Reflexology and mom

Until quite recently, I’d forgotten that I’d been around reflexology at a very young age.

You see my great uncle Alvin was a reflexologist which he combined with his pedorthy practice.

In those days, pedorthy – shoe sizing, measuring and fitting footwear – was a more common professional career. People knew how important the feet are and took better care of them back then.

Uncle Alvin was practicing reflexology as early as the 1940′s.

When my brother was young he had asthma and hay-fever. It almost killed him once – so my mom took him to my uncle for reflexology.

She said it helped a lot.

Mom was always one to try things she thought were important. One day while I was visiting, a few years before she went into the nursing home, she reached into the back of her closet and pulled out a small packet of papers.

“Here” she said, “I saved these for you, dear. I thought you’d like to have them one day”.

I looked at the neatly folded papers, one with an old stamp of a young Queen and another a green brochure in a protective plastic bag.

It took me a moment to realize what these papers were.

As early as 1948, my mother had written a letter to Eunice Ingham requesting information on a “reflexologist in our area… for a friend”.

Eunice wrote back on the same typed page mom had sent her and reported she didn’t know specifically of anyone, but that buying one of her books could certainly help.

A reflexologist AND a business woman!

The other papers were flyers for reflexology workshops and forms to order books. All kept safe for so many years.

But, in my hands was the reflexologists equivalent of an ingot of pure gold.

Nothing could have made me happier.

I talk about my mother, Irene, often because she’s been an inspiration to me my whole life. And, she still is.

Towards the end of her life, she had Alzheimer’s disease, was blind, and no longer able to communicate very well.

Irene was well into her nineties, still an amazing person and luckily, she was in an amazing eldercare facility. Even though her recollection of me had grown dim at best, we spend lots of wonderful time together.

Sometimes we talk about the very distant past. At various times she considers me her mother, father, daughter, sister or… a stranger.

One thing we could always do together was reflexology. And since her hands were so easy to reach, I’d often give her a soothing Hand Reflexology session.

Although the disease had decreased her responsiveness, as soon as I’d take her hand she’d turns towards me and smile.

Because of her cataracts, she could no longer see me but she could feel the warmth of my hands and the love in my touch.

It was such a gift to be able to communicate with her in this way because so many avenues, that I once took for granted, had since been cut off.

We’d sit together, her hand in mine and I’d slowly and gently do some relaxation techniques. I’d use a little extra lotion and was careful not to pull the dorsal skin. With age her skin became extremely thin and the vessels were very prominent. On the palm side, I’d scoop my fingertips in just a little bit.

Her hands were often cold so I’d wrap my hand around each finger and give a gentle squeeze (instead of the usual “coin rubbing” technique).

Sometimes she’d squeeze my hand back as if to say she’s happy I was there.

Holding each finger, just as I described, offers soothing balance to all the chakra elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether.

And, I’d remember that half the meridians in the body: lung, large intestine, triple energizer, pericardium, heart and small intestine, begin or end on each finger tip! (You’ll learn this, and a whole lot more, in the Professor’s Hand Reflexology program.)

Irene would usually be sitting in a chair that’s part-chair and part-bed. She could no longer walk at this point. There were not a lot of movements she could do.

It was incredible that she had no specific health issues. Still, all her systems were wearing down. She had none of the actions, movements – bending and straightening – that keeps us mobile with everything moving.

Although she wasn’t able to use the normal mechanics for system support and balance, I deeply trusted that these gentle Hand Reflexology sessions helped her organ systems as well as all the fluid tides.

So, I’d focus on the general session sequence. And use just a fraction of the pressure and one quarter of the usual session time.

There we sit, together for those precious moments, in deep connection and communication without needing to say any words.

And, I’ll treasure these moments forever.

The elderly and particularly nursing home patients are often stressed, disoriented and deprived of safe and meaningful touch.

To just take their hand in a compassionate way can have a tremendous impact.

You can just imagine what a soothing and relaxing touch – combined with the benefits of Reflexology – can do.

