| Being a reflexologist is one of the top five career | | | | services. From your practical experience, you may |
| choices in the field of holistic health. The trend shows | | | | have a small client base, but you need a large client |
| that more and more people are turning toward holistic | | | | base that will continue to grow. You should decide if |
| practices to enhance traditional medical therapies. | | | | you want to go to your clients or have them come to |
| Being a reflexologist also allows the practitioner to | | | | you. If they come to you, consider renting space or |
| create a flexible schedule in many circumstances. | | | | partnering with a chiropractor, doctor's office, podiatrist, |
| If you have thought about a career in reflexology, it is | | | | or holistic health center. |
| time to start getting more information. The first thing | | | | You may also want to check local gyms and spas as |
| you should do is contact the local reflexology | | | | well. They may allow you to offer your reflexologist |
| association in your area. One such website is for the | | | | services through the business or they may hire you full |
| American Reflexology Certification Board. Although, | | | | time. It is just a matter of going to these different |
| certification is not required in the United States, for | | | | places and selling yourself and your services. |
| professional reasons, you should be certified if it is | | | | If you decide to go to your clients, you will want to |
| available. | | | | partner with doctors, holistic practitioners, chiropractors, |
| At the website, you will want to find answers to | | | | and gyms. They may refer clients to you to enhance |
| several things. You can look for schools certified to | | | | the therapies their patients are currently receiving. |
| teach reflexology, licensing and certification | | | | Once you know how you are going to work, you need |
| requirements, and any other information you think | | | | to decide on the cost of your reflexology services. |
| would be helpful to you. | | | | Some places will dictate the fees you can charge, and |
| Going to school to become a reflexologist is a | | | | others will not. You will need to contact local |
| requirement in most places, even if you don't need to | | | | reflexologists, and ask them about the services they |
| be licensed or certified after graduating. Classes range | | | | offer and fees associated with the services. This |
| in duration from six months to one year or more. The | | | | information will give you a basis to work from when |
| class usually is at least 100 hours in classroom time | | | | developing your own pricing system. |
| and at least 300 hours practical time. Depending on | | | | You should check reflexologist web sites routinely and |
| your location, requirements may vary. | | | | subscribe to industry magazines. This will keep you up |
| You should look for a reflexologist program that | | | | on new trends, tips, and techniques in reflexology. You |
| focuses on more than the feet and hands. Look for a | | | | may also look at continuing education class at your |
| school that discusses health, nutrition, biology, chemistry, | | | | local community college. |
| physiology, anatomy, ethics and professionalism. Finding | | | | Since you may with working with clients in a medical |
| a school that also explains the business side of being a | | | | setting, the client may think you are a medical doctor. If |
| reflexologist is a plus. | | | | this should happened, just gently remind the patient that |
| You may want to consider a school that also offers a | | | | you are not a doctor, but a trained, certified (when |
| massage therapist program. Even if you don't do it | | | | applicable), professional reflexologist. |
| now, becoming a massage therapist can add to your | | | | The only other real problem you could face would be if |
| income potential and increase your marketability. You | | | | you feel the client is unclean or the client's feet and/or |
| may decide to wait to take these classes later, since | | | | hands have sores, fungus or other diseases. Never |
| they are more intense and licensing is a requirement in | | | | feel that you have to accept everyone who contacts |
| many areas. | | | | you as a client. You need to protect the clients you |
| As a reflexologist, you will be working with a client's | | | | already have, and that may mean refusing service to |
| feet and hands for 45 minutes to one hour in a normal | | | | others. Let them know they have a problem and |
| session. You should be able to talk with the client | | | | should seek medical attention. Tell them to return to |
| before, during and after the session. It is your job as a | | | | you when the problem has been corrected and then |
| reflexologist to calm and relax the client while being a | | | | you will take them as a client. |
| good listener. | | | | If you are still interested in becoming a reflexologist, |
| Once you are in the final stages of the reflexologist | | | | contact the local reflexology association, get more |
| program, you should start working on marketing your | | | | information, and get started. |