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What our members say about us!
Haley Lorman
I joined ACART in November 2022, shortly after being certified in reflexology.
I was seeking community in the reflexology industry.
I believe I found exactly what I was looking for, with gaining support from fellow reflexologist across the country.
I believe I found exactly what I was looking for, with gaining support from fellow reflexologist across the country.
I have gained insight and ideas for my business!
Marilyn Roberts
I originally trained with the Reflexology association of Canada but at that time there hadn't been a local chapter in Nova Scotia.
I had been really excited to see a local chapter called NSARP which is now known as ACART.
I felt it was important to have a certificate from an association hanging on my wall, which gave me creditability for my studies.
I helped encourage the association to meet twice a year because I personally felt lost after the winter months and knew coming together in the spring would help build connections, share ideas and increase business knowledge.
James Jones
Engaging with this coaching service has been one of the best decisions of my life. It's not just about the goals I've met—it's the self-discovery and personal growth that came with it.
FAQ
What can I expect from joining an association?
Being part of an association holds you, the reflexologist to a higher standard.
You receive support from our board of directors and members in regards to your business and the modality.
What programs are approved to become a registered reflexologist?
Take a look at our list of approved programs here https://acart.org/page/approved-programs
If you do not see your school listed, please email our admin team at admin@admin.org
If you do not see your school listed, please email our admin team at admin@admin.org
What are continuing education units and why do I require to do them?
Continued education is a requirement with our membership.
Continued education helps our members to develop their knowledge and skills.
You can read all about continued education here https://acart.org/page/continued-education
Do you have in person events and meetings?
Yes! We love building our ACART community and host two events yearly.
Our annual general meeting and general meeting.
This is an opportunity for members to get together, learn about what our board has been doing and take part in optional trainings.
You can find our upcoming events here https://acart.org/page/upcoming-events
How do I contact someone?
For general inquires, you can contact our President, Haley at acart@acart.org
For membership questions, you can contact our Admin, Patricia at admin@acart.org
For CEU and treasurer related questions, you can contact our treasurer at treasurer@acart.org
Recent Blog Posts
Latest insights from the world of coaching
As reflexologists practicing in 2026, we are not just offering a relaxing service. We are holding professional space within an evolving healthcare landscape. Clients are more informed. Regulatory conversations are ongoing. Continuing education is expanding. Expectations around ethics and communication are higher than ever.
So what truly defines competent reflexology practice today?
It is more than technique. It is how we think, how we communicate, how we grow, and how we represent our profession.
Let’s explore the pillars.
1. Ethics: The Foundation of Trust
Competence begins with ethical practice.
Ethics in reflexology includes:
- Clear informed consent
- Honest representation of services
- Appropriate boundaries
- Respect for client autonomy
- Accurate marketing without exaggerated claims
In 2026, ethical reflexology means being very clear about what we do — and what we do not do. We do not diagnose. We do not prescribe. We do not claim to cure. We support the body’s natural processes and help regulate the nervous system through reflex techniques.
Competence means staying within scope, even when clients ask us to step outside of it.
Professional integrity protects not only the client — it protects the entire reflexology community.
2. Scope of Practice: Staying Grounded
Scope of practice is not a limitation. It is a framework that strengthens credibility.
A competent reflexologist understands:
- The limits of their training
- When to refer out
- When something is outside reflexology’s role
- How to collaborate respectfully with other healthcare providers
In 2026, clients are often working with physicians, physiotherapists, counsellors, massage therapists, chiropractors, and naturopaths. Our role is complementary.
Being grounded in scope creates confidence — in ourselves and in the public perception of reflexology.
3. Continuing Education: Ongoing Growth
Competence is never static.
Continuing education in 2026 may include:
- Advanced reflexology techniques
- Anatomy and physiology refreshers
- Trauma-informed care
- Nervous system education
- Ethics and documentation training
- Business and communication skills
Continuing education demonstrates commitment. It keeps our skills refined and our knowledge current. It also strengthens ACART’s credibility as a professional association dedicated to high standards.
Competent practitioners seek growth — not because they are lacking, but because they are invested.
4. Client Communication: Clarity and Confidence
Competence shows up in how we speak.
Clients today want:
- Clear explanations of what reflexology is
- Transparent pricing
- Realistic expectations
- Follow-up communication when appropriate
- Safety and comfort
Competent communication includes:
- Proper intake forms
- Documented session notes
- Clear cancellation policies
- Appropriate language when describing benefits
We can confidently say reflexology supports relaxation, stress reduction, circulation, and nervous system regulation. We can explain reflex maps and how stimulation of reflex points corresponds with areas of the body — without overstating outcomes.
