On April 14 - 15, 2012, I'll be teaching Caregivers Reflexology, a class open to caregivers of all kinds. The class focuses on compassionate touch using reflexology and acupressure techniques. It will be taught at A Better You day spa and salon in Chattanooga, TN. 

Participants will gain an understanding of reflexology, and learn how to perform simple but powerful sequences for relaxation, balance and comfort. In this 12-hour workshop, we will cover key pressure points helpful for:

• speeding recovery after surgery
• reducing chronic anxiety and insomnia
• restoring energy and vitality
• first aid for shock and fainting
• increasing deep, rhythmic breathing
• relieving plantar fasciitis and foot pain
• decreasing lumbar stiffness and pain

Find out more on my calendar page.

Brenda Morris invited me to assist her at the MSEA Convention Health Fair in Ocean City, Maryland on October 21 - 22. We must have done at least 75 reflexology sessions between the two of us in a day and a half. Those teachers were really eager to get their feet rubbed - the average wait time for a session was 30 to 45 minutes.

On June 11 - 12, I taught Acupoint Reflexology Level I at the Baltimore Centre for Wellness. Many of the students had already studied acupoints in other workshops so there were lots of great questions and insights. Brenda Morris was an awesome assistant.

The next Acupoint Reflexology Level I class is scheduled for March 31-April1, 2012 in Virginia Beach. Check out my calendar for my schedule or click here for more info!

On May 2, Brenda Morris, Mark Dennis and I visited the Division of Parole in Reisterstown, MD to deliver reflexology sessions to employees. We corralled a conference room, dimmed the lights and played a soothing spa dvd while employees got their relaxing sessions. Some of the comments: "amazing", "Can I take you home with me?", "I feel like I've got new feet!"

On April 25, my reflexology posse (Brenda Morris and Terri Lambdin) and I traveled to the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing to give a presentation and demonstration on reflexology. Our presentation was part of a two elective course, Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Health Care, for medical and nursing students. We were given 45 minutes to explain reflexology and its benefits and to walk the students through a mini-session. I talked and fielded questions while Brend and Terri delivered the foot goodies. There were roughly 17 students in attendance and only 3 of them had ever had reflexology. It was a very new subject to most of the students. One student who received a mini-session was so blissful she was speechless.

On Sunday, April 17, I did a presentation along with colleagues Brenda Morris and Mark Dennis for the Baltimore and Columbia MD Energy Healers Meetup. Steve Carter, the meetup host, invited us to share information about reflexology and its benefits. Brenda and Mark provided samples and I talked about reflexology and helped participants with some self-care techniques. At least 30 folks showed up and we got some great feedback.

On Saturday, April 2, I volunteered as a reflexologist for REJUVENATE - the annual 2011Women's Health Expo sponsored by the National Ovarian Cancer Coaltion. The coalition's mission is education and awareness about ovarian cancer as well as improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer.

In addition to reflexology, there were reiki and massage practitioners also in our relaxation room. In addition, participants could take fitness classes, go to mini-workshops and  I met some wonderful folks and we all had a great time!

We had a great time reading the feet in my SOLE STORIES: Health & Personality Cues Revealed by the Feet workshop this past weekend. There were 11 reflexologists in attendance. On Saturday we focused more on reading the foot shape and health cues and on Sunday we looked at accessing the emotions in the feet and performed toe reading. Here are some comments I received:

"The class was extremely enlightening and will help with my reflexology. My approach to assessing is different now...."

"Great presentation - Kristen has compiled knowledge from multiple sources and presented it well."

"Another excellent class that is preparing me to offer clients the depth of info in a session that I imagined I'd be able to offer clients. This is definitely a class I would consider essential to a professional reflexologist...."

I'm teaching Reflexology for Family & Friends, a 3-week introduction to reflexology to be held on Mondays, March 28, April 4 and April 11 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. There is a $20 donation per class. Here's the course description:

Reflexology for Friends and Family is a 3-week introduction to reflexology, an acupressure-based modality for the feet and hands that brings the body back into balance. You will understand the benefits of reflexology, learn how to correlate the body to the feet and hands, and practice basic techniques to perform a reflexology session for your loved ones.

Sharon Kay is hosting this at her home in Joppa. The address is 539 MacIntosh Circle, Joppa, MD 21085. If you're interested in attending, please contact me or Sharon Kay at shiatsushar@comcast.net.

Brenda and I attended A Wedding Soiree! Luxury Bridal Show representing Good Foot Brides on Saturday, March 5. The event was hosted by Bianca Samone Events and held at the Radisson Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore. A pretty swanky affair, there were delicious hors d'oeurves and great music.

We worked on several soon to be married couples. No one had tried reflexology before and everyone was melting out of the chairs by the time we completed the sessions. We got a lot of great feedback and hopefully some potential business.