by one for 30 seconds) and also
asked him to press on his tender right dorsal groin hand reflex as I connected reflexes on
the feet to Zonal Triggers on his ankle. These are powerful connecting VRT reflexes that
appear to energise the zones of the body. Within 5 minutes he could extend his knee to
about 80% and obtained short-term 100% extension when mobilising the knee while he
simultaneously held his groin hand reflex. His tight hamstrings relaxed as he responded
to the application of Nerve Reflexology on the medial ankle sciatic reflex and could then
immediately touch his toes again. [Ref 5]
Fig 2.
When treating sports and minor injuries, especially if VRT is used, it is recommended that the
client’s range of mobility is tested prior to - and after - the reflexology treatment, so that the
therapist and client can monitor any immediate change. They then also have a bench-mark to
work towards when applying self-help VRT on their hands between treatments.
Tips for brief VRT Hand Self-help:
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Fig 3.
Ensure that the hands are weight-bearing on a table, book or tray (the client can be
seated).
The client selects three priority reflexes for a specific condition and stimulates each
reflex for a maximum of 30 seconds twice daily.
It is also helpful to briefly work round the ankle or wrist reflexes in caterpillar bites to
stimulate the zones.
To consolidate the 4-5 minute session, use the VRT Diaphragm Rocking hand
technique. Make 10 slow rocks per hand while pressing the thumb lightly on the palm.
(Fig 5).
Lynne Booth HMAR
www.boothvrt.com
Fig 4.
It is a honour for reflexology to be acknowledged as having an “Outstanding Contribution
to Complementary Medicine” – and so we are proud to announce that the Institute for
Complementary and Natural Medicine (ICNM) has given a Highly Commended certificate
to Lynne Booth in its Outstanding Contribution to Complementary Medicine category. Our
congratulations go to Lynne for this achievement, which recognises the hard work and
dedication that Lynne not only puts into her work in the field of VRT, but also into furthering
recognition for the field of reflexology as a whole.
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✽
Fig 5.
Books
1. Booth, Lynne. Vertical Reflexology. Piatkus Books, London.
ISBN: 0-7499-2132-3. 2000.
2. Booth, Lynne. Vertical Reflexology for Hands. Piatkus Books, London.
ISBN: 0-7499-2319-9. 2003
Short Studies
3. Booth, Lynne. VRT Pain and Mobility Study in a Residential Home for Older People, June 1997
4. Booth, Lynne. VRT and Reflexology in the Workplace Study. July 2002.
Articles
5. The Sciatic Nerve – The Nerve of Reflexology, Dorthe Krogsgaard and Peter Lund Frandsen, www.touchpoint.dk
www.aor.org.uk
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✽
Reflextherapy
In the Context of Chronic Pain
Pain is prevalent amongst the UK population and worldwide, affecting 15 –20% of the
population of the USA (Stephenson & Dalton 2003). Chronic pain after a whiplash injury affects
approximately 20% of all road traffic victims (Malanga & Nadler 2002; Chien & Sterling 2005) and
7.8 million people live with pain every day (Sir Liam Donaldson, 150th Chief Medical Officer’s
report).
“Public Attitudes to Pain”, a report published by The Patients Association in November 2010,
states that “back pain alone accounts for 4.9 million sick days and costs the economy £5 billion
every year;” however, this does not account for the human suffering behind the numbers.
Acute & Chronic Pain
There is a distinction between acute and chronic pain.
Acute pain is an alert system providing us with a reminder
of something being wrong with the body somewhere, such
as a blow on the head or to the rear as you land heavily
on ice. We make a decision whether it is worthwhile taking
further action, for example to go and see the doctor for
advice. Mostly, acute pains diminish and we forget about
them with or without treatment. Chronic pain is different.
Chronic pain never ceases completely despite completion
of the inflammatory processes within 21 days. Causes
for ongoing pain are diffuse and not entirely known;
however, it occurs when peripheral tissue damage leads
to pathological changes in sensory nerve tissue, altering
its original healthy physiological state. The nervous system
begins to produce spontaneous and unnecessary pain
conditions that do not fulfil a protective role, instead
becoming a nuisance and ongoing suffering for the
individual.
In the last couple of decades, medical science has moved
on and activity of the brain can now be assessed with the
use of topographical imaging. Floor (2004) demonstrated
changed activity in the brain after upper limb amputation
using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Conclusions
have been made that chronic pain is not made up of one
single component, i.e. a specific pain area in the brain,
but is the result of multimillion connections of activity in
all areas of the brain and the nervous system as a whole.
Professor Patrick Wall and Dr Ronald Melzack (1991)
introduced the term neuroplasticity to describe this
phenomenon. In addition, there is a consensus that pain is
closely interconnected with aspects of the human psyche
(Soderlund A. et al., 1999; Watson P. 1999) in combination
with a reactive immune system (Marchand F et al, 2005).
Whilst approaches like ‘Cognitive Behaviour Therapy’ have
proved helpful in the treatment of some chronic pain, there
is no consensus of a single therapeutic intervention for any
chronic pain state.
Adapted Reflextherapy
Nevertheless, whilst there are few proven effective
treatments for chronic pain to date, I have found that
a modified approach of reflexology called ‘Adapted
Reflextherapy’ (AdRx) has been measurably successful in
the treatment of chronic pain.
Whilst akin to orthodox reflexology, AdRx is very much
a task specific foot (or hand) treatment which seeks out
those very painful and movement-restricted areas on the
feet that relate (in reflexology terms) to musculoskeletal
structures of the body. Once identified, the areas are
treated with prolonged pressure according to the level of
irritability of the feet and the general pain condition.
I have developed and used this method of treatment over
ten years in conjunction with orthodox physiotherapy
interventions. The idea of a single point of treatment was
first introduced to me by two colleagues, N Johnson and
H Evans. The treatment has been applied to patients with
spinal pain and whiplash related disorders in the NHS as
well as in the private sector with equal success.
The hypothesis of AdRx states that it acts as a
counter-irritation to the affected organs in the body via
secondary hyperalgesic areas from primary sources in
the spine, via the autonomic nervous system. A mix of
www.aor.org.uk
excitatory and inhibitory peptides in the axonal
flow of the nervous system results in analgesic
(acting to relieve pain) or algesic (painful)
states, depending on what is happening in
the foot beforehand. It is speculated that
AdRx and other forms of reflexology offer a
regulation of peptides, creating an analgesic
effect in addition to beneficial relaxation. It may
be that this also accounts for the ‘placebo
effect’ observed in treatment situations.
AdRx uses the medial arches on the feet, as
shown on the picture, which represent the
spinal areas. Stiffness and tenderness on
any of these areas may be interpreted as affected spinal
structures. Furthermore, AdRx considers the dorsum of
the feet as the posterior aspect of the body and the plantar
aspect of the feet as the anterior aspect of the body, based
on the ‘anatomical position’ in medicine.
reduce the risk of damaging the bone structure in case of
osteoporotic changes.
II. A 16 year old young man was referred by his father. He was suffering from a 1 year history
of middle back pain. He had more pain after periods of
running and woke up every night because of back pain. He
played rugby, rode a motorbike and his general health was
good. He was training to be a plumber.
The conclusion from the initial assessment was that he
had a thoracic 12/Lumbar 1 vertebral joint stiffness in
association with stiffness of the costovertebral joints at the
same level. His problem appeared moderate with neural
compromise. My personal prognosis was that he would
regain 95% improvement in two treatment sessions. The
treatment was applied according to the AdRx principles at
the level of T12/L1 on the feet. The predicted outcome was
achieved: he was able to sleep without pain and could take
up running again.
Spinal areas on the medial arch of the foot, by kind permission of
Pru Hughes, School of Reflexology, Devon.
Case Histories:
I.
A 72 year old female suffered from left hip pain for two years. She had undergone a
manipulation under anasthesia with a steroidal injection to
relieve pain, and had experienced no improvement. She
was unable to walk normally due to reduced hip mobility
and muscle weakness in the leg. A colleague examined
and treated this lady, initially providing 4 sessions of
orthodox physiotherapy treatments for her pain and muscle
weakness. As symptoms persisted, I was called in for a
second opinion. My conclusion was a stiff pubic symphysis
joint, which was treated according to AdRx. She reported
that this immediately reduced the hip pain. The lady was
discharged at the next appointment feeling fine and was
considering going back to playing golf.
