Conversation with Maria Fiordalisi and Shannon Bachorick

Taking a second, beautiful ladies. >> I should have got the lip gloss, too. >> Okay. Awesome. All right. Hello, hello everyone and welcome to the Reflexology Associations of Canada's first Facebook live for 2026. Happy New Year. Hope everyone got some rest and had your fill of food and chocolates and all those goodies over the holidays. Uh my name is Laura Morast and I am the director of operations at the reflexology association of Canada and I'm joined today by two wonderful people who I'm so h excited to speak um with today. Uh Maria Fior Deissi who is the president of the Canadian Federation of Aromather therapists. She's also a registered Canadian reflexology therapist with RACK and the vice president of the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists, Shannon Bachurk. I hope I said that correctly, who's also an RCRT. Um, and we're going to be talking today about the blending and combining of aroma therapy and reflexology. For those of you who are watching live right now on Facebook, please feel free to put questions, comments in the chat. Um, we'll try and get to some of those at the end of our discussion. Keep things respectful. We are a wonderful health well-beingminded community. So, let's, you know, support and build each other up. If you're watching sometime in the future on YouTube or on Facebook still, again, feel free to comment. Um, we'll try and see if we can get connected or do follow-ups um, as needed. So, with all that housekeeping out of the way, welcome both of you. Happy New Year. >> Wanted to start off first um for Oh, sorry. I probably should have I forgot to mention this. The reason why we're doing these Facebook lives over the [laughter] next few weeks is because uh in 2026, the Reflexology Association of Canada is hosting our 50th anniversary celebratory international reflexology conference um in Winnipeg, Manitoba from May 22nd to 24th, 2026. I can talk about that more at the end of our uh discussion. Sorry, I'm just realizing I need to make that a little bit bigger. Um, and Shannon and Maria are both going to be um speakers at this event in May. So, we are going to be speaking about uh what they're going to be talking about at the conference, their postconference workshops, and why it's important, why you should come attend and hear them speak live. Um, so yes, now with all that housekeeping out of the way to Shannon and Maria, wanted to get your thoughts first, your perspective. What did you get into first? Aroma therapy, reflexology, because you guys both blend the two. Who would like to start? >> I can start, Shannon, if that's okay with you. >> Okay. Um, so I'm going to say Reflexology found me dur um first. Um that was back in 2012 uh cuz I was um dealing with some personal health issues and uh needed something for myself. So I came across it and uh fell in love with it right away but also needed to understand how it worked cuz that's how my brain is. Um so that's what got me into it. So I took the first course. I I did train with an international um school but and they had it broken up in modules. So I said I'm just going to do the first module just so I get a basic understanding. Um and from there I was like oo this is actually kind of neat and uh continued on and completed the full certification. Didn't have any plans on working with people's feet um at that time but um I loved it so much and I thought it was working so well for me that I ended up um starting my practice. So that's uh back in 2012. Uh aromatherapy came after um I graduated uh with my aromatherapy certification in 2017 and um have been incorporating aromatherapy in with reflexology since then. >> Wonderful. No, it's often I I hear this all the time. People um aren't expecting to make reflexology their career. they kind of oh I'll just try it once or I'll just take a course for for personal interest and then all of a sudden it becomes people's you know passion and and livelihoods and careers. So wonderful. Maria Shannon, how about you? Which came first? The >> reflex the opposite the opposite. I I >> I did aromatherapy first. Um, I I I started with the same way a lot of people start with, oh, I went to a home party and I smelled all the oils and I thought maybe they tasted good. And then I was told or I did, you know, my research online and I realized, no, you shouldn't be drinking these oils and using them all over. And so then I I turned to um I found a a certification course and then I learned more about how to use essential oils effectively and responsibly and safely. Um and I started working with them that way. I also became I think I completed my course in or my certification in 2017 the same as Maria. And um I uh my husband's a chiropractor and has a clinic and I was trying to find a way that you know I could work [laughter] because I was a translator and stress got the better of me with that. So I no longer translate but and I said what about reflexology? And he said ah reflexologists are all flake things. And I was like okay. So, however, I I thought during the during COVID, I saw people were getting they were pivoting and whatnot, getting grants to pivot and whatnot. So, I reached out to um SAS something or other careers. And I said, is there a way that I could get a grant to do this reflexology course? I I'm really interested in doing this. And I got a grant and um I finished that course, I guess, two years ago now. And um and I've used reflexology on my husband and he said, "Oh, I feel this here." I'm like, "Yeah." So it's not really flaky. So I switched him around too. And yeah, so now I I I incorporate the two. I I create um custom blends for for clients who request it um and use it on their feet. >> No, that's I liked it. Thank you for sharing, Shannon. I