The Barefoot Dragonfly

01/03/2025

It's not too late join the next cohort of reflexology students starting January 16th! We're meeting via Zoom to explore reflexology's rich 5,000 year history, the biomechanics of the feet and lower leg, and how we map every organ and gland onto the feet.

March 20th-22nd will find us in the Austin studio for a hands-on practical where we 'read' the feet, explore reflexology areas, and learn a full foot reflexology routine.

Find out more: https://www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/event/foundations-in-reflexology-level-one/

01/01/2025

How do the Brits say it? 👣 Start as you mean to go on 👣 I kicked off the New Year in the kind community of volunteers sorting, folding, and restocking their beautiful Little Free Closet stand.

Heartening helps Austinites get another life, or two, out of our *stuff*. It's my first time seeing the new warehouse space and Kelley and her crew of volunteers have done a fantastic job! 🙏😍🥳

Here's to a year of mutual aid, community, and supporting each other. 🥰

11/07/2024

In my best Mariah Carey voice: 🎵 It's time!! 🎵 We're ripping off the bandaid this morning with our final exam for the January 2024 cohort. 💪

The final exam is a tool for both the student and the educator to see which areas need to be revisited, where the curriculum may have fallen short, and where the adult learner may be better supported.

One student has already applied for their national board exam with the American Reflexology Certification Board. 🎉

I couldn't be more proud to see all the study hours pay off for these students. Y'all, we got reflexologists in the house! 🙌🫶

09/02/2024

Totally needed a walk amongst the plants this morning! Right off I-35 in our beautiful city lies the 😍 We got an earful of Grackle and migrating bird songs. Saw dragonflies, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators in and amongst the plants. The pecan trees are loaded with ripening nuts (not ready yet), and the fruit trees are recovering from a busy season.

Grabbed a little lambs quarters to gently saute and toss into tonight's quesadillas. 😋 They're a good source of fiber, manganese, and calcium; and they won't leave your mouth "furry" like spinach can.

Have you visited recently?

08/26/2024

Life can get overwhelming, especially during the back-to-school rush and the summer-to-fall transition. 🫣😨😢😩

Two of my go-to essential oils for these chaotic times are Cypress and Bergamot. They’re perfect for bringing a sense of calm when you’re dealing with it all. Let’s create an aromastick (personal inhaler) together to help you find some ease in the midst of it all. 🌿✨

07/22/2024

Are you looking to build a strong foundation in the art and science of Foot Reflexology? Our Foundations in Reflexology course provides the skills, knowledge, and inspiration to follow your path with confidence and integrity.

Designed for all skill levels and backgrounds, this hybrid format includes live lessons via Zoom and hands-on practicum days in our Austin studio.

Ready to put your best foot forward? Send an email to [email protected] or visit thebarefootdragonfly.com.

05/05/2024

Got to spend the last three days with the January cohort in our second practicum together. This is the first practicum in our Intermediate level in which we explored reflex locations and techniques to cover the following:
👣 Integumentary system
👣 Muscular system
👣 Skeletal system
👣 Nervous system
👣 Endocrine system

First image, clockwise from left: Ashley practicing on Christina, Carol and Julietta practice on Leslie, Shana on the table with Olivia practicing, me in front.

Second image: Shana and Olivia practicing on Leslie, Ashley (seated).

We missed you, Jodi and Alex! 🙏

04/28/2024

Sunday reset in the studio includes folding the laundered foot towels for a new week of turning everyday feet into the cutest foot burritoes you've ever seen! 👣😄

04/24/2024

A sweet neighbor gifted me this gorgeous walnut buffet that I think goes perfectly in the studio. I found this faux hobnail milk glass mirror (Burwood 80s) at the thrift shop a couple months ago and now get to put it to good use!

I have a couple more spots to touch up on the hutch another neighbor gifted me then I'll get some close-up shots. Refinishing these pieces and breathing new life into them has been a lot of fun this month.