Remember to check with the medical staff before embarking on any technique with the elderly population.

I’m forever grateful for my sweet reflexology skills. They have given me a world where the possibilities are profound and endless.

Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Reflexology and the 10 Keys to Planning Sessions That Work!

In the last newsletter, I’d left off with #5:

Below are the remaining 6 Keys to Planning Sessions that Work” for Reflexologists (and other bodyworkers).

THE NEXT SET OF KEYS, #6 – 10
Here are the remaining steps…

6. Give clients a way to notice the difference they feel after the session.

This gives your client a way to measure, in their own body, the feeling of relaxation and their sense of well-being.

But, what if they don’t feel the benefits? You want to know that too.

By registering the tangible benefits, they’ll have even more reason to return.

A few clients will report no change, but the amount of sales you GAIN from this strategy can dramatically outweigh the risk.

7. Request immediate action for the follow up session and give them a time frame to start with.

Some reflexologists say goodbye and hope that the client will call again.

You need to take action and ask before they leave if they would like to book another session.

Even better you can give them a couple of dates in the next week or two that you have an opening.

You’re doing them a service by eliminating the time and inconvenience of having to call back, leave a message, etc.

If you’ll be raising your price soon or you’ll be away from your office or doing a benefit event – let them know this or say there’s a discount for booking in advance because it will save you the administrative cost of call-back or hiring a booking service.

Clients love it when savings are passed on to them.

8. Give your clients an Action Plan.

It’s a good idea to give your client some suggestions about they can do to help themselves between sessions.

Since they are ultimately responsible for their own health, it can be a great help to give them a plan or get them back on the path towards their goals.

Try not to make it too big of a task, because if they don’t accomplish it they might feel badly.

If I don’t have any unique ideas for them to try, I’ll ask them about what they already know. I find something that does work for them and then I suggest that they increase this activity (or decrease it as the case may be) by 10%.

I’ll sometimes suggest that they do no more than 10%, (which can always be added on to in the future). That’s because if they fail to achieve it, nothing big is lost.

9. Make one last suggestion.

In parting ask your client if, as a courtesy reminder, they would like you to call before their next scheduled session.

Or, if they haven’t booked a next session, ask if they would like you to touch base with them in a week or 2.

If they give you permission to call, make sure you do, but don’t try to “sell them a session”. Make the communication about them and not about you.

10. Don’t forget to let your client know that they can contact you for any information!

Clients WILL have questions, so provide an easy way to get a hold of you with your phone number and e-mail address, and add your website too, especially if it has a section for FAQ’s (frequently asked questions).

As I mentioned in s previous step – give yourself an “action plan” if you do just 10% of these steps, you should reap the benefits and if you do them all, I know you’ll be amazed by the power of these.

Here’s to your good session (and business) health!

Enjoy your wonderful Reflexology skills.

© Wendy Coad

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Reflexology and the Best 10 Keys to Planning a Session the Works!

I’ll start in no particular order, all are good and warrent you attention.

THE FIRST SET OF KEYS, #1 – 5

1. Draw Them in with a Kick-Butt Session Plan. This alone can mean the difference between success and failure.

You have just so much time to make a difference in their lives. The best way to do this is to appeal to their concerns and interests. Find out what their goals are, then be sure you have a system in place to monitor their success.

Bad: “Reflexology can help you feel better.”

Better: “Let’s turn team up to turn your energy level around in 4 weeks.”

Obviously your documentations will help you record their progress, but you might want to create an additional scale to refine and monitor this even further.

2. Be Conversational! You heard right.

You’ve probably learned that the less you talk, the deeper your sessions will be experienced.

And that’s true.

However there are times when you need to talk to your client, either at the intake or occasionally during the session.

In this case, talk to you client like a dear, respected friend. Don’t be afraid of using phrases like “And, what would you like session to focus on today?”

Avoid formality and use short easy phrases. Why? Even if you think they can’t possibly misunderstand – a few people will still be confused. Plus, being conversational helps clients feel like they can trust you more.