When we communicate clearly, we elevate the profession.
5. Professional Presence in a Digital World
In 2026, competence extends online.
Websites, social media, and booking platforms reflect professionalism. Accurate credentials, updated training, and transparent messaging matter.
How we present reflexology publicly influences how it is perceived collectively.
6. Self-Regulation and Practitioner Wellness
A competent practitioner understands that sustainability matters.
Burnout affects quality of care. Poor boundaries affect ethics. Fatigue affects presence.
Professional competence includes:
- Managing workload responsibly
- Maintaining physical hand health
- Investing in personal wellness
- Seeking mentorship or supervision when needed
We cannot hold regulated, calm space if we are dysregulated ourselves.
The Heart of Competence
Ultimately, competent reflexology practice in 2026 is a blend of:
- Skill
- Ethics
- Clear scope
- Continued learning
- Confident communication
- Professional integrity
As members of ACART, we carry not only our individual practices, but the reputation of reflexology across Canada.
Competence is not perfection.
It is commitment.
A commitment to do this work responsibly.
A commitment to grow.
A commitment to represent reflexology with clarity and professionalism.
A commitment to grow.
A commitment to represent reflexology with clarity and professionalism.
And that is what moves our profession forward.
Reflection for Members
As we move through 2026, where do you feel most confident in your practice?
And where do you feel called to grow?
And where do you feel called to grow?
We invite you to share your thoughts, challenges, or areas where you would value more support. Your feedback helps ACART identify gaps and guide future continuing education opportunities.
Have we forgotten about the body’s innate ability to heal itself? We cut a finger, an arm, a leg and the body releases chemicals that cause the blood to clot, to stop the bleed. Then it produces a protective layer that allows the body time to heal the cut and protects from infection. The scab disappears and the skin is healed, regenerated, renewed.
The body knows what to do, what chemicals to release, what types of cells it needs to heal the wound and on and on. The body is in a constant state of change, always looking to maintain homeostasis. Just think about that for a minute, always changing, always looking to maintain balance.
Everyday, your body converts the food you eat into fuel, giving the body and every cell in the body the energy it needs to do its job. Be it a red blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs, a muscle cell, like the cardiac muscle found in the heart, responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. These work together to ensure the body has enough oxygen to function, to breathe, to move. Yet, we seem to have forgotten how much the body is capable of……….
It gives us signals, all the time…………some are obvious like your stomach growls when you’re hungry, yawning when you’re tired, muscles aching after a hard workout. Pain, pain is different, it can be obvious, due to an injury or temporary illness, like a painful flu like headache. Pain that doesn’t go away or gets worse can be a sign of inflammation in the body. Whatever the signal is, the body is communicating to us that something is wrong and that you need to take steps to fix it. Do we listen?
Did you know that it’s possible for some people to achieve remission for type 2 diabetes? And that the most effective way to achieve this is through a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight management? Early intervention is key. What this means is, that your body can get your blood sugar levels back to within normal range without needing medication. Think about that, your body used to manage this before as part of maintaining homeostasis. The only reason medication is necessary is because our body stops doing what it has always done. Medication is a replacement for what your body used to do for you on its own!!!
Have we forgotten how powerful the body’s own healing ability is? Have we forgotten that we know our own bodies better than anyone? Do we readily turn to medication as a quick fix because we don’t have time to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us?
Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely a time and place for medication. I know this, living with someone who has a terminal illness! I’m not against medication, I just think we need to be reminded of how amazing the human body is, how powerful it is at healing itself, and that preventative medicine should be the focus of future healthcare! I welcome your thoughts on this………..please be kind!!
Written By Dawn Richardson
Website- https://dawnreflex.ca/
Fascia and Reflexology
The Wonderful World of Feet: Plantar Fascia and Reflexology.
The plantar fascia is a remarkable structure – it’s a thick band of connective tissue
running along the bottom of your foot, stretching from your heel to your toes. Think of it
as your foots built-in bowstring, supporting your arch and absorbing shock with every
step you take.
Anatomy of the Plantar Fascia
The plantar fascia is composed of three main parts:
1. Medial Band: The innermost portion, running along the inside of the foot. This
band provides support to the arch and stabilizes the foot during movement.
