Continuing Professional Development
As you probably know, I am a little bit addicted to learning, so I tend to do more CPD training than is required by my professional bodies. In all aspects of my work, my areas of special interest are stress management, pain management and women's health. Over the last few months, I've been doing a lot more training and reading around women's health, largely from a hormonal perspective.
Since sending out my last newsletter, I’ve attended ‘Managing Pain in the Female Reproductive System’. This course brought together two areas of special interest for me - managing pain and the female reproductive system. The course concentrated on endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. Since attending the course, I have done several case studies and have been really impressed by the feedback I've received from my clients. The reflexology protocols concentrate on the endocrine system reflex points with the aim of helping to regulate the cycle and working on the nerve reflex points to support pain management.
One of the trainers on that course also delivers a course for reflexology and menopause so, of course, I signed up for that too. The course was brilliant and even though I have been through perimenopause and I'm now menopausal, I still learned so much. I wish I knew then what I know now. This reflexology protocol also concentrates on the endocrine system with the aim of helping to regulate the cycle until such time that the periods finish altogether.
It is also worth remembering that even in menopause, we continue to produce a small amount of oestrone [a weak oestrogen] in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and adipose tissue. However, if cortisol production is activated, the adrenals will use the base ingredients to produce the stress hormone in preference to oestrone, so lowering stress can have a profound effect on menopausal symptoms. Therefore, any type of relaxation and stress reduction that you can do will help with menopausal symptoms.
In December, I came across another course for supporting the maternity journey. Although I have attended a similar course in the past, I still felt there was more for me to learn. This extra course has given me new reflexology protocols to support women with pelvic pain during pregnancy, indigestion and heartburn, and an extra protocol for morning sickness.
in March of this year, I am attending a course that I am very excited about, ‘Reproductive Reflexology for Fertility and Sub Fertility’. The course is delivered by Barbara Scott, founder and chair of the ‘Association of Reproductive Reflexologists’. Barbara lectures globally on her integrative approach to supporting couples who are having difficulty conceiving. She also trains practitioners in providing this integrated approach to fertility, health care and well-being and has trained practitioners in Australia, Canada, USA, Greece,Argentina, Hungary, and Ireland. What she doesn't know about reflexology and fertility is probably not worth knowing.
I will be looking for a couple of case studies after attending this course, so if you or anyone you know would like more information about being a case study and what it involves, please do get in touch with me jan@dancingintherain.co.uk
