I checked out the complementary healthcare event at Earls Court last weekend. Part of the play philosophy is to take part or read widely about the area of work you are looking to try out next. So this fitted the bill perfectly.
There was a great exhibition with plenty of therapists and product offerings to check out as you strolled around. I was amazed about how many different balms and potions and lotions there were to try out. The ones that impressed me were nikki's balms, The Aromatherapy Company and NYR Organic (Neal's Yard Remedies). I can't wait to try out all their products on my reflexology clients.
I also popped along to Gill Tree's, (Essentials for Health), seminar on how to be a successful therapist. She was so enthusiastic and passionate about professionalisn and how that can ensure people's perceptions of you are good enough that they will choose to come and visit you rather than your competitors.
Gill gave us 10 essentials to follow:
1. Business planning - spend one third of your time planning and marketing your business
2. Positive thinking - have total belief in yourself and pictorise your vision to share it with other people
3. Do work that suits your personality
4. Get great PR - it launches your company as it's an independent view. Offer an editor a free treatment.
5. Great marketing skills - get that elevator pitch ready
6. Be a specialist - find a niche market so that people come to you rather than someone else and know that your treatment is worth a try
7. Become known in the industry through your track record or by being a trendsetter
8. Be professional with a great website and outstanding service
9. Decide on your usp - be a cut above the rest
10. Get a mentor - which of course Gill's company essentials for health can provide.
Check out http://www.essentialsforhealth.co.uk/
Friday 28 October 2011
It's show time
So far I've had 3 clients to practice my 50 minute reflexology with. It was strange getting started but fine once I got going. It was great to know that my guinea pigs are from my nearest and dearest list so would forgive me for any clumsiness.
They all definitely got something out of the treatments. One was quite sceptical about all this complementary therapy business but they said it was very relaxing and that they had slept better that night. Yippee!!
Sunday 16 October 2011
My treatment room
Another very exciting part of the journey is in motion. The preparation of my treatment room.
After lovingly decorating a room downstairs for a study, my husband soon realised that I needed to steal ownership of it and make it into a relaxing retreat for treating clients. So now he has another decorating task of making the smaller bedroom upstairs into a stylish study.
So off we trotted to a local DIY store. We were all organised with a list and measurements and starting collecting items on a rather oversized trolley which would not turn left. After almost 2 hours we got to the tills. We'd not been quite as organised as we'd thought as we seemed to drag that trolley up and down, up and down the centre aisle of the store with long lengths of skirting board and coving. Once back at the car. I had to squeeze so close to the windscreen to fit everything in and had skirting board practically in my armpit. It was quite a sight.
I'm so looking forward to the arrival of my special reflexology chair and the new study being started by my husband as then I can start to get my room for relaxation up and running. No pressure Paul. Has the rugby finished yet?!
After lovingly decorating a room downstairs for a study, my husband soon realised that I needed to steal ownership of it and make it into a relaxing retreat for treating clients. So now he has another decorating task of making the smaller bedroom upstairs into a stylish study.
So off we trotted to a local DIY store. We were all organised with a list and measurements and starting collecting items on a rather oversized trolley which would not turn left. After almost 2 hours we got to the tills. We'd not been quite as organised as we'd thought as we seemed to drag that trolley up and down, up and down the centre aisle of the store with long lengths of skirting board and coving. Once back at the car. I had to squeeze so close to the windscreen to fit everything in and had skirting board practically in my armpit. It was quite a sight.
I'm so looking forward to the arrival of my special reflexology chair and the new study being started by my husband as then I can start to get my room for relaxation up and running. No pressure Paul. Has the rugby finished yet?!
Thursday 13 October 2011
Back to school
Last weekend I started my Reflexology Diploma. I was soooo excited.
On my play day Friday I popped out from my homeopathy study to buy the stationery stated on the course joining instruction. I'm not actually sure which I was most excited about - buying lovely funky stationery or starting the course!
Reality hit when I had to get up at 7am on Saturday & Sunday to drive down to Southampton. Ouch! It was still dark. Luckily I arrived just in time for the tutor, Jackie, to start both days and it was great to discover that the sessions were interactive, fun and set at a good pace. Not too much info overload for a weekend but not too slow either.
