

Reflexologists’ Retreat – Improving Function and Managing Pain
April 19, 2020 - April 25, 2020
| ---Created by reflexologists for reflexologists, this Equilibrio reflexologists’ retreat brings reflexologists together in a beautiful and tranquil setting. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in your chosen healing art, recharge your batteries and inspire your mind.
April Reflexologists’ Retreat
SOLD OUT
We will focus on improving function and managing pain, diving into a holistic approach to this topic, with the work of our special guest Lynne Booth being supported by workshops on herbs and nutrition.
You will learn many powerful VRT techniques that are suitable for all ages and conditions. Learn simple moves to help ease pain and increase mobility including a sports warm-up protocol and techniques for working with children and older people, including dementia and palliative care.
These techniques can be immediately integrated into a reflexologist’s repertoire and may be applied in the seated, standing and reclining positions using both feet and hands.
Combine all this with delicious and nutritious food, daily yoga, two free complimentary therapies and plenty of time to relax and share treatments with other guests and you can see why a week at Equilibrio is the perfect combination for hardworking and caring professionals!
Price
The price includes 6 nights accommodation in a single en suite room, or a twin room with private sun terrace, three meals a day, (except for lazy day, more info below) daily yoga & meditation classes, four workshop sessions, treatment exchange sessions and full use of the centre facilities including the outdoor pool.
Two complimentary therapies are included in your Equilibrio retreat. You can view the therapies on offer at Punto de Luz here:
http://www.centropuntodeluz.com/therapies.php
This price does not include flights or transfers.
Detailed Timetable
Each day starts by nurturing your physical and mental well being. These sessions are suitable for everyone from beginners to advanced and individual requirements can be accommodated for.
Like the rest of the programme this session is optional, so if your needs are better served by staying in bed that’s fine too.
The focus in the kitchen is on tasty and health-giving meals. Each day will be an opportunity to experience and gain information about eating well.
Workshops given by Lynne Booth and Equilibrios nutritionalist and herbalist.
The team section on this page gives you more details about the workshops.
Making full and fantastic use of the abundant local and homegrown vegetables, local olive oil, cheeses and other local produce.
Two treatments from experienced Equilibrio bodywork practitioners are included in your retreat experience.
Equilibrio team practitioners will be on hand throughout the week to share their knowledge with you in a relaxed and informal way.
There will also be time and space in this session to team up with one of the other participants for a treatment swap and more in depth sharing should you chose to do so.
Whether you are a newly qualified or an experienced practitioner, learning from and sharing knowledge with peers can be interesting and rewarding. Experiencing each others techniques and discussing methods of treatment also allows us the opportunity to look at things in a different way. It can be a great opportunity to build confidence in our own skills and empower us as therapists, especially if we are working in practice on our own or returning to bodywork after a break.
Sunday morning will be free for you to explore the wider area, go hiking or horse-riding, visit the local town or the mountain villages. Your host Anna will be available to organise any trips you would like to take and picnics if required.
Alternatively you can spend the time further enjoying the retreat facilities. There are many interesting books in the library which you can borrow during your stay.
Another culinary delight, also including a sumptuous and surprisingly healthy desert.
Evenings are free time for moonlight swimming, star gazing or just hanging out.
The Team for the Retreat
Lynne Booth
BA(Hons), BRCP, IIR, ART(regd)Hons, FAoR. Member of the Association of Reflexologists, International Institute of Reflexology, British Register of Complementary Practitioners, Member of the Complementary Therapist’s Association and awarded two Honorary Fellowships from Advanced Reflexology Techniques (ART) 1998 and the Association of Reflexologists (AoR) 2008.
Lynne is the author of the book Vertical Reflexology for hands. Lynne discovered Vertical Reflexology Technique (VRT) while working on mobility problems associated with older people. She has subsequently developed and extended this technique to cover all age groups and most conditions. Lynne has run a reflexology clinic at the St Monica Trust Bristol, a 400-person residential complex for older people, for 18 years. For the past 10 years she also worked with a professional Championship football team.
Read more about Lynne here: http://boothvrt.com/vrt-tutor-lynne-booth/
Lynne will be offering 2 workshops in her speciality field of mobility Reflexology.
Lynne has also developed VRT Nail-working treatments and mapped out reflexes on a grid system on the nails. These methods form part of the VRT Hand and Nail-Working work shop.
Anna Bartholomew, MAR

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, Ayurvedic Reflexology 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.
Jane Bartholomew, MAR, ART (registered)
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.
Sophie Paulding, BSc. (Hons)

Sophie Paulding is a Medical Herbalist. Holding a BSc in Clinical Herbal Medicine (2006) she has been studying and using herbs for over 15 years. She currently speaks at various retreats and runs a successful clinical 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!
In order to increase or improve function it is very interesting to look at the different tissue states in the body and investigate how herbal medicines can interact to modify the terrain in these tissue states.
We will look at types of pain and discuss relevant herbal remedies for pain management. These remedies fall into various categories which will be applicable to different types of pain origin. For example, the complexity of chronic pain requires a multidimensional approach, acute pain is a different story.
As usual, there will practical elements and time for questions!
Betty Favot,
Nutritional Therapist

Betty is a nutritional therapist and a member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).
At Centro Punto de Luz she works both on a one to one basis and as a group coach to guide participants towards a simple but powerful lifestyle shift.
She has 10 years experience practising as a nutritional therapist, designing balanced vegan and vegetarian menus for the retreat. She also runs nutritional workshops and courses at various locations on a variety of topics.
She is specialized in helping clients to move towards a whole food plant based diet,targeted to minimize toxicity and increase plant nutrients for vibrant health.
She believes in the innate ability of the human body to heal itself if offered the appropriate tools such as whole plant foods, naturopathic treatments and remedies.
At Centro Punto de Luz she works both on a one to one basis and as a group coach to guide participants towards a simple but powerful lifestyle shift.
Manage pain through an anti-inflammatory plant based diet.
This workshop is designed to provide the tools with which to understand the implication of the inflammatory process in the human body and its involvement in pain.
Betty will discuss how the average modern Western diet leads to an inflammatory response, both chronic and acute, and the consequent development of pain.
Throughout the workshop she will present a lifestyle plan designed to decrease inflammation based on whole plant foods, essential oils and nutritional supplements where necessary.
All the advice given is supported by practical tips on how to shift into the new lifestyle based on the participant’s needs.
David Rolland, Yoga Teacher

David is a yoga practitioner, instructor and therapist, and an Ayurveda practitioner, trained in India and Turkey (RYT 500 in Hatha/Power Yoga & Yoga Therapy). Through years of practice and study of many different styles of Yoga, he has developed a unique practice, with a simple and effective method of teaching, with an emphasis on adequate body alignment, breathing & mindfulness. Spiritually inspired by the wisdom and compassion of the Buddhist tradition, each practice becomes a holistic journey that cultivates awareness & acceptance, authentic and universal values that give us the opportunity to discover who we really are, and to find our true place.
Because David’s style is enhanced by his experience as an Ayurveda Practitioner and Yoga therapist, all classes, from a restorative/relaxing approach to the more powerful and challenging practice, are designed according to the students’ levels and needs (especially during Yoga Therapy individual sessions).