Ayurvedic Reflexology Retreat September 2018

Sharon Stathis is a Registered Nurse, holistic health educator and author, based in Brisbane, Australia. She is co-director of Feel-good Health Services with her psychologist husband Richard Rigby.
Sharon received her initial, reflexology qualification from Dwight Byers in 1989. In the following years her knowledge broadened as she trained with many of the world’s leading reflexology authorities.

She has gained professional qualifications in a variety of natural therapies including Reiki, Aromatherapy and Remedial Massage, which she successfully combines with her nursing knowledge and has been practicing over the past 20 years.

In 1993 Sharon founded and directed the Reflexology Academy of Brisbane. It was the first Reflexology college in Australia to receive government accreditation. She developed the concept of Ayurvedic Reflexology in 2003, and has won international acclaim for her presentation of this work, at seminars and conferences in 17 countries.

Sharon is a Charter member of the International Council of Reflexologists, and is a recipient of the ICR, Ollie Bailey Service award for her contribution to Reflexology. She is a Life member of the Reflexology Association of Australia, and is currently a member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society.

Sharon is committed to share her knowledge at the highest professional standard with her fellow professionals. She is currently writing three books – Ayurvedic Reflexology for the Feet, Ayurvedic Reflexology for the Hands and To Cancer with Love.

For further information please visit www.ayurvedicreflexology.com or contact Sharon sharon@ayurvedicreflexology.com

Host and facilitator Anna Bartholomew (MAR) is a reflexologist and an experienced retreat and events host. Trained in Thai Reflexology Massage in Krabi, South Thailand and later in Reflexology at the London School of Massage, she has also undertaken training in Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART) and Advanced Spinal Reflexology. She has continued her professional development by attending workshops in Women’s Health, Mobilisation Techniques and The Treatment of Pain.

She currently works from her therapy room in Orgiva and at various retreat centres in the area as well as at one off events. She is very experienced in providing reflexology to clients dealing with grief, anxiety, depression and stress.

Host and facilitator Jane Bartholomew MAR ART (reg’d) trained at the Oxford School of Reflexology. Since then she has continued her professional development by attending courses in: Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART); Vertical Reflex Therapy (VRT); Pain Management Techniques and the treatment of pain; Clinical Reflexology; Maternity and Fertility reflexology; Baby reflex and Palliative and Supportive Care.

She worked, for 8 years, at a Holistic Health Centre in Cheltenham where she gained a broad knowledge of complementary therapies and experience of co-treating with professionals of other disciplines. She now lives in Manchester where she works primarily with maternity and fertility clients and those suffering from pain, stress and anxiety. She also works for a cancer charity.

Charlotte is an Holistic Aromatherapy Massage Therapist with over 17 years of clinical experience. Her treatments are formed by her interpretation of her clients well-being, based on the Chinese 5 element system: She combines traditional massage & aromatherapy with various bodywork techniques including acupressure, pulsing, trigger point therapy & myofacial release and subtle energy work, to help bring body systems into healthy alignment.

Alongside her career as a therapist at retreats & private clinics, Charlotte has worked as an Aromatherapy Consultant, an Assistant Massage Teacher and a Retreat Manager. She is our Equilibrio Administrator.

Charlotte will be providing Holistic Massage at the retreat and will be available to share her knowledge of aromatherapy and massage throughout the week.

Workshop I – Introduction to Ayurveda and the constitutions

In this workshop we will dive into Ayurvedic philosophy, with it´s view on health and the causes of disease. We will focus on one of the main pillars of the Ayurvedic healing system: the doshas. You´ll get a basic understanding of the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha). We´ll look at the terms prakruti and vikruti and you will be able to explore your own constitution and possible imbalances. You will learn what “balance” means for each of the different doshas, and through example and stories how each dosha can be out of balance. You´ll learn simple and general ways to get each dosha back into balance.

Workshop II – Introduction to the energetic system: chakras, nadis and marmas

In this workshop we will pass by the 7 chakras (energy centres) in the body, and learn how they function when they are in balance and what happens when they are out of balanced or “blocked”. We learn which signs of disease are related to the chakras and how we can improve the functioning of each of them. We will look at which organs relate to which chakras, and also how the healthy functioning of the chakras influences our emotional wellbeing.
We will look at the three most important nadis (energy pathways), and will explore some of the marmas (pressure points) related to each of the chakras.

Sophie Paulding is a Medical Herbalist. She has been studying and using herbs for 15 years. She holds a BSc in Clinical Herbal Medicine and runs a successful practice in our local town, Orgiva.

She is enthusiastic about effective herbal treatment and loves to share her views on how herbs can be used in varying ways depending on dosage needs and the therapeutic relationship.

Her workshops are always interactive and entertaining with an intelligent blend of down to earth information and more complex physiological scientific concepts which really add to and deepen our understanding. So whether it is the first time you have attended a herbal medicine workshop or you already have a lot of knowledge in this field there is sure to be something for you!