Reflexology Plus The Meridian Way™ Making Connections for integrated health and wellbeing.
Louise Exeter
Global Feats of Inspiration... in touch by Louise Exeter “Your expectations determine what you see and experience. If you look forward to success, being attuned to this will lead you to see and experience it”. (1) I recently watched a TV biography on David Weir, the 4 times gold medallist at the 2012 Paralympics. This brought to mind the event’s inspiring legacy of achievement. It also reminded me how exhilarating it had been to be swept up in this very special international event and be enveloped by the sheer joy of the “all for one and one for all” experience. (2) As the crowd witnessed and shared in the successes and failures of individual athletes and teams, there was definitely a collective adrenaline rush and a sense of global emotion in support of the competitors, whose determination and commitment in their quest to overcome, trust and follow a dream through participation was acknowledged and applauded. We can all do with a little inspiration at times, to lift our spirits and motivate. As I reminisced, this programme’s theme effortlessly entwined itself with a feature I’d read earlier that day in Reflexions Magazine which invited personal reflections from members to celebrate 30 years of reflexology - my thoughts sped away from inspiring athletics towards inspiring reflexologists! Those whose dedication and innovation to the sphere of reflexology have particularly influenced, inspired and redirected the course of my own reflexology work since I first qualified in 1993!
Bring in the Danes!
I remain exhilarated by the dynamics of Moss’ Chi-Reflexology system and its winning combinations, which revolutionized my treatment journey.
Hoist the Flag! With this in mind, I recall a sequence of first class workshops from Denmark’s Dorthe Krogsgaard and Peter Lund Frandsen’s Touch Point. In Denmark, reflexology is more mainstream than in the UK, so Dorthe and Peter’s visits bring a different national perspective and expertise to their clinical workshops. I always leave refreshed, with something ‘new’ yet tried and trusted from their own experience i.e. a reflexology gem to add to my repertoire. In fact, over the years, I’ve become a bit of a Touch Point ‘groupie’ and I am grateful for their contribution.
From the land down under
Sometimes, inspiration comes in a sudden flash, like a bolt out of the blue, informing and motivating our lives and work. I’m sure many reflexologists hold treasured memories of their own reflexology ‘magic moment’. My eureka moment came many years ago at a workshop in 2003 with Moss Arnold, from the Australian College of Chi Reflexology. It remains with me still, alive and buoyant! We’d been exploring exciting touch techniques and body mapping; extending treatment parameters through Moss’s creative system. At the end of this workshop Moss said words to the effect: I’ve given you the tools, now run with them, go out there, explore, be creative, ... put your own stamp on them’. It was a special and transformative moment for me. After all the time that’s elapsed since then,
The domain of reflexology continues to blossom, which is so motivational and energizing! Consequently, it’s great to feel just as passionate about the genre as when I first embarked on training 20 years ago. At that time, I recall, many people were bemused by the mere word ‘reflexology’! Initially, this lack of awareness created something of a P.R. challenge. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise though; encouraging myself and colleagues to pluck up courage and don ‘reflexology ambassador’ hats! If people weren’t coming to us because they didn’t know what reflexology was, we needed to get out there and spread the word! We walked the walk and talked the talk through various presentations, emonstrations and workshops. Using different body-health themes, we invited the public to explore the language of the feet and hands with us from reflexology perspectives; and to appreciate them as potential doorways to better health and wellbeing. It’s rewarding to think that step by step (along with many other reflexologists) we’ve collectively contributed towards greater receptivity and awareness of reflexology. Importantly it’s confirmed to me Barbara and Kevin Kunz’s adage that the ‘feet don’t lie’! (3).
If your feet could speak what would they say?
Someone whose knowledge and experience keeps me entertained and informed through the language of the feet is Eunice Ingham. I return to her books: Stories the Feet Can Tell Thru Reflexology and Stories the Feet Have Told Thru Reflexology for reference and grounding. Although Eunice’s work goes back to the 1930’s, I hope she’ll never be viewed as ‘archive material’! I interpret her work as the foundation building blocks of reflexology: paving the way for the theraphy’s evolution. She was aspirational and successful – both for her patients and the acceptance of reflexology as an alternative and complementary therapy. I am grateful for her work and example. She inspires me still.
The Changing Face of Respectability.
This could also be said for the Association of Reflexologists, whose dedication to raising standards and practice of reflexology over the years has been so beneficial for the theraphy’s ethical profile, credence and public perception. This has definitely benefitted me as a therapist and continues to support, particularly via Reflexions Magazine, diverse educational programmes and group gettogethers. Working on a one-to-one basis as we do, the Association has importantly provided a sense of community – 30 years of which we are currently celebrating
Back to the future!
