Question:
Hi there
Lots of questions because I'm thinking of doing a reflexology course:
Does reflexology actually have any benefits to a client or is it just hype?
Are there different levels to reflexolgy? There's a course at my local holistic training centre for 6 months part time, is this enough as I believe it is quite a complex subject.
I always believed reflexology to be connected with the feet, but I've also read it's to do with the hands. During a course are the hands covered or is this seperate?
How long does a treatment take, and is there any danger of repeative injury to the therapist?
Those who practice reflexology can you tell me how much you charge and how many treatments you do a day.
Regard
Deb379
Deb,
Surprised that no-one has replied as there are a lot of people on the forums who are practitioners or have experienced the benefits of reflexology.
So your questions - is it hype? Absolutely not, although there is little clinical evidence (as in many complementary therapies) reflexology is building a strong evidence base to show that it is effective as a relief toa range of symptons from anxiety to insomnia to PMS - there is very little that reflexology cannot help although unless you are qualified as a medical practitioneryou can make no claims to heal or diagnose. I both practice and receive reflexology as often as I can! (I would try it out as if you don't enjoy it you probably won't like receiving it)
In order to practice as a reflexologist there are now standards of training that you need to have (we are a regulated therapy), I did my course over 9 months at weekends, there are a minimum number of contact teaching hours, 60 hours practical work (minimum)and a lot of written work required but it is very worth it! I think it would be possible to do it in 6 months but it would be very intensive- the college you are looking at will be able to tell you if it is a practitioner level course. After the initial training you have the option of doing specialist courses in areas that interest you.
Most reflexology training will focus on the feet as they are easy to access but you can do reflexology on hands, face and ears (these are considered specialist areas). Reflexology has origins in a number of ancient medical theories but one of them is meridian theory (like acupuncture) which focuses on energy flows in the body which are present all over the body but have strong presence in the hands and feet.
Treatments can range from 10 minutes (for children, taster sessions etc) to an hour (for an adult full treatment etc). You are trained to do a treatment with a minimum of danger to yourself and there are advanced techniques that minimise wear and tear on the thumbs.
How much you charge really depends on where you are based, whether you go to people, if you are self employed or working in a salon... I would check out charges in your local area. One of the things you have to study is business practices so rates etc should be covered in your course.
Hope this helps.
Kate
Hi Kate
Thanks so much for your reply, I thought I would have been inundated with replies.
So far I've heard nothing but positive comments about reflexology.
In your opinion is it better to train at college, a private school or some sort of reflexology training school. How would I know if I have chosen the right place to train.
I certainly hadn't thought about asking if it's at a practioner's level.
I will book and have a treatment myself to see what it's like as well.
Cheers
Deb379
I suppose I am a bit biased being a member of the AOR but I would always go through one of their recommended courses. There are other reflexology associations which are as prestigious but I don't know enough about them to comment. You can see the list of schools by region on .
One warning is that the training isn't cheap - (it is after all a new career) - and you want to make sure that it is right for you before committing yourself, personally I don't regret a penny or minute of it!
Enjoy your treatment!
Kate
Hi,
I qualified in Reflexology a couple of years ago. I attended the local college.I have to say that the course was pretty hard going with a lot of A&P, but I loved every minute of it. As with any course, the tutor can make or break, and mine was fantastic.I came away having learnt so much more than Reflex! We studied the feet, but also had a couple of sessions on the hands, and one on the ears.
I went onto do Indian Head there the following year, and had a bad experience, in that the tutor wasn't very inspiring, and although I finished the course I left feeling I hadn't learnt enough.
I would also advise you to go and have a treatment. I too love giving and receiving the treatment, and find it completely relaxing.
As for it being a hype, I can honestly say that I have helped alot of people in the past few years, and found things in their feet that they hadn't owned up to!
Have a treatment, and enjoy, and make your mind up from there!
Good luck
Tj
Hello Deb
You have made a good choice in thinking in training in Reflexology. It is a wonderful career. I trained 15 years ago and have loved every minute of it.
You are correct that we cantreat via the feet or hands (or ears!). I mainly use the feet, however I also often use the hands as well. I love working with both!
Reflexology really does work as proven by research. I was lucky enough to take part on some early clinical trails at Cardiff were we worked with patients who had hip and knee replacements. The results were excellent. There are useful sources of information on Reflexology on the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) & Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM) websites and . Both feature help information, practitioner register and accredited courses.
I have been lucky enough to witness some superb results for people via reflexology. I practice Gentle Touch™ Reflexology which uses a form that is very light and soothing to both the practitioner and client. Clients have had relief from an enormous range of conditions from arthritis, headaches, bowel problems, infertility, sinus conditions, to stress, back and neck pain and much, much more. It is also a great way to relax!
