vtct training..

[Poetic Genitals]

I'm almost finished my vtct in reflexology , however i feel that i am not qualified enough to work on the public..
We'vbe only been shown a basic technique and given no guidance on how to treat specific ailments..I'm finding that i'm either checking up online or winging it on what i think need extra attention. Can anyone suggest further reading, or further courses for me to do

 

[A Modest Proposer]

Hi SMP

Welcome to Hp! Try Laura Norman's Reflexology Handbook to give you an idea of treatment patterns, and it's easy to read. There is plenty of post-graduate training courses throughout the UK. Google and see what is out there. I'm sure other Hp members will give you some ideas.

best wishes

RP

 

[R. A]

Have a word with your tutor, he/she should be giving you much more information !! How are you going to cope with your assessments if your tutor hasn't told you about specific ailments. Please please voice your concerns x

 

[Kayli Lee]

i asked advice about a particular casestudy, in brief cs had a herniated disc and a few years where sciatica was chronic , post op cs has desensitization on zones 345 off l foot. to touch even in massage i can feel Crystals on lateral aspect of sciatic reflex . so told me to less pressure on desensitised area which i already knew, and to do routine as normal..
also never been told what to do with we find crystas other than take note, i've been using thumb sliding and thumb circles which i looked up online
i've 5 weeks left as do rest of my class and i really dont feel prepared in treating specific conditions at all.
l
going to order that book tonight any other further reading tips welcomed..

 

[Anna C.]

Renee Tanner is another good author, as is Kevin and Barbara Kunz. Textbooks I used were by Vicki Pitman, called, Reflexology a Practical Approach, and Francesca Gould Reflexology for Holistic Therapists, both excellent

 

[Ash W]

ive 10 books on the way now lol

 

[itsmariaokay]

Lol startingmypath, addictive buying them isn't it but so so useful

 

[julie_becu]

I have to say the 'crystals in the feet' thing is a myth - There should be no crystals in the feet unless a client has gout or some similar condition. I was taught to look for crystals too, unfortunately it seems many courses do not keep up to date with current knowledge.

 

[Miss M (",)]

I agree with longvines, this crystal thing is a myth. It isn't suppported by modern A&P knowledge. It's more likely fibrotic adhensions!!!

RP

 

[GlassyFax]

By crystals i'm meaning grittiness, is this a myth them. what am i meant to be looking for?
I'm quickly losing any confidence that i had left in course

 

[?Kit-Kat?]

Hi, I think "crystals" is a myth and it's more likely fibrotic adhensions due to walking in footware with constant pounding and shearing movements. That doesn't mean reflexology is complete mumbo jumbo. After all reflexology is about bring balance to the system. Working the feet and correcting imbalances helps to balance the whole body. So don't give up yet SMP. The diploma is a start of a reflexology career and there is always more to learn.

Best Wishes

RP

 

[RadioVideo]

Wow I am in shock, I am now coming to the end of my vtct course, I have always been told by my tutors (I have had 3) that crystals indicate an imbalance. So what I been taught is in fact a myth? I remember treating a client in the college salon, who had no crystals, when I mentioned this to my tutor(number 2) , I was told that I was no applying enough pressure.

I have had pretty much the same experince as SMP, although I was lucky that I had one tutor(number 3) who agreed to give me a 1 hour 121, only because I bugged her that I wasnt feeling confident.

I love reflexology and have really great feedback from tutors and clients, and my case studies have been successful. However I now feel like everything I have been taught is now outdated. I also feel like a fraud, what do I say when clients asked me what I found? And why havent VTCT updated the course?

Sorry SMP for hijacking your thead and I agree with RP, the Laura Norman book is my bible.

 

[????]

Hi

Unfortunately CAM is still in a growing up phase. In time lots of things will be proved and disproved. That is just the nature of life.

The popular myth of Hopi Ear Candles sucking ear wax out of the ear has been disproven, but does that mean that ear candling is a con? No it doesn't, it's good for many other types of ailments.

This is the same with aromatherapy. As it developes new properties will be found and other properties will be considered ineffective.

And so will it be for Reflexology. Look at this from other point of view. Is there a complete theory explaining the reflexology? No there isn't, there are many theoretical ideas, the "crystal" myth is only one of them. If all there is to reflexology is breaking down congestion, how come there is a growing trend in reflexology for light touch techniques?