By the end of the weekend all 10 of us students had become buddies due to being paired and grouped up with different people throughout and we'd been taken through and practiced a whole 50 min reflexology routine. How fab is that!!!
I did get told off once by my tutor Jackie. My nails were too long. Which reminded me of the reason why I gave up the cello. You can't have long nails or wear skirts. Oops- same as reflexology! Lucky it gives me an excuse to buy stationery then hey!
On my play day Friday I popped out from my homeopathy study to buy the stationery stated on the course joining instruction. I'm not actually sure which I was most excited about - buying lovely funky stationery or starting the course!
Reality hit when I had to get up at 7am on Saturday & Sunday to drive down to Southampton. Ouch! It was still dark. Luckily I arrived just in time for the tutor, Jackie, to start both days and it was great to discover that the sessions were interactive, fun and set at a good pace. Not too much info overload for a weekend but not too slow either.
By the end of the weekend all 10 of us students had become buddies due to being paired and grouped up with different people throughout and we'd been taken through and practiced a whole 50 min reflexology routine. How fab is that!!!
I did get told off once by my tutor Jackie. My nails were too long. Which reminded me of the reason why I gave up the cello. You can't have long nails or wear skirts. Oops- same as reflexology! Lucky it gives me an excuse to buy stationery then hey!
Saturday 1 October 2011
Tweak a little, change a lot
This was the title of an article in October's edition of Red magazine that I identified with a lot. The theory is that huge goals are too overwhelming and we give up before we've even started or soon after. Small changes can have a much more permanent impact on our lives. Small actions of doing things differently makes a change much less painful and achievable.
This completely mirrors my decision to get to the gym at work twice a week. I could have gone mad and made myself go every day but I didn't. I was realistic and now I've managed it for 3 weeks already I know I can manage it going forwards. Also with my study Friday, I allow myself to fit in errands that I don't have time for in the week so that I can start the weekend in a more relaxed manner. I still manage to fit in 4 hours study which is great. I think if I'd tried to make my self do 8 I wouldn't have stuck to it and instead of being chuffed with 4, I'd feel like I'd failed.
So as the article promises, I'm dead chuffed! The enjoyment you get from the success you have spurs you on to make another small step and before you know it you've moved on to challenge something else too and changed your world significantly. Eek, hope I don't turn into a fitness freek. I haven't got time for that. There's study to do!
This completely mirrors my decision to get to the gym at work twice a week. I could have gone mad and made myself go every day but I didn't. I was realistic and now I've managed it for 3 weeks already I know I can manage it going forwards. Also with my study Friday, I allow myself to fit in errands that I don't have time for in the week so that I can start the weekend in a more relaxed manner. I still manage to fit in 4 hours study which is great. I think if I'd tried to make my self do 8 I wouldn't have stuck to it and instead of being chuffed with 4, I'd feel like I'd failed.
So as the article promises, I'm dead chuffed! The enjoyment you get from the success you have spurs you on to make another small step and before you know it you've moved on to challenge something else too and changed your world significantly. Eek, hope I don't turn into a fitness freek. I haven't got time for that. There's study to do!
Saturday 17 September 2011
Life's a balance
Well don't we all know it but it's a whole other story to get the balance right.
I was going through my book shelf and picked up, 'Cultivate a cool career' by Ken Langdon today. This book contains 52 brilliant ideas for reaching the top and on flicking through the content pages, number 51 caught my attention - Life's a balance. Well what I read astounded me. It really made me think.
'There are 168 hours in the week of which you spend 56 in bed. this leaves 112 for living in.
OMG! I didn't wake up until 10.30 this morning and I'm an 8 hours a night girl. So I'm down to 102 this week already!!!
This idea encourages you to draw up how you spend your 112 hours using a nine box matrix. You leave some boxes for the areas you never get to but would like to so that you can evaluate how you spend your hours. You then create a new matrix and reduce the time in some areas so that you can start working on those areas you currently never get to. An interesting tool which I'd forgotten about.
From my matrix I realised that I could spend a little less time pottering around the house in the weekday mornings and fit in going to the gym before work instead. Now that's a plan to stick to. Tidying the bedroom and kitchen or body balance. Surely body balance will win everytime? Or will it be 30 minutes extra in bed?
