Humble Beginnings

Hello

Well where should I begin?.......

I learnt from the best. I grew up with a mother who believed so much in her own self-care. Of course, it wasn’t known as self-care at that time. However, my mother knew and valued the benefits of being good to herself. And in return, all her family especially myself benefitted from it too as we learnt to understand the importance of looking after oneself.

Reflexology always intrigued me. I was amazed that a reflexologist could tell so much from assessing and working on one’s foot. However, I was totally amazed how good you felt with regular treatments. It was this feeling that lead me into the path of Reflexology.

My own medical history is complicated. I am a survivor of childhood cancer and a perforated bowel in 2016, both of which nearly took my life. I have been told I am very determined. These two major near death experiences helped to shape me as a person. Although, I have no memory of the first illness, it was one of the leading factors of making me the person who I am today. It taught me how to be determined. However, it was the near-death experience in 2016 that really put everything into perspective for me. It showed me that life is short. It taught me real gratitude, the importance of family and friends and the courage to seek and pursue the things that I really wanted

From 2012, I went through a few minor operations every 2 years and then in 2016 I had a major operation to repair my perforated bowel. The last thing I remember saying to myself in 2016 whilst being wheeled into the operating theatre for an emergency operation was “You are not getting me yet God”.

I knew at that time I had so much to live for. I was happily married with a 15 year old daughter and a 9 year old son. I needed to survive. And I did. I woke up with a stoma and spent the next 9 months or so in hospital trying to rebuild my body and to prepare it for the removal of the stoma. The doctors and nurses told me I had been living on approximately 60% health and when I fully recovered I wouldn’t know myself. It took me around 18 months to fully recover and the doctors and nurses were so right. I really didn’t know myself and all the strength and energy I had. I was now faced with keeping and maintaining this new found health and that when I looked towards complementary therapies, mainly Reflexology.

I met with a reflexologist and went for regular treatments; a course of 8 treatments, starting with 1 a fortnight and then reducing it to once a month. I really didn’t realise how good I was feeling until Covid hit and all treatments had to stop. It was then I realised I had to do something to ensure that Reflexology was an integral part of my life. Post lockdown I embarked upon a new career.

After Lockdown, I trained with Sheila Nugent for my Level 3 Diploma in Practical Reflexology before going onto to do Fertility and Maternity Reflexology as well as other courses associated with women’s health in Reflexology with Dorothy Kelly. I also trained in Facial Reflexology, Advanced Facial Reflexology and Zone Face Lift with Ziggie Bergman. I also completed my Level 1 and Level 2 Reiki. My learning is not done as I am interested in doing many more courses one of which is facial cupping coming in November 2023.

Marieannette x