Comment: It is pertinent to keep the older population as
mobile as possible. Pain is unpleasant and inhibits activity.
Manual handling to the feet (as opposed to the trunk) may
www.aor.org.uk
Comment: Youngsters usually make a quick recovery.
Sleep deprivation makes the client miserable and there
is loss of concentration, affecting schoolwork and driving
ability. His mention of motorbikes also alerts me to possible
‘old’ injuries.
III. A 26 year old female, Miss A, was a physiotherapist suffering from daily headaches
radiating from the occipital to both eyes during a five year
period, first occurring after a car accident where she was
the driver. She also had changeable intensity and quality
of pain symptoms in bilateral hands and the dorsum of the
right foot, especially after driving for ten minutes. She was
unable to sit with her head to one side as it aggravated her
pain and produced a sensation of dizziness when looking
up. She had experienced occasional heart palpitations that
had been investigated by her GP. Her sleep was disturbed
if going to bed with a headache. For three years she had
experienced itching of her eyes and lately this has occurred
in the ears as well. She had felt symptoms for five years,
interrupted by a second rear shunt a year ago when her
symptoms had worsened. Analgesic and antidepressant
medication had only changed her symptoms temporarily.
The AdRx treatment was carried out once a week for 6
weeks in a physiotherapy outpatient department. Each
treatment lasted approximately 10 minutes. Miss A
reported that her pain levels dropped by 50% and that her
head movements improved considerably after only two
sessions. Her improvement was maintained after one year,
albeit with the occasional period of increased headaches
here and there. As a physiotherapist, Miss A was
confounded by the rate at which her symptoms changed
using the foot treatment.
Comment: Acute upon chronic whiplash injuries and other
head trauma alert me to possible compromises in the
neural plasticity and the flow of the cerebral spinal fluid in
the meninges.
Conclusion
Chronic pain is considered a difficult and unpredictable
condition to treat. However, my observations from the
coalface of clinical work (using AdRx for a considerable
number of patients suffering chronic pain) contradict
this opinion. Foot treatment such as reflexology might
offer an opportunity for a change of symptoms that may
benefit a patient suffering from chronic pain. Studies
in Israel (Siev-Ner I, et al., 2003) have shown patients
suffering from multiple sclerosis and pain experiencing
pain relief using reflexology treatment. Further research
using sham or control groups needs to be carried out to
confirm the findings.
Gunnel Berry MAR
References:
Butler D, Moseley L (2003) Explain Pain, Adelaide, Australia, NOI Group Publications.
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Miss A had fractured her skull when she was aged four.
At the time I saw her, she was working full time in an
outpatient clinic which required physical handling.
Coderre T, Katz J, Vaccarino A, Melzack R (1993) Contribution of central neuroplasticity to pathological pain: review
of clinical and experimental evidence, Pain 52; p. 259-285.
Haanpaa M, Treede R-D (2010) Diagnosis and Classification of Neuropathic Pain, PAIN- clinical updates,
International Association for the Study of Pain, September Vol XVIII, Issue 7.
Mackereth P & Tiran D (2011) Clinical Reflexology, 2nd ed, England Churchill Livingstone Elsvier Ltd (in press).
Wall P & Melzack (1991) The Challenge of Pain, England, Penguins Books, Clays Ltd.
www.aor.org.uk
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Repetitive Strain Injury
for reflexologists and clients
Unlike a ‘normal’ strain following a
sudden injury (e.g. a strained ankle),
symptoms of RSI can persist well
beyond the time it would take a
‘normal’ strain to heal.
www.aor.org.uk
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Feelings of tightness, discomfort or pain in the hands, wrists, fingers or elbows, progressing in chronic cases to the shoulder
Lack of co-ordination or strength in the hands
Persistent pain, even after rest
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Weakness and loss of function in muscles and joints affecting the arms and hands
Clients with RSI:
What might they be
able to do about it?
Diagnosis and treatment of RSI
remains a cause for discussion. It is
sometimes confused with arthritis, and
even an accurate diagnosis may only
lead to steroid injections,
anti-inflammatory/ analgesic drugs or
surgery — with the potential benefit
difficult to assess.
It is important not to ignore or cover
RSI symptoms with painkillers. Clients
should be aware of the risks and
symptoms and take immediate action
to prevent the condition worsening.
Complementary therapies may play a
pivotal role in the treatment of RSI. The
Alexander Technique, acupuncture,
aromatherapy, osteopathy and
reflexology might all be used to alleviate
symptoms and aid recuperation.
Arnica massage balm, or three drops
each of chamomile (anti-inflammatory)
and lavender (for pain and irritation)
essential oils in a small amount of
massage oil or base lotion, applied
morning and night may ease swelling
and discomfort. Homoeopathic Arnica
30c (1 twice a day) might also be
effective; alternatively, if the RSI is
long term or does not improve after
Arnica then consider Rhus Tox or Ruta
Grav in 30c; the latter is anecdotally
reported as being very good for wrist
and tendon related problems. The use
of MSM (organic sulphur) supplements
seems to have a wonderful ability
at healing connective tissue injuries,
having a natural anti-inflammatory
effect. Unsurprisingly, though,
prevention of these conditions is better
than cure.
If possible, advise clients to:
Stop or reduce the tasks/activities which seem
to be causing the symptoms (where
possible). This may be easier said than
done if the RSI is in your fingers.
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These conditions are mainly caused
by the repetitive use of one part of the
body that damages tendons, muscles,
nerves and other soft tissue. RSI is
usually related to a job or occupation;
in the case of reflexologists, the
most likely cause is finger and thumb
walking. However, other factors may
also contribute to RSIs, such as poor
posture whilst doing the movement,
using excessive force, and not having
enough breaks from the task.
✽
RSI is an “umbrella” term used to
describe a range of painful conditions
affecting the muscles, tendons and
other soft tissues of the body. Some of
these conditions include carpal tunnel
syndrome, regional pain disorder,
non-specific arm pain (NSAP),
occupational overuse syndrome and
work-related upper limb disorder
(WRULD).
Symptoms depend on what the
repetitive actions are, although in most
cases, they usually develop in the parts
of the body most commonly involved in
repetitive tasks (e.g. the arm, wrist or
hand). Possible symptoms include:
Coldness, tingling or numbness in the fingers and hands
✽
Acknowledged as a potential health
condition, repetitive strain injury (RSI)
can affect practitioners and clients
alike. It is often passed over by the
medical profession but natural
therapies may help. As reflexologists
we need to be extra aware of the
condition, both for ourselves and the
estimated 200,000 people who suffer
from it.
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Some people find exercise such as yoga, relaxation techniques and regular
general exercise (such as swimming) to
be useful in easing the symptoms.
Reflexologists: It’s a
problem for us too!
Of course, for reflexologists it is the
fingers that need to be protected,
since these are the workhorses of our
particular therapy. As reflexologists:
✽
Ensure your seat is positioned at the correct height to allow
work on a client’s feet with the least
strain likely on your hands and fingers.
If your seat is too high, you will end up
✽ ✽
Don’t give reflexology treatments constantly sat
in just one position - use a wheeled
therapists’ stool and move around. In
fact, is there any rule that reflexology
HAS to be given sitting down? Try
standing to work the dorsal aspect
of the feet – you will be amazed how
much easier it is to access this area
standing up!
Assess the appropriate level of pressure and keep up to date with the latest reflexology
techniques. Alter your treatment style
so that, by rotating your style, different
muscles and areas of the hand can
be rested. Good examples of different
styles are: Advanced Reflexology
Techniques (ART), where the emphasis
is through use of the knuckles and
gliding movements in treatments, or
Finger Free® Reflexology, where the
fingers are not used at all.
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Clients might consider taking a natural anti-inflammatory supplement, such as
glucosamine.
Ensure that you take a long enough break between
clients. You are recommended to have
at least one 10 minute break between
each client – this is a minimum
recommendation.
Do not work to the point of pain or discomfort - only
see as many clients as your hands will
allow.
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Wash your hands in very cold water between each client.
This will help stop inflammation before
it even gets started.
