Maria has been a SNHS student since February 2004 and has gained diplomas in Reflexology, Advanced Reflexology, Nutrition, Stress Management, Crystal Healing and Kinesiology. She has also been awarded the prestigious Higher International Diploma in Reflexology.
I have been practising reflexology for a while now and took the SNHS Reflexology course in order to gain a professional qualification. All my clients see the diplomas on my wall and ask me about the other therapies that I can do. I tell them that I use holistic therapies, which means I am treating the 'whole' person, not just the 'illness'. For this reason they are advised to take advantage of my other therapies as they all work in harmony with one another. From this I have managed to get new clients.
At present I work as a Mobile Therapist doing home visits for my clients. There is a local enterprise establishment near where I live, that rents out rooms. They have offered me their meeting room which they will rent out on a daily basis. Currently I am negotiating a good rate for this room, so many of my clients will have the option of coming to me there for their treatments.
Reflexology is my main therapy however I also do a lot of stress management. Usually I combine the therapies together. When doing reflexology I talk to the client about their nutrition, what would be the best nutritional advice for their condition, and depending on their complaint, I usually end a reflexology treatment with a few relaxation techniques and teach them how to relax with deep breathing.
At the moment, as I am still taking more courses, I like to work part time. This allows me to devote time to my lessons. All my present clients have been recommended to me by word of mouth. At the moment this is fine but in the next few years, when I have finished all my courses and become more established, I do hope to have premises so that I can have certain treatments in specific rooms. I will probably keep a room for reflexology, another with a table for other therapies etc. I do intend to keep the practise small but offer all types of therapies. When I start to practise full time I will need to advertise.
At the time of writing I am still studying more courses with SNHS and hope to gain my Advanced Nutrition diploma as well as Professional Relaxation Therapy, Acupressure, Child Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counselling and also the SNHS specialist course in Disease Education & Prevention in Diabetes.
I am enjoying these distance learning courses. There are no time restraints, no having to get the exam in by a certain time. I can study when I want so I find myself wanting to put more time into my studying. I would recommend this way of studying to anyone who wishes to peruse a career in complementary therapies.
Before I joined your wonderful courses, I did a few years at university studying Nutrition. I stopped due to illness and then, doing your courses gave me the confidence to carry on with my university studies. I passed and I am now Dr. Maria Page. I gained a distinction in the Physiology of Lactation.
I am also doing volunteer work at my daughter's school, helping the teachers with health and nutrition studies. I must say I do enjoy it, talking to the kids, explaining about nutrition and their bodies, its good fun. I love marking their work, seeing what they have learned from me. I must admit that I love teaching others, gives me a buzz.
Maria Page has written an article for our Reading Room.
It is called
"Reflexology & Nutrition - Some Interesting Cases"
CLICK HERE to email Maria Page