Hi, I've recently completed my reflexology training (VTCT L3 diploma), and although I feel quite confident of being able to give what feels like a good and relaxing treatment to clients, I feel I have no/little ability to 'pick up' imbalances etc. I don't seem to feel 'crystals' in people's feet, and although I know everyone is capable of using intuition, I don't think I'm a 'natural' at doing so.
I hear many people talking about how stunned they were when reflexologists knew about their health problems purely by what they felt/saw in the feet, but I just don't!
(I find the same when doing reiki - i.e. none of the visions/intuitive feelings/hunches/empathetic aches that others report.)
Do you think this always comes with time and practice? Does it matter if it doesn't? And am I shortchanging clients if this isn't among my skills?
Thank you very much for any advice you can offer
Sarah
Hi, I've recently completed my reflexology training (VTCT L3 diploma), and although I feel quite confident of being able to give what feels like a good and relaxing treatment to clients, I feel I have no/little ability to 'pick up' imbalances etc. I don't seem to feel 'crystals' in people's feet, and although I know everyone is capable of using intuition, I don't think I'm a 'natural' at doing so.
I hear many people talking about how stunned they were when reflexologists knew about their health problems purely by what they felt/saw in the feet, but I just don't!
(I find the same when doing reiki - i.e. none of the visions/intuitive feelings/hunches/empathetic aches that others report.)
Do you think this always comes with time and practice? Does it matter if it doesn't? And am I shortchanging clients if this isn't among my skills?
Thank you very much for any advice you can offerSarah
Hi Sarah
Some are just empaths. It is not necessailry a more advanced, capable or skilled or gifted sort of person. It is just how it naturally flows for them. Nothing they could have done about it, if it didn't happen on its own accord.
Now that is another story that people start owning and narrating incidents of empathy, tuning in, picking up stuff etc as something of gift of their own making, or something extra ordinary....which may leave the listener rather impressed and awestruck.
But there is nothing that you can impose which does not want to happen naturally.
At the best, we are just going along with what is happening naturally- on its own accord- whether it is the stuff that can come under 'special gift' category and also the stuff that can come under 'icky' category. Both are just playing out naturally.
Impressive as it may seem....don't try to learn or feel inadequate about it. Because relating to other is not all about knowing other inside out. but relating to them from the place of perfection, with open heart, with humbleness ...which is the source of all healing. Not owning the healing process, rather surrendering to it
The healer is not healing anyone...it is coming together of many many things that trigger healing.
As you stay in a open heart, all things move only in the right direction. If empathy is greatly needed it will happen. If not, why bother? Let the perfection decide what it wants to do.. It will work much better that way.
...well thats my tuppence worth...if it is any good
Hi Sarah,
Please, just feel comfortable with yourself and try and relax during your treatments. It seems like you're giving yourself such a hard time! Maybe thats the bigger issue here and not just about reflexology? (One of the gifts of being a therapist is that it can teach us more about our own issues than we'll ever learn about those of others, and gives us a chance to deal with them as we progress).
Particularly try not to listen to those self critical voices in your head, (the ones we all have & you seem to have a lot of!) whilst giving your treatments. They occupy our minds in a negative way and drain our energy leaving little left with which to pay attention to our clients. If you can manage to quieten them and instead keep a clear mind & open heart to focus on the client and their energy, you will gradually become receptive to all sorts of things you could not have previously imagined. Then with practise & confidence you'll see your own personal technique & sensitivities develop.
Finally once you're at ease with yourself & loving your work you will attract & retain the clients that are right for you regardless of ability to feel crystals see leprechauns or whatever. If anyone ever expects or asks something of you that you cannot give they're not right for you anyway.
Best of luck,
Angela
Hi Sarah
First of all congratulations on the completion of your course. You will now embark on a remarkable satisfying journey. That journey will involve helping many many people. Along the way you will start to acquire certain skills that sometimes we can’t explain. Your clients will be amazed at your intuition which you won’t be able to explain.
Sarah the one thing I can say for certain is these skills won’t happen straight away. Be patient otherwise your clients may pick up on your frustrations. I wouldn’t be too concerned about an ability to pick up crystals in the feet. Alot of “crystal” claims are often gristle or small ligaments. The shoulder reflex is a classic example of this. The best indicator for of an area of imbalance is your client. They will soon let you know if an area is sensitive to the touch. So my advice is carry on the good work you are doing but don’t try to run before you can crawl. It will come. Hope that helps.:)
Many thanks, all three of you, for the kind responses and wise advice - will try to trust myself and my instincts and just get on with practising. I really appreciate your guidance. Am sure it will all turn out all right in the end!
Sarah XXX