In answer to your question about number of treatments; I treat 7 clients a day. I am lucky that I use Gentle Touch™ Reflexology where we use a specific light touch so we do not get any pressure build up in our thumbs and therefore I am still working 15 years on!! (and love it more every day!).
My suggestion would be to decide what type of course you need, i.e. are you looking to do this as a professional career or as a general interest, and then look at all the different training opportunities. I recommend the Association of Reflexologists as a good starting point. It is important to find the right level for you and your future. Some courses offer a diploma that is a quality and high level (ie NVQ level 3) and some miss the mark but offer good courses without the full professionally recognised diplomas and insurances. It may be helpful to find out the differences between the beauty therapy qualifications and the therapy specific qualifications. I use AOR and ICM routes (see their requirements on the above websites) for my students. I also have students who do bridging courses to achieve MAR (member of the Association ofReflexologists) who have done a variety of levels of training including VTCT.
I am sure you will find the right course for you when you look at the level of training provided. I also suggest you meet to tutor if possible as there are some dedicated tutors round.
Reflexology is a fabulous career and it is worth researching the training options for your future. I believe there are so many people who would benefit from the skills and art of reflexology and yet they have not tried it yet. In Gentle Touch Reflexology () we are using such a light touch that those who have found it painful, may still have a great way to have the delights and results of reflexology. Generally people are unaware that they can receive different forms of reflexology. This depends on were the Reflexologist trained or had advanced training.
I hope that this gives you a starting point and I wish you every happiness in the field of reflexology. It is a wonderful and rewarding life and I personally love it.
My best wishes
Sue Ricks
Hi everyone
Thanks for your replies. Sue thanks for your very informative reply. One thing that has concerned me is damage to my joints and muscles. I did end up with tennis elbow for a whilethrough doing swedish massage.
I've looked on the AOR site and thecoursenearest to me (probably 30 miles)is Bognor Regis which is £900 which I think is 9 months! The other option would be Portswood in Southampton at the local holistic training centre for 6 months (30 miles distance)and that works out about £500 approx, or my local college which would be nearer (10 miles) probably costing £150. I want to be able to choose the right course, but don't want to travel too far as I also have 2 kids.
I have trained in various beauty and nail courses, but feel I would like to concentrate on reflexology as a career. What equipment do you need, just a couch I assume?
Deb379
Lots of questions because I'm thinking of doing a reflexology course:
Does reflexology actually have any benefits to a client or is it just hype?
Are there different levels to reflexolgy? There's a course at my local holistic training centre for 6 months part time, is this enough as I believe it is quite a complex subject.
I always believed reflexology to be connected with the feet, but I've also read it's to do with the hands. During a course are the hands covered or is this seperate?
How long does a treatment take, and is there any danger of repeative injury to the therapist?
Those who practice reflexology can you tell me how much you charge and how many treatments you do a day.
Regard
Deb379
Answers:
Deb,
Surprised that no-one has replied as there are a lot of people on the forums who are practitioners or have experienced the benefits of reflexology.
So your questions - is it hype? Absolutely not, although there is little clinical evidence (as in many complementary therapies) reflexology is building a strong evidence base to show that it is effective as a relief toa range of symptons from anxiety to insomnia to PMS - there is very little that reflexology cannot help although unless you are qualified as a medical practitioneryou can make no claims to heal or diagnose. I both practice and receive reflexology as often as I can! (I would try it out as if you don't enjoy it you probably won't like receiving it)
In order to practice as a reflexologist there are now standards of training that you need to have (we are a regulated therapy), I did my course over 9 months at weekends, there are a minimum number of contact teaching hours, 60 hours practical work (minimum)and a lot of written work required but it is very worth it! I think it would be possible to do it in 6 months but it would be very intensive- the college you are looking at will be able to tell you if it is a practitioner level course. After the initial training you have the option of doing specialist courses in areas that interest you.
Most reflexology training will focus on the feet as they are easy to access but you can do reflexology on hands, face and ears (these are considered specialist areas). Reflexology has origins in a number of ancient medical theories but one of them is meridian theory (like acupuncture) which focuses on energy flows in the body which are present all over the body but have strong presence in the hands and feet.
Treatments can range from 10 minutes (for children, taster sessions etc) to an hour (for an adult full treatment etc). You are trained to do a treatment with a minimum of danger to yourself and there are advanced techniques that minimise wear and tear on the thumbs.
How much you charge really depends on where you are based, whether you go to people, if you are self employed or working in a salon... I would check out charges in your local area. One of the things you have to study is business practices so rates etc should be covered in your course.
Hope this helps.
Kate
Answers:
Hi Kate
Thanks so much for your reply, I thought I would have been inundated with replies.
So far I've heard nothing but positive comments about reflexology.