really liked what you said about um using essential oils safely and responsibly. Um especially coming out of the pandemic. I'm sure you've seen um and I guess this segue into sort of my next question about the organization. Um but I'm sure I I've seen at least in my corner of the world there seems to be an increase in the amount of interest in essential oils. You know, everyone's aunt and their neighbor is selling [laughter] essential oils. So maybe you guys could speak to a little bit what is the Canadian Federation of Aroma Therapists and um I don't know who wants to take that and then maybe um the other person can take um why is it important or essential to be properly trained in the use of essential oils. Don't know who wants to take a little bit about the organization first. >> You start with that madame president. >> Yeah, you did. So, okay. Oh, sorry. Yes. Thank you. Um, so the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists, so we celebrated our 30th anniversary, I'm going to say four years ago. >> Congratulations. >> Uh, so we're in business. Yeah. 34. Yeah. 34 years. Uh, we are the leading aroma therapy organization in or association I should say in uh in Canada. And our focus is mainly on I'm going to say elevating aromatherapy knowledge beyond the wellness trend space. Right? So it's more into clinically informed information, evidence-based practices. Um and we are, you know, we've got a very um cohesive group of a board group that works very closely together. And and so you know like any other association uh we are always looking and striving to create um a membership that is um very uh what there's a ter there's a specific word that I want to use um in terms of supporting supporting our therapists and uh ensuring that they have a very successful uh career. So we do a lots in terms of education, continuing education. So we uh that I think I'm going to stop there because I think that's it. It's in a nutshell. >> No, >> I think we wanted what we want to do is like take the hobbyist and turn them into a professional, >> you know, it's it's and and have that education backing behind them. >> No, education is always so important. So with that maybe Shannon you can speak to why in you know CFA's um you know perspective why is it important to be properly trained in the use of uh essential oils aroma therapy. >> Um a lot of people think that essential oils are oh they're natural and therefore I can do whatever I want with it. But um arsenic is natural, [laughter] cyanide is natural. So there there's parameters in in the way that essential oils should be used. Essential oils are made up of sometimes several hundred, you know, constituents, like little tiny constituents. It they're not just it's kind of like when you bake a cake. A cake isn't just a cake. Cake is sugar. A cake is milk and butter. And that all goes into one thing to make one cohesive substance. And so as an aromaather therapist, we learn what goes into an essential oil. We learn what the chemistry is inside an essential oil and how that chemistry is going to react with your body inside and outside of your body. And so once it's placed on your skin, we learn how it gets into your body through your skin. we learn um in Canada we don't really learn about um ingestion you know that's not really our purvey but there is there is a an educated and a a way to do it internally we don't deal with that with the CFA um you have to be very thoroughly trained in that you can't be insured to do that in Canada either so we just stay away from that however ever. We we um try to educate um the po the the public on how is a safe way and an and and a like I said before in a responsible way. Um essential oils are also they're made up of plant material and it takes a lot of plant material and a lot of water and a lot of energy to make an essential oil. So, when I say using them responsibly, I'm not just talking about like, oh, I have a four-year-old and I can only use certain oils at a certain amount on a four-year-old. I need to know, has that been sustainably produced? Um, where that oil is coming from? Um, is it a threatened or an extinct or near extinct plant species? So, it's all these things that go into using a bottle of oil. It's not just going to the grocery store and grabbing a bottle of lemon off the shelf. You need to know what's going into that bottle and how it's going to come out and come out of you and go through you. >> No, thank you so much. I hadn't even thought of the idea of the sustainability of the creation of of the oils and how that plays into the entire market. Maria, you wanted to add something. No, I wanted to add because Shannon brought up a good point about uh you know how it's it takes a lot of plant material to make essential oils. And I think that's probably one of the biggest misconceptions out in the public. Um is that people don't realize how concentrated the plant material is in a small bottle of essential oil. Um they're very potent. Um and so that's why we really focus in on responsible use and being trained to use them accurately um safely. Uh understanding the chemistry of the essential oil um and then of course uh therapeutic actions and application of that essential oil. So that's um one of our biggest one of our mandates as well at the CFA. >> No, I love it. We I think generally as a sort of society we've been moving on this trend. I hate to call it a trend but we moving towards in every aspect of our lives. Let's talk about sustainability from what we eat, what we wear. Um and it's so interesting to also add that lens sustainability lens onto essential oils. So you know have you know checking where like you said Shannon where it's manufactured, how it's produced, is it produced in a sustainable manner. I mean, we're talking