Reflexology Student wins CMA's Global Student of the Year

Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of Wednesday's reflexology wisdom. I am absolutely delighted to have with me today Ivana King. Now, Ivana has just done something rather exceptional. Um, and you've won a competition, haven't you? And it's not just any competition either. >> Yes, it's quite a special one. Very special, which I didn't know that I was entering till my um other tutor. >> Well, well, well, back up the bus. You didn't you didn't [laughter] even know you were entering? >> No, I've been notified sort of um by my tutor from the um holistic life wellness and resilience diploma course I've been doing. Yeah. So Joe uh Permile, she kind of sent me an email just to let you know I've entered you for the nomination as a um well student of the year with the CMA, >> the complimentary medical association. >> Yes. And I thought wow. And that's it. And >> that's how I knew I was entered to the >> So you had a a big awards event. Where was this? >> Right. That was in London. Well, >> I don't know if you can. >> Why are you looking so nervous? Oh. Oh. What have you got here? >> I have to put this against because you can't see it otherwise. >> Oh, Ivana. Super Flash. >> Yes, it is very um well special because I honestly didn't think this will happen because the story went after Joe nominated me. Time was going by and that was the CMA Global Excellence Conference. Yeah. uh for this year and um she then sent me another email that we've been shortlisted and that's all what I knew, nothing else. Short listed doesn't mean that you're going to win. No, >> particularly that later on I find out that there was 800 nominees >> globally, not just UK. So at the conference there was loads of loads of people. I can't tell you how many because I was quite overwhelmed as well because was very um well doctors, scientists, amazing people who do therapies, dentists and everyone who was dealing with holistic approach to to health >> and integrated um complimentary medicine really >> brilliant. Now I do have to make a declaration. I am very very biased ladies and gentlemen because Ivonor was also a student of mine last year at Jubilee College. So I am absolutely stoked that you got this a nomination but then you went on to win it. I know. [laughter] I still can't believe it myself and I get quite emotional when I >> Tell me what was it about your nomination that made it the winning nomination. >> Do you know when Joe told me about it, I was a little bit like why? I didn't do anything special. But in her eyes and other people um wow. So this is the part where you know when you have to start telling what you've done >> telling your story. Absolutely. Yeah. So um um a while ago as you know I work for the NHS and >> always the passion for well-being particularly for theater staff was just my passion and particularly to train students to look after themsel and approach themsel very holistically because I believe when when we care for the staff and the young generation to teach them that they will give much better quality of care to to patients and obviously thinking training the students, you know, I'm not getting younger, so I want to make sure I'm going to get good care when the time come. But joking aside, yes, there was a time of COVID obviously and I was doing Kent project which um which involved management really how how to solve issues within sort of companies and um one of the projects again I wanted to do about well-being and that time we were receiving a lot of internationally educated nurses and seeing how they adapting to a new culture and the weather everything really was new for them and even the way we practice here slightly different I could see that they were shall we say maybe not depressed but I could see something wasn't right there so I was kind of mentoring them you could say pastoral care slightly >> and I approached my matron to say that I would like to build a well-being room which room >> within the NHS. >> Yes, within this trust. >> Oh wow. Okay. >> And as you know there is no money for things like that. >> Yes. >> Oh my gosh. Don't. [laughter] Yes. There is no money for things like that. There are other things sort of in priority but also space. However, I'm very proud to say that my matron within 3 years, took us three years, supported me in that time and their legal friends at Kenton Canterbury sponsored me to to build a well-being room. And I wish I had pictures to show you is amazing. and also a couple colleagues that came on board to help me like health and safety, infection control, everything obviously as is within the hospital >> is within the operating department uh at Canterbury and um what can I say? I'm very proud of it. >> Yeah. >> Because is a lovely room but also is a space for like a prayer room for everyone. It's multi-ultured and multi-faith space. >> Yeah. >> Where um also now um I have to mention my colleague Yan Spiker. He um he was so great that he even helped me to introduce the energy pot. >> Energy port. >> Yeah. Pot. So it's like a >> Yes. So, it's basically like a chair that you can It reminds me a little bit of a dentist chair if you know what I mean because it sets you to the um laying down position and have literally very spacey sort of like you know you think you're going into moon. You