Consider receiving a reflexology treatment on a
regular basis. It is also a very good
idea to be treated with simple hand
reflexology techniques. Alternatively,
treat your own hands.
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Try to maintain a good posture – the correct chair height will also help here.
✽
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For clients with RSI it is generally recommended
that they take a break and revive tired
muscles with gentle stretches for three
to five minutes every half an hour.
slouching with the wrists extended at
too sharp an angle; if it is too low, your
shoulders will have to take the strain of
constantly lifting up your arms/hands to
reach the client’s feet. The best advice
is to use a height adjustable seat.
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Look into practical ways of adjusting their work setup
so as to reduce strain. Advise your
clients who work at keyboards for
long periods to make sure that their
workstation is ergonomically sound. An
adjustable chair with back support is
also advisable and a moveable screen
is essential when working at a PC.
Additionally, they should keep their
wrists straight while typing, only using
the keyboard pad for resting periods.
The computer mouse should be within
easy reach, and their forearms should
be supported by the desk.
So, if you are aiming to make a long
term career out of reflexology, giving
good, effective and deep treatments
to each and every client, then it is
advisable to consider different ways of
ensuring that as a therapist, you are
protecting your own investment in the
future – your hands and fingers!
Andrew James MAR and
David Wayte FMAR
www.handsonreflexology.com
www.jubileecollege.co.uk
IN!
W
Both of the authors of this article have offered readers
the chance to win a copy
of their DVDs “Hands on
Reflexology” and “Finger
Free® Reflexology.” For
your chance to win one,
please contact the AoR
Central Administration
Office by emailing info@
aor.org.uk or calling
01823 351010. The
winners will be drawn on
July 14th 2011. There are 5
copies of each DVD to be
won.
Incorporating different techniques into the treatment: Stills from the DVD “Hands on Reflexology” by Andrew James and photos of Finger Free®
Reflexology by David Wayte.
www.aor.org.uk
✽
Pain
✽
Message System of the Body
Firstly, there are certain numbers that I use regularly, and
for different purposes.
These are:
• Four or twelve times – for balance
• Six times – for treatment
WHY “FOUR” FOR BALANCE?
The number three is widely accepted as the number of
balance as a result of yin, yang and the turning point. However,
complete balance (the turning point) is achieved through four
– physical, emotional, mental and spiritual – two yin qualities
and two yang aspects. Historically, many cultures and their
philosophies - for particular and deliberate reasons - have
reduced the four to three (for example two yang and one yin
in Father, Son and Holy Ghost), resulting in a patriarchal belief
system. I do not wish at this point to enter into a historical
and philosophical debate on the merits or otherwise of this
perspective, suffice to say that it is the basis of the western
logical, masculine culture. This is not a balanced state and
in fact elevates the yang (or masculine) qualities over the yin
or feminine qualities. For example, in “mind, body and spirit”
you have “mind” (yang), “body” (yang) and “spirit” (yin)! The
emotional and spiritual aspects are “lumped” together, which
has led to many misunderstandings for they are not the same
thing. So, balance (the turning point) is reached through the
four aspects derived from the yin and yang theory.
PAIN: WORKING WITH THE
BODY – Learning to Listen to
the Message
Pain may be seen as a message and interpreting that message
is quite simple. The message the body puts out is asking for its
opposite. If the body is hot, what it is asking for? More heat or
cooling? Another simple truth we seem to have forgotten.
Pain is part of the body’s communication system; a message,
usually about some danger. It is a warning or a response to
physical injury: for example, when we nearly burn ourselves the
message is quite clear - Move! - as the “fight or flight” response
takes over. Over the years, we have forgotten that pain is
simply communication; a way for the body to let us know
www.aor.org.uk
something. Thus, we have developed methods for getting rid
of pain (the energy) rather than listening to, understanding and
working with pain as a message.
According to the Law of Duality, there are two types or groups
of body pain – sharp pain and dull pain – and each gives
an opposite message. We often become distracted by the
volume of the pain; however, it is irrelevant to the message
conveyed except when there is no other indicator – then the
volume difference between two partnered points/reflexes
may give a clue which is in excess and which is deficient.
Further, the volume of pain is not completely irrelevant - it is
misleading – and it is not actually the message. Where the
volume is significant is in the degree that the body is making
the statement. The message is the type of pain and the volume
indicates the degree to which the body is asking for help:
• Low volume – please can the body have a little help or assistance;
• Medium volume – Now would be a good time to give the assistance or help; and
• High volume – NOW!!! Immediately! HELP!
Look for the difference between the messages, not the
similarities between the “feelings” or pains. Look for the
difference in whatever form it takes – it is the key.
Article by: Moss Arnold
Principal
Australian College of Chi-Reflexology
PO Box 4071, Winmalee NSW 2777 Australia
Phone +61 2 4754 5500 Fax +61 2 4754.5588
Website www.chi-reflexology.com.au
Email [email protected]
UK contact: Audrey Scully
Tutor / Complementary Therapist
A S Wholistice Therapies
Sheffield
Phone:0114 269 1145
Mob: 07949 567 530
Website: www.reflexology-healing.co.uk
* More from Moss Arnold can be found in our online
supplement Reflexions Extra, available on the Reflexions
page of the Members’ Area of the AoR website
(www.aor.org.uk).
✽
How to...be Aware of Data
Collection Techniques
Writing a case study using self-reported measures
The least
pain ever
The most
pain ever
Visual analogue scale (VAS)
When collecting data for a case study,
you may want to use a method where
the individual client decides his or
her assessment of a situation. These
methods of collecting data are quick
to administer and rely on how the
experience is perceived at that particular
time. You can collect data from any
clients you see; however, to get the best
of this, you have to start right at the
very beginning (before any treatment is
carried out). If you miss this point of data
collection, you miss the first changes.
This might not be the end of the world,
but you may just miss a point of extreme
change with the first treatment.
After a set amount of appointments,
you should repeat the questions or data
collection method to get a snapshot of
what has changed during that period
of time. As a very simple example, you
could give a person experiencing pain a
visual analogue scale like the one above.
The line has to be exactly 10 centimetres
long. You then ask that person to put
a cross on the line where they feel they
are at that moment. You could keep
blank copies of this line in your clinic and
then simply write the pertinent issue for
your client into the boxes. This is only
of any use if you feel it is likely that they
will return for a course of treatments.
You can then use a ruler to measure the
distance to the client’s mark and make
a graph of the results. This can either
be carried out after each treatment or at
This system can be used for problems
that are subjective and not easily charted
by other methods. Other examples
would be emotional upset, anger,
frustration or overall comparisons, for
example ‘how is your problem’?
study in the last issue of Reflexions.
This is physical movement charted by
using a pen and a board or large piece
of paper. With a collection method like
this it is important to always take the
measurements in exactly the same way.
The frozen shoulder was measured by
how much the client could stretch her
arm upwards; a line was drawn - always
from the upper side of her arm - and
the angle taken from the horizontal
using a protractor. At the start point she
could not lift her arm to the horizontal (a
measurement of -10 degrees) however,
the end result was much more positive.
Alternatively, you might wish to consider
the MYMOP system, which is a very well
validated outcome measure often used
both medically and with complementary
therapies. MYMOP stands for measure
yourself medical outcome profile, and
it allows the client to makes decisions
about what is bothering them the
most. Please go to www.pcmd.ac.uk/
mymop and have a look; it’s a simple
form that can be easily filled in and the
results logged in the provided Excel
spreadsheet. There is a follow up form
for subsequent treatments too. This in
turn can let you produce graphs and
charts relatively easily, although you do
need to be a bit computer literate.
Obviously there are many more ways to
estimate the effect of your treatments.
There are lots of completely objective
measures like medical outcome
measures, blood tests or specialised
questionnaires, but these are not easy
to do in the clinic. Therefore, this article
is just about trying to estimate effects
with low tech methods, whilst offering
methods that can be made into some
sort of visual chart or map to show
change, both for your own knowledge
and to show your client. And the best
news of all? Not only is this an excellent
exercise for collecting useful data to
advertise your practice’s effectiveness, it
adds to your CPD points, too!
