As South Africa moves down to alert level 3 of the national lockdown on 1 June 2020 many people will return back to work and schools are even opening allowing some teenagers back into some normality. In today’s post, we’ll consider how to get back to a sense of normal by making use of Therapeutic Reflexology.
After two months of lockdown where many people were not able to leave their homes and tried to comply with all the new legislation and restrictions, many people are craving some normality in their lives again. The normal today in the country is not the normal that we knew prior to the lockdown two months ago because it is now obligatory to wear face masks in public. With the wearing of face masks come many new challenges; you cannot see people’s faces, you cannot see them smile, some struggle to breathe and others feel claustrophobic, but this is what the new normal looks like for the foreseeable future.
We are all aware of the fact that many of the lockdown regulations do not make sense and there are many ignoring the wearing of face masks, but regardless of whether there are people not complying with regulations and irrespective of our understanding or confusion with certain regulations, the fact of the matter is that there are new regulations in place and we should adjust to what the new normal is and will be at present.
It is not easy to adjust to a new normal and many may even reject the idea of a new normal and would like to convert back to what normal used to be. Putting personal feeling aside and ignoring all the conspiracy theories with regards to COVID-19 and the lockdown, let’s look at the reality: The reality is that as of today, more people are moving around freely in the country, but it comes with certain limitations and the wearing of a face mask in public. This is currently happening and adjustment may be necessary if we like it or not; if we agree with it or not.
If you received Therapeutic Reflexology prior to the lockdown, you may want to consider making your next appointment as the alert level has been lowered. If Therapeutic Reflexology was part of your normal before the lockdown, the making of your next appointment and getting your first treatment again may be part of your “acclimatising” to the level 3 world by getting a little bit of your usual normal back.
You may be afraid to make your next Therapeutic Reflexology appointment due to all the hype in social media, but you have to realise that Therapeutic Reflexology is an essential healthcare service and as such, was able to function throughout the various levels of the lockdown; during level 5, emergency appointments were offered and during level 4, treatments on appointment were offered. As we enter level 3, Therapeutic Reflexology continues to be available. To operate as an essential healthcare provider, we are not only fully complying with the AHPCSA state of disaster guidelines for good practice hygiene in relation to SARS-COV-2, but we are legally regulated and obligated to do so. As all these measures are in place, you can be sure that the highest level of hygiene is practiced at Therapeutic Reflexology practices. Be careful who you consult with during this time. In order to be called a Therapeutic Reflexologist, the therapist has to be registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA); no other organisation offers the legal right to practice as Therapeutic Reflexologist in South Africa. Especially in these times, you want to consult with a fully registered and regulated Therapeutic Reflexologist, not with somebody calling themselves a reflexologist, but without the formal registration.
You can only become a Therapeutic Reflexologist in South Africa by registering as such with the AHCPSA and that only occurs once you have completed a 2-year qualification from one of only two recognised institutions presently offering such training; no shorter course training is acceptable for registration. Along with the qualification, the therapist also should have completed 200-hours of community service under supervision; only after all this is in place, then registration with AHPCSA is possible. AHPCSA registration is what classifies a Therapeutic Reflexologist as an essential healthcare service provider, not merely when somebody decides to call themselves a reflexologist after doing a short course. Only after AHPCSA registration can the therapist apply to obtain a professional practice number that makes medical aid reimbursements possible. Ensure you get treatment from recognised healthcare providers, especially during this time with a virus lingering among us.
If you have not received Therapeutic Reflexology treatments before, you should consider it to make it part of your new normal. Therapeutic Reflexology is an amazing healthcare modality that offers you the ultimate form of relaxation that is non-invasive as the therapist will work on nerve endings on your feet that will induce deep relaxation; something we all need after being locked in homes for the past two months.
Consider making Therapeutic Reflexology part of your new normal, but ensure you receive treatment from recognised therapists. Keep in mind that as the lockdown level was lowered to 3, there are many people that will come in contact with each other and it is inevitable that the COVID-19 figures will drastically rise in the weeks ahead; if you are concerned about these numbers, it may cause you severe stress. Therapeutic Reflexology is a good healthcare modality that may assist you in keeping your stress levels under control in the midst of rising Coronavirus figures.
You may have tried to massage your feet yourself during the lockdown period, which is good, but maybe it is time to have your feet professionally treated by a Therapeutic Reflexologist as you make Therapeutic Reflexology part of your new normal.
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Christo A. Scheepers: Therapeutic Reflexologist
Dip.T.R.(Cum Laude) [IARAMT]
AHPCSA: A11945
Pr. No.: 1080000737453
Tel. 072-800 7243