Despite some people’s skepticism toward alternative medicine, reflexology is a practice with widely known curative effects.
Simply put, reflexology involves using pressure on specific body areas (usually the hands, feet, and ears) to improve one’s health.
Reflexology is a fascinating and complex practice that you may study online and offline. Please read on to discover the top ten reflexology courses currently available online.
1. Thai Foot Reflexology Massage Certificate Course by Mark Perren-Jones
Perren-Jones is an experienced instructor and masseur specializing in aromatherapy, reflexology, and acupuncture.
His course focuses on a specific type of massage—the Thai foot reflexology massage. Upon completing this course, learners will know:
- How to find the reflex points on the feet and legs
- How to treat joint and muscle pain using Thai reflexology techniques
- How to stimulate key acupressure points
- How to set up your reflexology practice or implement Thai reflexology into your existing practice
- How to relieve stress using reflexology
This course is ideal for people who already know reflexology and want to learn professional Thai foot reflexology massage.
Its highly targeted nature makes it more suitable for practitioners than beginners. If you are already familiar with reflexology treatment and want to master a new technique, this course may be for you.
2. Fully Accredited Reflexology Diploma – Heal via Your Feet! By Dr. Karen E. Wells
Dr. Wells is an accomplished Complementary Therapist who has developed more than 130 courses throughout her career.
She has spent the past four decades helping people improve their lives while training thousands of complementary therapists.
Her “Heal via Your Feet!” course is Complementary Therapists Accredited Association (CTAA) approved and covers the following topics:
- Foot disorders
- Reflexology points
- When to use reflexology and when not to use it
- Foot anatomy
- How reflexology relates to the nervous system
- Reflexology techniques
Upon completing their course, the college will give the students a diploma that they can use to set up their practice.
Dr. Wells’ course is perfect for those who would like to work as reflexologists but do not possess the technical knowledge to get started with this therapeutic massage.
Even if you know next to nothing about reflexology, Dr. Wells will teach you everything you need to know about this fascinating practice, covering basic as well as more advanced concepts.
3. Advanced Reflexology Certificate Course (3 CEU) by Mark Perren-Jones
Unlike the first course on this list, this course aims to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of reflexology.
Perren-Jones created this program for reflexologists looking to improve their skills to take their practices to the next level with advanced reflexology techniques.
The Advanced Reflexology Certificate Course covers both Thai and traditional reflexology techniques. Upon completing this course, learners will know:
- How to extract relevant information from their clients for optimal results
- How to address common health issues – e.g., insomnia, stress, back pain, digestive problems, etc.
- How to cooperate with their clients by teaching them how to stimulate key acupressure points at home
- How to identify the most powerful acupressure points and reflex zones for better health outcomes
Perren-Jones’ continuing education classes are perfect for professional reflexologists looking to enhance their skills so their clients can fully benefit from their expertise.
What sets this course apart from the others on this list is that it focuses on specific health concerns, explaining how to address each one of them in such a way as to produce positive change.
4. Reflexology Courses by the Centre of Excellence
The Centre of Excellence is a reputable learning platform that offers a variety of courses, including several alternative medicine ones.
Its reflexology courses are all certified and accredited and have attracted thousands of traditional chinese medicine students worldwide. At the Centre of Excellence, you can learn about:
- General reflexology
- Foot reflexology
- Color reflexology
- Hand reflexology
- Hot stone reflexology
- Relieve stress
- Other types of reflexology
Whether a beginner or a professional, you will find a course that matches your needs.
The courses offered by the Centre of Excellence are ideal for practitioners and beginners/amateurs. However, the former is more likely to benefit from the advanced techniques due to their precise nature.
5. Reflexology – 14 CE Hours by the Centre for Massage Therapy CE
The Center for Massage Therapy Continuing Education is a reputable online institution approved and certified by multiple boards across the United States.
Its Reflexology – 14 CE Hours course aims to introduce learners to the art and science of reflexology.