I was going through my book shelf and picked up, 'Cultivate a cool career' by Ken Langdon today. This book contains 52 brilliant ideas for reaching the top and on flicking through the content pages, number 51 caught my attention - Life's a balance. Well what I read astounded me. It really made me think.
'There are 168 hours in the week of which you spend 56 in bed. this leaves 112 for living in.
OMG! I didn't wake up until 10.30 this morning and I'm an 8 hours a night girl. So I'm down to 102 this week already!!!
This idea encourages you to draw up how you spend your 112 hours using a nine box matrix. You leave some boxes for the areas you never get to but would like to so that you can evaluate how you spend your hours. You then create a new matrix and reduce the time in some areas so that you can start working on those areas you currently never get to. An interesting tool which I'd forgotten about.
From my matrix I realised that I could spend a little less time pottering around the house in the weekday mornings and fit in going to the gym before work instead. Now that's a plan to stick to. Tidying the bedroom and kitchen or body balance. Surely body balance will win everytime? Or will it be 30 minutes extra in bed?
Working under pressure
It's amazing what you can complete when you are working under pressure. I've not completed a post here for a few weeks because of the fact I'd set myself a deadline to finish unit 3 of my homeopathy course before I went on holiday.
For some valid and some less valid reasons I still had a lot to do the day before I went away. So on Sunday 4th September I worked like a demon from 9am until 7.30pm. Thankfully it all worked out and I had the pleasure of sending all my essays and diagrams to my tutor that evening. The good feeling that went with that lasted for the whole holiday. I was so pleased with myself. It was such a relief to know that I could start a fresh unit of study when I got back but more importantly that I could relax on holiday knowing that I'd achieved something.
Unfortunately I still don't know quite what I've achieved. Our holiday cottage had wireless which was a bit of a pain as almost every day I visited my hotmail account hoping to see an email back from my tutor with that special word 'pass' included within it. I'm still waiting!! I think it's time to drop her a note as I'm not sure I can hold out waiting much longer.
For some valid and some less valid reasons I still had a lot to do the day before I went away. So on Sunday 4th September I worked like a demon from 9am until 7.30pm. Thankfully it all worked out and I had the pleasure of sending all my essays and diagrams to my tutor that evening. The good feeling that went with that lasted for the whole holiday. I was so pleased with myself. It was such a relief to know that I could start a fresh unit of study when I got back but more importantly that I could relax on holiday knowing that I'd achieved something.
Unfortunately I still don't know quite what I've achieved. Our holiday cottage had wireless which was a bit of a pain as almost every day I visited my hotmail account hoping to see an email back from my tutor with that special word 'pass' included within it. I'm still waiting!! I think it's time to drop her a note as I'm not sure I can hold out waiting much longer.
Monday 15 August 2011
My second play day
Friday 12th August was play day 2 and I was determined to get essay 3 out of 5 of my unit 3 homeopathy course done!
So as soon as Paul had left the house I sat myself at the dining room table in my PJs and tackled the last few pages of a very dry text book. I gave myself a time limit and the promise of a bacon sandwich. It worked- hoorah! A good start.
Then I found my break for getting dressed and tidying the house took quite a little bit longer than planned. Oh no, I felt really worried that I was going to fail the task I'd set myself for the day. I still really wanted to get the essay done so that I could have the rest of the weekend off. Keep focused I told myself and adjusted my plan for the day which really gave me hope that I could still achieve it. I just needed to get my head down. So I did.
A couple of hours later I'd read 30 pages, half a chapter, of another much less dry book but still felt I was getting no where fast. I started to think about getting the essay written rather than finishing all the set reading. Naughty naughty!! So I had a break, (yes it was on my plan!), to run some errands. Much to my disappointment I was late getting started again! Oh no. How rubbish.
So I adjusted the plan for a second time and still saw that I could still make it. Even with completing the reading. I couldn't help myself but finish the reading anyway as I hate missing out on things.
Sure enough by the skin of my teeth I finished the whole essay by the end of the day. I learnt that a plan really does work. Even a flexible one. I knew where I was with the big picture and also had the satisfaction of ticking off each of the smaller tasks throughout the day. It stopped me from worrying about not finishing and actually egged me on every step of the way.