can close the um sort of upper body which you then have beautiful lights. You put headphones on which play specially created music by don't ask me the name one of the professors who've done research on sleep and particularly power nap >> and it's recommended that within 20 minutes it can energize you again so you you're not falling asleep deeply but enough give the rest to the body to be energized to carry on within your day >> right >> I've tried it myself I love it it's really really good and it wakes you up as well, >> right? >> So, it's perfect particularly for staff who work under a lot of pressure, a lot of stress as you can imagine. [snorts] >> So, this creation of the well-being room, this was part of your well-being and resilience course that you did. >> No, that was just my idea first. However, [laughter] the [clears throat] I know I know what you're going to say. Guys, by the way, if you haven't met Ivana before, she's amazing. She's full of ideas. Absolutely brilliant. She really, really is. >> Thank you. >> Let's bring So, how how how did you manage to get this um award awarded to you? What was it that you >> Okay, so following the idea of well-being room, I was already on the on the diploma with the wellness professionals at work. >> Mhm. And like I said, Joe was my personal tutor. >> Yeah. >> Things happened there as well. Personally, as as you know, I've been diagnosed with blood cancer. >> Yes. >> And things had to slow down with my studying and Joe was very supportive and then the same time I was building this well-being >> group. However, when I received the diagnosis, as you remember, that was a good kick. Like, oh my gosh, I need to hurry up. I'm signing up for reflexology. >> I was going to say Ivana doesn't do things by halves. So, she's told she needs to slow down. So, you created a well-being room. you went on this you were on this other complimentary course and you decided to do the reflexology as well >> you know >> yeah that really isn't slowing down is it [laughter] >> well you know it's great it's great what can I say it's great honestly because everything was tying up nicely so going towards the award you see because I was doing case study for the um wellness and resilience on coaching skills >> and then obviously I've entered your reflexology course yeah >> and then suddenly things become oh this make perfect sense yes with the well-being room so obviously doing case studies for your course as well >> I have to say I was combining them two together. >> So, and that was very powerful. So, then the benefit of the well-being room where I had well-being conversations and then sometimes people were asking me like, "Oh, I've got pain here." Because when you're doing reflexology, as you know, people like talking. >> Oh, yes, they do. >> And the other way around when you're doing the coaching, they say, and then they sometimes express, "I've got physical pain here, there, anywhere." And then with hands reflexology, oh press here, press there. Sort of teaching them as well for the self relief. >> So just to clarify, you are have created a holistic well-being room in an NHS hospital. >> Yeah. >> And you are also giving reflexology to NHS staff in this well-being room. That is a yes but supposed to drop it in. [laughter] No, I'm giving taste to when they're really really feeling unwell. However, >> yes. >> However, that help with the stress and sometimes people don't go off sick, they continue the day. >> Yes. >> So, yes, but obviously this is not my official >> Oh, good grief. No, no, no, no, no. This is supporting I I always will support my students and the staff with with well-being. So that's why the room was there. Anyway, >> also just to clarify when you're talking about students, this is students who are go training to be operating staff. >> Uh yes, they operating department practitioners and nurses, paramedics, [clears throat] >> uh midwives coming, everyone really come to to the placement. >> Okay. But um my main group of students are operating department practitioners. So is aligned health professionals. >> Lovely. >> Um so Joe was aware of everything I was doing. However, on the um the coaching course, there was a module that um I had to pick a few complimentary medicine and things like yoga to help with stress or breath work. And you had to do this for a couple weeks to see how you feel, what makes the difference and write a reflection on this. >> So within that, I've tried reflexology, yoga and the breath work. So and then I could see the difference and what it does to your body when you experience stress. And I as you can tell I was under a lot of stress [laughter] >> just slightly with that big diagnosis. Absolutely. >> However, again the coaching um with the resilience skills helped me to basically deal with this. >> Yeah. >> And writing the reflection it prompt me that combining them all is the best thing >> and to approach the person holistically. So the body, mind and spirit. And there is no you can't run away from it. You have to treat the whole person not just one part. So then [clears throat] >> this this is actually a huge statement from someone who works within the NHS. It's a massive statement when you think about it, isn't it? >> But I do believe that. That's my you know >> you have to because >> you know I I've seen in my time a lot of