I didn't start posting on here to criticize reflexology, but some of the rigid mind sets around it. Reflexology diploma courses are nice little commercial packages for the colleges to pump out, but to succeed in complementary therapies you need to do more.

This is how I look at (foot) reflexology now. See the feet as a microcosm of the macrocosm of the whole body. By releasing tension and correcting imbalances from the feet, the whole body starts to relax, release hormones, calm the autonomic nervous system, promote the flow of blood and energy (Qi) and so forth. Correcting bio-mechanical imbalances in the foot and ankle, helps to realign the hip and pelvis, a common cause of physiological problems. Not forgetting the powerful intangible use of touch as a healing medium, which is sometimes undescribable.

I hope the is a fair appraisal of reflexology and that this help to reinforce that fact that training in reflexology is an OK thing to do.

Best Wishes

RP

 

[ysodeshy]

RP i note that obviously are a far more experience reflexologist that i and would therefore ask to what level you are practicing at???
I would also request that you provide me with details the relevant literature, research on this matter in order that i can evaluated thid further.

 

[GasJazuaua]

HI SMP

To provide research would take me a while as my previous post is based on 13 years of practice and reading. But if I have some spare time over the weekend I will attempt to provide some explainations.

As for qualifications, I have a AoR Practitioners Certificate in Reflexology, which the nearest modern equavalent is the ABC Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology. I have done a lot of CPD reflexology courses, including VRT, Advanced Precision, Hand, Facial & Ear, and Thai Foot Reflexology (studied in Thailand). Also practitioner of Indonesian, Chinese Tuina and Thai Yoga Massaage, teacher of Tai Chi & Qi Gong, and near the end of studying a diploma in acupuncture. And mustn't forget I have also taught ITEC level 3 Diplomas in Reiki & Indian Head Massage. And a year at university studying Human Biology with Psychology (level 4).

So my opinions are based on my overall therapeutic experience. I don't always believe what I have been taught, but think it through and ask myself the question, "Does the theory relate to practice?"

Best Wishes

RP

 

[King Brace]

Hi SMP

As requested by you:

The idea that “crystals” talked about by reflexologists are actually fibrotic adhesions has been investigated. An article was published several years ago in Reflexions: the Journal of the Association of Reflexologists , about research conducted in the USA to look at the claim of “crystals” felt during palpation of the feet. The conclusion was that it was fibrotic adhesions being felt. This is also is partly back up on by the TV programme on BBC2 two years ago by Prof. Cathy Sykes. She was investigating the claims of reflexologists. She asked an anatomist about “crystals” in the feet, the anatomist replied there weren’t any crystals apart from situations like gout where there would be uric acid deposits, and of course this would be very painful if touched. The problem is SMP that methods like reflexology was developing >100 years ago when A&P wasn’t so understood.

The principle of the holographic effect or the feet being the microcosm of the macrocosm, is an idea that has been around for 1000s of years. Kristine Walker in her book Hand Reflexology on pages 8&9 has good examples of this principle. She says “If the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, then each cell will contain the common pattern and the information about the whole body would be reflected therein. Stimulation of the cell or group of cells will bring about change elsewhere.”

Then of course there is the Chinese acupuncture meridian system. There have been several books written on the subject of Chinese meridians and reflexology. I personally think these meridians have a big input on reflexology, as it makes more clinical sense than the crude idea that the body is split into 10 longitudinal zones. If you are interested you may wish to read books by Inge Dougans & Beryl Crane.

This leads me to Anatomy Trains Myofascial Meridians. Modern anatomy knowledge suggests that the body has a series of interlinked trains of connective tissue throughout the body. This acts like a secondary nervous system. For the reflexologist, these myofascial meridians do connect the whole body to the feet and hands. I refer you to Anatomy Trains by Tom Myers or chapter 8 written by Myers in The Concise Book of the Moving Body by Chris Jarmey.

This takes me further to the subject of bio-mechanics, there is plenty written about this. Beryl Crane in Reflexology: an illustrated guide explains this well on page 44: “Poor biomechanics of the feet, whether caused be hereditary defeats, bad habits, resulting from poor choice of footwear, incorrect posture, or as an effect of falls and other accidents, ultimately are reflected in spinal distortions and are frequently accompanied by nerve irritations as high as the head and imbalances in body systems.”

Best Wishes

RP