2. Central Band: The largest and strongest part, located in the middle of the foot. It
bears the most tension and plays a key role in maintaining the foots arch.
3. Lateral Band: The outermost section, providing support to the outer edge of the
foot and assisting in weight distribution.
The plantar fascia originates at the medial tubercle of the calcaneus (heel bone) and
fans out towards the toes, dividing into five slips that connect to the base of each toe.
This arrangement allows the plantar fascia to act as a spring, storing and releasing
energy during walking or running.
Functions of the Plantar Fascia
- Arch Support: The plantar fascia is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of the foots arch, preventing it from collapsing under body weight.
- Shock Absorption: It absorbs and redistributes forces generated during activities like walking, running, and jumping.
- Stabilization: The fascia works with other structures in the foot to ensure stability during dynamic movements.
- Energy Efficiency: Acting like a spring, the plantar fascia stores energy during the stance phase of walking and releases it during toe-off, improving the efficiency of movement.
Reflexology and the Foot Map
As every reflexologist knows, the foot is like a miniature map of the entire body, with
specific areas on the foot corresponding to different organs and systems. Take a look at
these anatomy diagrams of fascia, and compare the known reflex areas to the fascial
network…is it any wonder why the low back and neck reflexes like to help each other,
as referral reflexes?
Supporting the Plantar Fascia
For issues like plantar fasciitis or to support the plantar fascia, reflexology can be
particularly helpful because the condition is being addressed at both levels: via the
reflexology body map and via the local foot itself.
Focus on these key areas:
1. The Arch of the Foot: This area corresponds directly to the plantar fascia and
also represents the spine and mid/low back muscles in reflexology. Gently
applying a long, slow and gentle pressure glide along the arch, zone by zone,
aiming towards each individual toe, can help reduce tension and inflammation in
dual-fashion: local and reflex.
2. The Heel: Reflexologists associate the heel with the lower back/sacrum, pelvis,
and sciatic nerve. Applying reflexology massage to this area can offer relief not
only to the heel but also to the fascia connected to it, since the plantar fascia
anchors to the heel bone directly. Reflexology techniques applied here also
trigger relief patterns along the posterior fascial line of the body - a longitudinal
grouping of muscles that includes the hamstrings and low back muscles,
interconnected via a network of connective tissue.
3. The Toes: Fascial lines that start at the feet end at the head; in reflexology world,
that means we need to end at the head reflexes at the toes, to ensure the
opening of energy flow from feet to head - with particular reflex work to the big
toe, as the "main" head and neck reflex.
Quick Tips for Plantar Fasciitis Relief
- Promote an optimal healing response by additionally focusing on relaxation, circulation, pain relief and anti-inflammatory reflexes
- Stretch each toe, as this also promotes gentle stretching of the plantar fascia itself.
- A prolonged cupping-type hold of the heel at the heel line (also called static contact), can be beneficial in creating a warm, softening effect on the underlying fascial tissues. You can visualize 'melting' any restrictions and 'sealing and healing' any micro tears that might exist at the fascia attachment. This hold can last several minutes.
- Check yourself! Communicate throughout the session to be sure you can locate any tenderness which may be related to reflexes or to a local problem in the plantar fascia, but do so with caution...first and foremost, do no harm and work within your scope and training.
Want More Techniques? Seek Training!
Specific "Fascia Reflex Techniques" can take your work further. Specialized reflexology
methods applied to the feet affect not only the fascia in the feet, but fascia anywhere
throughout the body. Specialized training is key for learning appropriate pressure for a
site of injury versus a tender reflex, safe tissue stretching techniques directed at
reflexes to affected body parts, and opening techniques for energy and communication
flow along the major fascia chains that run throughout the body.
Author: Jennifer Johnson, Atlantic School of Reflexology
www.reflexologyASR.com
info@reflexologyASR.com
Membership Eligibility
Applicants for student membership must meet the following requirements.
- Be enrolled in an ACART approved training program
- Pay all membership dues and fees as required
- Student membership is valid for a maximum of one (1) year
Professional Liability Insurance is not required for student members, but is mandatory for all active Registered Reflexology Therapist members. Brokerlink and Preventative Health Services are two we recommend.
Membership dues and fees are outlined below. Method of payment is e-transfer to treasurer@acart.org
| Student Membership Fees | |
|---|---|
| Student Membership | $75 |
| Application Fee | $25.00 |