Upon signing up for the course, students receive all the study materials they know; students are required to take an exam, either online or offline—to receive their certificate The course covers:
- The history and evolution of modern reflexology
- Anatomy
- Reflexology points
- Reflex points – with particular emphasis on the feet
- How to use reflexology to address common ailments
- Reflexology techniques
This reflexology course is ideal for people who know little to nothing about reflexology but would like to learn more about this practice.
If you aim to be a professional reflexologist—this course will give you a good idea of what reflexology sessions entails.
6. Reflexology Course by Real Bodywork
Real Bodywork is a company that specializes in creating courses and educational tools (including applications) that focus primarily on anatomy and alternative medicine.
Its reflexology course consists of eight lessons covering the following topics:
- The history of reflexology
- Foot reflexology
- How to identify and work with the organ reflexes located on the feet
- How to identify and work with the gland reflexes found on the feet
- Foot massage techniques
- Hand reflexology
- How to identify and work with the organ reflexes located on the hands
- How to identify and work with the gland reflexes located on the hands
Real Bodywork’s reflexology course is inexpensive yet surprisingly comprehensive.
Thus, it is ideal for those who seek to learn more about reflexology treatment but are not ready to commit to a more expensive certified course.
7. Core Reflexology Classes by the Baltimore School of Reflexology
The Baltimore School of Reflexology is a certified institution that specializes in teaching reflexology. Both online and offline courses are designed and led by Kasey Buhl CREd, an experienced reflexology instructor.
The Baltimore School of Reflexology offers a Professional Reflexology course that will teach you everything you need to know about this practice.
The course covers everything, from foundational concepts to pathophysiology. Upon completing this course, you will be ready to set up your reflexology practice.
The Baltimore School of Reflexology courses consists primarily of prerecorded lectures explicitly designed for people who are determined to work in the field of reflexology.
Earning your certificate will take considerable time, but by the end of your journey, you will be ready to start practicing reflexology.
8. Foot Reflexology 60min Routine by Sam Belyea
Sam Belyea is a reflexologist, masseur, and astrologist who has created many educational videos to share his knowledge and experience with the world.
In his “Foot Reflexology 60 min Routine” video, Belyea shows people how to perform a reflexology massage, covering the most important aspects of foot reflexology in a complete reflexology session.
By the end of the video, you will have learned:
- Different massage techniques used in reflexology sessions
- The role of temperature, color, and moisture in reflexology
- How to stimulate pressure points
- How to identify and address common health concerns
- How to find blockages and remove them
Belyea’s video may be considered a crash course in applied reflexology. The video shows people different foot massage techniques, giving them practical tips they can use when massaging themselves or others.
Belyea’s video is available on YouTube for free, making it an excellent resource for those who want to learn how to give a reflexology massage but are not ready or willing to commit to an actual course.
On the flip side, however, it cannot be considered a proper reflexology course.
9. Facial Reflexology Massage Certificate Course by Michael E. Everson
Michael Everson specializes in osteopathy, reflexology, massage therapy, and yoga. His facial reflexology course lasts nearly two hours and consists of seven sections covering the following topics:
- Basics of facial reflexology
- Reflex zones and charts
- How to treat clients
- How to address common health complaints
- Facial reflexology—self-practice
At the end of the course, learners will have to take a final exam consisting of ten questions. Upon completing the study, the college will award learners a certificate that they can use to set up their reflexology practice.
Unlike the other courses on this list, Everson’s course focuses specifically on facial reflexology, which involves stimulating specific facial areas to achieve health benefits.
The training is ideal for reflexologists or massage therapist who want to expand their skills—or those interested in facial reflexology.
10. Thai Hand Reflexology Massage Certificate Course by Mark Perren-Jones
Here is another course created by Perren-Jones. Unlike the first course on this list, this one focuses on Thai hand reflexology, showing students how to use various massage techniques on themselves and others.