In your opinion is it better to train at college, a private school or some sort of reflexology training school. How would I know if I have chosen the right place to train.
I certainly hadn't thought about asking if it's at a practioner's level.
I will book and have a treatment myself to see what it's like as well.
Cheers
Deb379
Answers:
I suppose I am a bit biased being a member of the AOR but I would always go through one of their recommended courses. There are other reflexology associations which are as prestigious but I don't know enough about them to comment. You can see the list of schools by region on .
One warning is that the training isn't cheap - (it is after all a new career) - and you want to make sure that it is right for you before committing yourself, personally I don't regret a penny or minute of it!
Enjoy your treatment!
Kate
Answers:
Hi,
I qualified in Reflexology a couple of years ago. I attended the local college.I have to say that the course was pretty hard going with a lot of A&P, but I loved every minute of it. As with any course, the tutor can make or break, and mine was fantastic.I came away having learnt so much more than Reflex! We studied the feet, but also had a couple of sessions on the hands, and one on the ears.
I went onto do Indian Head there the following year, and had a bad experience, in that the tutor wasn't very inspiring, and although I finished the course I left feeling I hadn't learnt enough.
I would also advise you to go and have a treatment. I too love giving and receiving the treatment, and find it completely relaxing.
As for it being a hype, I can honestly say that I have helped alot of people in the past few years, and found things in their feet that they hadn't owned up to!
Have a treatment, and enjoy, and make your mind up from there!
Good luck
Tj
Answers:
Hello Deb
You have made a good choice in thinking in training in Reflexology. It is a wonderful career. I trained 15 years ago and have loved every minute of it.
You are correct that we cantreat via the feet or hands (or ears!). I mainly use the feet, however I also often use the hands as well. I love working with both!
Reflexology really does work as proven by research. I was lucky enough to take part on some early clinical trails at Cardiff were we worked with patients who had hip and knee replacements. The results were excellent. There are useful sources of information on Reflexology on the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) & Institute for Complementary Medicine (ICM) websites and . Both feature help information, practitioner register and accredited courses.
I have been lucky enough to witness some superb results for people via reflexology. I practice Gentle Touch™ Reflexology which uses a form that is very light and soothing to both the practitioner and client. Clients have had relief from an enormous range of conditions from arthritis, headaches, bowel problems, infertility, sinus conditions, to stress, back and neck pain and much, much more. It is also a great way to relax!
In answer to your question about number of treatments; I treat 7 clients a day. I am lucky that I use Gentle Touch™ Reflexology where we use a specific light touch so we do not get any pressure build up in our thumbs and therefore I am still working 15 years on!! (and love it more every day!).
My suggestion would be to decide what type of course you need, i.e. are you looking to do this as a professional career or as a general interest, and then look at all the different training opportunities. I recommend the Association of Reflexologists as a good starting point. It is important to find the right level for you and your future. Some courses offer a diploma that is a quality and high level (ie NVQ level 3) and some miss the mark but offer good courses without the full professionally recognised diplomas and insurances. It may be helpful to find out the differences between the beauty therapy qualifications and the therapy specific qualifications. I use AOR and ICM routes (see their requirements on the above websites) for my students. I also have students who do bridging courses to achieve MAR (member of the Association ofReflexologists) who have done a variety of levels of training including VTCT.
I am sure you will find the right course for you when you look at the level of training provided. I also suggest you meet to tutor if possible as there are some dedicated tutors round.
Reflexology is a fabulous career and it is worth researching the training options for your future. I believe there are so many people who would benefit from the skills and art of reflexology and yet they have not tried it yet. In Gentle Touch Reflexology () we are using such a light touch that those who have found it painful, may still have a great way to have the delights and results of reflexology. Generally people are unaware that they can receive different forms of reflexology. This depends on were the Reflexologist trained or had advanced training.
I hope that this gives you a starting point and I wish you every happiness in the field of reflexology. It is a wonderful and rewarding life and I personally love it.
My best wishes
Sue Ricks
Answers:
Hi everyone
Thanks for your replies. Sue thanks for your very informative reply. One thing that has concerned me is damage to my joints and muscles. I did end up with tennis elbow for a whilethrough doing swedish massage.
I've looked on the AOR site and thecoursenearest to me (probably 30 miles)is Bognor Regis which is £900 which I think is 9 months! The other option would be Portswood in Southampton at the local holistic training centre for 6 months (30 miles distance)and that works out about £500 approx, or my local college which would be nearer (10 miles) probably costing £150. I want to be able to choose the right course, but don't want to travel too far as I also have 2 kids.
I have trained in various beauty and nail courses, but feel I would like to concentrate on reflexology as a career. What equipment do you need, just a couch I assume?
Deb379
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