TIP: Don’t go overboard… no back slapping here. And whatever you do, don’t carry the conversation too far into the session. Remember, it’s more relaxing when you’re not talking.

3. Don’t be Practitioner Centered – Be Client Centered. Just like their brochures, a lot of practitioners talk on about how great Reflexology is… how great a practitioner they are… Hello? Client, anyone?

It’s better to think the way your client is probably thinking, “What’s in it for me?”

Poll your friends and relatives. If you can, talk with some of your clients and ask them:

1. Why they chose you (you’ll also know how they look for help), and
2. What they get out of your service (you’ll find out how they experience the benefits).

TIP: To instantly make your service more client-focused, insert the word “you” often.

4. Focus on the Benefits, not just the Features. The fact that you offer the best Reflexology is great, but what does it DO for your client? Does it give her a better quality of life? Does it give her “knock out” relaxation? Give her peace of mind?

Here’s an example: If you’re going to seek out Depak Chopra or Carolyn Myss, you’re not just going to these “stars” to hear about your health. You’re choosing who the wealthy, most selective clients see. So that’s what this particular “healer” sells.

It matters less how good their work is. (Dry that tear… you know it’s true!)

So, think about what your clients are really looking for.

For example: What does an insurance broker sell? If you answered “insurance policies” you’ve missed my point.

If you answered “peace of mind”… you’ve got it.

5. Nix the “Jive” Talk. Keep your explanations simple and avoid the jargon. Just stick to the facts… and the benefits. An easy way to weed out the mumbo jumbo is to think of dear old aunt Millie, listening to you. Would she get it? If not clarify and simplify.

Talk to the level that your client can understand. When I use analogies to explain something, I try to keep it relevant to their interests.

Recently I was struggling to explain Reflexology to a 7 year old. His mom helped me with this one. After a few failed attempts on my part she said, “it’s like a computer… you can press here”, pointing to his feet (keyboard) “and it effects something over there, (hard drive).”

Not only did he get it, but he loved it! Thanks, Mom.

Stay tuned…. I’ll fill you in on the rest of the list – “THE 10 KEYS TO PLANNING A SESSION THAT WORKS! KEYS #6 – 10″ in your next newsletter.
Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Reflexology & Atheletes Foot

I’ve been practicing for so long that I remember when I trained, we worked with people with their socks on. At the time it was considered appropriate – especially if they had a foot fungus.

That was silly, because socks are not a barrier to foot fungus, aka – athletes foot. If there’s a fungus on the foot then there’s a fungus on the sock and there’s a fungus in the shoe.

Before you say eeewwww, remember that the fungus that causes athletes foot is a thing of nature and found just about everywhere. It’s on the floor and on the door and in the air too.

But it won’t thrive in most places. It thrives mainly in places that are:

1. warm

2. dark

3. damp

And that’s why the warm, damp feet of perspiration soaked athletes (feet that are housed in the darkness of a shoe that’s been worn over and over) is like a holiday cruise for that fungus. It never wants to leave.

I’ll often send my clients who have what looks like athletes foot to see an appropriate professional for help, like their local pharmacist or podiatrist. There are many over-the-counter and prescription medicines that are said to help.

But, if the client fails to also do a few simple things that I’ve listed below, the likelihood for success is diminished.

If you are actively trying to eliminate a fungus, you have to actively “clean up” its immediate environment, and by that I mean minimize the warm, dark, damp factor as much as possible.

How?

Follow these steps:

1. Switch to a cotton (or a wool blend) sock – when fighting fungus you need to minimize the warmth and moisture factor and natural fibers will absorb moisture and/or keep the foot “cooler”. Nylon and polyester socks are like mini saunas and need to be avoided for the time being. A blend is okay as long as it’s 80% natural and no more than 20% synthetic.

Change your socks every day (at least).