Looking back to one’s therapeutic roots to go forward in the present can provide a contextual frame-work for movement, direction and effectiveness. Returning to my Eureka moment in 2003, I realize, from the benefit of hindsight, that Moss’s generous words were, in essence, a pivotal directive for my future! What a lovely gift!
Where to go from here?
Inspiration leads to progress and progress leads to evolution! There is so much out there at the moment in reflexology terms. Great news, but it can also seem a little overwhelming (which course to do next?) particularly for the newly qualified. I think this is where the benefits of allowing time, consolidation and personal discernment come in. We are all different and there is a lovely treatment menu to select from. “Your expectations are the steering wheel that determines the direction that you'll go.” (4)
Hand in Hand with TCM 5 Elements: “It is important for me to note that we never treat diseases or symptoms, we always treat the whole person.” (5) Our bodies want to be ‘heard’ but frequently their messages have to compete and are invariably over-ridden for too long. I find working with TCM 5 Elements transcends body-language treatment barriers. They provide the ‘sign post’ for seeking out imbalances, redirecting the flow of energy (Chi) and re-establishing a harmonious ‘dialogue’ through the dynamics of touch. No journey is the same with reflexology: “Where attention goes, energy flows” (6)
Feelings equate to body ‘messengers’ e.g. pain, those whose ‘specialisms’ have inspired and numbness, inflammation etc. but ‘feelings’ can informed the rich tapestry of reflexology in also equate to emotional imbalance. We can different ways; thereby enabling those closer feel ‘sore’ mentally as well as physically! We at hand to help each other. I am grateful, too, can run, jump and skip mentally and to my clients who have so often inspired me emotionally (or not) as well as physically. We through their fortitude to overcome serious can aspire (or not) spiritually and physically. illness or shattering life-experiences and I have When we are in balance, our thoughts, feelings so often found that ‘little things mean alot’! and actions are for the most part in harmony. Life is good! “Everyone deserves the best. I see and expect wonderful things and that is what I “ If you’re feeling out of kilter, don’t know experience.” (9) why or what about, let your feet reveal the answer, find the sore spot, work it out.” (7) Congratulations and Happy 30th Birthday wishes to the Association of Reflexologists – Working hand in hand with a TCM 5 elements just think of the accumulation of reflexology focus ( nature’s metaphors for integrated experience and wisdom that can be realized in health and wellbeing) helps me as a the worth of a single reflexology treatment! reflexologist to detect energetically what’s possibly “out of kilter” emotionally; to assist References: the client with understanding “why or what” 1. Doreen Virtue Daily Guidance from your Angels lies behind the expressed symptom; to “find 2. Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers the ‘sore’ spot” mentally, physically or 3. Kevin and Barbara Kunz “My Reflexologyist says... emotionally; to work it out”! The global network: “All for one and one for all”! The achievements of one can inspire the many. Recently, this was so bravely demonstrated by Davina McCall’s epic challenge in aid of Sport Relief. There are, of course, two sides to reflexology ‘coinage’. By this, I mean giving and receiving: on one side, we give treatment and client receives treatment. On the other, the client gives us opportunity and we receive the challenge! For both it can sometimes be a case of little successes leading to a bigger success as fruitful rapport is steadily achieved. I don’t know whether Fatboy Slim has ever had reflexology, but I think his musical words apply: “We’ve come a long, long way together, through the hard times and the good. I have to celebrate...I have to praise you like I should!” (8) I am grateful to the collective wisdom of others from around the world –
Feet don’t lie 4. Doreen Virtue Daily Guidance from your Angels 5. Quotation: Hanne Marquardt 6. Energy quotation by James Redfield 7. Eunice D Ingham, Books: Stories the Feet Can Tell Thru Reflexology 8. ‘Praise You’, Fatboy Slim. 9. Doreen Virtue Daily Guidance from your Angels 10. Royalty Free Clip Art from 123RF Stock Shots and Microsoft
Louise Exeter Dip. Reflexology. ECRA., Dip. ChiReflexology (Dist), Dip.Facial Reflexology Sorensensistem™ Louise can be contacted at: www.reflexologyplus-chilondon.co.uk Email: louise@reflexologyplus- london.co.uk
Louise Exeter – My little reflexology story-board: A selection of Reflexology memories
A Wellness Links Reflexology Workshop to members of the public in 2010
Audrey & Louise at AoR North London Area Group at an Introduction to Chi-Reflexology Workshop in 2011
Moss Arnold (head of the Australian College of Chi-Reflexology) treating Louise (see A Maestro’s Touch in Reflexions Sept. 2013)
Mario (AoR North London Area Group) & Louise.
Peggy (AoR North London Area Group), Louise & Louise.