As a child, Christopher Shirley never knew how to answer the question ”What do you want to be when you grow up?” In retrospect, it would have been a bit audacious of him to say “A wise man" despite his fascination with “magic”. However, nothing gives him more pleasure than sharing his knowledge and experience, especially in the field of reflexology and natural healing.

Your host, Christopher Shirley, founder of the Pacific Institute of Reflexology, has a professional background in counseling psychology. With a BA 1st class honors degree in Human Resources Development from York University, and two years post-graduate training in counseling psychology at the University of Victoria(1975), Chris relinquished his career in counseling to promote, practice and teach reflexology in 1978.

After enjoying a number of reflexology sessions with the late Laura Kennedy, Chris commenced his studies in reflexology in 1977 with Laura, who was chairperson of the education committee of the Reflexology Society of British Columbia. After studying with Laura he worked alongside her in an informal apprenticeship gaining valuable experience.

In 1978, Chris attended a seminar in the Ingham Method of Reflexology with Dwight Byers of the International Institute of Reflexology. In subsequent years, Chris repeated his attendance at this seminar gaining insight into the nuances of practicing reflexology.

When Laura Kennedy retired from teaching, at her invitation Chris enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to become a reflexology teacher. He recognised that he could more rapidly expand awareness of the benefits of reflexology by teaching and supporting others to practice it. “Reflexology is a little like a peach - you can only really appreciate it if you partake of it.”

Determined to move reflexology forward, May 1982 saw Chris establish the Reflexology Centre of Vancouver with a regular program of courses, a private practice, and an outreach educational program of lectures and speaking engagements. This was one of the first reflexology establishments in British Columbia.

Chris served as President of the Reflexology Association of British Columbia from 1985 - 1987 and succeeded in having reflexology entered in the Yellow Pages under its own heading of Reflexology, which made reflexology more accessible to the public - despite fierce opposition from the College of Physicians and Surgeons.

In 1989 he was certified to teach the Reflexology Association of Canada's courses which he taught until 1994.

In 1990 he became the founding president of the British Columbia Holistic Healing Association.

Having published his own "Reflexology Foot Chart" in 1990 he progressed to produce the "Recreational Reflexology" instructional video in 1992, which provided step-by-step guidance to a reflexology session - making reflexology availableto anyone for a very reasonable investment.

Chris attended an "Advanced Reflexology/Foot Manipulation" course with podiatrist Dr. Harvey Lampell in the United States in 1992, and in 1993 attended The American Academy of Reflexology "Hand and Ear Reflexology" and "Stress Management" courses with Bill Flocco to further his knowledge and understanding.

Chris conducted research at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 1995 to evaluate the effect of reflexology on the conductivity of the peripheral nervous system. And in 1996, Chris changed the name of his practice to the Pacific Institute of Reflexology and added the Advanced Holistic Foot Reflexology Course to the Institute's curriculum. He also published his "Reflexology Hand Chart".

In 1998, Chris developed this website with delight at the ability to make knowledge of reflexology readily accessible.

The Basic Holistic Hand Reflexology Certificate Course was offered by Chris for the first time in March 1999.  The "Reflexology Ear Charts" and the Basic Holistic Ear Reflexology Course were both introduced by Chris in 2003, thus providing practitioners with a wider range of reflexology modalities.

In 2006, Chris studied Reflexotherapy with Hanne Marquardt and Vertical Reflex Therapy with Lynne Booth. He also reproduced the "Recreational Reflexology” instructional video as "Foot Reflexology - A Step-By-Step Guide" as an instructional DVD.

In 2007, he studied Vitaflex with Tom Woloshyn, and, additional studies of Vertical Reflexology with Lynne Booth from England and reflexotherapy with Hanne Marquardt from Germany. He updated the basic and advanced reflexology courses to prepare students to write the Reflexology Association of British Columbia professional standard exam.

In 2008, Chris continued broadening his knowledge of reflexology attending more training courses: Ayurvedic Reflexology with Sharon Stathis, Advanced Reflexology Training (ART) with Anthony Porter, more Vertical Reflexology Therapy with Lynne Booth, and Cranial Sacral Reflexology with Martine Faure-Alderson.  Lynne Booth accepted Chris as a tutor for Vertical Reflexology Therapy, and he commenced teaching the VRT Basic and Advanced Courses in November 2008.

In 2009, Chris expanded the content of the Advanced Holistic Foot Reflexology Course by dividing the expanded content into two courses: the "Advanced Reflexology: Clinical Skills Course" which provides advanced training to practice reflexology as a clinical therapy for health conditions, and, the “Advanced Reflexology: Professional Skills Course” which prepares a practitioner to undertake the professional practice of reflexology.

In 2010, Chris sponsored Hagar Basis to visit from London, U.K. to teach Anthony Porter's Advanced Reflexology Training (ART) Course.

In 2013 Chris attended a "Roundabout the Spine" workshop with Dorthe Krogsgard and Peter Lund Frandsen, and in 2014 published a series of ten professional reflexology promotional brochures designed to assist practitioners communicate about the benefits of reflexology.

In 2017 Chris sponsored Dr. Jesus Manzanares to teach The Manzanares Method of Reflexology Science-Based Course. This course proved to be at the cutting edge of the modern development of reflexology and was well-received by all of the participants.

In 2019 Chris sponsored Carol Samuels to teach her workshop “Pain in Cancer Survivors” in Vancouver following her presentation and introduction at the Reflexology Association of British Columbia 50th Anniversary Celebration.

In 2020 Chris trained Haiming (Alex) Zhu to teach his courses in the Vancouver area, and, moved the head office of the Pacific Institute of Reflexology to Regina, Saskatchewan. He also rebuilt his website to be mobile-friendly.

Currently, Chris serves his clients, sponsors internationally acclaimed reflexology instructors, supports Haiming (Alex) Zhu teaching courses in Vancouver, and teaches courses in Regina, Saskatchewan. He also serves on the board as chair of Education Committee, and the Grievance Committee, for the Reflexology Association of British Columbia, and, continues to expand his knowledge of reflexology by attending training with acknowledged masters in the field.

Most recently, in his personal quest to bring reflexology into the mainstream of the public and medicine, Chris created the Reflexology Resources website to support professional reflexologists, students and anyone else interested with current information on the practice of reflexology: www.reflexologyresources.com Chris invites you to explore the many different sections of this website and to use the content in the way that you see fit.

Recognizing that humour is not only a powerful healer, but also a great aide to the learning process, Chris has earned a reputation for embellishing his teaching with his “old-fashioned” humour.

Chris is available for public speaking engagements, radio and television interviews, and, teaching courses for groups anywhere in the world. Chris boldly asserts:”Reflexology: The Core of Natural Medicine.”