2. Never wear the same pair of shoes every day. Fungus can stay active for up to 3 days in a shoe so you want to let the pair of shoes you wore on Monday air-out until Thursday before you put them on again. Otherwise, and especially if you are treating the foot, you will likely transfer the same fungus back to the foot, and so on… foot to shoe… shoe to foot.

3. Remember to dry between your toes after taking a bath, a shower, after exercise and at the end of every day. This is sometimes hard for the elderly because it requires some flexibility that they may no longer have. It might explain be why foot fungus is more prevalent amongst the elderly too.

What about reflexology?

Well, for starters athletes foot is contraindicated for foot reflexology because it might be transmitted. And, it’s just plain uncomfortable – dry, itchy, rash-like, with broken skin – especially between the toes.

That’s why there’s hand reflexology, so work on the hands until the feet clear up.

Thinking about it, if fungus is everywhere then it’s the job of the immune system to protect us. If a fungus has gotten past it, then a detail to the immune system reflexes is in order.

If medication is being used, supporting the body in its natural detoxification processes with a focus on the elimination systems might be helpful, including the colon, kidney, lung and liver reflexes.

Include the parathyroid reflex too (in my last newsletter I wrote about psoriasis, another skin condition, and how calcium is sometimes not balanced in the area of concern).

That should clear up some of the mystery surrounding “tinea pedis” (the Latin name for foot fungus) so that your clients can enjoy the wonderful benefits of reflexology.

Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Reflexology & Psoriasis

One of the things that I love about reflexology is that it is efficient, effective and it has a wonderful knack for reducing the symptoms of just about anything that ails you.

Take psoriasis, for example. Although reflexology is never considered a cure for any disease, many people have tried reflexology when all else failed. Reports indicate that it often helps.

As a skin disorder, psoriasis may appear as a red scaly rash, a patch of inflamed skin that is often too tender to touch. It can also have blisters or thick plaques that have a silvery shine.

Basically the normal process of skin renewal is on overdrive and new skin cells form more rapidly.

Now, we know that the skin is the largest organ for elimination. It’s through the skin via perspiration that many toxins are excreted.

You can also think of the skin as an organ of respiration because it allows your body to absorb or inhale and release or exhale.

Almost two square yards in size, it removes waste and toxins from the body joining the liver, kidneys, lymph, large intestines and lungs in this process.

If elimination is less than optimum in any or all of these organs, how is it not possible that the skin will reflect this in some way?

Of course stress is the number one factor in almost all pathologies so reducing stress is a great and efficient way to start.

What is my reflexology focus?

A good place to start is with a reflexology de-stressing protocol. Be sure to include the adrenal reflexes for their connection to stress reduction and additionally their help in reducing inflammation.

Next, detail all the other elimination organ reflexes: liver, kidneys, lymph, large intestines and lungs. Psoriasis can allow more calcium to be removed from the affected skin, so consider detailing the parathyroid reflexes for their support of calcium balance.

Don’t forget that the skin with psoriasis can be thick and hard and prone to cracking. You’ll need to avoid any open fissures or sores. If this occurs on the feet, you can work on the hands and vice versa.

The relief that reflexology can bring to people who suffer from psoriasis and its many underlying issues is just one of the reasons that I love what I do.

Enjoy your wonderful Reflexology skills.

© Wendy Coad

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Reflexology and Zone Therapy

Here’s a recent video class I’d like to share with you. I know that the “overhead projector” is a bit “old school” but I do love to write on my maps, so I’ll likely keep using it… for now.

Click on the image or the links below to view the video.

Click on the video image above or click here to watch the video

Email your comments to me at info@reflexologyprof.com – tell me what you liked and any constructive comments.

Thanks and enjoy your wonderful Reflexology skills.

© Wendy Coad

Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

All the Answers (or, Just About All of Them)

The other day I told you about one of my favorite books, “The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook”, by Clair Davies. I have 3 copies of the book because I use it often and don’t want to always have to carry it with me in case I need it. Yes, it’s that useful.

Well, move over Clair Davies, there’s a new book in town.

