a living from reflexology in Scotland?

I practice Aromatherapy, Reflexology, India Head Massage, Crystal Healing, Stress Management, EFT and Reiki and did so while living in the UK. I didn't make loads and loads of money but I did survive quite well on what I made from my business.

I had always wanted to live abroad - and Greece just captured me if you know what I mean. I looked into the possibilities of setting up and continuing to do the work I had being doing for years - and was met with 'Yes,yes its no problem'. I delved into the set up of business and learned I had to get a licence. Thats fine I thought I'll do that plus all the other things I had to comply with.

When I got there - different story. I was told I had to produce all my certificates/diplomas etc, take them to mainland Greece, have them translated, have them verified and then the front of them would be stamped by the authorities. I flipped at that. No way was I having my certificates/diplomas defaced. Then they told me I could go to the health department instead to be tested on my ability to perform my treatments. If they thought I was competent enough I could then register with either the Physiotherapy Association or the Beauty Therapy Association to be able to practise - and then only after paying out for a licence which very often takes up to 2 years to get!
After a while I spoke to a beauty therapist who didn't have to have anything verified or be tested. And another reiki/massage therapist who was registered with the beauty Therapists Assoc. straightaway ( she had a friend on the board I heard) although she waited 2 years for her licence to come through.
My question then was where do these associations stand with regards to EFT, Reiki, Crystal Healing & Stress Management ??? I was met with a shrug of the shoulders response!:(

I have many thoughts and opinions on the standards in various areas here in Greece - which I won't air here - but lets just say the climate is lovely, the scenery is breathtaking but beautiful as it is here, the standards here are appalling in areas where they should be high.

I've been here a few years now and its difficult because I'm not doing enough of what I love - I did far more in UK (Scotland actually) before I moved. Its frustrating, but the problem of moving back - house, possessions, animals, plus Greek man .... you can imagine!

I'm now having to find a compromise - and am still working on that - but I will not give up on my healing treatments. Torn in two really.

I think I just probably answered your question - yes, I think you can make a living out of it if you market yourself and your services and are willing to give yourself time for your client base to build up.

I do understand your dilemma!:)

Hi Fadette - I live and work in Fife - I can see Edinburgh from my bedroom window! I have friends who are complementary therapists working in Edinburgh, but they are all multi-therapy therapists (if that makes sense!). They offer reflexology as just one of their specialisms. Working in Fife, I do MLD, and 90% of my clients are lymphoedema sufferers. The other 10% see me for massage and reflexology. I wouldn't make a living solely from reflexology. Some of my colleagues in the area have other jobs in addition to their therapy work. My income covers my mortgage, car, petrol and utilities, and whatever is left over is invested in CPD. I don't go on holiday, drink or smoke. Not sure I've answered your question, but I think until you have qualified, you need to look at other supporting work options.

O thank you, you 2! so lovely. smells like Scotland already!

(ok,weird thing to say, I agree, it's a mix of "how typical: scottish kindness" and a flashback of the Edinburgh burnt potatoe smell always there when I arrive in Waverley: the brewery)

ahah, Holistica1, your careful description of the attitude towards therapies and "other areas" made me smile! this is so like this here; but mind you I have to acknowledge France excels at mainstream health services, walking in a hospital (not my usual hobby, dont worry) is sometimes like entering a nuclear plant: docs and nurses wear hair hats and pastic disposable shoes and it s so so clean and efficient; any xray appointment in just 2 days).
but the rest... O dear sometimes I think I should write a book.

I changed banks 3 times. One manager went on holiday when I was waiting painfully on his call to tell me wether I had the emergency mini loan. then he was unreachable as he was to ashamed to talk to me. then the other one actually never registered my request for cheque book and card (the basic stuff when you open an account) even though I had good regular income at that stage; I had waited for 3 weeks for the appointment, then woman said I had dreamt the request, that I never signed the papers...I was so infuriated that I said Id change bank. she anonymously called the benefit agency to tip them on me receiving money while I had income. Alas for her, the Benefit man who interviewed me was embarassed to ask all the strange questions I had been "invited" to come and answer because the money I received was completely legal and I was entitled to it.
Third bank. makes me wait 1 hour outside her office eventhough we had an appointment and avoids my gaze when I open the door while she s on the phone. I go and wait in a chair in a different corridor after 50 min wait. when I decide to go and have a look again, she comes shouting at me "where you ve been?! Ive been looking for you everywhere". she doesnt even apologize for the lateness. is abrupt and almost rude during the appointment.

Ive had this sort of experience, I can say, for almost every single administrative step I have taken: insurance paid but no insurance actually registered in the office, girl tells me to just "go away"...I chase her boss everyday during 3 weeks , he 's always "very busy". finally during the talk with him he says he cant tell her off as she would contact trade unions and staff manager etc. Tells me "we have plenty customers already" when I ask him if company image is just an extra for them....Jesus, I have lost my sense of humour with the dishonesty, the lying in your face and dont-care attitude of many people here. and it's my country.:eek:. Cant belive I came back for "the scenery, the climate, the health care. what was I thinking off?)

So back to Reflexology in Scotland. yes Jabba, Im thinking of doing other therapies but then dont want to learn too many, want to be knowledged in 2 or 3 at the most. Im aware Id have to get other job alongside for maybe 2 years at least...but I found it so much easier to find work in the UK, wheeras in France its complicated for every job you re considering: ultra specialized qualification (eg: to be a hotel receptionist you need 3 years "hotel management" studies after A level. give me a break).

Jabba, what's MLD??

Holistica1, I so relate to your "being torn". I too have pets, Ive started one year ago the lenghty process to have them being allowed in the UK. then there s all my stuff to move back (and we re not talking about 2 bags, more like a whole wall of books plus other stuff). thanks god I ve not fished myself a french man here, means I m often bored at home BUT Im free to emigrate. I know I will miss my mild climate and one or two things from France, but I think living a meaningful life is what matters, not "comfort"...

