Reflexology for Total Relaxation
Posted by
Nirmala N.
Looking for a new way to treat your ailments in one fell swoop? Then you might want to try out reflexology, a technique that dates all the way back to ancient China.
Reflexology was pioneered in the west in 1913 by Dr. William Fitzgerald, who insisted that reflex areas on the hands and feet were directly connected to areas and organs in the body--and that tension in certain parts of the foot mirrored problems in other parts of the body.
"It's a complementary therapy, like acupuncture," said Avital Weiss, a reflexologist and certified massage therapist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "It's designed to heal the person, not just get rid of the symptoms."
Reflexology has been thought to restore and maintain the body's equilibrium--it's also good for counteracting stress, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, and other problems.
A reflexologist uses her hands to apply pressure to the feet and can detect changes in points on the feet, which may affect a corresponding organ in the body. Reactions after a treatment range from a sense of relaxation to one of lethargy, but it's all part of the process of healing, said Weiss.
"It is a system that helps the body to correct and strengthen itself and it improves nerves and blood supply over time," said Weiss.
A study from the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Oregon, tested the results of walking on a cobblestone mat--a tradition rooted in reflexology--with 45 minute sessions three times a week over eight weeks. The elderly participants showed an improvement in mental well-being and a reduction in blood pressure and stress levels.
While reflexology is enjoying an introduction to spa environments, Weiss said that "a reflexologist is neither a doctor nor a massage therapist. One of the tenets of reflexology is that we don't prescribe or diagnose, so individuals with persistent pain or chronic disease would be advised to see their doctors."
Reflexology for Total Relaxation
Posted by Nirmala N.
Looking for a new way to treat your ailments in one fell swoop? Then you might want to try out reflexology, a technique that dates all the way back to ancient China. Reflexology was pioneered in the west in 1913 by Dr. William Fitzgerald, who insisted that reflex areas on the hands and feet were directly connected to areas and organs in the body--and that tension in certain parts of the foot mirrored problems in other parts of the body. "It's a complementary therapy, like acupuncture," said Avital Weiss, a reflexologist and certified massage therapist in Santa Fe, New Mexico. "It's designed to heal the person, not just get rid of the symptoms." Reflexology has been thought to restore and maintain the body's equilibrium--it's also good for counteracting stress, sleep disorders, hormonal imbalances, chronic pain, and other problems. A reflexologist uses her hands to apply pressure to the feet and can detect changes in points on the feet, which may affect a corresponding organ in the body. Reactions after a treatment range from a sense of relaxation to one of lethargy, but it's all part of the process of healing, said Weiss. "It is a system that helps the body to correct and strengthen itself and it improves nerves and blood supply over time," said Weiss. A study from the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Oregon, tested the results of walking on a cobblestone mat--a tradition rooted in reflexology--with 45 minute sessions three times a week over eight weeks. The elderly participants showed an improvement in mental well-being and a reduction in blood pressure and stress levels. While reflexology is enjoying an introduction to spa environments, Weiss said that "a reflexologist is neither a doctor nor a massage therapist. One of the tenets of reflexology is that we don't prescribe or diagnose, so individuals with persistent pain or chronic disease would be advised to see their doctors."