patients through coming through theater >> and the way they approach on the day going for surgery for example so the mental state will affect the way they wake up the >> way they recover [clears throat] >> and the way they will heal. There is no question this is you know yes I I'm standing by the statement but obviously the research and many before us have shown this is the way to approach healing. >> Yeah. So, so Joe was aware about everything I was up to and also with my case studies, uh, she could see the results because I was actually doing case studies on some stuff within the department and the difference were making to to the daily work to running team um, managing teams communication and that's what I think led to the award that she really recognized what I was doing despite the situation I was in and I think that was that was the reason she nominated me. >> So did you know you were you didn't know that you were going to win this award even when you went to London? >> No. No, I was only shortlisted and that was well being nominated, being accepted and shortlisted that was success for me, you know, anyway, but I did not really think that I would win. Not not from that amount of people and you know the people from even from Kuwait, right? They were like from all over the world, from America, from everywhere. And being in a kind of environment of, you know, scientists that do absolutely amazing work >> and it was like, wow. You know, I'm very rare get speechless. [laughter] >> This is very, very true. Ladies and gentlemen, Ivana was very very good at putting a point across in class. [laughter] >> Thank you for putting this politely. >> Brilliant. So this has now given you the opportunity to have met real um movers and shakers in the world of health, not just in complimentary therapies but in um [clears throat] accepted forms of of health care as well. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> So um >> and are you able to going to be able to capitalize on any of this? you're going to be able to move things forward in other places. >> Shall we say I've got the big hope and I've got little idea. [laughter] >> Your little ideas are never little. Ivonor, >> well, you know, >> this [clears throat] ladies and gentlemen, I do know there is something in the pipeline that is going to be for another episode of Wednesday's Reflexology Wisdom. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> this it's going to be quite exciting times. Hopefully, if if if all of the pieces fall into place, there's going to be quite something interesting coming up, isn't there? >> I hope so. Particularly when I promise myself I'm not taking any more projects. [laughter] >> Yes. >> So, now that you've won this, you you were the outright winner, I believe. >> Yes. So you see um I took my husband with me as well. So he was sitting next to me and Joe was sitting next to Simon >> and they were really excited and kind of and I was like very just stop it because I don't want to disappoint you both and you know that sort of thing and and they were very >> and you know when you you kind of hear things but you you don't you you kind of everything's shutting down a little bit. So when this was announced, the lady said, "Oh, this was 800 nominees." But there was I mean, I know this because they told me because I couldn't [laughter] even, you know, remember what was said. But there's there was no doubt this award should have gone and is going to someone who and she was prolonging. I'm thinking could be anyone, you know, could be anyone. And you never recognize it when it's about yourself either, do you? >> Absolutely. And when she was continuing saying that this person do a lot of work within the field of, you know, so it was very mystery kind of way. >> Yeah. >> And and have made already a lot of changes. >> Yes. >> And then she said my name. I was like And they were like, "It's you. It's you. [laughter] And I was, "Oh, yeah." So, my legs were really jelly and I had to go towards the little stage and to receive the award and everything was like I don't know [clears throat] everything was like you you locked in this jar so you hear the noises everything but you absolutely wow and then you see all these people sitting there. So it was kind of very big moment and uh I said to Simon what did I say because you had to say obviously and he said don't worry you ticked all the boxes because I was so worried what did I say >> all I will say it's richly deserved it really is because with your cancer diagnosis midway through the course with all the things that you have faced and with all of the wonderful energy that you have got for developing this well-being room at the Kenton Canterbury Hospital. I think this is such a richly deserved award. It really, really, really is. You're you're phenomenal. You you absolutely are. >> Um now, now that you've won this, is this going to be something that you can capitalize on? Are you going to be able to, you know, sort of develop anything with this? >> Well, so we're not going to talk about the pipeline sort of what because I don't want to jinx it. No, >> a lot of work to go to and nothing official yet. Okay. >> But I would like to obviously >> use this in a way to to help me. Mhm. >> Obviously, as you know, I'm practicing myself with the coaching. I also do Reiki and and other um