It happened recently when Martha, a former student and colleague, slid a package across the table at the coffee shop and said, “I think you’ll like this”.

I opened the wrapping and found a book.

I looked at it as Martha explained how fascinating the material was and how much she’d learned reading it.

It’s not that I don’t like reading. I read all the time, but it’s mostly manuals and workbooks on reflexology and bodywork. This book had no maps, and for a moment I thought that it would be hard for me to find the time.

Well, the time came on a recent trip. I was going to New York City to graduate my latest and greatest, a legion of brand new Foot Reflexologists.

I consider myself to be the Johnny Appleseed of reflexology. Since I only have two hands and there are only so many hours in a day, my mission is to teach others – like planting seeds so that the world will one day have reflexology sprouting at every corner.

Up at 3am to catch the 6am flight, I thought – this book doesn’t stand a chance against the nap that I feel coming on right now.

I should have known better. Martha is a very thoughtful person – as in both – kind and deep thinking. She wouldn’t give me a book that wasn’t the kind that would answer all the questions to the universe.

At least that’s what I now think, because this book does that. (Okay, I may exaggerate… but only a little.)

In addition to giving the answers to what makes us tick… if you want to know what reflexology can do, how reflexology can help, why we find reflexology so beneficial, not just to our clients but to ourselves (as in when we give a session, we get a session), I highly recommend this book. I’m not quite finished it, but so far it seems like it does, in fact, have all the answers.

Not only did it keep me awake as the airplane droned through the sky at 6am, 7am and 8am, but I read it in the cab and on the street until I got to my office door. I can’t wait to finish it because then I can start to read it again.

The book is “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge, MD. You can go to your favorite bookstore or book site or click here to go to Amazon.com

Thanks Martha.

© Wendy Coad

Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

“Reflexology Booster”

This is an illustration of one student’s experience, reported after the 2011 Reflexology and Gemstone Therapy workshop.

Case Study – Gemstone Healing

Right after I took the Gemstone class I worked on a reflexology client I had been seeing regularly for diabetes control and stress.

This client is not on medication but he strictly adheres to a diabetes prescribed diet. Despite that, his feet were always ice cold even after I did an hour of reflexology on him.

I had two large citrine crystals which are recommended for diabetes. I put one in the center of the mandala we had done in class and surrounded it with stones for stress reduction.

The other crystal I gave to the client to hold in his left hand and put a malachite stone, good for stress reduction, in his right hand.

I worked for a half hour on his left foot. As I was moving to his right foot my arm brushed against his left hallux [big toe] and I noticed it was extremely warm.

This was in marked contrast to the other times I had worked on him when as I stated, his feet always remained cold. I worked on the right foot for an equal amount of time but at the end of the session that foot remained cool, though not as col d as previous sessions.

To conclude, the foot on the side where the citrine stone was held was markedly warmer than ever before while the other foot, on the side with the stress stone was not as cold as previously, which I ascribe to the effect of the mandala, but nowhere near as warm as the left foot.

Since then, whenever I give a reflexology session to this client I put a citrine crystal in each hand. Both his feet respond to this and in fact, the normal every-day temperature of his feet has dramatically improved.

- Lili H.

Nice work Lili!
Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

Can I Call Myself an Expert?

Over and over again I hear from my students “I’m not sure I’m good enough yet to…..”

You can pretty much fill in the blanks:

…really help people

…charge much for my sessions (it doesn’t matter what the amount is, you know it’s not about that).

…set up a professional practice.

These are people afraid to step outside of their comfort zone because they think….

Yep, another “fill in the blank”___________.

What’s important here is that they think it.

Okay, while you’re waiting for something to happen – another degree, another certification, a blessing from the universe, recognition from whomever, you’re wasting valuable time.

Stay with me on this: Your attitude here is what’s keeping you from moving forward and adding unnecessary stress to your life!

No matter what level you’re at, and I mean this, in fact I tell all my students, there are still plenty of people who need exactly what you do at exactly the level you currently do it.

