Association of Reflexologists Closed for Christmas!

The Association of Reflexologists will be closed from 12.30pm on Christmas Eve until 9.00am on Wednesday 2nd January 2013.  We would like to wish all our members a merry christmas and a happy new year!!

Vacancies for CNHC registered practitioners at Neal's Yard Remedies Therapy Rooms

Neal's Yard Remedies invites self-employed CNHC registered practitioners to work from their shop-based Therapy Rooms in Bristol (126 Whiteladies Road), St Albans (22 Christopher Place AL3 5DQ) and York (41/43 Low Petergate YO1 7HT). Further vacancies arise on an on-going basis in other stores around the UK.

Successful CNHC registered therapists applying to Neal's Yard Remedies* will be given, in addition to an initial free four week period, a further 15% discount on rental fees for the following 3 months. In addition to this all therapists are able to take advantage of marketing initiatives, discounted products and CPD courses and a professional framework in which to practice.

* The above offer applies to Neal's Yard Remedies company shops only.

The AoR now accepts Paypal

Members have been requesting to use Paypal when renewing and booking events for a while. As you know we always listen to members comments and are very pleased to announce that this has been actioned.  You will now see the Paypal logo when renewing your AoR membership or booking onto one of our many seminars and webinars. 

Volunteer Therapist Opportunity 

Hands Inc is a registered charity established to help tackle health inequalities amongst those in society that experience social and economic disadvantages. We deliver a range of health and wellbeing services to help improve access to holistic health services.

We currently run four complementary therapy clinics delivering acupuncture, massage, shiatsu and reflexology. Our clinics are based in two busy NHS Health Centres in Hackney. The clinics operate a self referral system, however we do also receive referrals from GP's and other health professionals.

We are looking for qualified therapists who can either fit into one of our clinics or add to the range of treatments we can offer.

We pay expenses however the therapist should be within commutable distance of Hackney.

For more information and an application pack please contact;

Eileen This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

0203 051 8626

Tracey Smith is guest blogger for the Brompton Health and Wellbeing Magazine.

Wellbeing is a term that is being used more and more. The Health and Social Care bill has prompted the setting up of Health and Wellbeing Boards by local councils, which means your local Council should be starting to care about your wellbeing! Sounds amazing but what exactly is wellbeing? Where does it fit in to our lives? To read more go to the Brompton Health and Wellbeing Magazine.

World Reflexology Week 2012 Media Articles

There have been some excellent articles in the press about World reflexology week, see below for just a few.

"Step forward for World Reflexology" Wellbeing Magazine

"Lets hear it for the guys" Eileen Sweeney MAR - Willow Therapies and Training, Belfast

"This is Someset - World Reflexology Week " - Polly Hall MAR - Wedmore, Somerset

"Reflexologist's taster day features treatment to distress" - Dawn Woodes MAR, TeignReflexology - Teignmouth

To see some more photos of our members and their events go to our World Reflexology Week page.

New CNHC Board members appointed

CNHC is delighted to announce a very successful outcome from its recruitment process for new Board members. Seven incoming members have been appointed and will take up their positions on 1st December 2012. The existing Board members remain in post until then.

From 1st December the Board will be made up of the following:

• Five lay members: Wendy Harris, Sheila Inglis, Professor George Lewith and Julian Weinberg (Julian is an existing Board member who will remain in post). John Lant also an existing Board member will become the new lay Chair.
• Four CNHC registered practitioners: Lynne Gray, Robert Klaasen, Patricia Mowll and Joyce West.

All Board members have been recruited to provide direction on strategy and policy, to ensure financial probity and to act in the public interest.  

Happy Birthday 21st to Lauren-Jade

Everyone at the Association would like to wish Lauren-Jade a huge happy 21st birthday and best wishes.  Many of you will have spoken to Lauren-Jade over the phone and I am sure wish her all the best.  Plenty of cake was eaten in celebration by the team.

Marble Hill PEDISALVE Total Footcare 100ml - Now available!

PEDISALVE is a 100% natural formula which uses pure Argan oil, Shea Butter and Vitamin E to condition, moisturise and improve suppleness of the heels, skin of the foot and toenails.

Contains no fragrances, or irritant chemical additives.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Tocopherol

100ml

Job vacancy for CNHC registered practitioner in Northern Ireland

Action Cancer is seeking a practitioner who is CNHC registered for both aromatherapy and massage therapy, to work 20 hours a week in the North West Region of Northern Ireland.

The practitioner must have two year's experience as a complementary therapist or one year delivering complementary therapy as well as an Allied Health Professional or nursing qualification.

The successful candidate will work within the Therapeutic Services team to provide a complementary therapy service for people with cancer and their families.

Salary is NJC Scale Points 24 - 28: £20,858 - £23,708 pro rata.

Closing date: Friday 14^th September 2012

The Macmillan Butterfly Centre in Epsom, Surrey seeks volunteer CNHC registered practitioners

The Macmillan Butterfly Centre at Epsom Hospital and its satellite service at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton are looking for experienced CNHC registered aromatherapists, massage therapists and reflexologists to provide services on a voluntary basis to clients with a cancer diagnosis, as well as their carers and relatives.

Epsom has rooms available from Monday to Wednesday and the St Helier centre is open on Thursdays and Fridays. The team is looking for volunteers who could offer their services to three clients on a weekly or fortnightly basis. All volunteers are required to attend an induction course and receive ongoing support, regular supervision and reimbursement of all travel costs.

For further information please contact Teresa Howes, Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Manager on  01372 735456 or email  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Step forward for World Reflexology Week

Members of the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) will be running reflexology taster sessions, giving demonstrations and running promotions across the country to celebrate World Reflexology Week, 24-30 September 2012. 