about that with chocolate for [laughter] what, you know, we just came out of the holiday season. We we talk about sustainably um farmed cocoa, so why not talk about sustainability as well with essential oils? I didn't think of that. I love that. Um let's move pivot a little bit to we know a lot of holistic health practitioners, wellness practitioners um love essential oils. We know clients are often now also requesting or they you know you know last time I went for a massage there was three scents that you know my massage therapist said choose from one of these scent three scents this is what I'm going to put in the diffuser so that you could smell it while we're doing our massage. So we know >> we're both cringing. [laughter] >> So we know this is you know this is happening in the wellness and the health and the spa even spaces. you're coming to the our conference this year to talk about blending aromatherapy um with reflexology actually before we get into that aromatherapy essential oils are are the terms interchangeable >> I it can be for this purpose yeah >> I think for this purpose yeah aromatherapy is much broader than just essential oils um because it's anything that you can uh essentially inhale the aroma of so it doesn't need to always be an essential oil um but I Essential oils are most closely related to aromatherapy. >> Okay, thanks for the clarification. So, you're coming to speak to the at our conference about blending um aromatherapy and reflexology, not you know, we're teasing people. We want people to come hear you live. Um but in a nutshell, kind of how um why might a reflexology therapist, you know, uh be trained to use essential oils? Why might you know uh you want to blend the use of essential oils and and reflexology like how do they work together? >> You want to go migo? >> I think we can both answer this together, right? Um and and because essential oils we can use them when we know how to use them properly uh we can also uh use them effectively in activating that parasympathetic nervous system reset. um in in measurable ways and that's probably one of the uh fundamental ways that I use it in my own practice is to because it is very complimementaryary to a reflexology uh treatment because they work hand in hand. >> Yeah. >> And I think as an RCRT, you know, we have to take a thorough intake. We have to see what is going on with our clients before we lay a finger on them. And um so we need to know are you taking any medications? Do you have any underlying conditions? Do you have epilepsy? And is that epilepsy going to be triggered by an essential oil? You know, it's all those things that we are we need to know. And so with that, if we're using and we should all be using the a proper intake form and getting that proper, you know, um, snapshot of what's going on with the client. Once we have that, then we can make a decision, an informed decision as to what essential oils this client's going to need or what's going to work best with them and not and not trigger any other underlying conditions. And um is that what the question was? >> Yeah. No, I think that's a that's a good starting point. Now, how might one how might a reflexology therapist utilize essential oils in a in a session? Like is it something that you would combine with um you know a lotion or a cream or something you put directly on skin? Is it something you would just inhale? maybe give people um what would a blended session look like? >> Can I go back a step when you mentioned about what the massage therapist was going to put in the diffuser for the day? >> Yeah. >> So, we are we are not very comfortable as aromatherapists. We're not comfortable with public diffusion. And so if you're with a massage therapist and you're in your one room and that's it, that's great. But if they're diffusing that for the entire clinic to smell, that's um that can open a can of worms and and expose others to potential allergens. And so um uh if you want to if you want to incorporate just the inhalation in a u in a session, you can use a nasal inhaler, which I don't have on me. >> I just looking for one. [laughter] >> So So the client can, you know, smell this blend as they're being worked on. Um as opposed to diffusing it throughout the clinic. um just putting some essential oils on like on a cotton ball or on a Kleenex and they can just have that with them throughout the session. Um I was trained to to do reflexology with lotion. I know that's kind of a it can be contentious but um but that's how I was trained. And so I will create um I will create a a custom blend and add that to the lotion that's in a proper dilution. And that's another thing that we need to discuss. >> And with consent. >> Yep. Yeah. >> And so, um, yeah, you can't just be like pouring oil all over people's feet and rubbing them in. They have to be properly diluted. And so, I will, uh, create that lotion for for the session and then and send it off with the client, whatever's left over to use at home or bring back next time. >> Oh, nice. Back to the sustainability. It's not just a onetime thing coming back for a future session. >> Maria, how do you I guess like integrate >> the >> So, I do very similar to what Shannon does. I think we were trained uh very similar although um uh you know we because we're certified in aroma therapy. Uh we can also like uh when Shannon said we can we can custom create a blend for our client on the spot like right uh for them specifically for their treatment. But what we can also do is uh blend uh products for them that they can take home with them and use in between the sessions which is also very nice um because it's allowing them to do a little self-care in between as well um in between the sessions. So uh but in terms of incl clinic use uh definitely I add it to um