Now repeat this 7 – 10 times because that’s a very real statistic. It’s how many times a person has to be told something before they even begin to hear it.

But I’ll give that one topic it’s own article.

Now, it’s VERY important, I repeat, it is VERY IMPORTANT to know that you are the expert in what you do if you know more than the other person in the room.

And you do. You’ve trained and if you’ve been trained by me, you’re darn good. Most of you come out of the program with extraordinary skills.

How do I know that? Because I taught you and I’m an expert. So you can claim your expertness by association. I mean that.

Once you get over whatever is holding you back, you will find that claiming your expertise will get you more respect, get media attention, get paid more, and there will be less resistance to following your recommendations and the price that you ask.

And, you’re worth it.

Don’t wait for your client to tell you about your range of expert qualities. You need to act it as if it were true. And remember, it is!

Okay, now how many of you had a doubt there, just then. What was your “script” telling you? Was it saying, no, it “ain’t” true. What does she know….

A very wise homeopath, who made tons of money and whom everybody loved once told me, “Well Wendy, sometimes you just have to ‘fake it ‘til you make it”.

Now he was my homeopath and I was paying him a ton of money and I loved him, and I truly believe that he helped me a great deal, but I wish he hadn’t been the one to tell me that. But, IT WAS TRUE – AND THAT ALONE WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY I EVER PAID HIM.

My point is that everyone, no matter how knowledgeable, has some idea about their shortcomings. This is not what you want to highlight. Focus on the fact that you know plenty and instead of waiting for someone else to tell you, you want to know it yourself from inside.

Hear me now: You do not need anybody’s permission to believe you’re the best at what you do! In fact, here are a few things I inform my students if they are expressing doubt about their “qualifications” to do reflexology and charge well for it.

In the eyes of your clients, customers, and the media, you can call yourself an expert if you can answer yes to these questions…

1. Do I Know More About Reflexology Than You do?

Yes, yes and yes, you’re going to know more. Do you know everything? No, but nobody does and there are at least a couple of BILLION people who know a whole lot less than you.

When I first created my training program, I wouldn’t say I was an expert in reflexology. But by studying reflexology in depth to work with my own clients and then to share that information with my students, I’ve narrowed it down to a science and now I can share this great information with anyone who wants to hear it.

You can make a good living just helping people remember what they already know about their health issues. Remember they’re always going to be the expert on their body and they already have a lifetime of trying things out.

And something has worked better than anything else. How about asking what has helped them in the past and get them back on the path… along with all the stress relieving benefits of your fabulous reflexology.

(See – You didn’t have to be the encyclopedia on the topic of their health, just a good listener.)

All you need to know is about your reflexology.

2. Have I Done What I’m Telling Others to Do?

Every one of my students has a story about reflexology. I do too (another article). You simply CANNOT go through the whole program without reflexology changing your life in a positive way.

You’ve experience the before and after of reflexology.

You’ve known someone in class who had a breakthrough and acknowledged that reflexology was instrumental, if not the one thing, in supporting that positive change.
You’ve even received reflexolo gy from people who weren’t that well trained (remember your fellow students in the beginning of the program) but none of you quit because your partner wasn’t up to speed. In fact you still had improvements and breakthroughs and moments of pure bliss. Your body never forgets and somewhere behind there your mind knows this too.

If you’re not getting regular reflexology sessions and paying for them then you’re giving a “do as I say and not as I do” qualifier. It’s no wonder if you’re feeling insecure.

Be it once a week, once a month or twice a year, you must “research the field” and do your own homework. It’ll reinforce how good you are and it can teach you a few new techniques that’ll make you even better.

3. Did I Tell You I’m An Expert?

Well, if you didn’t, then how are they going to know? Is someone else going to come along and tell them? Mom perhaps?

Remember that Muhammad Ali became known as “The Greatest” because he himself said it was so? Yes, and — he kept saying it, and eventually everyone else did to! I imagine he believes it to his very core (and I believe it too) and that was how he laid the track that the universe delivered on.

