ERIC M. JUKELEVICS

Reflexologist Virginia Farwell relaxes communication senior LeAnna Buchmeter yesterday outside the McKale Center. This week was World Reflexology Week.

Friday September 28, 2001

Two Tucsonans provide free sole relief to community

Julie Sherman graduated from the UA College of Nursing and decided to pursue a career in feet - that is, in reflexology. Local Tucson resident Virginia Farwell discovered the art of reflexology while working for the National Forest service.

Both women provided free reflexology - healing art utilizing massage of pressure points in the hands and feet to promote overall health and relieve specific ailments - to the university and Tucson community during World Reflexology Week, Sept. 23-29.

The healing art was first practiced in the 1920s by American doctors William Fitzgerald and Joe Shelby Riley.

The art has grown since. Since Fitzgerald and Riley's time, more than 40 books on reflexology have been published, and television appearances by reflexologists have increased 500 percent since 1988, according to the Association of Reflexologists.

Reflexology is a complicated healing modality that is just becoming recognized for its health benefits.

People may claim they practice reflexology, but it is important for patients to check for certification.

"It is important to have a certified reflexologist work on you," Farwell said. "We have certain standards and ethics that others who practice might not adhere to."

"Reflexology isn't something that your mom and dad teach you," Sherman added.

Certification involves much more than just learning how to massage pressure points of the feet. In order to become certified, reflexologists are also required to be knowledgeable in human anatomy and physiology.

"A year ago I completed my national certification," Farwell said. "To be certified, you need at least 200 completed class hours, a national test and 90 documentations. Each time you work on a client, you need to write up a (documentation) report. You definitely need to know anatomy and physiology to have taken the test."

Arizona Reflexology Association (AzRA) and other alternative healing arts have gained popularity in recent years and AzRA is celebrating one year of existence.

"AzRA just celebrated our first anniversary. We are becoming an organization and trying to raise awareness - we've been doing free walk-in clinics," Sherman said. "We are putting the word out, and when there is a show of interest, we come back - such as (in the case of) the College of Nursing."

Sherman and Farwell adhere to a simple belief that once people experience reflexology, they will understand and value what it has to offer.

"It's really simple - we just assume that everyone knows nothing about reflexology then allow them to experience just 20 minutes with us," Sherman said. "The point is not to charge but to allow them to just feel the benefits."

After becoming involved with nursing, Sherman feels a special desire to offer reflexology to those in public-service positions.

"We each have our forte. Some of my cohorts like working with the elderly, the young · I like working with people in support services - cops, firepeople. I know where they are coming from," Sherman explained. "I also love working on athletes - athletics is a big stress on your body too. I would love to work with UA athletics."

Farwell was introduced to reflexology after a co-worker showed her a reflexology foot chart.

"I used to work for the National Forest Service, and one of the crew had a reflexology foot chart and I was intrigued," Farwell said. "A couple of years later, after I was married, my husband liked for me to rub his feet, so I got a few books on the subject and decided I wanted to become a reflexologist."

Farwell has a sense of accomplishment after completing a reflexology session and is confident that the care she provides is beneficial.

"I think it really works, and people I work on really enjoy the benefits after I work on their feet," Farwell said.

Both Farwell and Sherman are members of the Arizona Reflexology Association, which is collaborating with the International Council of Reflexologists to make World Reflexology Week possible.

"In a few days, we have our international conference in Rome, which is sponsored by the International Council of Reflexologists, which also sponsors World Reflexology Week," Sherman said. "Arizona Reflexology Association is supporting them on a state and local level."

Sherman and Farwell are working to make the healing art of reflexology a part of Tucsonan's daily lives and providing a truly unique public service in the process.