Upon registering for Perren-Jones’ course, students can access over 4 hours of video content and ten downloadable resources. Upon completing the course, learners receive a certificate of completion.
The course covers the following:
- Basics of Thai hand reflexology
- How to identify and stimulate the reflex points on the hands
- How to give a Thai hand reflexology massage
- How to locate and stimulate the acupuncture meridians on the hands
The beauty of Thai Hand reflexology is that you don’t require costly massage beds and instruments to perform reflexology sessions for your loved ones or clients.
You can conduct a massage just sitting at a kitchen table! This feature makes it a flexible and cost-efficient alternative to other types of reflexology.
Perren-Jones’ course is ideal for reflexologists looking to expand their skill-set and for people who want to learn a massage technique to perform on themselves and their loved ones.
The course is CCTA-approved, (american reflexology certification board) and those who complete the course will become certified members of the Complementary Therapists Accredited Association.
Furthermore, you can access their website to promote yourself and create articles that reach a wide readership.
Recommended Textbooks
1. Reflexology: The Essential Guide for Applying Reflexology To Relieve Tension, Eliminate Anxiety, Lose Weight, and Reduce Pain by Paula Thayer
As the title suggests, this book is an introduction to the world of reflexology, which makes it ideal for people looking to learn the basics of this practice.
The book focuses primarily on foot and hand reflexology—two of the three most common types of reflexology. It also explains how to stimulate specific reflex points to treat various ailments.
If you do not know anything about reflex points, you have nothing to worry about: the book includes several diagrams that will help you understand where each reflex point is and how to stimulate it.
The best part about Thayer’s book is that it has a whole chapter dedicated to do-it-yourself techniques that readers can try straight away to practice what they have learned.
Furthermore, the book explains how you can use reflexology to address particular health issues (both mental and physical), such as obesity, infertility, back pain, anxiety disorders, and addiction.
2. Reflexology (Quick Study Academic) by Inc. BarCharts
Reflexology by Inc. BarCharts is a handy tool for practicing reflexologists and people studying this fascinating yet complex alternative medical practice.
For reflexology to work, those who practice it must possess a vast knowledge of human anatomy. They should also have a thorough understanding of how each reflex point affects the body—for example: which reflex points affect the following parts of the human body:
- Heart
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Stomach
- Nervous system
- The endocrine system and more
The charts developed by BarCharts are accurate and easy to understand. Each chart shows precisely where to locate each reflex point on the body and to which organ or body system it corresponds.
The beauty of BarCharts’ charts lies in their strictly factual nature—no fluff, only expert-approved content designed specifically for professional reflexologists and students.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Whether you are a practicing reflexologist looking to expand your skill-set or interested in reflexology massage—you will find at least one of the courses listed in this post is perfect for you.
By learning how to stimulate key reflex areas in the body, you will be able to treat yourself, your loved ones, and your clients— if you plan on doing this professionally.
A career in reflexology can be enriching and is certainly worth considering if you are someone who loves helping others.
Feel free to post your comments and suggestions below—we are always happy to hear from you!
Sources
- Reflexologist Salary and Career Resources – Naturalhealers
- Become a Reflexologist or a Master Toe Reader – Southwest institute of healing arts
- What is Reflexology? – Mayo Clinic
- Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training – National Library of Medicine
- Reflexology Association of America (national certification board)
NORMAN, Laura et COWAN, Thomas Dale. The reflexology handbook. London : Piatkus, 1989.
WANG, Mei‐Yeh, TSAI, Pei‐Shan, LEE, Pi‐Hsia, et al. The efficacy of reflexology: systematic review. Journal of advanced nursing, 2008, vol. 62, no 5, p. 512-520.
BOTTING, Deborah. Review of literature on the effectiveness of reflexology. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 1997, vol. 3, no 5, p. 123-130.
ERNST, Edzard. Is reflexology an effective intervention? A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Medical Journal of Australia, 2009, vol. 191, no 5, p. 263-266.
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