uh lotions or or body oil if um uh you know based on the preference of the client and of course their consent. Um we do aromatic anchoring as well. So um and we can talk a little bit more about this during our our conference during the conference but where you know we where we when we achieve that um rest and digest state for the uh with the client um supporting that to go deeper into that state. You can use aroma therapy uh as a really nice way to close off your session um which serves the the clients um really really well. Yeah. >> No nice I and closing is right finishing off a session is so important and then getting your clients you know coming out of that. So, if there's ways to keep, you know, some of that uh sense longer, um that sounds like a good way to augment your session. So, you guys, you mentioned you're both certified aroma therapists. How long is, I guess, the traditional aroma therapist training if people were, you know, considering it as something to do? >> So, there's different levels of training. um and certifications um within the Canada and the US area. Shannon, I'll just talk to this and then you can add in your uh piece. Um so there are if we look at the the Canadian Federation of Aroma Therapists specifically, we have um the in order to to make uh obtain your designation, you have to complete uh course requirements of 425 hours, which also includes 100 hours of uh anatomy and physiology. um the time it takes it depends on the the school that's um administering the the courses because um you know while some schools um are completely online and self-paced um while other schools you know do in-person training um I I do a hybrid version I teach in person and and virtually um so it I think it all depends on on the school structure but typically uh for a student to complete the course requirements plus all the case studies, I'm going to say anywhere between one to two years. >> Okay. And you agree, Shannon? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Seems like forever, but [laughter] >> what two years goes by fast. I don't know. Time has no meaning anymore. That's what I've been saying to everyone. So you guys are coming going to be presenting a 90minute um seminar at the conference. Uh I believe you're seminar number two. It's going to be held Saturday, May 23rd um at the beautiful Canadian Museum for Human Rights. >> Um give us a teaser. So in that one, you're going to just be introducing us to blending aromatherapy and reflexology. >> Anything? >> We're going to start out with the safety. We're very very big on the safety and like I said, you just can't be pouring this all over and >> yeah, learning learning how to do this safely and and and um yeah, we'll give a little bit of a history of essential oils and a history of of aroma therapy. um [clears throat] we don't want to bore you with that but >> context is >> but then also how it ties in very nicely with uh with reflexology and and um the compounding effect that you can have with reflexology plus aromatherapy. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> Um if you're not able to join us live in person, we are offering a virtual component. I'll speak a little bit more on that end. And then following the conference on Saturday, June 13th, we're going to be you're going to be doing a more a longer more in-depth postconference workshop. It's happening virtually. So if people can't are worried about traveling, don't worry. You can um meet with both of them and learn all of this online. And in that workshop, what are what's going to be um sort of the the highlights? pretty much the same as what we're doing in the 90 minute but just more in depth. Um >> yeah. >> Yeah. We're going to go more into um dilution and how to dilute properly uh in order to blend safely for your clients um during a session and um a little bit more into the chemistry just so that basic you know just basic understanding like we won't go into constituents but we'll you know go into why there's uh this therapeutic effect with these essential oils as opposed to this essential oil. Um and also I think the other important piece uh that we'll cover is um just talking about um uh you know common name versus Latin name um and and and how to um purchase essential oils um to the best of your ability, good quality. Um there's a lot of marketing terms out there uh floating around therapeutic grade which is not um doesn't exist. it's either an essential oil or it's not. Um and um they're all therapeutic. So if um just, you know, myth misconceptions I think we'll we'll uh really hone into and um uh yeah, >> we're going to have like a a a number of essential oils that we will discuss why you would use this essential oil. And you know if somebody comes in with a stomach ache for instance, well let's try this and this and this >> and you know things like that. We'll we'll go into that a little bit more. >> You had mentioned earlier the idea of of being clinically informed >> with essential oils. So I'm going to assume this is kind of what you're going to talk a little bit more about in your workshop. The idea of being clinically informed kind of how to you know critically think through what what to do in what situ in certain situations. Is that >> Yes. >> Good for >> and what not to do. >> And what not to do. >> Yes. >> Always important. >> And a little first aid if uh it doesn't work out for you. >> Excellent. Well, I'm going to open up um we've been speaking for 30 minutes. Going to open up to uh the chat. I'm just going to refresh here. Make sure if you have anyone had any questions, comments, please feel free to ask um in the comments and monitoring it. Um guess well I'm still not seeing anything but I guess in from I know we me I asked a little earlier but maybe I'll reframe it. Um from