BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER

A Member’s Story
Marie Carr, Reflexologist, Entrepreneur

 I took my RAC course in 2005 and found it a wonderful course. As a Dental Nurse for 18 yrs, I found the overall training in anatomy, practitioner’s ethics and training was excellent. I was very impressed with the program, as it was top class. 
I have a small practice combined with Healing Touch in Penticton called Celtic Healing Centre. I also work at Nature Fare Health Store that helps me keep up to date with current information.
Over the last few years, the hardest part has been marketing. With a new practice and 3 young children, my funds were limited and advertising costs where so high, I could not advertise. This seems to be a common concern for many part time practitioners and workshops.
So, a few Okanagan practitioners from different modalities got together and came up with a vision, of having a low cost place to list all practitioners and workshops, which offer health and healing information, in one place. In the two years, we have run this volunteer website, it has grown beyond my imagination.  The number of ‘hits’ to the website are outstanding. We support practitioners that are just starting out and also practice & support groups.
I run the Ok In health website and I am getting e-mail request for Reflexology referrals in the Okanagan and surrounding areas in BC. However, we have only a few Reflexologist listed yet, on the website other than Penticton.

We do have naturopaths, midwives, energy and massage workers, health stores, articles (what is reflexology by Diane Wiebe) 30 – 60 workshops & courses (plus reflexology related workshops and more. We are looking for some Reflexologists that would be willing to place a listing with us for $25 for 3mths.  We have a picture of a feet/reflexology on our new colour Poster/pamphlet that is going out valley wide and beyond.  We know, more requests are coming.

We re-invest all profits into Banner TV Advertisement, newspapers and pamphlets. The response for the website has been fantastic and we get 70,000 hits a month (1700 unique visits a month) and cover all of the Okanagan, kootenays and BC.
We also try to invite and support world-renowned instructors like ‘The universal lady-Chris Stormer’, who came to Penticton from South Africa, in August. Chris’s workshop ‘What Your Feet Say About You and Your Health' was amazing with rave review in Vancouver and Okanagan. Ok In Health took two years to plan this event. We also able to arranged for her to talk on TV and the newspapers, while she was here, to promote Reflexology.

I had an e-mail this morning from a lady looking for a Reflexologist in Kelowna today after she saw a write up in the local newspaper about ‘Ok In health’ and Reflexology. We will soon be having many more requests like this for other areas.
I have also found that after the first treatment, I offer my clients to come back "when they want..". But if they really want to tackle their issues; to give them the most value for the money and complete treatment; to see the benefits, I would recommend a series of 6 - 10 treatments. I offer a low cost treatment price plan. I may do a Healing Touch treatment within this course of treatments. Overall the client sees more results from a complete course of treatments than a one-time visit.

This is not a plug for the Ok In health website, as I just wanted to share my own story about my own marketing experience.  What a summer we have had but a reminder that as with all skills, practice, practice, practice, is the key.
From Maria Carr, Penticton, B.C.
To learn more about Ok In Health go to www.OkinHealth.com