What kind of lights should I put in the upper hutch shelves? Little puck lights that can change color or dimmable strip lights? 🤔💡

04/20/2024

It's been a really great conference, y'all! 👣

04/18/2024

Twenty years ago I sat for the American Reflexology Certification Board exam. Today I got to test the test through their pilot testing program. I took my time to examine each of the 300+ questions and gave my feedback to ARCB on a number of them.

One of the cool things about this profession is that we have an exam that can evolve with the industry, and looks at itself critically. To be a psychometrically evaluated exam puts the ARCB in the category with nursing registration, attorney bar exam, and board certification of physicians. Proud of us! 🥰

This review gives me the opportunity to see where I can be a better educator and I've taken some good notes to bring home for Zoom lectures and practicum. 👣

03/15/2024

Today is SARS-CoV-2 virus impacts everyone infected, but it is especially nefarious for those who go on to develop Long Covid disease. There is currently no cure for this disease and repeat infections increase the risk of contracting Long Covid.

Reflexology and aromatic botanicals can play a therapeutic role in supporting the many body systems impacted. As I go into the fourth year supporting clients with Long Covid, I am grateful to the scientists who continue researching. 🙏

affects people of all ages and includes a myriad of post-acute and long-term adverse health effects caused by the infection.

A recent Science Perspective highlights the efforts made to understand this growing public health concern, what is known about the condition, and its wide-reaching effects on the risk of developing other chronic diseases.

Learn more on : https://scim.ag/6ei

03/02/2024

🦶 That's a wrap on the Foundations in Reflexology practicum! This cohort is ready to practice their new skills in their local communities of San Antonio, South Austin, McAllen, Fort Worth, Houston, Oregon, and South Carolina.👐

In the Foundations course we get good at mapping out the body's regions on the feet. Next week we'll start diving into the body's systems and build on these techniques with two more practicum sessions. 💪

01/31/2024

📢 Research Alert! Inhaled Thyme essential oil in Coronavirus patients.

Researchers at Batman and Inonu Universities in Turkey recently published the results of a study on inhaling Thyme essential oil for acute SARS-CoV-2.

Patients were randomized to receive routine care or routine care plus an aromastick of Thyme essential oil to inhale 3 times a day for 5 days. The team found the Thyme group reported a reduction in the severity of a number of symptoms quicker than the control group.

Inhaled thyme oil brought relief for:
👉 Shortness of breath
👉 Headache
👉 Cough
👉 Musculoskeletal pain
👉 Dizziness
👉 Diarrhea
👉 Loss of appetite

In addition to the acute symptoms the team also found the personal inhaler 'significantly' improved oxygen in the patient's bloodstream through lowering CO2 levels and increasing O2 levels.

Aromatherapy can be a great tool alongside medical treatment, y'all! Love seeing this inexpensive intervention brought into community care. ♥️

01/22/2024

I think the Lavender Companion is going to make a great coffee table book when it comes out in late May, y'all! The photography is lovely and there's some sweet tutorials on using this beloved plant in the kitchen. 😋

and gave me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Would you read a book on lavender?

01/16/2024

Corn Silk is one of the first herbs I worked with growing up in Northern New Mexico. I use this in almost every tea I formulate to support the urinary system these days. It brings ease to sensations of burning, urge incontinence, frequent urination, and pain.

My Curendera mentor in Taos used the tea for lingering coughs and asthma, and my herb mentor swore by it for preventing UTIs in perimenopause.

Christa Sinadinos's book here is a treasure to the practicing botanical medicine practitioner. 🥰

😫

01/12/2024

Meet the new class of Spring 2024 Reflexology students! 🎉 We'll meet online for the next handful of weeks exploring foot anatomy, sanitation, SOAP notes, and more. At the end of February we'll get together here in the studio to learn reflexology techniques, practice taking health history, and cover a 30-45 minute foot reflexology routine. 👣

We have space for one more in case you missed the announcement. 📚

01/09/2024

Did you catch my quotes in the guide on diffusers? My absolute favorite way to use a diffuser at home is to send that clear message to the nervous system that all is safe and cozy.

In our busy world a drop or two of an essential oil in a diffuser can be a balm for the weary nervous system. I can go from frazzled to chill in moments with a favorite essential oil. 🥰

Do you use a diffuser at home?