Jabba, (totally off topic but Im an expert at doing that on this forum. will probably be taken off this thread), is Fife nice? you see Edinburgh from your window? O must be so lovely! Do you have to drive to get to Edinburgh or are there trains..? O I so love talking about Scotland. only last nigth I was dancing in the crowd in front of Franz Ferdinand on stage, it was wild and amazing, and when someone waved a blue Scotland flag just in front of me, for the Glaswegian skinny musicians, I started crying. I thought either Im back to my teen love-to-get-nostalgic-and-depressed-because-its-cool or Im very advanced premenauposal. or I really have that love for Scotland deep inside me, like a virus you cant get rid off.

Just to cheer you up Fadette its absolutely freezing out here in Ayrshire and I think we got a at max two weeks summer. Hope that makes you feel a bit better lol
Linda x

ahah! yes I remember Scottish autumns and winters, but the worst was the summer. After enduring long windy and cold months, the bloody summer never came! O but if I move back to Scotland, I am definitely EMIGRATING July and August every year somewhere hot to recharge my batteries!

Fife is lovely. As for getting to Edinburgh - I did some home visits in Edinburgh this morning - left the house at 0700 to allow for traffic, and got to my destination in 45 minutes - too early, so had to find somewhere to have coffee! There is very limited public transport in my section of Fife (near Leslie - Northwest Fife) - buses are almost non-existent, and the nearest train station about 30 minutes drive. I am totally reliant on my little Plastic Pig (Peugeot 206).

thanks for all the info Jabba. I dont know if Fife resembles Perthshire but if it does it must beautiful then.
Im selling my car tomorrow so I dont want to live somewhere in the future where Id have to rely on a car to travel. I loved my car while I had it but now that I live in a big town, it s costing me a fortune just to keep it locked in a secure parking space- what's the point?
Love Edinburgh! Henderson, the vegetarian café! Starbuck (sorry, I know, it s an evil chain), upstairs, sipping tea while watching the weather change around the amazing castle. Mountain views from anywhere in the city! Bloody bagpipe music following you in Prince'street, also love it!
mind you, I also liked Glasgow, the parks, the museums, the strange language (!).

sorry for this massive disgressing. Anyone with therapy training and jobs willing to share experience very welcome!

I think living a meaningful life is what matters,

Oh I so agree with you on that! And trying to make people understand that (especially when they're not on your wavelength) is so difficult and draining!

I miss lots about Scotland - but then there's lots I don't miss. There's lots I love about here in Greece and I can 'see' a nice life here - if I live it the way I want to (its not impossible), and of course things I don't like here.

We've had a cat rescue thing going on over the last few years and its been difficult to rehome them.
Generally here (and I'm going to upset all you animal lovers -it upsets me too!) the cats are either poisoned mostly in the winter after the tourists have gone or put in a sack with a heavy brick and thrown into the sea, drowned in a bucket of water or buried alive. The woman who owns the house we rent quite merrily admitted to burying her dog's puppies alive. I was disgusted.

Very few believe in having them speyed and the kittens are just left to roam or are dumped. I've had many rows with my other half over this speying issue as far as our own cats are concerned - he says its interfering with nature :confused:). I hate it! Hence I still have a number of rescue cats around me as well as my own.
Luckily there's lots of land around the house we rent so they're safe and cared for and they all get along so well.
I love them all and its going to be difficult to uproot them all as well as extremely costly. I simply cannot just walk away from them. Its actually my only problem as far as where I live and work is concerned. My partner has glue on his feet therefore is 'stuck' and I now have no worries about leaving him behind.

If I were to live in Scotland again though - I'd miss the climate etc abroad - so what do you do???

Anyway your comments about Glasgow, Edinburgh - Starbucks even are makin me nostalgic!! Digressing yet again - sorry!

Wishing you lots of luck with your decision!!:)

Not sure I understood what you said about life decisions: work, partner...mind you, you dont have to discuss this here (like I do. honestly, Im glad it s anonymous). are you saying glue feet partner not a problem because you could leave him behind? (not judging. just funny). and job wise, are you doing the cat rescue thing full time or anything lese? is this the life you d like in the future? anyway, kudos to you, you re the Cat Angel in this part of Greece you re living in...

the Greek attitude towards animals is appalling. Im not surprised as here in the French countryside people poison their neighbour's cat and dogs for revenge, and drown kittens too. Im horrified like you and feel like these people are lacking something somewhere...I dont know if Im right or just politically intolerant and shocking but Ive sort of noticed that "south" countries (or "warm") are less affectionate with animals. I was shocked when a Spanish friend told me it s normal for people to kick dogs in the street in Spain...and I'm not sure I like the treatment of animals on North African cultures either. it s just my own illegal stupid thinking.

Jesus, I dont know 100% if I will move back to Scotland. Im kind of angry with myself and whoever designed the UK in the first place because why is the place/nation I love like no other has to be near the artic circle and almost drifting in the dark atlantic ocean? someone tells me why! Why dont I fall for ...say Malta or California ?

anyway Im going back to Scotland for a few days soon, right in the middle of the harsh winter, on purpose, to re-live that special artic glamour. and then, if I still feel giddy and tearful, I will emigrate again. But then, on the condition that one or two month in the summer are spent in a warm country. that's where it becomes tricky: what money with? what to do with the cat+dog? what job is going to let me get sun tanned in the summer and welcome me back with a hug when I feel like it?? err..

ok, was raving on in my last post.

I obviously want ideal life. typical of me; dreaming on...

but looking forward to being in Scotland again, very soon! thanks all.