things, but together with my husband, we created Hulkin holistic health and complimentary medicine clinic. >> There we go everybody, you heard this. If you want to go and get a brilliant treatment including reflexology of course, go to Hawing Holistic Healthcare Clinic. >> Yes. and where [laughter] thank you for that. No, so obviously this showing Do you know what I think this is more for reminding me how powerful is the holistic approach and practice and I can already see when people come to us because my husband also does uh other therapies. He he does the which I tell you when I married him that was the best well-being plan I have signed up for. [laughter] >> Oh brilliant >> because obviously he does yoga not here but in in community center he does breath work which this is what I needed through my diagnosis. >> Um he does manual lymphatic drainage particularly for cancer patient and cancer for cancer patient um massage. So it's all coming together and I think again winning this award reminded me and I see when people coming out of from here how powerful it is. Yeah, absolutely. >> To to do the mind, body and spirit there is you can't separate it. There will be something missing. So >> yes, I'm hoping that I can particularly that um wow, what can I say about complimentary medical association? They fantastic. They're really fantastic and they they look after me as well. So, and they offer so many things and obviously CPD programs and courses which I have to keep my hands off at the moment because I've got loads of things to do. >> You've got plenty to do. >> Yes. But there's loads of tempting, you know. Yeah. Um, >> so you would you would recommend this as um an association to join um for people that are interested in finding out what else is out there, >> what other support there is because of course the AO is absolutely fabulous for technologists, but this offers many many more avenues to explore, doesn't it? >> Yes, absolutely. and they organize great networking events and like I said loads of loads of different um courses and CPD courses and you know long-term courses and they just lovely people and you know the healing and their health is around kind people so is creating around kindness and that's what they are. Yeah, >> they really are. And I mean, every practitioner I think I've met, even yourself, you know, [laughter] we are kind people. >> Yes. And in fact, that's the thing. We we we should be by nature, shouldn't we? >> Yes. >> Because we, you know, we have that caring attitude. Yeah. That's wonderful. So going a little bit backwards when you said like the statement I've made working from you know for NHS and is coming from me because um well I want to make it my mission really that to re teach the habit of the staff and the student to learn how to look after themselves because as we know we you know message to myself we can't pour from an empty [laughter] cup. >> [snorts] >> Uh but it's so important these days because we are so busy, we are so short and and it's so important to look after ourselves. And it's not selfish because a lot of people like oh and we think we're super women and super men because we working for the health and we providing health. >> No, we need to look after ourselves first so we can look after others. That is an excellent analogy for everybody to remember that you cannot pour from an empty cup. I think that's such a good statement of honor. It really, really is. And we do need to remember that if we're not looking after ourselves, we're then not in a good position to look after our clients. So, it is common sense, isn't it? >> Yes, it is. But, you know, we don't follow sometimes common sense. >> Oh, no. No. This is true. Life gets in the way and stuff happens, doesn't it? >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Ivon, it has been a delight talking to you. Last question. So, if there was somebody that had a student, they were wanting to get them on this short list. Do you know how your other tutor got this done? Well, she contacted the CMA and uh they do every year I believe nominations, >> right? >> And depends which category because there's plenty of categories, not just students, there is for practitioners, for uh suppliers, for loads. Best thing is to get on to the CMA website and >> put that nomination in. Yes, you can nominate yourself. >> Easy as that. Brilliant. Brilliant. Ivonor, it has been a delight. It's been an inspiration chatting to you about this. I'm so so so pleased for you that you've won this award. And basically, I mean, this really really does show you are now one in thousands because, you know, you you've you've won this over the top. I mean, of just the 800 nominations and then you think of all the hundreds and hundreds of other students that weren't nominated. This is just phenomenal. Absolutely amazing. It really really is. So, well done you. >> Thank you. >> It couldn't have happened to a better person. >> Oh, >> and if if you want to have a great great treatment, you get go and see her at Hawing. I can recommend her personally because Avonor has worked on my feet as well and she's blooming amazing. >> Oh, [laughter] thank you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. >> Okay, so everybody stay well, stay safe and see you next time on another episode of Wednesday's Reflexology Wisdom. Bye-bye. >> Bye.