Another data collection technique could
be a simple movement estimation study,
as used in the frozen shoulder case
Tracey Smith FMAR
Reflexology Support Manager
the end of a course of treatments, but
the client must not be shown the ones
that they filled in before or this biases
the results. The pertinent issue must
remain the same throughout the
course of treatment, as must the
direction in which you measure the
distance to the client’s mark.
www.aor.org.uk
✽
✽
Avoiding Supine Hypotension when
conducting reflexology for pregnant women
As well as ensuring there are no
contraindications to conducting the treatment
(including cardiac abnormalities) (Enzer 2004),
(Tiran 2011) and that the working environment
is comfortable, warm and private and with
easy access to the loo: it must be safe.
Normally, the inferior vena cava (IVC) - the
main blood return vessel - returns the
deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
However, the weight of a growing uterus in
the second and third trimesters (earlier if a
multiple pregnancy or when extra amniotic
fluid - polyhydramnios - is present) can exert
pressure on the IVC. This reduces the venous
return and perfusion of the paravertebral
vessels, resulting in hypotension, bradycardia
(slow pulse), light headedness, nausea and
even potential loss of consciousness due to
the reduced blood flow to the cerebrum. This
can also result in a temporary reduction in the
foetal oxygen supply via the placenta.
Instinctively, most pregnant women do not like
to lie flat and will insist on sitting upwards.
Supine hypotension syndrome occurs in
10% of pregnant women. This is further
compounded by the increased constriction
caused by lying on her back. The position
may decrease the cardiac output by up to
25% (Myles 2009).
The remedy is to roll the woman onto her left
side to shift the pressure from the ascending
inferior vena cava (which runs up the right
hand side of the spine). This facilitates a return
to normal flow and cardiac output, resulting in
a spontaneous recovery - much to the relief of
the practitioner!
Normally, prevention is the key; however,
we must consider our circumstances when
working with these specialized clients: what
equipment we have available and how we
manage an emergency if one arises.
When using a Lafuma reclining chair we must
be careful when treating pregnant women,
especially from the mid trimester onwards, as
the inferior vena cava is compressed by the
weight of the growing uterus and the client
may feel faint and short of breath. The natural
www.aor.org.uk
reaction to treat fainting is
by raising the feet, but as
you can see, when using
a reclining chair the feet
are already raised and
this will swing the centre
of gravity backwards,
thus further increasing the
compression.
In the event that a
pregnant
client feels faint, dizzy,
nauseous or appearing to
pass out, we must act
accordingly - by rolling
them safely onto their
Using the Lusy Blom cushion from Ikea to lie the client back safely.
left side to expedite a swift
recovery. This is more easily achieved on a
couch at waist height (as in a dire emergency
strain and pain. It could also exacerbate
you could pull the wedge or pillows away
sciatica with increased strain on the
and resuscitate on a firm surface) than in a
sacroiliac joints, which are already relaxed
reclining chair.
with the effects of the hormones relaxin and
progesterone during pregnancy.
Always ensure that they are feeling well
enough to leave your care after any session,
as they may feel especially lightheaded
following the first treatment. They must also
turn onto their side to get up, which prevents
straining the softened pelvic ligaments and
lower back.
In order to avoid the compression in the
first place, I would suggest using a long
cushion or pillow under the right side to tip
the uterus over to the left. This is because
the pressure on the aorta (the decending
main blood vessel) can cope with the weight,
as the pressure of the blood leaving the
heart is of greater pressure than that of the
blood returning. When experimenting with
a colleague, a longer support was more
comfortable, as a small wedge caused a twist
in the spine halfway up. Should the client feel
an overwhelming sense of lightheadedness
and impending fainting, she should be rolled
onto her left side, taking care not to injure
yourself or tip the chair over.
I would suggest taking great care when
using a reclining chair commonly used by
complimentary therapists, as the client lies
backwards and risks supine hypotension
as a result. Here I would advocate the use
of the lumbar support to tilt the abdominal
compression by 30-40 degrees to the client’s
left side.
Posture is important as inappropriate and
inadequate support could cause lower back
The semi-supine position facilitates observation
of the client’s response to the treatment and in
practice, eye contact does appear to enhance
their ability to feed back their findings and
feelings.
On reflection after my first aid update, I
changed my practice. As a professional, I
suggest you do too, even if it is just to make a
mental plan of action and preparation in case
of the unlikely, but possible, event of a client
fainting or need for resuscitation. You can gain
CPD points for creating your plan of action,
too!
References
✽
✽
At the first UK Maternity Reflexology
Conference last November, it came to light
that there was a need to explain the reasons
why pregnant women should not receive
reflexology lying flat on their back.
Enzer, S (2004) Maternity Reflexology Manual second
ed. Soul to Sole Reflexology Ltd England ISBN
0-9548060
Tiran, D (2011) Pregnancy and Childbirth In:Clinical
Reflexology:A guide to integrated practice, Second
edition, Edinburgh Elsevier ISBN 978-0-7020-3167-0
Myles and Murray (2009) Change and Adaption
in Pregnancy, 15th Edition, Churchill Livingstone
London ISBN 0-443-07234-5
Jenni Grant RGN RM DipHE MAR
Midwife, reflexologist and Founder member of
The Maternity Reflexology Consortium©
www.maternity-reflexology.com
in your
e
ndy talk
Hear A king advantag
ta
y
y
b
ll
ia
a
c
are
’s spe
of Andy tes for AoR
ra
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d
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c
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red
ask you
roups –
Area G up Leader to
ro
Area G t him today!
contac
Marketing, Selling
and Customer Care
Marketing
In these austere times, there is no doubt that many of us are finding it
tough out there. So, how amazing would it be to have a steady stream of
enquiries? That’s the job of marketing!
The problem is that you are a reflexologist – not a marketer. And however
good you are at reflexology, if you have no enquiries then you are in trouble.
Marketing is not a black art. It is simply the process by which you get
people to enquire about your services. That said, it is very easy to get things
very wrong, and you can end up spending huge amounts of money for little
or no return.
So what’s available to you?
Advertising of course...and leaflets, website, sponsorship, PR, radio,
brochures, exhibitions, direct mail, yellow pages and about a thousand and
one other possibilities! Which ones do you choose?
I’ll tell you now, there are four activities you must maximise before trying
anything else. In our experience, these four activities will account for well in
excess of 95% of your new business. So why waste money elsewhere?
And those four activities? My worry is that you would not do them properly.
Using reflexology as an analogy, you could tell someone to ‘feel someone’s
foot’ (i.e. essentially the right thing to do), but, without expertise applied,
any beneficial effect would be highly unlikely!
So, with that in mind, I can tell you that the top four activities are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Instigate a referral programme
Enhance your networking
Embark on a number of joint ventures
Embrace Email marketing
Revisit each of the above points even if you have tried them before and they
have ‘failed’. Things change – including your own experience of what your
market wants.
Get even one of the above absolutely right, and
you may never have to do ‘Marketing’ ever
again!
Andy Edwards
Co-founder of Marketing Therapy
CRB: The Final Word!
Read
more
Andy
tips fro
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his e-b and downlo Area
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Mark let “The S g
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(and th
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”
Following a number of enquiries posed by our members regarding CRB checks, your editor Laura Occleston has
contacted the Criminal Records Bureau themselves for an official answer to some of our members’ hottest questions...
1. Are there any ways in which a self employed practitioner
could obtain a CRB check?
Julie Wareing (CRB) responds: “Those in self-employed positions
cannot apply for a CRB check directly.
This is more prominent given the recent government announcement
following the review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme, which has
cancelled the proposed ISA registration that would have allowed the
self-employed to register for continuous monitoring.
employed by another organisation or another organisation
putting themselves forward as a potential employer?
“A self-employed person can only apply for a CRB check by
registering with a recruitment agency who will be asking the
exempted question to assess an applicant’s suitability, e.g. for roles
as a nanny, personal care workers and similar roles. The agency
would be eligible to ask an exempted question in respect of these
self-employed individuals, as the agency is making an assessment
of their suitability and is deciding whether to employ them.
Current legislation does not allow the self-employed or individuals
to apply for a CRB check on themselves, as they cannot ask an
exempted question of themselves.“
If the agency was not registered directly with the CRB [that agency]
could ask an umbrella body to countersign on their behalf assuming
the role was eligible.”
