Yvette Eastman 1938 – 2012
by Rosemary Phillips
• Yvette Eastman was the founder and force behind Touchpoint Institute of Reflexology and Kinesthetics (formerly Canadian Institute of Reflexology) and a pioneer, teacher, author, filmmaker, risk-taker, humanitarian, go-getter, mother, wife, animal and nature lover and friend to many.
Yvette has left behind a huge void in the lives of her family and friends and the thousands of people who have taken her courses in reflexology and kinesthetics or received the benefit of her generous healing hands and heart.
Yvette was intensely passionate about what she did. She believed right from the get-go; in 1975, the healing properties of reflexology restored her son’s hearing. With dedication, determination, innovation, tenacity, drive and creativity, Yvette took up the banner and ran with it for 37 years, forever learning, creating new techniques, sharing, giving, teaching and healing. Wherever Yvette went, she promoted reflexology: from the foot mobile (the huge foot on top of her van) to radio, television and psychic fairs (1980s).
Yvette organized Vancouver’s first holistic health fair in the late 1980s and advertised with Common Ground from its inception in 1982. She produced books, CDs and videos and at the time of her passing, she was in the process of developing webcasts to offer her certification courses on the internet. Reflexology and Yvette went/go hand in hand, or should we say, foot-and-hand in hand.
Yvette was born in Belgium and raised in New York City where she experienced several career changes, from psychologist to daycare supervisor. In 1971, when searching for a life away from the Big Apple, she moved to BC with husband Lance. For a time, they were lighthouse keepers. Son Chris was born and Lance’s daughter Samantha moved in after her mother died. After settling into their hideaway home in the forest under the trees in Belcarra, Yvette’s journey with reflexology began, not just for humans, but also for animals. Who could forget Hooper the dog? A walk with Yvette would usually involve several four-legged friends running alongside. So it comes as no surprise that she not only wrote and produced some of the most up-to-date and state-of-the-art manuals on reflexology for humans – beginning with Touchpoint Reflexology: The First Steps – but she also created Pawspoint Reflexology For Animals.
Yvette was exceptional and inventive in everything she did, not just professionally, but also personally, from raising her family to embracing friends and inviting them into her unique life. Her presence will be missed by many, but her legacy continues for Yvette has sown many seeds.
Yvette’s blog continues to be maintained at www.yvetteeastman.squarespace.com Visitors to the blog are invited to post stories of their experiences with Yvette.
Rosemary Phillips is a freelance writer and certified reflexologist living in Christina Lake, BC. She is the author of the children’s story and song One Seed. www.quillsquotesandnotes.com