Phew!! Cinderella will go to the ball.
So as soon as Paul had left the house I sat myself at the dining room table in my PJs and tackled the last few pages of a very dry text book. I gave myself a time limit and the promise of a bacon sandwich. It worked- hoorah! A good start.
Then I found my break for getting dressed and tidying the house took quite a little bit longer than planned. Oh no, I felt really worried that I was going to fail the task I'd set myself for the day. I still really wanted to get the essay done so that I could have the rest of the weekend off. Keep focused I told myself and adjusted my plan for the day which really gave me hope that I could still achieve it. I just needed to get my head down. So I did.
A couple of hours later I'd read 30 pages, half a chapter, of another much less dry book but still felt I was getting no where fast. I started to think about getting the essay written rather than finishing all the set reading. Naughty naughty!! So I had a break, (yes it was on my plan!), to run some errands. Much to my disappointment I was late getting started again! Oh no. How rubbish.
So I adjusted the plan for a second time and still saw that I could still make it. Even with completing the reading. I couldn't help myself but finish the reading anyway as I hate missing out on things.
Sure enough by the skin of my teeth I finished the whole essay by the end of the day. I learnt that a plan really does work. Even a flexible one. I knew where I was with the big picture and also had the satisfaction of ticking off each of the smaller tasks throughout the day. It stopped me from worrying about not finishing and actually egged me on every step of the way.
Phew!! Cinderella will go to the ball.
My first play day
Those of you that keep an eye on Facebook will have seen my post about avoiding distractions on my first play day. I'd drawn up a rough plan for my play day Fridays before they even started. This was to make sure when it came to it that I didn't put things off. You'll all remember sitting down to study at uni. You get your books out, find some paper and a pen. You read the question or work task and think, I'll just get a cup of tea. Once you are back to your desk with your tea you find your mind wandering and before you know it your internet browser is on the student union site rather than the library reserving system.
So my play day plan means I do some 'allotted' personal tasks during the day, such as pilates and food shopping, knowing that I'll still get the required amount of true play day tasks completed too.
On that first Friday I turned on the TV to start my pilates DVD at the time it said on my play day plan. What did I find but Lorraine smiling out at me with the tempting fashion feature of Autumn style. Oooh, it was so hard to stay focused on turning on the DVD player but I managed it. How did I manage it? I managed it because I was sooooo scared that if I slipped on my first day to something as dangerous as morning TV that I would be a soft touch from then on.
How mundane is morning TV really anyway? If you're unfortunate to be sick enough to have more than 2 days off work then you really do change your perspective on how nice it would be to stay in bed or lie on the sofa instead of going to work. But one day a week at home with difficult essay questions and I could be on shaky ground. So I'm proud to say I nipped it in the bud. Yippee for me!! Hopefully that's challenge one over and I'm as strong every Friday.
So my play day plan means I do some 'allotted' personal tasks during the day, such as pilates and food shopping, knowing that I'll still get the required amount of true play day tasks completed too.
On that first Friday I turned on the TV to start my pilates DVD at the time it said on my play day plan. What did I find but Lorraine smiling out at me with the tempting fashion feature of Autumn style. Oooh, it was so hard to stay focused on turning on the DVD player but I managed it. How did I manage it? I managed it because I was sooooo scared that if I slipped on my first day to something as dangerous as morning TV that I would be a soft touch from then on.
How mundane is morning TV really anyway? If you're unfortunate to be sick enough to have more than 2 days off work then you really do change your perspective on how nice it would be to stay in bed or lie on the sofa instead of going to work. But one day a week at home with difficult essay questions and I could be on shaky ground. So I'm proud to say I nipped it in the bud. Yippee for me!! Hopefully that's challenge one over and I'm as strong every Friday.
Monday 1 August 2011
Hello readers
After I'd written my first entry here last Wednesday, I posted a link on Facebook. I have to admit I was quite nervous broadcasting the blog so openly to family, friends and colleagues like that. I wasn't sure if I was ready but it worked out to be just what I needed. I got so many lovely comments and people were really interested and encouraging. So thank you to you all.