2. What is an exempted question?
“An exempted question is a valid request for a person to reveal their
full criminal history (including spent convictions) and is made possible
by virtue of the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders
Act (ROA) 1974.”
4. Is there anywhere that interested members could find out
more information?
The following web pages might be useful to members:
3. Is there any way that a self employed practitioner could
gain a CRB check on themselves through an umbrella
body such as DDC (Due Diligence Checking) without being
http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/about_crb/what_are_
registered_bodies.aspx
http://www.crb.homeoffice.gov.uk/faqs/applicants_-_top_10.
aspx#Iamself
www.aor.org.uk
What every reflexologist
should be selling
✽
As a reflexologist, you need to be selling a range of services and products.
Services
Workshops
Years ago, when I first qualified in reflexology, people said
to me “Do only reflexology and be the very best you can.”
While being the best you can be is good advice, doing only
reflexology is not. A wellness professional needs an integrated
range of skills and knowledge. During the time I was treating
my first clients, I realized that many issues might be eased
by nutrition, so I studied nutrition. Then I came to understand
how profoundly stress affected physical wellbeing, so I studied
stress management. I’ve long held the belief that our spiritual
mindset forms the foundation for wellness, so I studied in
this area. Build on qualifications and CPD options which are
complementary to each other and which your client-base could
benefit from.
As a wellness professional, you have a plethora of knowledge
which you can sell as an information product and also via
courses and workshops. For example, you could sell a ½
day workshop to the general public on How to Give a Foot
Massage to Young Children. You might want to sell to other
wellness professionals and offer an Introduction to Reflexology.
How about offering CPD workshops to fellow reflexologists on
particular areas of experience?
I can’t remember how many clients have said to me that one of
the reasons they chose me was because of the eclectic range
of therapies I offer. Taking course after course isn’t something I
would recommend. You need to consider the health conditions
you treat and offer a range of therapies which are different to
each other, e.g. offer healing modalities to work with the body,
the mind and the spirit as well as addressing the needs of your
client-base.
A word on up-selling and
cross-selling
Up-selling is where you tempt the client to purchase more
expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons in order to make
a more profitable sale. At the end of a ½ day workshop, you
could offer participants a 2-day course on a similar subject.
When you cross-sell, you offer the client a product or service
related to whatever they are already buying. It can be as simple
as asking the client if they want to purchase a foot cream after
their reflexology session.
Products
You can sell products while awake (e.g. in your clinic or at an
exhibition) or asleep (e.g. online).
✽
✽
Your product range can be related to:
• reflexology
• foot care
• conditions you are experienced in
You could create your own products or buy at trade prices and
sell at retail prices. You can also buy through drop-shipping,
which is where you offer the goodies through a website or
catalogue, receive the order and money, then pass the order
on to the relevant company who ship the products out to the
client.
A few tips:
• Offer product or service bundles.
• One way to facilitate cross-selling and up-selling success is to state specific recommendations (e.g. testimonials) from professionals or satisfied clients and learners.
• Position cross-sell and up-sell items throughout your website in places where they can help educate buyers on the depth and variety of what your business offers. Mix and match different items to see what works best.
• Offer a range of prices. If you suggest three items to complement a service or product, offer a mix of price points. The lowest cost items are most likely to be picked up as impulse buys. However, other items that meet the buyer’s needs can also sell at higher levels.
Laurel Alexander MAR
www.wellnessprofessionalsatwork.com
www.aor.org.uk
Stay safe and Google friendly at the
same time
With an increasing number of channels
for those who wish to complain about
how a therapist presents themselves
online, you may feel like battening down
the hatches and cutting back your website until there is nothing left
except a name and contact details. Such a strong reaction would be
detrimental to your website and its presence on Google, as well as for
your viewer looking for information.
ASA Regulations Background
Since March 1st 2011, the Advertising Standards Authority has
assumed powers to regulate websites, and may pursue complaints that
a website is in breach of their advertising code. For a more thorough
explanation of what this means for AoR members, please take a look at
Tracey Smith’s article in the March 2011 issue of Reflexions.
The risk of removing all
references to conditions
It is important to understand the rules and protect yourself from
complaints, and a key area of risk comes from unverifiable claims
about the efficacy of reflexology for particular conditions, for example
infertility or arthritis. At WebHealer, we’ve had queries from a number of
our clients about removing all references to conditions from websites.
The problem with this is that it can weaken your website presence on
Google and other search engines. If you remove all condition words
from your website, such as “fertility” or “arthritis”, then Google and
other search engines won’t find your website when people include
those search terms.
It seems like a bit of a Catch 22 – however, the answer is quite
simple: it’s OK if a client says it for you.
Your clients are perfectly entitled to mention medical conditions
in a testimonial, so by including on your website their testimonial
which refers to a condition, Google can still find these words - and
you can safely remove all references to medical conditions from
your own words. If a client offers you a testimonial you might even
ask if they’d refer to the medical condition you helped with.
Making your website Google
friendly
In the March Reflexions article, therapists were recommended to
make use of two types of content on their websites - testimonials and
research references. A body closely connected to the ASA and who
✽
✽
ASA Regulations:
advise on the ASA’s code is www.copyadvice.org.uk and they have
given the following guidelines on using testimonials:
“Marketers must hold signed and dated proof,
including a contact address, for any testimonials
they use. E-mail testimonials without signatures
and from unverifiable addresses (such as hotmail)
are unlikely to be permissible but the ASA seem
inclined to accept e-mail testimonials if they are
provable.”
Source: http://www.copyadvice.org.uk/Ad-Advice/Advice-OnlineDatabase/Testimonials-and-endorsements.aspx
So genuine testimonials which are properly referenced are fine, and an
extra benefit from a testimonial is that it will be written by your client
in everyday language – the same language that people use when
they search Google, which helps keep your website Google friendly
for these phrases. Additionally, if presented in an attractive display box,
such as the pale green one above this paragraph, it can enhance the
visual appeal of your website. If you are a WebHealer client and wish
to set up quote boxes quickly and easily on your website, just send a
quick email to [email protected].
Research references are another way to include condition words.
If you are “experienced in” working with clients living with disabling
neurological conditions, then you may say that on your website, and
you may follow it with wording such as “If this affects you and you
wish to learn more about how reflexology might be able to help, then
you may find the following research references useful:”. You may then
cite research papers such the one cited in the Research section (page
14) of March’s Reflexions, titled “Reflexology for the treatment of pain
in people with multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomised shamcontrolled clinical trial”. Again, you are able to reference your interest in
a particular condition (in this case, multiple sclerosis), increasing your
website’s Google friendliness for it, without making any claims.
For more tips and advice on getting
the best from your website, all AoR
members are welcome to download
the free WebHealer eGuide “Using
the Web to Attract More Clients”,
available from www.webhealer.net. Our
latest supplement is titled “Advertising
Standards Authority New Rules”
The WebHealer Team
www.webhealer.net
www.aor.org.uk
First steps to success:
Building a Successful
Reflexology Practice
Liverpool Street, London,
Saturday 15th October 2011 & Saturday 12th November 2011
•
Students and recently qualified practitioners about to
set up their own practice
Therapists who are in the process of or have recently
set up in practice
Two days, Two topics...
This two-day workshop covers reflexology topics and
business issues to help you start up and build a successful
reflexology practice. Learn from a range of experienced and
qualified business people and reflexologists who will guide
you through the first steps - helping you to:
avoid the pitfalls
save time
save money
✽
✽
✽
Day One - Being a top quality therapist
•
•
•
•
•
•
Develop your own confidence
Create your own peer support network
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
When to treat
The importance of research & how to use it
Become more aware of the external environment
and issues affecting you as a reflexology practitioner
www.aor.org.uk
Day Two - Setting up a Successful
Reflexology Practice
•
•
•
•
•
•
How to put your business ideas into practice
What issues you need to consider
How to manage business finances
Regulatory issues and the need for record keeping
How to protect your business
How to create, generate & keep more clients
✽✽
•
✽✽
Suitable for:
Places are limited, so book now
to avoid disappointment!
To book, please call the AoR on
01823 351010
Venue:
Hubworking,
5 Wormwood Street,
Liverpool Sreet,
London,
EC2M 1RQ
Intro
duct
offer ory
:
inclu
£50
sive
o
days f both
!