your organization's perspective, have you I know you said sort of postco there seems to be an increase, but have you see um what do you think is driving sort of the growth or the interest let's say in essential oils? just just people wanting to do things naturally, you know, and this whole this whole idea that they want to be chemical free and they don't want any chemicals. But the thing is everything is a chemical. Like everything's made up of chemicals. We're chemicals. water is a chemical, you know, and so a lot of it is is is greenwashing, like the, you know, natural chemical-free things like that. And and people, you know, people are are, you know, making up their own cleaning supplies and their own with essential oils because they think it's more natural, which I kind Yes, it is. However, that's just it. People want to be more natural. That's what I think. >> Okay. Maria, do you have any thoughts, perspective? >> Um, yeah. I think there's a um very similar to what uh what Shannon was was speaking about because I think there's a lot more people out there that are seeking natural more natural alternatives um and who want more I'm going to say more agency over their well-being, right? as opposed to more in more directly uh involved in their own well-being. Um especially post pandemic. Um that can create a little bit of um tension though because you can go down a slippery slope, right? Um without proper guidance um and you know like there's there's a lot of good information out there but there's also a lot of misinformation out there. Um, and it's being able to uh think critically as opposed to just taking what somebody says as true or marketing. Um, so but but I I do see an increase in in people wanting to uh get more involved in their own well-being. >> Yeah. No, I think it's important. I think it leads to larger conversations about health care. How do you take control of your own health? how can you be your own health advocate? So, being properly informed about um the variety of options or opportunities or other ways to help manage everything from pain and and anxiety and some of the other, you know, symptom stress that we we constantly feel and have to deal with um daytoday. So, I I thank you both for for the things you're doing in the aroma therapy and reflexology space to push that forward and get people to be properly informed and and critically think through some of the solutions that aromatherapy can offer. >> Yeah. And I I think Shannon will agree with this too because we're here to advocate the use of essential oils uh you know safely and sustainably. But we're also here to provide guidance on why we're using it, how we're using it, when we're using it, um and when not to use it, right? So it's it's like the very holistic. >> I love it. Love the the the holistic. Well, if you guys are excited as I am about learning more about integrating essential oils into Reflexology, please go check out our website www.reflexologyconference.com. There should be a link somewhere on the live um so that uh you can see our full conference special. Um if you go to postconference workshops, you'll see Shannon and Maria's postconference workshop scheduled there for June 13th. Um click on it, register for it. Um, we'd love to see you both in person in Winnipeg or online. There is a virtual component to the conference. So, if you're not able to join us in Winnipeg, you can still purchase a virtual ticket and you'll get access to the the live streams like this of the uh in-person event of all the seminars and the panel discussions and keynotes. Um, thank you both to Shann and Maria for joining with me today for our first live stream of the year. This actually went off really well. I'm actually [laughter] really happy. Uh we're going to be um hopefully interviewing some more of our our speakers. We've got some more cool announcements uh coming up in the next few weeks ahead of May. Um I guess last thing before we go, uh what's your what are you looking forward to at for the conference in May? Shannon, Maria, >> well, I'm looking forward to getting this Ontario girl out to the prairies >> and I'm excited to come to Winnipeg. I haven't been to Winnipeg yet, so I'm really really excited. Yeah. >> Excellent. We We planned it in May, so hopefully barring, you know, Winnipeg can sometimes be unpredictable with the weather, but usually where the after May long weekend, it's usually pretty good. So, we're excited to have both of you here in Winnipeg. Thank you so much for your time. Oh, where can people find out more about TFA? What are what are all your follows and contact details? Um, so the CFA the website is um >> cfacanada.com. >> Yeah, www.cfacanada.com. Um, or you can do a search for Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists. Um, >> and I think it's Canadian Aromatherapy on Facebook and Instagram. I did check before I left. >> Okay. Are they the same? [laughter] We're just going to make sure that they're the same because we've been aligning making sure everything's uh aligned >> and consistent branding. >> Facebook is Yeah. Canadian Aroma Therapy. >> Yes. >> And Instagram. >> It's always important that people know how to get in contact with you. >> Yeah. So, >> hold on, hold on, hold on. >> Yeah, Shannon's looking up for for Instagram. Just gonna do one more comment check Canada >> is it? >> Okay, so make sure go to their website um message, check out their Facebook and Instagram and um thank you all for who are watching live or or later on in the future. Um we'll be back uh next week, January 14th, same time with our next speaker. I'm very happy to uh hopefully chat with everyone again and looking forward to meeting Shannon and Maria in person in May. So >> yes, thank you very much. >> Take care everyone. >> Thank you. Take care.