Sometimes it is so hard working out what to give someone that has everything they need, so why not give them a real treat by buying them a few sessions of reflexology…
You could buy them a single treatment or a treatment plan, it is up to you, they will thank you for it, I am sure of that…
Go to www.reflexologyandhealth.co.uk
During November I am giving new clients at my Tuesday Clinic in Bath (at the Oldfield Osteopathic Clinic) the chance to have their first treatment half price..
I have recently been swapping treatments with another reflexologist and this has become two major things for me:
1) A real treat! When you are a therapist for some reason there is never time to actually treat yourself. I do lots of self-help reflexology but actually getting a treatment like I do for my clients is wonderful.. In fact it reminds you why people come and have the session, and
2) It is a real learning session. It is so important to share knowledge of subjects and share skills learned.
It is all enriching and enables one to move forward with more ‘tools in the box’ to help others.
What a great experience it has become and I can’t wait for my next reflexology treatment.
Wow I am looking out of my window across the fields and the sun is shining the most beautiful orange light over the autumnal trees. We really do live in a beautiful world. We you see beauty like this, in that moment, nothing else seems to matter . There is something to be said for living in the moment…
A friend of mine who has just moved to the North of the UK asked me, how she should go about finding a good reflexologist. The first thing that I thought was how do I go about choosing a therapist for myself, what do I look for.
I have had many reflexology, acupuncture, osteopathy, & chiropractic treatments in my time and it made me think what is on my checklist of credentials that the practitioner has to have.
I think the best way of finding a good practitioner in any field is by word of mouth. Ask all your friends, quite often someone you know will have seen a therapist for a condition and will rave about the one they liked and will definitely tell you if they had a bad experience.
But should you find yourself in the position like my friend who has just moved and doesn’t know anyone in that area, I would think it is a case of looking on line and calling different practices.
Once I’d got some numbers to call, what is on my checklist:
1. What is their telephone manner like?
2. Did they seem professional?
3. Did I feel comfortable chatting to them on the phone? (Remember that you be doing a full consultation with this person, are you happy to talk honestly to them?)
4. Did they sound knowledgeable and where the aware of the condition I was calling about?
5. DID THEY FILL YOU WITH CONFIDENCE?
I think these would be the main things I would want to get a feel for.
Things you may want to ask could be:
1. Where do you practice from – if a clinic see if there is a website?
2. How long is the treatment?
3. How much does it cost?
4. Can you explain Reflexology?
5. Can they send you some information to read or do they have a website?
6. Can it help…(your condition)
7. Are you fully insured?
8. Who is your governing body?
9. When did you qualify?
10. How many treatments do they suggest?
Have a look at their website. Sometimes that can be an indicator to whether you want to see this person or not. There are lots of therapists out there and all are different. What appeals to some doesn’t appeal to others.
I think professionalism and understanding is really important. The treatment is all about you, so put you first and make sure you feel comfortable.
The UK is blessed with hot and sunny weather at the moment and the flip flops are out, just a quick reminder… After a winter of keeping your feet tucked up in socks and boots, don’t forget to apply that suncream to your feet, they hurt if they get burnt…Ouch!!!
I have been asked in the past if I think these are a good item to purchase. Well I have mixed feelings about these novelty items. I think they are fun but everyone’s feet are different and you shouldn’t over stimulate certain areas. Therefore, I think you are better saving your pounds or buying yourself a thick woolly pair of socks for hiking in!
As I was saying, is having a treatment, in this case Reflexology because of enjoyment or need?
When I feel I am due a treatment it comes from a place of need and want, I want to feel in balance, emotionally and physically. It isn’t really the enjoyment factor although this cannot be ignored but whenever I feel a treatment is required it is definitely through a feeling of need.
I have worked with many children from babies to teenagers and a fascinating age I have found is around the age of about 3/4. They cannot yet explain in-depth why they like something, yet they really let you know what points or movements on the feet work for them.
One really fantastic example of this was a little girl of 4 I treated for trapped wind; the trapped wind was causing a normally very happy girl to be frequently inconsolable.
She was very excited when her Mum told her I was coming to play with her feet! On my first visit we all sat on the sofa in their front room, the little girl leaning back on Mum, with her feet on a cushion and as I worked she excitedly grabbed my fingers when I got to her toes. Then something really extraordinary happened. As I worked on the colon she flopped back on her Mum and her eyelids began dropping like she was falling asleep.
I couldn’t believe the reaction; Mum was looking confused until I told her what I was working on. I asked her if she liked what I was doing and she sleepily nodded.
The following week I went back to do another treatment; well before I had properly got through the door she pulled her socks off and said “Vivi, Vivi, play with my feet”
As I began to work she said “Do the thing when you do that foot then that foot”. She was asking me to do what we call the colon walk, where we work foot to foot. When I did it, the same reaction happened.
Now enjoyment or need, well she must have enjoyed the feeling of it but the need must come from the fact she felt better after I did that move. A relief from the uncomfortable feelings she was experiencing.
So I guess I actually think that when you have had an experience of a therapy, whatever it is, once you know how it makes you feel I think it most possibly becomes a need.
Each time I teach Baby Reflexology to parents I leave with a real high. I am constantly amazed how much fun we all have working in a relaxed environment where parents or friends practice on each other.
Having both parents there is fun and it is great to watch them learning skills which can be done anytime and anywhere and most importantly for the rest of the child’s life.
As I told one couple completing Week 3 tonight; a Reflexologist friend of mine gets asked each night by her little one… “Mum can you do my feet”.. That’s confirmation of enjoyment or need for you!
So is it enjoyment or need for the treatment? As a Reflexologist I often feel that I need a treatment… emmm this needs more thought, I shall come back to this notion a bit!
So many of us do! Breathing steadily, deeply and constantly sounds a ridiculous thing to remind people to do, but I am often amazed when generally observing fellow human beings that they are often either shallow breathing or holding their breath.
When shallow breathing you are effectively having a knock on effect of reduced functioning to every cell, organ and system in your body.
Do an experiment with yourself during the day see what your breathing rate is. Time yourself for a minute. The average for an adult at rest is 9-14 breaths per minute.
Oxygen is important for optimum functioning so don’t starve yourself of it, it is free after all at the moment, so breathe it in!!!