Big thanks especially to Alroy - my first follower and to Claire for reminding me that a blog isn't just for Christmas. Here's to many more blog entries, facebook posts and followers!
This weekend I read chapter one of a book by John Williams called 'Screw Work Let's Play'. It was really interesting as it made me think so differently. What stuck out for me was 'Myth 4. 'I can't do what I want to do without long expensive training'. It suggests you should just decide what experience it is that you are most drawn to from a dream job and just get on with it. Find time to free up and live your dream through whatever time you can spare.
I've already gone to the next stage he suggests by working up to having a play day. As you already know, mine will be Friday and I've been planning to use it to throw myself into complementary therapy by completing my homeopathy reading and essay writing. The book has also encouraged me to read around my chosen 'experience'. So I've also joined the Society of Homeopaths and have booked tickets to camexpo, The Complementary, Natural & Integrated Healthcare Show in October. Both the show and the society membership will help me find out what's going on in the industry which hiding at home studying won't.
When October comes and my Reflexology course starts I'll join the Association of Reflexologists too.
I wonder what the next chapter is all about. Maybe I can squeeze some reading in now. Bye for now.
Big thanks especially to Alroy - my first follower and to Claire for reminding me that a blog isn't just for Christmas. Here's to many more blog entries, facebook posts and followers!
This weekend I read chapter one of a book by John Williams called 'Screw Work Let's Play'. It was really interesting as it made me think so differently. What stuck out for me was 'Myth 4. 'I can't do what I want to do without long expensive training'. It suggests you should just decide what experience it is that you are most drawn to from a dream job and just get on with it. Find time to free up and live your dream through whatever time you can spare.
I've already gone to the next stage he suggests by working up to having a play day. As you already know, mine will be Friday and I've been planning to use it to throw myself into complementary therapy by completing my homeopathy reading and essay writing. The book has also encouraged me to read around my chosen 'experience'. So I've also joined the Society of Homeopaths and have booked tickets to camexpo, The Complementary, Natural & Integrated Healthcare Show in October. Both the show and the society membership will help me find out what's going on in the industry which hiding at home studying won't.
When October comes and my Reflexology course starts I'll join the Association of Reflexologists too.
I wonder what the next chapter is all about. Maybe I can squeeze some reading in now. Bye for now.
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Welcome to my blog
It's official! From next week I reduce my full time working hours to 4 days a week. I can't believe it. It feels very naughty. It isn't naughty though as I will be using my free Fridays to study complementary therapy. I'm sooooooo excited and I'm going to be very busy indeed.
It's going to take some discipline not to disappear down to the local coffee shop with all my friends with little ones. I do know that I can do it already though as I've already spent the last 6 - 12 months studying with just my weekends to spare. The Fridays will be helping me to get there more quickly.
This blog will keep me honest as I will be sharing my journey with all of you.
So, progress in addition to the shorter working week is a deposit payment to my new Reflexology course, run by Calming Influences In Southampton. I start on 8th October and cannot wait. Especially after attending this years student's assessment and talking to John who gave me a reflexology treatment that day.
I'm also progressing through unit 3 of my first year of homeopathy study. It's tough at times but I'm getting there and really enjoying it. It's so interesting and nothing like anything else I've studied. The plan is to get through both unit 3 and 4 of my homeopathy before I start my new Reflexology course in October. So I'd better get to it.
Bye for now.
It's going to take some discipline not to disappear down to the local coffee shop with all my friends with little ones. I do know that I can do it already though as I've already spent the last 6 - 12 months studying with just my weekends to spare. The Fridays will be helping me to get there more quickly.
This blog will keep me honest as I will be sharing my journey with all of you.
So, progress in addition to the shorter working week is a deposit payment to my new Reflexology course, run by Calming Influences In Southampton. I start on 8th October and cannot wait. Especially after attending this years student's assessment and talking to John who gave me a reflexology treatment that day.
I'm also progressing through unit 3 of my first year of homeopathy study. It's tough at times but I'm getting there and really enjoying it. It's so interesting and nothing like anything else I've studied. The plan is to get through both unit 3 and 4 of my homeopathy before I start my new Reflexology course in October. So I'd better get to it.
Bye for now.
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