REFLEXOLOGY AND VERTICAL REFLEX THERAPY (VRT) IN JAPAN - VRT DIPLOMA AT REFLE
Lynne Booth writes about the current position of reflexology in Japan with reference to the REFLE school of reflexology in Tokyo who run an accredited VRT Diploma course. For details of the REFLE school click here
Over the past decade reflexologists have become used to seeing their ancient therapy gain credence in the medical world, the workplace and among the general public internationally. It is common knowledge that reflexology has its roots in Egyptian and Chinese cultures dating back to 2500 B.C. In 500 B.C Chinese acupuncture migrated to Japan and gradually reflexology practice was added to the many holistic healing treatments that are ingrained in Japanese traditions.
VRT and Synergistic Reflexology at the REFLE school Tokyo
There are very high standards of reflexology practice in Japan, with some dedicated schools of reflexology and the luxury clinics throughout Japan that offer various types of reflexology to men, woman and children from all social classes, so it was with great enthusiasm that I set off to spend 12 very interesting and demanding days in Tokyo. I was invited to teach Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT) by the Japanese Reflexologist Education College known as REFLE which is owned by the large Hospitality Inc. company of Japan and the principal is Kazuko Sasai. As a practising reflexologist I was impressed to the see the current status and respect for reflexology in Japan in the 21st century. It is the only country I have visited where I have worked in a five storey purpose-built building devoted solely to the training of reflexologists.
Japan does not yet have a national federation of reflexologists but national schools set their own, usually very high, standards. Japan is now represented on the board of the International Council Of Reflexologists by Mari Ogino, a Japanese reflexologist and translator of the book Vertical Reflexology by Lynne Booth. Mari trained in the USA and has attended reflexology conferences around the world and her knowledge of reflexology is far-reaching. Her familiarity with western and eastern forms of therapy will greatly help her work with the ICR at international level. Most reputable Japanese schools seek to have accredited courses run by international schools of reflexology and the Japan Healing Relaxation Society (JHRS) as well as various courses ranging from 3 months to a year on subjects such as a diploma course Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT), Head massage and Medical Herbalist courses. As I have conducted my Vertical Reflexology research in a large home for the elderly I was interested to see that reflexology schools encourage their students to offer volunteer treatments at hospices and homes for the aged..
The school I taught for has three dedicated reflexology schools in Japan in Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo. Once the students are fully qualified reflexologists they either set up in private practice (several thousand have been taught by REFLE alone) and 210 reflexologists work in Hospitality Inc’s 36 reflexology clinics that are situated throughout Japan in high-class department stores or shopping centres units. It is common practice for business people especially to seek out a reflexology treatment for stress, relaxation or for a specific health issue prior to work, at lunch time or before they leave the city for home. I visited the exclusive ISETAN reflexology clinic which was situated in a large spacious area of the men’s wear department of this Tokyo flagship store. The luxury and quality of the cubicles and furnishing was exceptional. The modern low couches were leather and the décor was sage green, natural pine, smoked class and classic Japanese prints and elegant plants. The courteous and highly skilled therapists ensured that the numbers of clients was large through out the day. There were seven cubicles in the clinic I visited. Five reflexology treatments were available Mini for 25 minutes, Regular 30 minutes, Standard 40 minutes. Executive 60 minutes and Royal 80 minutes. The latter treatments were given in one of two separate large luxurious rooms. The prices were comparable with London fees. It would be a wonderful model of reflexology/complementary care to reproduce in the UK if a large company was prepared to put up the resources.
