23/09/2025
What? Why? Tell Me More…..
When I tell people what I do for a living, I’ve had some great responses ranging from “oh wow that’s awesome, tell me more” to “a what?” to “but why?”. The “a what?” response reminds me that, while awareness of the benefits of Complementary Therapies is increasing (my insurance company even had Reflexologist listed as an occupation!), we still have some work to do, but I love explaining what reflexology is and the potential benefits it can bring individuals.
The “why?” question is an interesting one. The short (and perhaps honest) answer is because I love making people feel good. But it’s never that simple is it and my journey to a career in reflexology has taken decades.
Back in the 1990s, after graduating, travelling and a series of jobs I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to train in Human Resources with a large Professional Services firm in Manchester. HR really appealed to me at the time as I wanted to “work with people” – I cringe now when I think about it! – and I ended up staying in HR for 20 years. However, apart from the coaching element of my work, I didn’t feel satisfied in my career but what I else would I do? How could I walk away from the stability of a permanent job with decent pay and benefits? I felt stuck.
Then 2020 arrived. What a year. My mum died and the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Both events made me realise life is short life. Shortly after, I needed an operation that necessitated 2 months off work. Not only did this force me to stop and think about what I wanted out of life, it also opened my eyes to the vital and inextricable link between the body and the mind. I started looking into Complementary and Holistic Therapies and became fascinated by the art of Reflexology. I started looking into reflexology qualifications and training, found a great training school and started a couple of weeks later.
The training was rigorous, especially doing it alongside a full-time job initially. We studied an array of subjects including anatomy, pathology and physiology; the history and theory of reflexology and other CAMs; business practices; relevant legislative considerations; reflexology techniques and practices. As well as written assignments we took practical and written exams and we had to deliver a huge number of hands-on hours and case studies.
I soon realised that this was what I wanted to do. It felt much closer to my values and I got to use my coaching skills. I also loved the fact that people were happy to see me! After lots of soul searching, I decided to take a leap of faith and do reflexology full-time. I have no regrets.
It’s felt like a long journey but really, it’s just the beginning. Continuous Professional Development isn’t just an annual requirement for membership of the professional associations, it’s also central to me continuing to give all my clients the best possible experience. And that’s what it’s all about.
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