All About Reflexology Associations
March 31, 2010
When it comes to getting a career as a reflexologist, everybody accepts that one of the most important steps that you can take is to get certified by the American Reflexology Certification Board. Few people realize, however, how useful it can be to become a member of a reflexology association. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of why you should join a reflexology association if you are a reflexologist and we’ll let you know about a reflexology association that is currently accepting members so that you can get a basic idea of what being a member can help with.
After getting certified as a reflexologist, you have all of the tools that you need to begin your own reflexology practice. So why should you take the time and money to join a reflexology association? There are many reasons why joining an association can be beneficial to your career. Clients will be appreciative that you are doing all that you can to further your knowledge of reflexology, and showing that you spent time and money doing so will always show your clients that you have a high level of professionalism. Reflexology associations are one of the principle ways that the practice can grow as a whole – by associating yourself with other reflexologists in your area, you will be able to trade ideas and research information in order to help each other to learn more about the art.
Many associations offer resources such as newsletters which will help you to keep your knowledge of reflexology up to date so that you can provide the best possible service to your clients. Also, the bigger that reflexology associations get, the more power that they will have to influence public policy regarding the therapy. With only two states requiring licensing for reflexologists, it is important to show that you are doing your part to further the science.
Many reflexology associations operate at the state level. As an example, the Arizona Reflexology Association is based in Phoenix, Arizona. In order to become a member of the Arizona Reflexology Association, you will need to have completed your national certification for reflexology. If you do not have a reflexology certification but you still wish to join, you need to demonstrate that you have been performing reflexology for at least five years prior to membership application. A fifty dollar membership fee is also required to join, but the benefits to joining the association are numerous. Once a professional member, you are allowed to put the association seal on all of your work, giving you a further degree of professionalism in your reflexology practice. Also, you can vote on association decisions and attend events sponsored by the organization.
Clearly, any reflexologist who is looking to add a high level of professionalism to their practice should turn to a reflexology association. If you are already a certified reflexologist, you shouldn’t have much trouble joining one of the associations and the positive effects that it will have on your business will far outweigh the costs.
All About Zone Therapy
March 7, 2010
Reflexology is a type of medical procedure that involves the manipulation of the nerve endings that are located in the feet and the hands in order to achieve relief from symptoms which may occur all over the body. Reflexology is a practice that is much in line with that of zone therapy; in that respect, we’ve created this article in order to help to inform you about what zone therapy is and how it can be useful as a medical procedure.
Zone therapy is a practice that has its roots in ancient Egypt. Hieroglyphs have shown that ancient Egyptians were aware that manipulating the hands and the feet can be useful when it comes to achieving an anesthetic quality elsewhere in the body. In zone therapy, the body is divided into ten separate and distinct zones. A map of zone therapy points shows that the practice separates the human body vertically into five zones on the right side of the body and five zones on the left. The zones are identical on both sides of the body, but are linked with different parts of the body. These separate zones correspond to different parts of the body, as the nerve endings that are found within the feet and the hands lead to all of the organs inside our bodies. One of the easiest places to manipulate these nerve endings are in the fingers and the toes, where the nerve endings are the most easily accessible to the zone therapy practitioner. To that end, each of the zones corresponds to certain fingers and toes that can be manipulated in order to achieve certain effects. As an example, the 4th zone on the left side of the body corresponds to the ring finger of the left hand and the fourth toe on the left foot.
Manipulating the nerve endings located in these areas are said to have a positive effect on the brain, eyes, lungs, breasts, large intestines and ovaries. Gentle circular rolling motions are used in order to manipulate the nerves and to achieve the anesthetic result. Pinching is also necessary in certain circumstances in order to properly manipulate the nerve endings. Areas are generally manipulated for between a half of a minute and five minutes in order to achieve the full effect.
One great thing about zone therapy is that it is a type of alternative medicine that you can learn in your own home and use at will. Many people regularly practice zone therapy on themselves in order to keep their health in optimal condition. Since practitioners contend that zone therapy can be useful when it comes to helping the body’s stress to be released, it can be of great merit when it comes to keeping you in good health and spirits. If you’d like to learn more about reflexology or zone therapy, there are plenty of resources online that are at your disposal. You can buy books or DVDs that show you exactly how to get the kind of results that you need out of the practices.
Basic Reflexology Information
February 23, 2010
In modern day society, many people choose to undergo whatever their doctors tell them will be the best for their health. Alternatively, however, there are many different forms of therapy that can offer results but are less widely known than types of Western medicine. In this article, we’ll help you to learn more about reflexology so that you can find out whether or not this special type of alternative therapy can be useful in helping you to get over the problems that you are having with your health.
