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REFLEXOLOGY with Rhonda Funes
Volume 1:The Feet
Every year, more and more people appreciate the value of reflexology as an effective tool of touch that accesses the energy flow of the entire body through specific applied pressures. This video helps you develop both the skills and confidence toaddress the nerve rich areas of the feet and provides detailed examples of thumb and finger articulations.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
Whether you are a beginner or experienced massage therapist, you can become more knowledgeable and confident about the nerve-rich areas of the feet. Rhonda Funes has been practicing and teaching reflexology for 15 years. In this video, she demonstrates basic and advanced reflexology techniques that anyone can use. Her mission is simple – to help you achieve maximum results from correct and easily applied reflexology techniques. This video includes the following:
• Foot to body reflex correspondences
• Specific thumb and finger articulations including the inchworm, c-hook, apostrophe and thumb walk
• Conducting a client “intake evaluation” or soliciting feedback to help assess different reflex area to better address chronic or immediate conditions including headaches, sciatic and back pain, stomachaches and pregnancy
• When, where and how to apply light vs. deep pressure
• How to sequence your reflexology session and handle transitions between the feet
• Recaps and reviews of key points and how to incorporate reflexology techniques into your massage practice
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RHONDA FUNES
Q and A
How long have you been a bodywork practitioner? What made you decide to
enter the profession and to specialize in reflexology?
My first real experience with reflexology took place in 1987, almost 16 years ago.
An old boyfriend who was miserable with an undiagnosed strep throat, but who
refused to see a doctor for treatment was my motivation. I knew that a therapy
called reflexology existed, and he just happened to have a book on the subject.
Together, we poured over its pages and discovered that the reflex areas for the
throat region are accessible in the great toes. Of course, I had a desire to touch
and to help this person with whom I was involved, so I decided to give it a try.
I located a tender region on one toe, and pressed on that spot for about ten
minutes. At that point, my friend announced that one side of his throat did not
hurt any more! We were both amazed, but I was more than surprised: I knew
at that moment there was something for me to learn here.
What are your credentials and how did you earn them?
Well, immediately after the experience I just described, I called the American
Academy of Reflexology in Burbank, California, to inquire about training. I started
with a weekend workshop in which we learned all about feet and engaged in
some tactile classwork. I enjoyed the experience immensely and knew I wanted
to learn about hands and ears. So I enrolled in and graduated from the
American Academy of Reflexology in Los Angeles. The program was advanced
and included coursework that integrated feet, hands, and ears in more than 100
hours of training in touch techniques. After I graduated, I became a member of
the first group of reflexologists to be certified by the national board, a self-
monitoring organization that developed a testing and certification process that is
used nationwide. Today, I am a National Board Certified Reflexologist and a
state-certified instructor of reflexology. My training in this and many other touch
modalities along with a diverse practice have contributed to my developing and
teaching curriculum on foot reflexology for several massage schools in the state
of California.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work in reflexology?
I make a positive difference in the life of every person who comes my way. I
know this because of the feedback I receive from my clients. For example, one
of my clients, a very active sports enthusiast, suffered a severe sprain and
multiple bruises and scrapes during a bike ride. His sprained foot was causing
him a great deal of discomfort. When he called me, I told him that the sooner he
received reflexology, the quicker he might experience healing. He came in
immediately, and I worked on his feet, hands, and ears. When we next talked
"two weeks later" he told me he was completely pain-free the day after his
reflexology session! In fact, within one week of his visit to me, he participated in
a triathlon. I see this all the time: Actual physical changes and shifts occur in
attitudes, bodies and spirits after reflexology sessions. I think of the time I spend
with clients as genuine exchanges between two people, joint efforts. My
satisfaction comes from the fact that they leave with all kinds of new ideas
and feelings, and ultimately beneficial change is initiated.
What advice would you give to some one who is considering becoming a
reflexologist?
Do it by all means. Reflexology is the fastest-growing requested bodywork. Why?
People experience a small taste of it, and then they go back to their massage
therapists and ask that more attention be devoted to hands and feet. Also,
reflexology is the most mobile and the least invasive of the bodywork therapies.
It can be applied to the largest segment of the population: from infants, to
adults with injuries related to computer use or sports, to those for whom physical
movement is restricted. Although a massage table is usually used to apply
reflexology skills, it is not absolutely critical that a special table or chair be
available. Through this therapy and minimal application of touch, a bodywork
practitioner can encourage a state of health, a feeling of peace.
Finally, can you tell us what gifts you have received from your practice of
reflexology?
With pleasure. Perhaps the greatest gift I've received is the realization that touch
is the most profound way of connecting with another human being. With a small
amount of skill, one can create comfort and positive change in someone else's
life. Not only have I made my living through my practice of reflexology, but also
I have taken a marvelous journey of self-development and self-enlightenment.
I have learned and continue to learn a tremendous amount of information about
myself and other people while practicing this healing therapy.
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