Please note: an administration charge of £5.00 will be made on all
cancellations. If a cancellation is made within 3 weels of the event, no
money will be refunded.
✽✽
Book Reviews
The MENOPAUSE ~ An Essential Guide
By Nicci Talbot
ISBN: 978-0-9563652-0-0
This book is one of the Need-2-Know series. The author
Nicci Talbot is a freelance journalist who specialises
in women’s health issues and talks simply about the
menopause from a non-medical and holistic point of view.
The book is divided into ten chapters with clear headings
which take about 10 minutes each to read, making it an
excellent reference tool.
The menopause is described in detail, listing the
physiological and some of the psychological symptoms we
can expect. The peri-menopausal and post menopausal
stages are clarified too.
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is clearly explained
with the benefits and possible disadvantages of taking it,
discussing some of the worries many people have about
long and short term use and associated perceived risks.
Chapter 8, ‘Sex and the Menopause’ is factual and helpful,
giving lots of advice, including tips for self esteem. Websites
and other books are recommended,
which the reader can refer to for
additional information on a subject
which many women find difficult to
discuss.
Lifestyle and nutritional
advice is given throughout
the book, including a chapter
on complementary and alternative therapies; only one
paragraph on reflexology, though!
There are also guidelines on health risks generally following
the menopause and tips on how to look after your heart,
bones and wellbeing.
The book has a generally upbeat feel to it and is positive
and proactive about the menopause, helping us to see it as
the next stage in our lives – as something to feel liberated
about and look forward to. It lists many useful websites,
contacts and other books to read or refer to. I would say
this is a good book to recommend to clients or friends,
especially as it has a holistic feel running through it. In short,
it tells you everything you ‘need to know’, making it ideal for
complementary therapists.
Sue Travena MAR
The Art of Foot Reading
By Polly Hall
ISBN: 978-0-9563652-0-0
www.pollyhall.co.uk
The Art of Foot Reading is a self published book by AoR
member Polly Hall. I really enjoyed this easy to read and well
laid out book, which had charts and diagrams to guide the
reader through the fundamental tools of Foot Reading and a
basic Foot Reading sequence.
In the opening chapters, the book explains that like
reflexology, Foot Reading focuses on the representation
of the person on their feet. However, in this instance, it
concentrates on the emotional,
mental and spiritual aspects. The
visual clues may be interpreted
as ‘signs and indicators’ of that
person’s inherent personality traits
and perceptual patterns. Knowing
how to interpret these will give the
reflexologist a deeper insight of their
client.
Other chapters include how the
Five Elements and Chakras relate
to Foot Reading, and there is a section of several example
Foot Reading case studies. A very thorough and excellent
introduction to the art of Foot Reading.
Viv Knowland MAR
www.aor.org.uk
✽
Learning Zone
Contraindication check: do you
know yours?
1) Refuse treatment and refer to the relevant professional (if required) or ...
2) Proceed with caution and ask the client to make sure they seek relevant allopathic advice/ treatment as well, or ...
3) Treat the client with no hesitation
Client 1 exhibits symptoms which they suspect might be
indicative of diabetes. On further questioning, you find out that
they have not yet seen their doctor about the condition.
Client 2 sees you a year after you have qualified. They
have been pregnant for sixteen weeks and report a normal
pregnancy so far. She reports her main concern as tiredness.
Client 3 wants to see you in a week where they have been
absent from work due to ‘flu. They are still experiencing some
of the symptoms and they hope that reflexology might be able
to help.
Client 4 came back from holiday three weeks ago. On return
from their holiday, they were taken into hospital with DVT (deep
vein thrombosis). They have just started taking Warfarin for the
condition at the advice of their doctor.
✽
We have listed below a set of client scenarios – your task is to
decide whether you would:
✽
The AoR A-Z of
conditions
In this section, we include a list of
pathologies that we think would be
useful for you to know. Your task
is to see if you can define these
pathologies. You’ll gain a CPD point
per hour while you’re puzzling over
them!
www.aor.org.uk
B is for...
C is for...
Bell’s Palsy
Cancer
Boil
Cataract
Breast lumps
Crohn’s Disease
Bronchitis
Colitis
Bursitis
Constipation
Cramp
Cystitis
Cyst
Answers to both of these sections will be
available in your Reflexions Extra supplement on
the Members’ Area of the website!
The AoR on
Social Media
How to...create
a Facebook
Account
The AoR have recently joined the world of Social Media, and we thought you might like to join us. Social Media such as Facebook are not just for personal
use – they can be very effective for business use such as updating clients quickly and easily and connecting with other reflexologists to share hints and tips.
To create an account on Facebook, simply follow the instructions below – we’ll meet you there!
1.
First of all you need to type www.facebook.com into your search
engine and press the enter button on your keyboard.
4.
After having signed up, you will be guided through three steps to
find friends, submit profile information and upload a profile picture. In each
of these stages, if you do not wish to submit any information, simply look
for and click the word ‘Skip’ and you will be guided to the next step.
If you wish to ‘find friends’
complete this section, if not
you can skip this page and go
straight to the next by clicking
‘skip this step’
Enter web address here
The Facebook homepage should then appear like the image below:
Complete each section as you
wish and then press ‘Save &
Continue.’ Alternatively, you
can ‘Skip’ and go onto the
next page.
2.
On the right-hand side of the page it should read ‘Sign up,’ followed
by a series of white boxes for you to complete.
Type your first name here
Type your last name here
5.
Finally, you will now be presented with your personal Facebook
homepage.
Type your email address
here & re-enter in the box
However, to
complete
the ‘sign-up
process’ you will
need to go to
your email.
Type your new password here
Select your sex by clicking the
drop down arrow on the right
Select your date of birth using
the drop down arrows
3.
Lastly, click here
Having clicked the ‘Sign up’ button, you will then be directed to the
page below where you will be required to complete the security check.
Copy the text in the large box
and enter in the designated
box. The image to the left is
just an example - the text will
change every time
6.
Now you’ve got the Facebook page, it’s time to find the AoR and
any other reflexologists you know – simply type their name or the term
‘Association of Reflexologists’ into the ‘Search’ box at the top of the page.
Try searching
‘Association of
Reflexologists’ here –
if you want to receive
our regular updates on
your Facebook page,
you’ll need to click the
‘like’ button next to our
page when the results
come up.