We would never had babies without.......... article from the Express

LOUISA STARR, 34, a theatre operations manager from York, and her husband are expecting their first child in October thanks to reflexologist FIONA HARRIS.

NEW Reflexions Condition Booklet 5 released

Reflexions Condition booklet 5 contains info on Fibromyalgia, Autism & Asperger's Syndrome, Stroke, Lupus and Arthritis and is available to download for £4.50 or printed for £6.50

The Association of Reflexologists attending Camexpo  (20-21 October 2012)

Come and see us at camexpo – the UK’s only dedicated professional holistic event. camexpo will celebrate its tenth anniversary on 20-21 October at London’s Earls Court, with 200 leading exhibitors, over 100 seminars, workshops and demos hosted by some of the CAM industry’s leading subject specialists. camexpo’s exceptional CPD-accredited education programme includes the latest research and advice to advance your business. We will be on stand 2337, so do come and say hello. Registration is £6 for AOR members by registering or by using priority code: CAMNo036. http://ow.ly/d2iTz

"Grow your Business" 48 page document FREE to all AoR members until 31st October 2012

At the AoR we are aware of what a difficult economic climate it is for our practising members at the moment. To lend a helping hand we have gathered vital hints and tips on 'Growing your Business' from marketing experts and successful therapists into a short information booklet. The 'Growing your Business' booklet also includes advice regarding marketing to men, who make up 49% of the population and who are the topic for this year's World Reflexology Week (24-30 September 2012).

'Growing your Business' is available as a free download to AoR members for a limited period of time (until 31 October 2012.) After 31st October it will be available for purchase from the sales shop as either a download or a printed copy for £4.50 and £6 respectively.

CNHC registered complementary therapist required for Royal Marsden job

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a CNHC complementary therapist to work 22.5 hours over three days at its Fulham site in London.

The applicant must practise, and be CNHC registered for, aromatherapy, massage therapy and reflexology. As well as CNHC registration the practitioner must have demonstrable experience working as a massage therapist with essential oils, and as a reflexologist. You will also need to have completed post-graduate learning for aromatherapy, massage therapy and / or reflexology in cancer care or have significant experience of working as a complementary therapist in a cancer care setting.

The successful applicant will become part of the Complementary Therapy team in the Rehabilitation department seeing both inpatients on the wards and outpatients in a designated therapy room.

Interview date: August 16th 2012 CLOSED 
For further details:
If you wish to discuss this post please contact Jeannie Dyer, Clinical Lead for Complementary Therapies, on  0207 352 8171 ext 1588

Paul’s Cancer Support Centre requires volunteer CNHC registered practitioners

Paul’s Cancer Support Centre in London requires experienced CNHC registered massage therapists and reflexologists to provide volunteer services to clients with a cancer diagnosis as well as their carers and relatives.

The volunteers will need to commit to three clients either weekly or fortnightly on a Tuesday afternoon. In return you will be offered induction, support, supervision and access to training and travel expenses.

Deadline: 31st August 2012 CLOSED
For further details:
Visit the Paul’s Cancer Support Centre website: www.paulscancersupportcentre.org.uk.
Or contact Pauline Withers-Born on  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or  020 7801 2966 for an application form.

AoR member Nicola says redundancy kick-started her reflexology dream

Stirling study finds reflexology affects the hearts of non-cardiology patients

We, at the AoR wish to congratulate Professor Stephen Leslie and researcher Jenny Jones on the publication of their research. It is very gratifying to see this research gaining attention outside the UK from Italy to the USA.

Over 5 years ago, the AoR was contacted by a doctor from a Scottish hospital wanting to do some research into reflexology and cardiac patients – that doctor was Stephen and after some initial discussion he went off to locate a PhD student. After some time, having found Jenny Jones and been made a Professor, they settled down with the intention of producing high quality research into reflexology, with the intention of finding out it reflexology was safe.

The first two publications have now been released and we are proud that the AoR, as the only UK reflexology organisation actively involved in research, has been involved since the outset. We have provided advice, contact with therapists and financial support. It is our hope that our relationship with Jenny and Stephen will continue long into the future to produce more high standard research that benefits patients, reflexologists and reflexology alike.

Tracey Smith AoR Reflexology Support Manager

AoR Motto Competition

As part of our 28th Birthday celebrations, we're offering the opportunity for members to make their lasting mark in the AoR's history by coming up with another motto to use as an additional alternative to our current one, "Delivering excellence in reflexology". You can send in as many ideas as you like; each motto needs to be no longer than eight words, and can be submitted through a form on the link below; or you can post it to Association of Reflexologists, 5 Fore Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HX; or email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Remember to include your name and membership number with your motto so if yours is the one we choose, we can thank you for it personally with a year's free membership! The AoR Board will make the decision later in the year. The closing date for submissions is 19th November. Terms and conditions are available on our website, www.aor.org.uk/aor-motto-competition.

Youtube Channel and Videos from the AoR

The Association of Reflexologists has released some videos from members of the public talking about how reflexoloy has supported them available via our website and our Youtube channel.

It's our 28th Birthday

It's the Association of Reflexologists 28th Birthday today and we would like to thank all 25,000 members that have supported us and reflexology over the years. This has made us one of the longest standing professional organisations for reflexology in the UK. We've been here for you, providing the hub for our reflexology family through so very much - from when reflexology was still a relatively new and unheard of therapy in the UK, to the present day.

Meeting at the House of Commons

Tracey Smith our Reflexology Support Manager is going to the House of Commons meeting on Personal Health Care Budgets

Brand NEW Interactive foot map

The Association of Reflexologists has releases a new interactive reflexology foot map, which is available on our website.