Help for Japan

What a terrible sight in Japan! I was shocked by the force of nature, it is a strong reminder that there is nothing we can do against such force. Even if Japan is better prepared for earthquakes than many other poorer countries, the effects of a quake of that magnitude are still amazing. And the tsunami that followed seems more devastating than the earthquake itself. You must have seen those pictures of an unstoppable wall of water carrying everything in its path.

The burning issue is now the safety of the nuclear plant; any nuclear accident will have long term impact on the region, its inhabitants and wildlife. Like Tchernobyl in 1986.

As a country with a long history of reflexology practice and embedded reflexology paths, let us hope that the Japan will quickly recover.

If you want to advertise a charity offering help to Japan, please add a comment.

Training to become a reflexologist

If you would like to change career and train to become a reflexologist, there are a few things to consider.

For example, you need to work out your budget and timescale.

Depending on the country you live in, you need to check if reflexology is recognized by the state and whether they are some official training schools. Many countries have strict laws and regulations in place for reflexologists. Check out the laws that apply in your country and what type of qualifications are required to practice.

There are many different types of training schools and training courses. It really depends on your availability and the speed of learning: some courses run at week-ends over a year, others are more intensive ...

I would always recommend a course that allows for plenty of practical training, literally "hands on". If fact, you will usually be asked to carry out some case studies before getting your qualification. This also gives you the opportunity to test if this is really the type of work you would like to do. I remember a person that wanted to become a reflexologist but could not stand looking at (not even touching) mishaped feet, so she gave up. It stands to reason that all feet are not in perfect shape like on a magazine cover!

It might also be important to you to have a post-training mentor, someone you can call when you are confronted by an unusual case and need special advice.

In any case, if you are considering becoming a reflexologist, start by reading some books about the subject. In particular, our "step by step" manual will give you a lot of insight about the technical and ethical aspects of reflexology.

Can't shift that nasty cold?

I'm sure you've tried many grandmother tips to cure a cold: Tea with thyme, lavender bath, a strong warm drink .... there are many recipes to try but have you thought about a reflexology session? You can target certain reflex points not only to alleviate the symptoms but to treat the cause.

Reflexology is an holistic therapy so there is no point just working on the lung reflex zones, when other zones can be equally important in treating the health disorder.

This can be a short session, 10 to 15 minutes are sufficient. You should start with a few relaxing movements first of all to put the person at ease. Even if you're doing some self-help, this relaxation part is worth indulging in!
Then work on the lung reflex zone on the left foot three or four times before changing over to the right foot.



Next, work on the spine reflex zone in slow reptation movement from top to heel. Once again, start on the left foot, then move over to the right foot. The spine is so important in reflexology because of the bundles of nerves it contains.



Finally, the digestive system needs to be worked on to accelerate the elimination of toxins. Generally, if the toxins cannot be evacuated by the digestive system, they find another exit causing unbalance and disorder.

Don't forget to finish off with more relaxing movements before nodding off for a peaceful night!