Hi All,
May I just ask: Do many of you offer a shorter (30 mins) Reflexology treatment alongside your normal hour-long one? I don't mean a 'taster' exactly (have done a few of those - 20 mins max) And if so, is there a good take up for it?
Reason I ask is that I (very occasionally) do a full treatment session at a small health/beauty salon close to my home - take up is poor. I feel that offering a half-hour treatment may be more 'affordable' to the somewhat cash-strapped folk of my local area - (not alone there - lol!) and may encourage them to try Reflex for the first time perhaps.
Obviously you can't do it all in that time, but I'm a bit stuck as to working out the best way to include the most important bits, how much warm-up/relaxation to give, etc.
Would be grateful for any advice.
Warm wishes,
A.T. x
Hi there, I started offering a 30 minute treatment for budget reasons a wee while ago. It can make weekly sessions more affordable for someone who needs them. Not just those on lower incomes though I think it is useful for people who wish to try reflexology the lower price seems to make it less of a gamble.
The only thing I would watch is that you don't end up charging for half an hour of your time and giving an hour.
Go for it - if it doesn't work out you can always stop. 🙂
Good luck.
Thanks for your reply Ruth. Yes, you are so right about going over the time in giving a shorter treatment - I have to watch myself all the time even when I have a full hour!
Could I ask what 'routine' you follow in giving your 30-mins session? There'd only be time for the briefest consultation, I suppose. Do people still get good health improvements if they book say, four or five sessions? Sorry all these questions!!
A.T. xx
I wonder if one would lose some of the 60 minute clients for a cheaper session? I think if I were to offer a half hour session I would require prepayment and a disclaimer that they must be used within a short period of time. Say - a three pack to be used in four weeks time, or a six pack to be used within eight weeks time.
Hi ya AT
Just to chuck something else in the mix. For quite a while I have been charging £20 for the first 30 minutes, then charge £5 per 15 minutes after that. So for example, a 1 hour treatment is £30. There is several reasons for this:
1. It takes time to set up, so why should a half treatment be half the price? Not a commercial reality. Especially mobile.
2. Easy to calculate a fair price for the session time.
3. Easily adaptable for clients needs and their wallet.
Better to give a short treatment than no treatment at all. If the client has more money that week, then they can have a longer treatment.
As for technique, I think that warm up massage is an important part of a reflexology treatment that shouldn't be cut back. Why? Because foot massage is almost as therapeutic (calming the nervous system, improving circulation and lymphatic drainage) then focus on a few appropriate reflex points for energetic balance.
Best Wishes
Reflex Pixie
Did post a reply sooner to you, barefootamy and Reiki Pixie - but pressed the wrong key or something and it disappeared Lol.
Good to get your input on this. Yes, I can see there'd be a risk of losing a potential full-session client at the salon (or anywhere, I guess), but folks might just be swayed towards trying a shorter treatment - even if to allay the tension of current gloomy news!
R.P., I like your idea of offering 30 mins for £20 so that clients could add more 'time' on to this as and when they can.
Many thanks xx
I am brainstorming this more and thinking one way I could make it work is if it is the Father Josef/Rwo Shur style of Reflexology - quick movements, a bit deeper pressure. This could be useful during cold and flu season (winter) or for those clients that need more Reflexology but simply cannot afford coming more than bi-weekly or monthly. I think if I offered this half hour session I would add it to my existing maintenance program and offer it only as a weekly or twice weekly choice.
Hmm, some things to consider. I guess I'll poll a couple of close clients and see if this is worth a trial. Thanks for starting this thread AT!
I would suggest warm up moves, walk the zones, walk the toes, hook in on major glands, and work the spine as a minimum, then if a specific concern, eg resproductive, add that in. Otherwise, another idea: check out Laura Norman Handbook - she suggests shorter routines for specific conditions.
In haven't done half hour commercial sessions, but have wondered about it, but do use a routine similar to my first suggestion for demonstrations (doing a talk and demon tomorrow in fact :eek:)
Best wishes
Sessions of Vertical Reflex Therapy might be nice as short treatments and energisers, alongside offering your regular stuff.
As mentioned, it is easy to run over, so you have to be tight with your timing. How do you do your reflexology now? It may be as simple as working each reflex twice instead of three times as you go along.
Sparkie and Gussie, thanks for your advice - carefully noted. I qualified last Summer, but am still feeling my way in many areas, and it helps so much.
Sparkie - hope your talk and demo today goes really well! I have Laura Norman's handbook and it does help with focus on specific concerns.
Gussie, my reflexology technique is maybe too thorough, methinks!! and I do have a bit of trouble keeping to time (though the benefits that peeps report are nicely encouraging) Maybe if I just pared it right down, worked every reflex only twice as you suggest, it could still give some of the benefits. VRT would be excellent - it's on my list of follow-on courses that I'd love to do, hopefully next year.
Anyway, must get practising....any volunteers Lol..!!