Here’s the Bottom Line… It’s up to YOU.

Don’t forget, your clients, and customers will virtually always accept the position that YOU choose, it’s the one you choose for yourself and present to others.

Never lie, and don’t claim to be what you’re obviously not, but….

There are still plenty of people (and I mean no end to the supply) who don’t have the skills you do and who need exactly what you have to offer at exactly the level you are currently at.

Trust me on this one.

And remember, ALWAYS PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD.

© Wendy Coad

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE?

You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.reflexologyprof.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

The Reflexology Three-Step

When a client comes for a session, you shouldn’t have to convince them that your work is good. But you do have to go the extra mile to build “credibility” so they can immediately trust you.

One of the easiest and most direct ways to do this – and grow your practice by leaps and bounds – is to feature the following 3 things that I do. Some of you may feel like they’re a given, but many practitioners completely forget to use them in their practice

You can never generate too much trust and satisfaction. In fact, if you enjoy getting bodywork as much as I do, you’ve probably noted the best practitioners use these simple techniques over 80% of the time! And that’s for good reason… they are hands-down the BEST way to gain instant credibility. So listen up and use them well!

There are 3 things you can do to ensure your clients success, and … also, ensure that you’re successful too.

1. Set the stage for a RESULTS-ORIENTED session.

The most effective sessions are results oriented. That is, they are set up to measure the results your clients have gotten. Be sure to include a measure for the desired result to get you client’s attention and dramatically increase their response.

Lame result measure: completing the whole session and then only asking at the end, “How are you feeling?”

Awesome result measure: check in at the beginning of the session by using a scale (or other reference) for what they are experiencing in the moment. I sometimes have my client close their eyes, so they can really notice. Then I ask my client, “What are you noticing?” and, I ask for a reference point on a scale of 1 – 4.

After the session, I ask again, “What are you noticing right now?’ and then reference the scale again. Now we can compare the differences before and after the session.

Of course, a few people are just not “noticers” and that’s okay too.

2. Include information that the client has given you.

Have you ever gone for bodywork or a massage for a particular reason? Maybe your shoulder hurt or you have a pain in your side? And, they’ve worked all around, doing the session their way, when all you want is some attention paid to the area you pointed out at the beginning! You wait and… you wait.

Yah, right! I’m sure they’ll get to my real problem… meanwhile you’re dying of suspense.

Use the information that the client has already given you with their health history. Go there early in the session. Change your usual pattern, or at least tell your client when they can expect some attention in the place they need it the most!

The more you engage your client the more they believe you’re interested in helping them. Include the area, the reflex, the site of discomfort reflex, etc… It’s important to let them know your work is geared toward them.

3. Use homework or self help to give the client the opportunity to participate more fully in their own wellness.

Give the client some useful tips or even better, homework to carry them through the week until you see them again. This will get them engaged in their own healing process.

Don’t worry, it won’t make your great Reflexology sessions obsolete. A lot of people just want to relax and let someone else to do the work. That’s why there are jobs for Reflexologists!

If you have trouble getting your clients to notice the great experiences working with you, or using your services, don’t get mad at them. You just have to educate them.

It’s rare that a client knows what to look for or what to expect. Give them the tools to monitor their own progress. Giving them even the simplest suggestions will add tremendously to the benefits of their experience. Gets them off their butts and works every time!

© Wendy Coad

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE?

You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:

Enjoy your wonderful reflexology skills.

Wendy Coad – Online health and reflexology expert and the “Reflexology Professor” publishes the popular “Reflexology Secrets, Tips and Techniques” weekly email newsletter to subscribers from around the world. If you’re ready to enjoy health, express creativity, gain knowledge and skyrocket your reflexology or holistic health career, get your FREE tips now at http://www.ReflexologyProf.com and join us at the top right corner.

To your reflexology success -

Reflex, Live Long and Prosper,

Creator of the Mega Reflexology Training

“THE FOOT FACTOR PROGRAM”

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