My story
I turned to complementary medicine after a serious illness from which I couldn’t recovery completely despite medical care. I was quite weak and desperate to get better. I visited a naturopathic centre where I received a course of reflexology sessions and some herbal remedies. Soon I regained my strength and day-by-day my previous good health was restored.
Later on in life an opportunity came to study the art of reflexology and I must say I was hooked from the first moment. This natural therapy has not ceased to amaze me ever since. Right after completing my reflexology studies I have set my eyes upon the red entrance door of the acupuncture college in Reading. I had to wait first for my young family to mature before my time came to plunge into the "magic world" of acupuncture.
My qualifications and memberships
- I gained my Foot Reflexology Diploma in 2008 in the UK. Since then I attended the following workshops and courses:
- Hand Reflexology workshop in 2008
- Enhanced Reflexology Techniques in 2008
- workshop on Advanced Reflexology Techniques with Tony Porter in 2008
- correspondence course in Understanding and Managing Diabetes in 2018
- 4-day-long Oncology Reflexology course with the Middlesex School of Complementary Medicine in 2019
- Facial Reflexology workshop in 2019
- Dr. Carol Samuel's workshop on "Pain in Cancer Survivors" in 2020
- Reflexology Lymph Drainage with Sally Kay in 2020
- I graduated from a degree course in Five Element and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture at The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading
I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) which means that I am on the Professional Standards Authority's accredited register.
I am a member of the AOR, which is the UK’s leading Association for Reflexologists.
These two professional bodies are there protect the public from malpractice and to ensure high standards of practice by requiring its members to commit to continual professional development. Membership is a guarantee that the practitioner is trained to a high standard, has expert knowledge and is a competent professional.
Both the AOR and BAcC provide their members with unlimited professional support, research materials, community support and networking opportunities.
My therapeutic approach
I strongly believe in integrated healthcare. Natural complementary therapies work very well with allopathic medicine and they have the potential to play an important role in preventing ill-health.
I always go for the natural solution first to keep healthy by doing regular exercise, having healthy nutrition, doing regular, restorative meditation and having a good life-work balance. A family member of mine who was a wellknown and loved GP always used to say to us: “If you want to be healthy keep away from the doctors.” I encourage everyone around me to live healthier, drink plenty of water, aim for a balance between work-and family life and dedicate some time to yourself!
My experiences
Apart from working in my private practice I volunteered at a senior care home where, I am happy to say, the interest for and success following the treatments was huge.
I also work in a private cancer clinic located in Windsor and supporting patients living with cancer. I find that reflexology gently brings on a deep state of relaxation that is so welcome for patients living with life changing conditions. This deep state of relaxation allows the body to do the necessary repair work and elimination on physical level and give a chance to the mind to switch off and ease anxiety, tension and stress. In turn quality of sleep improves, some side effects of treatment and symptoms of the condition, such as constipation, hot flushes, peripheral neuropathy and lymphoedema lessen.
In addition I work at the acupuncture college's interim clinic in Reading where I see patients with a wide rage of conditions.
Wondering what makes a great therapist?
Firstly they will be a member of a well know professional organization of which only fully insured, properly trained practitioners can become members.
Reflexologists: they have a Level 3 certificate in reflexology as a minimum and some have Level 5 and they carried out at least 100 treatments and hands on assesments before qualifying. This means they did NOT qualify with a cheap online course...! They commit to CPD - continued professional development - and they cannot renew their membership without this. A great reflexologist doesn't just do a great sequence on your feet - they also have an 'intention' in mind throughout. This is what they want for you. It might be peace or relaxation or relief or a good night's sleep etc, and it is what their internal focus is on whilst their external focus is on your feet. Remember, reflexology is NOT a foot massage ... it is so much more! A great reflexologist is the one you trust and connect with! In other words you can rest assured that your wellbeing will be in safe hands.
Licensed Acupuncturists: they hold a BSc degree in acupuncture which means that their knowledge based in the traditional knowledge and is much deeper than someone's who practices only dry needling. Dry needling is a more recent manual therapy practiced by physical therapists, trained in Western Medicine, who use myofacial trigger points to releave pain and tension. A licensed acupuncturist also uses his or her intention and works with the meridians and their points to rebalance the mind-body's energies.
How I measure success?
I measure success not by how many clients I have or how much money I make. I measure success by how well I plan and deliver my clients' treatments to suit their needs. I measure success by how relaxed they feel not only in their body but in their mind too after a session.
During reflexology many clients of mine arrive to that so important deep state of relaxation where they are aware of themselves and their surroundings but at the same time appear to be sleeping - that is when the body can repair damaged cells, when the body's innate healing power kicks in and uses this serene state to tend to the imbalances.
It is not the practitioner who heals, but rather facilitates this restoration of balance and deep relaxation. The practitioner is merely there to support the client/patient on his or her way to better health.
And this is what makes me feel good about what I do, and it makes me feel happy doing what I do. This is measure of success for me.
I feel that my treatments are successful when clients are making good progress on the way to recovery. And when my clients don't need me anymore, when they feel better and know how to help themselves - now that is what makes me successful.
My interests
I have been practicing and teaching Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for over 25 years. I read widely on health matters, research findings and new therapies. I am particularly interested in ancient ways of maintaining good health and I am gobsmacked by how well informed and developed the wisdom of ancient civilisations’ was on how the human mind-body works. My sincerest hope is that in the blind rush of scientific advances we will not destroy and forever lose the wisdom of our forefathers. Interestingly they didn’t need technology to work out the ways of Mother Nature. All they needed was sharp eyes and senses, time for observation, quiet reflection and dedication to cultivating their mind without the constant rush, stress and multi-tasking.
I have realised that although taking a pill is a much quicker and easier solution, but in my view it only reduces the symptoms, dulls the pain but never really gets to the root of a problem. I see the human body not as a machine made up of different parts but as a complex system that is never static but always dynamic. This mind-body has its own self-healing powers. To facilitate it all we need to do is to provide it with the right conditions, mental focus and dedication. I am a firm believer that we have to be actively involved in our healthcare and take the responsibility for it.
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