When asked why she is so committed to her practice, Lisa Hensell says, “What attracted me to Reflexology was learning that this healing practice helps a person’s body find its internal balance.” She adds, “It is amazing and wonderful to me that just by touching a person’s feet, their whole body can feel so much better.”
Lisa Hensell owned a private practice and a reflexology school in Seattle for 22 years, where she offered four levels of diplomas and had instructors come to the school from around the world. Seattle Reflexology was established in 1992 by Geraldine Villeneuve (formerly Thompson) who was Lisa’s teacher. Lisa purchased the business from Geraldine in 1999. Awareness of the business and Lisa’s healing skills became so widespread that her reflexology schedule was booked solid for 9 months and she had a waiting list of more than 50 people wanting an appointment.
Lisa found out about reflexology in 1995 through her Tai Chi sifu (teacher), Dr. Rene Piette. Her sifu added to her awareness of energy by sharing a video filmed in China that demonstrated how “2 ounces can deflect 1000 pounds” using Kung Fu. She was intrigued to observe that by focusing intention and consciousness, a person can channel healing energy, and that the size of that person does not matter.
Lisa notes that there is evidence of accessing the feet in order to affect the health of the entire body in ancient Egypt. On a 2,500-year-old hieroglyph found on the wall of an esteemed medical practitioner’s tomb, it shows him working on a patient’s foot and hand. The words beneath say “Please don’t hurt me.” / “I will act so that you praise me.” Modern reflexology evolved in the 1920s and 30s, in part through the work of a physiotherapist named Eunice Ingham who combined two maps of the feet that doctors had created to establish her basis for reflexology; she is considered to be “the mother of modern reflexology.”
Lisa made the move to Whidbey in 2019 to have a special place to enjoy with her family: “I was attracted to the island because of the small town feeling here – I grew up in a small town.” She was impressed by the feel of the island when she came to Whidbey periodically in the early 2000’s to do a 9-month Shamanic self-development course. Word-of-mouth is helping her clientele grow on Whidbey.
In addition to offering reflexology sessions at her Clinton location, she will offer occasional reflexology classes. To become a reflexology practitioner in Washington requires a minimum of 200 hours of instruction. Many learn the skills by attending weekend sessions; some do one class per month. The average time for becoming a practitioner is nine months to two years.
I'll be offering two Introduction to Reflexology classes this year on Whidbey at Bayview Corner (May 20-21, 2023 and Sept 16-17, 2023). Here's a link for more info: https://seattle-reflexology.com/reflexologyclasses/elective-classes/
To learn more about Lisa Hensell’s reflexology practice or to sign up for reflexology classes, visit her website: https://seattle-reflexology.com/