First, we’ll go over some of the basics to give you a better idea of what reflexology is. It is sometimes referred to as zone therapy, and more often than not, it is used as a type of complementary therapy to conventional medical treatments. It is very different from other forms of therapy, as it focuses upon the manipulation of the nerves that are found in the feet, hands and the ears in order to help other parts of the body. The reflexologist generally uses their thumbs and fingers to manipulate specific ‘zones’ located on the feet, hands, and eras in order to address a specific problem. Different zones of the feet, hands, and ears are known to correspond to helping specific different parts of the body, and many reflexologists keep charts that help to illustrate exactly which parts of the feet that they should focus on in order to treat a specific problem.
There are numerous positive health effects that individuals report after they receive reflexology treatment. Amongst the many benefits include a decreased level of stress, as well as a higher level of energy, increased circulation, and a boosted immune system. People claim that the practice can also be helpful when it comes to eliminating or lessening symptoms of PMS, as well as helping to assist with lessening the pain that headaches can cause. Those who suffer from cancer pain and victims of multiple sclerosis also may find relief from receiving treatment from a reflexologist.
There is no real scientific consensus on why reflexology is so helpful in benefiting the health of different parts of the body. Some contend that the practice works by helping to correct energy levels throughout the body. Others believe that the manipulation of the nerves in the feet helps to break up stress patterns that may be present in other parts of the body since there are around seven thousand nerves in the feet alone. Still others claim that reflexology techniques help the body to release neurotransmitters in order to help the individual to feel better. Although there are many different hypothesis, science has been unable to accurately explain how reflexology works as of the writing of this article.
Hopefully, this article has helped to give you a good basic idea of what reflexology is and the types of problems that it may be able to remedy. Remember that reflexology is often used as a complementary therapy, meaning that you should not cast aside Western medicine, and instead use reflexology as additional treatment to the care that you are already receiving.
Foot Reflexology
August 12, 2008
Foot Reflexology: Not Just Your Basic Massage
Foot reflexology dates back to over 5000 years starting from the east and slowly traveling to the west where it made its debut in Russia. The ancients were aware of the importance of good foot care, evidence shows in hieroglyphics on the tomb of Ankhmahor, the chief overseer and possible physician to the great Pharoahs where foot diagrams reflecting modern day foot reflexology points are mapped out. We can see similar diagrams of the Hindu god Vishnu feet where Sanskrit symbols are precisely located in modern day foot reflexology zones.
Modern day foot reflexology is often accredited to work of Dr. William Fitzgerald and associates at the Riley School of Chiropractic in Washington, in 1913. Doctors Fitzgerald, Bowen and Starr White wrote about their work in this new field of foot massage. They discovered how certain areas or zones in the foot corresponded with various body organs. Dr. Fitzgerald founded zone therapy and is accredited with producing the first foot reflexology charts.
The foot reflexology technique is designed to massage the foot and help you relax as well as stimulate other parts of the body. But it is much more than just a foot massage as this approach to holistic medicine does not only concentrate upon the foot but reflexologists concentrate on the person as a whole. The reflexologist will work with people, find out the different health issues facing them, empathize, support and attempt to therapeutically correct the body imbalance caused by years of stress and strain upon various organs and systems. Reflexologists work with body and soul and claim to touch upon the areas upon which “modern medicine” so often neglects.
Advanced foot reflexology goes beyond foot massage; it incorporates the mind, body and soul. Reflexologists maintain that by doing a foot reading they can ascertain a person’s life style and general wellbeing, they profess that, “The mental, physical and psychological history of the person is spelled out with such accuracy.” Sometimes a person comes to a reflexologist with simply the mention that, “I do not feel well” and the reflexologist begins to analyze the foot to see where the body imbalance originates. Some common indicators of stress within the body can be found by detecting, calluses, bunions, corns and knobby toes, other indications include an unusual tenderness experienced when touching the feet. At this point, the reflexologist will target the stress areas and corresponding organs within the body.
Besides going to a reflexologist, you can obtain information on the web, through your library or bookstore as well. Several excellent books are on the market, one that is highly recommended is The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology by Barbara Kunz, an expert in the area of reflexology. This book is easily found on amazon.com.
Always remember that if the body is experiencing an imbalance through foot reflexology this imbalance can be reversed or corrected for most common ailments. A serious note of caution, foot reflexology is to be used in conjunction with standard medical practice and should never be considered as an application that can be used alone especially if one is suffering from major medical conditions.
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