Then, click here
www.aor.org.uk
CPDListings
Your one-stop guide to upcoming events
Dates
Location
Event Title
Contact/Course Tutor Contact Number
Wesbite
Anytime
Online
Level 3 Diploma in Pathlogy
Essential Training http://www.essential-training.co.uk/aor_
01604 879110
Solutions
cpd.htm
Anytime
Essential Training
http://www.essential-training.co.uk/aor_
Online
Level 3 Diploma in Anatomy & Physiology
01604 879110
Solutions
cpd.htm
Anytime
Essential Training
http://www.essential-training.co.uk/aor_
Online
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Safety
01604 879110
Solutions
cpd.htm
Ongoing
Brighton
Reflexology Refresher One day workshop
Cheryl Taylor
Email:[email protected]
11 Jun 2011
London
Neurological Control of the body with
AoR & Lone Sorensen 01823 351010
www.aor.org.uk
01273 330068
Facial Reflexology - Lone Sorensen
11 Jun 2011
London
Preconception and Pregnancy Reflexology
Louise Keet
0207 691 0793
www.learnreflexology.com
17 Jun 2011
London Spinal Reflexology
Louise Keet
0207 691 0793
18 & 19 Jun 2011
Marlow, Maternity Reflexology Part 2
Gill Thomson (Midwife/ 07517 240200
Buckinghamshire
Maternity Reflexologist
& Tutor)
24 Jun 2011
London
Power Reflexology
Louise Keet
0207 691 0793
25 Jun 2011
London
Pre and Post Natal Reflexology
Lesley Woolfe
07932 668857
09 Jul 2011
London
Nutrition
AoR & Lorraine
01823 351010
www.aor.org.uk
Perretta
18 Jul 2011
London
Indian Head Massage
Louise Keet
0207 691 0793
25 Jul 2011
London
Preconception and Pregnancy Reflexology
Louise Keet 0207 691 0793
30 Jul 2011
London
Spinal Reflexology
12 Sep 2011
London
Power Reflexology
17 & 18 Sep 2011
Gill Thomson (Midwife/
07517 240200
Buckinghamshire
& Tutor)
24 Sep 2011
AoR & Susanne Enzer 01823 351010
www.aor.org.uk
London
Reflexology for pregnancy and AGM with
Susanne Enzer
08 Oct 2011
Bristol
Finger Free Reflexology with David Wayte
AoR & David Wayte
01823 351010
www.aor.org.uk
23 Oct 2011
Shrewsbury
Finger Free Reflexology
David Wayte
01773 771234
www.fingerfreereflexology.com
29 Oct 2011
Sheffield
Enhancing Fertility and Maternity Care
David Wayte
01773 771234
30 Oct 2011
Manchester
David Wayte
01773 771234
05 Nov 2011
Cardiff
Introduction to Facial Reflexology with
AoR & Nikke Ariff
01823 351010
www.aor.org.uk
Lynne Booth
01179 626746
www.boothvrt.com
Nikke Ariff
5-6 Nov 2011
Basic VRT and Sleep, Mobility and new London
developments
19 Nov 2011
Nottingham
David Wayte
01773 771234
27 Nov 2011 Manchester
Aromatherapy for the Feet
Marie Wayte
01773 771234
03 Dec 2011
Sheffield
Marie Wayte
01773 771234
10 & 11 Dec 2011
Gill Thomson (Midwife/
07517 240200
Buckinghamshire
& Tutor)
15 Jan 2012
Leeds
David Wayte
01773 771234
04 Feb 2012
Sheffield
David Wayte
01773 771234
25 Feb 2012
Bristol
David Wayte
01773 771234
17 Mar 2012
Nottingham
David Wayte 01773 771234
18 Mar 2012 Leeds
David Wayte
01773 771234
15 Apr 2012
Manchester
David Wayte
01773 771234
21 Apr 2012
Nottingham
Marie Wayte
01773 771234
20 May 2012
Leeds
Marie Wayte
01773 771234
www.aor.org.uk
✽
✽
AoR Sales
Take a look at some of our fantastic range of products below: all this and more available
to buy from www.aor.org.uk or by calling 01823 351010 for a sales brochure
Bolster & Roll Bolster
£29.95 excluding p&p
Baby size left and right
feet
£5.00 excluding p&p
These fantastic bolsters were
designed by one of our members
who recognised the benefit of
a bolster during a reflexology
treatment. A firm foam bolster for
placing under the feet during a
reflexology treatment when using
either a Lafuma recliner or couch.
Also included is a roll to use to
support your client’s knees should
they need it.
One left and one right training foot.
**Not suitable for children under
3 years due to small parts/sharp
edges**
To order any
sales item from
page or to view this
mor
items please vi e
si
www.aor.org t
.uk
where you ca
n or
To order by ph der online.
one plea
call the AoR on se
01823 351010
✽
✽
Available in black or cream and
cover is fully wipeable.
Royalty Free Music CD
Footnotes
£10.00 including p&p
This is a bespoke collection
of musical pieces which has
been specially designed
for reflexologists to play
during treatments. We at the
Association of Reflexologists have worked together with Chris
Glassfield to produce an album that contains some exquisitely
beautiful and calming music.
Each track has been carefully selected by a practising reflexologist
to enhance both your own and your client’s experience of the
treatment. This has been tried and tested against some typical
reflexology sessions of approximately 1 hour in length, and only
when we had an experienced practitioner’s seal of approval did we
offer it, exclusively for you.
The CD is intended for use during a typical 1 hour reflexology
session. As long as it is used for authorised purposes, it is royalty
free. Authorised purposes include all reflexology treatments
including taster treatments, as well as other complementary
therapy treatments. It is also permitted to be played for personal
use.
We’ve paid the VAT increase for you on all sales items – but that’s not all...
UK delivery just got cheaper too!
UK Delivery charges for all AoR sales items:
Single CD or DVD = free!
30 reflexions
✽
March 2011
For all other products:
Under £10.00 = £3.50
£10.00 - £20.00 = £4.50
£20-00 -£70.00 = £6.50
More that £70.00 = free
www.aor.org.uk
✽
NEW! Diploma in Clinical Reflex
Zone Therapy for Pregnancy
One year, modular programme prepares you to offer safe,
appropriate, research-based reflex zone therapy for
conception, pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Taught by
Denise Tiran, midwifery lecturer and internationally-renowned
authority on maternity CAM, author of Reflexology in
Pregnancy and Childbirth (2010), co-editor of Clinical
Reflexology (2nd ed, 2010). This course may challenge your
Would you
like to be an
acupuncturist?
Learn a system of medicine
that treats body, mind and spirit
Be taught by some of the
most experienced practitionerteachers in the UK
previous knowledge; it prepares you to work with NHS
midwives and to defend RZT in a scientific manner. Individual
Graduate with a BSc (Hons)
from Kingston University
modules accredited by FEDANT, Greenwich University, FHT;
AoR accreditation has been applied for.
Come to an introductory
session and find out about the College and what it means
to be an acupuncturist – Sunday 20 March or 17 April 2–5pm
or Tuesday 7 June 6.30–9.30pm*
Apply now for October 2011 intake: 25% off
all our courses with this advert
www.expectancy.co.uk
08452 301 323
[email protected]
www.aor.org.uk
*If you can´t make any of these dates, contact us to arrange a visit
The College of Integrated
Chinese Medicine
0118 950 8880
www.cicm.org.uk
March 2011
✽
reflexions 31
In this way we are able to offer regional courses at special rates.
Offering professional, targeted training to increase your
knowledge and skills to include babies, parents and toddlers.
Exciting one day NEW toddler course for those qualified
in baby reflex.
Streamlined one day course in baby reflex for those setting out
to work with reflexology for babies and families.
Full Two day baby reflex courses includes babies, parent teaching
and NEW toddlers.
10 & 11 September 2011
Developed by reflexologists for reflexologists
A beeswax based organic balm that has just enough slip for a consistent
movement without being too slippery. Contains a blend of oils which have the
reputation of being anti-viral, anti bacterial and anti-fungal.
Hemel Hempstead
Oxfordshire
Ireland
Brighton
08 & 09 October 2011
09 & 10 October 2011
14 & 15 October 2011
22 & 23 October 2011
London
Norwich
Northern Ireland
Tunbridge Wells
Baby Reflex is happy to organise courses
throughout the UK, please contact us
or see website for
further details.
As endorsed by Tina Reid, Vice President of the FHT.
“as a professional reflexologist - it’s the best I’ve tried”
“I have noticed a significant difference to my clients’ feet after just one session”
www.nikisbalms.co.uk
01189 894 832
✽
✽
Your Opportunity
to Advertise
Therapy Items for Sale and Wanted
(Max 16 words including telephone
Classified
number for £12.50 + VAT)
Therapy Items for
Used Therapy items for Sale
Therapy items Wanted
Sale
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items Wante
d
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
number for £12.50
+ VAT)
Therapy Items for
Sale and Wanted.
(Max 16 words
including telephone
numberor £12.50
+ VAT)
Just complete the coupon and send it to:
Denise Burnett, William Pollard & Co Ltd, Oak House, Falcon
Road, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7NU.
To arrive no later than 10th August 2011 for inclusion in our September issue 2011.
Alternatively you can email your linage advert to [email protected].
Please use block capitals, one word per box only.
All advertising is to be prepaid. Please make cheques out to William Pollard Ltd or
alternatively fill in your card details
Mastercard
Visa
Switch/Maestro
Other
32 reflexions
✽
March 2011
Cardholders name
Address
Postcode
Email address
Card number
Valid from
Exp
Sec code
Signature
Issue No
www.aor.org.uk
B WTECH SuppliES
The Maternity
Reflexology Course
®
Specialist products for professional and home use
Bowtech Ease… for bunions and
other painful joints
Bowtech Lectric Crystals…
reduces swelling and oedema
Bowtech Balance… natural
formula promotes wellbeing
Cost price packages plus retail
range for your clients
Compiled and presented by Susanne Enzer RSCN, SCM, RZT
Enrich your skills and work with
pregnant clients with pleasure and
confidence.
Diary Dates...
