Continued Background

It all seemed to make sense in a way. I had a strange affinity to working with feet. To me, it appeared a neglected part of the body and also everyone liked my foot demos (maybe because they were free). Also, I liked to be different and marketing yourself as a reflexologist was off the radar for most folks.

The challenge was marketing a service off the radar scope -- call it very difficult. I decided to take a look at other modalities in the touch profession and learned basic Swedish techniques while I took the time to seek out the best reflexologists. That was my school strategy from early on that continues today -- learning "hands on" from the best professionals in the particular field of study.

As I delved into the touch field, I became more and more passionate about the benefits of touch therapy. I traded with professional practitioners in the following disciplines: Rolfing, Hellerwork, Acupressure, Thai massage, Reflexology, Rebirthing, Orthobionomy, Embodiment, Postural Integration, Trigger Point Therapy, Polarity, Feldenkrais, Alexander, Swedish, Acrosage, Amma, Applied Kinesiology, Muscle Testing and Chiropractic Methods, Aromatherapy, Tantra, Bach Flower, Biosync, Watsu, and Reflexsu to name a few.

In my early goings, we did not have the luxury of the Internet and hundreds of courses on every known specialty. I felt going out and getting treatments and sharing was your best choice to advance your career. To this day I recommend that you receive treatments on a regular basis and seek out the masters of the craft you wish to excel in.

As you grow professionally, you will be attracted to certain types of bodywork. I've always gravitated towards "touchy feely" techniques versus energetic type work. I would go nuts having someone hold points for any length of time.

What I've come to learn that all techniques work. It comes down to intention and listening to what needs to be done.

My expertise is point work to the body and softening up the physical armor. Also, I have a great understanding of comfort, posture, ergonomics etc. I was fortunate early on to train for a 3 year period with R. Grant Ramey in the 1980's. His work is called Embodiment and he developed a system that places the body in a completely neutral posture in the supine position. This posture distributes the stress through the joint systems, bringing deep relaxation to the body. His work has been instrumental in building the foundation of the paradigm I use when I discuss and teach patients and therapists how to move through this life will ease, power and grace.

Starting off my bodywork career with reflexology led me to deeply understanding the feet and how it integrates with the rest of the body. I studied A&P of the foot and leg and gait analysis and began treating common problems that occur at the lower extremities. After graduating form Chiropractic college in 1990, I learned how to fit and prescribe custom orthotics from some of the top podiatrists in Los Angeles and was Certified in Chiropractic Foot Care (CCFC) in 1992. Unfortunately this program is not offered or taught anymore and subsequently there are few practitioners that offer quality conservative foot care. Most podiatrists rely on medical methods such as surgery and injections and although chiropractors in California are licensed to diagnose and treat the feet, the training at the colleges are not usually adequate.

I believe that body workers can and should be trained in conservative foot care to fill a much needed void of helping the public with many foot ailments.

Stay tuned for for in the next few days. As I fill you in on my background, I will begin this body work forum and the passing of the torch.