WORLDWIDE REFLEXOLOGY HISTORY 

1990 - 1999

In 1990, in U.S.A., the American Reflexology Certification Board was founded to provide National Certification to individuals who met certain qualifications of skill and knowledge.

In 1990, in Toronto, Canada the Council of North American Reflexologists and the Reflexology Association of Canada sponsored a conference at which the International Council of Reflexologists (ICR) was inaugurated to provide a global forum for the exchange of ideas and information within the reflexology profession. ICR convenes international conferences every two years and promotes World Reflexology Week the third week of September every year.

In 1990, in Maine U.S.A. reflexology was excluded from the state massage registration law.

In 1990, in New Mexico U.S.A. reflexology gained an exemption as a native healing method.

In July 1991, the China Reflexology Association was established.Its purpose is to Research and promote the foot reflex zone health method, and contribute to improving the physical fitness of the Chinese nation and benefiting mankind.

In 1991, in Canada, the City of Vancouver amended a bylaw to enable reflexology practitioners and other bodyworkers to obtain a business licence under the title “Health Enhancement Centre”.

In 1991, in Denmark, reflexologists became represented in the Council of Alternative Medicine at the National Board of Health.

In 1991 in Ireland, members of the Institute of Reflex Zone Therapy and Society of Reflexologists came together under a new name and chose the title “The Irish Council of Reflexologists”.

In 1992, in U.S.A. the North Dakota Reflexology Association was founded.

In 1992, in Australia the Global Reflexology Research Institute for Reflexologists (GRRIP) was founded to gather and conduct research worldwide.

In 1992, the Association of Greek Reflexologists was officially founded with the distinctive title S.E.R. based in Athens.

In 1993, in Finland, Suomen Refleksologit ry was founded as a professional association by Anna-kaarina Lindi and Karl-Axel Lind to promote reflexologist members professional development, monitor their interests and make known to them reflexology and other things that promote health & well being.

In 1993, in U.S.A., the first research study evaluating reflexology, was published in a medical journal. Dr. Terry Olesen and William (Bill) Flocco  published their reflexology study “Randomized Controlled Study of Premenstrual Symptoms Treated with Ear, Hand and Foot Reflexology” in the Journal of Obstretrics & Gynecology.

In 1993, North Dakota becomes the first U.S. State with its own reflexology certification and registration Board.

In Newcastle, UK in 1994, the first European Conference of Reflexology was organised to discuss various subjects and the result was a unanimous vote to continue a biennial conference.

In 1994, the Reflexology in Europe (RiEN) was founded to provide support to its members with annual meetings, the sharing of current standards in each country to assist development, and to exchange research information.

In 1994 in New Delhi, India, All India Association of Acupressure Reflexology (AIAAR) became a registered body.

In 1995, in Ireland, The Irish Council of Reflexologists and the Society of Reflexologists united to form The Irish Reflexologists’ Institute.

In 1995, in Brussels, organisations and schools of reflexology in RiEN prepared a submission for Paul Lannoyewho had prepared a report on the state of complementary medicine in Europe for the European Commission and had not mentioned reflexology.

In 1995, in U.S.A., the Reflexology Association of America was formed as an individual member organization.

In 1996, in Canada, the Ontario College of Reflexology (OCR) was established.

In 1996, Monica Marsh founded the Association of Jamaican Reflexologist, now the Reflexology Association of Jamaica (R.A.J).

In 1996, in U.S.A., the New York State Reflexology Association was founded.

In 1998, the Nordic Network of English Speaking Schools was founded in Oslo, Norway. The name was later changed to the Nordic Network of International Schools. It holds Annual Educator Conferences.

In 1998, in Germany, the International Teacher’s Association for Reflexology on the Foot – School Hanne Marquardt was founded to maintain a high professional standard of therapy and to further develop it in practice and theory.

In 1998, in Ireland, the National Register of Reflexologists - Ireland (NRRI) was established as a registered professional body to regulate the practice of reflexology in Ireland as a complementary therapy, through qualified registered members and affiliated schools.

In 1998, in Canada, the Reflexology Registration Council of Ontario (RRCO) was founded with the mandate to register Reflexology practitioners, teachers, educational organizations and methodologies that meet/exceed established minimum standards. Maintain the highest ethical standard of the profession and to the public. Establish Reflexology as a self-governing profession. Act as the unified voice for Reflexology in the Province of Ontario and Canada.

In 1998, in France, The French Federation of Reflexologists was created to bring together Reflexology professionals as well as approved training centers.

In Belgium, the C.E.R. Centre d’Etude de Reflexologie was created by Yves Vanopdenbosch in 1998 and made official in 1999.