What Is Reflexology?
Reflexology is unique for every person, because every person is unique.
Working on the hands and feet to help the body achieve health and wellness has been practiced around the globe since ancient times. It has been practiced from ancient India, Egypt, Tibet, China, and Asia. These traditions continue even today. Reflexology is a contemporary twentieth-century form of bodywork that is a complete healing system unto itself. People from all walks of life and from all around the world use reflexology for relaxation, pain relief, and better health. My goal as a reflexologist is to provide each client with an opportunity to experience the connection between the reflex areas in the feet and the rest of your body. While also stimulating the reflex areas in a particular way in order to provide an opportunity for your body to restore balance. As a reflexologist, I cannot treat, cure, diagnose, or advise. Reflexology is a non-invasive, complementary modality involving thumb and finger techniques to apply alternating pressure to reflexes, shown on the reflex maps of the body, located on the hands and feet. The theory of Reflexology is based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all body parts.
Reflexology is the scientific study of reflexes and the application of specific techniques that work reflexes in a particular way to produce a specific outcome. Byworking and stimulating those reflex areas (nerves) that lead back to a specific part, you can focus in on the areas that will help reduce stress. The chief outcome of reflexology is to relax the body in order to do the following:
Of course, there are many more things that reflexology assist with. Each foot has over 7,200 nerve endings. Nerve endings conduct nerve impulses through the peripheral nervous system to the spinal cord to the brain. This process produces an immediate reaction. It also mobilizes healing forces in the body.
Jesus Manzanares, a Spanish medical doctor, and the surgeonhas researched reflexology since the early 1980's. He has over 70,000 clinical cases. In one of the studies, he performed an electroencephalogram (EEG) which determined that reflexology changes brain waves. It concluded that the central nervous system is a mechanism for reflexology. Reflexology is a very relaxing, non-invasive, healing modality. It allows the body to enter the "rest and digest" and put your body into the rest and repair state, too. When you receive reflexology, it allows me to work on those specific reflex areas that lead back to parts of the body like the brain, head, inner ears, solar plexus (ignites the "fight or flight" mode), hypothalamus, eyes, sciatic nerve, and more.
The marvelous thing about reflexology is it automatically switches a person's nervous system from the sympathetic mode "fight or flight" to parasympathetic mode "rest and digest" which allows the body to rest and repair. While working with other clients I have noticed a significant change in mood, as well. Once the session starts, I see a change from stressed out, agitation, or nervousness, turn to peacefulness. It is because their bodies are experiencing the state of homeostasis - balance.
Anytime you receive reflexology, you are getting those nerves (reflexes) stimulated that lead back to every part of your body. When stimulated, it brings about the better nerve flow, blood flow, and circulation which in return will bring about a better function to that region, gland, or organ. Reflexology effects you from the inside out. When getting your hands and feet worked on this will produce a change in another part of the body. Reflexology evokes the natural healing powers inherent in the human body to help the body heal itself.
Make Reflexology a part of your regular health and wellness routine! Reflexology also helps with the release of endorphins, which is the body's natural feel-good hormones. And everybody wants to feel good!
Benefits of reflexology:
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Promotes balance and normalization of the body naturally
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Improve the flow of blood, nerve impulses, and bioelectrical energy throughout the body
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Allow the body to normalize, balance, and heal itself
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Reduces stress and brings about relaxation
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Improves circulation and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the cells
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Relaxes the body
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Reduces mental stress
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Promotes better sleep
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Improves circulation
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Strengthens the immune system
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Provides a feeling of well-being
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Increases blood and lymph circulation
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Speeds recovery from illness
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Stimulates the release of toxins
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Reduces chronic pain
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Impact on physiological measures
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Beneficial for post-operative recovery and pain reduction
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Adjunct to mental health care
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Complement to cancer care
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Easier birthing / delivery / post-partum recovery
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Increase energy levels
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Stimulated nerve function
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Positively impacts specific organs