Helen Mary Perkins
Exclusive Distributor
UK and Europe
+ 44 (0)1733 555476
www.bowtechease.com
Bowtech SR Advert 64x89 Lan.indd 1
Part 2
Part 1
23 and 24 July 2011 17 and 18 September 2011
29 and 30 October 2011 24 and 25 March 2012
28 and 29 January 2012
Venue NE Hampshire. For national venues and further information & booking form contact:
Susanne Enzer Tel: 01252 629744 Email: [email protected]
07/05/2011 14:31
escape
holistic therapies
Reflexology 1 - 2 day course for everyone - 23 - 24 Jul; 20 - 21 Aug £150
Chi-Reflexology - Introductory: London 16 - 18 Sep :Powys Wales 4 - 6 Nov
Chi-Reflexology Afternoon Session: London 16 Jul North London £50
Chi 1 Course - 10 - 12 June Mullingar, S Ireland
Chi-Reflexology, developed by Moss Arnold, is a unique form of reflexology & natural
therapy. It is based on an understanding of the Chinese philosophy, including Traditional
Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is applied to the science of Reflexology and combining it with
energy work, and also expanding it as an art, the result is a new dynamic approach and
therapy.
Contact Audrey Scully, Principal on 0114 269 1145 or 07949 567 530
for further details: www.reflexology-healing.co.uk
Integrated Meridian Reflexology
Advanced 2 Day Training Embody/CThA Approved 10 CPD’s
Learn how to:
Access & work the Meridians through the hands and feet
Understand the emotional links
Explore the five element theory
Integrate new skills into treatments
Small groups for individual support & attention
www.escapetherapies.co.uk
Tel: Debbie Pettitt 01202 854740
ITEC, IA, IIHHT, FHT, City & Guilds 7307,
23 yrs Experience
Facial Reflexology Sorensensistem™
is based on ancient energy systems
within the face.
These are combined with insights from
modern neurology to create a highly
effective system, to re-balance the entire
body.
Drawing on Oriental and South
American traditions, Facial Reflexology
Sorensensistem™ focuses on identifying
our primary health imbalance - the root
cause of our symptoms. A wide range of
techniques are used, involving a number
of specialised reflex maps on the face and
scalp to provide a powerful, integrated,
holistic treatment.
Our eight-day (2 x 4 days) intensive
professional course is AoR CPD Approved
and this year is offered in Warwick, York,
Sheffield and London.
www.aor.org.uk
March 2011
✽
reflexions 33
For Reflexions advertising, contact:
Denise Burnett,
William Pollard Co Ltd
Tel: 01392 445 333
CRANIO-SACRAL
THERAPY
Introductory Day
Saturday 2nd July 2011
their subscription.
Comprehensive Professional Training.
Introductory Courses.
College of Cranio-Sacral Therapy
The most established college of CST
in Europe.
Contributions to Reflexions should be
020 7483 0120
Reflexions is published quarterly in
March, June, September and December
and distributed to members as part of
sent to your Editor, Laura Occleston
[email protected]
www.ccst.co.uk
Tel: 01823 351 010
Address: AoR, 5 Fore Street, Taunton,
Somerset TA1 1HX.
*
For reflexology queries, contact:
Tracey Smith
Tel: 01823 351 010 and press option 3
Please note that this service is only
available to Honorary, Fellow, Full and
Associate Members of the Association.
*
The views expressed in this journal are
not necessarily those of the AoR. The
AoR cannot accept responsibility for
either claims made or products ordered
REFLEXOLOGY CPD
COURSES
Sunday 3rd July – Leeds
“Reflexology for People with
Cancer” with Edwina Hodkinson
Saturday 15th October London
‘“NLP” with David Holmes and
Robert Russell
Other courses also available
from The Bayly School of
Reflexology
For more details visit
www.britreflex.co.uk/Lecture
Days or call 01886-821207
© COPYRIGHT RESERVED
No article printed in Reflexions may be
reproduced without the prior written
permission of the Association of
Reflexologists
Kenkoh - Japanese Massage Health Sandals
Kenkoh Means Health. Treat Your Feet. Treat You.
Now available in the UK, from www.headtofeet.co.uk! Treat yourself
to Kenkoh, a one-of-a-kind health sandle with 1000 rubber
nodules that massage and stimulate the soles and edges of your
feet to revitalise the whole body!
Find out more, and buy on-line at www.headtofeet.co.uk.
Only £39.99! 10% off for all AoR members – quote ‘AOR’ at the
on-line checkout & buy for only £35.99!
For wholesale opportunities please
email: from the independent advertisers that
appear in Reflexions.
www.headtofeet.co.uk
TREATMENT ROOMS
to rent
or phone:
[email protected] 0141-620-0252
The London Reflexology Centre,
27a Harley Place, London W1
For more details call
020-7637-3177 or
01886-821207
Reflexions Journal ISSN 1466-8092
Contributions
Welcome!
To reduce administration costs,
advertising is by pre-payment only.
Printed by Pollards using vegetablebased inks. The printer is registered to
We are always looking for
ISO 14001 environmental standards and
contributions to our
97% of the waste associated with this
magazine: why not give it
product will be recycled.
a try?
Published by Pollards Publishing
Oak House, Falcon Road,
If you have any articles
Sowton Industrial Estate,
you’d like to submit for
Exeter, Devon. EX2 7NU.
our magazine, please
Tel: 01392 445 333
SHEFFIELD :
24th June: Original Ingham Method Masterclass with Muscular/Skeletal
Facial Self-help techniques 9th September: First Aid Update
14th October: IIR Hands Workshop & Iridology
20th & 21st October: Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART) with
Anthony Porter with Assessment 22nd Oct.
LONDON :
11th May: Reflexology Workshop for Back Pain
11th & 12th June: ART 2 day Comprehensive Seminar
2nd July: IIR Master Class in the OIM.
6th July: Reflexology Workshop for Improving Fertility & Healthy
Pregnancy
4th October: Reflexology Workshop for Improving Fertility & Healthy
Pregnancy
forward them to your
Some of the photos in this journal were
Editor Laura Occleston
taken on an exclusive photo shoot for
at: [email protected]
the AoR by Jonathan Mitchell, ©The
AoR 2010.
BRISTOL:
9th & 10th July: ART with Anthony Porter with Assessment 11th July.
3rd September: OIM Masterclass
31st October: Emergency First Aid for Therapists
SCOTLAND:
5th November: OIM Masterclass : Reflexology for Back Pain
20th November: Emergency First Aid for Therapists
✽
✽
Part 3 AoR Bridging Courses : London Sept.28th
34 reflexions
✽
March 2011
Apply for other dates and venues on
www.reflexology-uk.net<http://www.reflexology-uk.net/>
or ring 0114 2471725.
www.aor.org.uk
One day CPD courses for 2011
• Head Massage
24th July (Sun) 21st Sept (Wed)
• Spinal Reflexology
6th Jul (Wed) 22nd Oct (Sat)
• Maternity Reflexology Part 1
2nd July (Sat) 1st Oct (Sat)
• Reflexology & Cancer
8th Jul (Fri) 9th Oct (Sun)
• Maternity Reflexology Part 2
10th Sept (Sat) 3rd Dec (Sat)
• First Aid (St. Johns Ambulance)
7th Sept (Wed) 9th Nov (Wed)
• Hopi Candles / Hot Stone Reflexology
9th Oct (Sun) 21st Jan (Sat)
• Neck & Back Massage
30th Sept (Fri) 14th Sept (Wed)
• Counselling Skills & EFT
10th Sept (Sat) 7th Dec (Wed)
•
•
Special Summer offer 3 CPDs for the price of 2
✽
✽
• Chinese Foot Massage/Lymphatic Drainage
3rd Jul (Sun) 8th Oct (Sat)
Reiki level 1 & level 2 - 17th July (Sun) (1) 3rdSept (Sat) (2)
Hand Reflexology
29th Jul (Fri) 22nd Oct (Sat)
For more information on diploma courses go to www.reflexologycollege.com
or call 020 7240 1438
For Video’s of Tutors and more information see our website www.reflexologycpd.com
www.aor.org.uk
March 2011
✽
reflexions 35
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Reflexology - Association of Reflexologists

Transcription

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