Reflexology

NATURALPATHWAYSAuburn,MA

WhatisReflexology?

Reflexologyisaprotocolofmanualtechniques,suchasthumbandfinger-walking,hookandbackupandrotating-on-a-point;appliedtospecificreflexareaspredominantlyonthefeetandhands.

Thesetechniquesstimulatethecomplexneuralpathwayslinkingbodysystems,supportingthebody’seffortstofunctionoptimally.

Theeffectivenessofreflexologyisrecognizedworldwidebyvariousnationalhealthinstitutionsandthepublicatlargeasadistinctcomplementarypracticewithintheholistichealthfield.

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HistoryofReflexologyOverview

Reflexologywasdevelopedintheearlypartofthe20thcenturybyAmericanmedicalprofessionals,Dr.WilliamFitzgeraldMD,Dr.ShelbyRileyMD,andphysiotherapistEuniceIngham.

Whilethereisevidenceoftherapeuticfootandhandworkoveramultitudeofculturesandtimeperiods,Reflexologyasdeveloped,namedandpracticedisofAmericanmedicaloriginandisnotanAsianBodyworkTherapy.

Reflexologyhasitsownhistory,theory,vocabularyandtechnique.

Incountriesacrosstheglobe,Reflexologyisconsideredanalliedhealthdisciplineandisoftenrecommendedbymedicaldoctorsinsupportofconventionalmedicaltreatment.

NationallyRecognizedReflexologyhasstate,nationalandinternationalorganizations,recognizedprofessionaleducationalstandards,codeofethics,standardsofpractice,establishedscopeofpractice,recognizededucationalinstitutionsandindependenteducatorsandthreenationalcertifyingboards.Membersoftheseassociationsmeetthehighesteducationalstandardsintheindustryandexceedthestandardssetforthbythethreenationalcertifyingbodies.

Reflexologyisrecognizedasalegitimate,standalone,non-invasivecomplementaryhealthmodalityby

• NationalCancerInstitute• NationalCenterofComplementaryandIntegrative

Health-NIH

AndDefinedbyresolutionbyNationalFederationofWomenLegislators

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ReflexologyEverywhereReflexologyprofessionalspracticeinavarietyofsettings

TechniqueforSolarPlexus

Integrativeandfunctionalmedicinepractices

Workplaces

Wellnesscenters

Spas

Fitnesscentersandgyms

Hospitals

Rehabilitationfacilities

Chiropracticandacupuncturepractices

Retirementcommunities

Hospice

Privatestudiopractices

HowDoesReflexologyWorkCurrently,thereisnotadefinitiveexplanationofthemechanismofactionforReflexology;however,onetheoryisAutonomic-SomaticIntegrationTheory.

Autonomic-SomaticIntegrationTheory

UndertheAutonomic-SomaticIntegrationTheory,theapplicationofalternatingpressuretothefeet,handsandearscausespredictablereflexiveactionswithinthenervoussystem.

Thistypeofalternatingtouchengagestheparasympatheticnervoussystemwhichslowsbreathingandheartrate,inducingadeepstateofrelaxation.

“Therapeutictouchstimulatesthesensoryandproprioceptivenervefibersoftheskinandunderlyingtissues,andthesemessagespassalongtheafferentfiberstothespinalchord.Fromthereitisconceivablethatthesestimulimaydispersethroughthecentralandautonomicnervoussystems–producingvariouseffectsinanyzonessuppliedfromthesamesegmentofthespinalchord.…Suchreactionsarecalledreflexeffects”

Dr.FrancesTappan,1998,leadingresearcherandauthorontheeffectsoftouchtherapies

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Reflexologyvs.Massage

ReflexologyMassage

AprofessionallytrainedMassagetherapistsmayhaveaReflexologisthas200ormorebasicknowledgeofreflexologyhoursofreflexology-onlyeducation.with8-30hoursoftraining.

Afootorhandmassagethatusessomereflexologytechniquesisasignificantlydifferentexperiencethana

reflexologysessionfromaprofessionallytrainedReflexologist.

ReflexologyMassage

ReflexologyutilizesverylighttoThemassagetherapistusingmoderatetouchontheskin’smoderatetodeeppressurewillsurfacetoinducerelaxationusingutilizeavarietyoftechniquesunique-to-reflexologyinvolvingfingers,hands,thumbandfingertechnique.forearmsandelbows.

Thoughmanyofthebenefitsarethesame,massageisbasedonthetherapeuticmanipulationofthesofttissues(fascia,muscles,tendons,andligaments),superficialand

deep,overtheentirethebody.

Reflexologyvs.Massage

ReflexologyMassage

ThereflexologyclientremovesThemassageclientisusuallyonlyshoesandsockstounclothed,butdraped,experienceareflexologysession.duringthemassage.

Reflexologyisprimarilyastress-reductiontechnique.

Manyofourhealthissuescanbedirectlylinkedtostress.Thelong-termactivationofthestress-responsesystem—andthesubsequentoverexposuretocortisolandotherstresshormones—candisruptyourbody’sprocesses.

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TheReflexologySessionWhatcanoneexpect

Usually,asessionbeginswithaclienthealthintakeandinterview.Youmaybeaskedtosignaconsentform.Yourreflexologistwillexplainwhattoexpectinthesessionandansweranyquestionsyoumayhave.S/hewillalsoinformyouthatreflexologydoesnottreatspecificillnessesandisnotasubstituteformedicaltreatment.

Thesessiontakesplacewiththeclientfullyclothed,exceptforsocksandshoes,whilereclininginachairorlyingonatherapeutictable.Thepractitionerwillbeginbycleaningandassessingyourfeetforopenwounds,rashes,sores,plantarwartsorbunionsandwillaskyouaboutanyfootorlegpain.Oncecomplete,thesessionwillbegin.

TheapplicationofReflexologyshouldnotbepainfulorleavebruisingordiscomfortafterasession.Reflexologyisgenerallyappliedusinglighttomoderatetouchwiththefingersandthumbs,nottools.Thepractitionershouldmakeeveryefforttoutilizetheappropriatepressureforeachindividual.Sincewegenerallydon’tspendtimehavingourfeet/hands/earstouched,duringasessiononemaynoticeunexpectedsensitivity,whichmayduetofootwear,usageorclothing;orthesensitivitymaybeanindicationofwherethebodyisholdingtension.

Areflexologysessioncanrangeintimefrom30mins.to90mins.Dependingonthetrainingandexperienceofthepractitioner,expecttopaybetween$60-$150+foranhoursession.

BeanInformedConsumerResearchYourReflexologist

CurrentlyintheCommonwealthofMassachusettsthereisnostatelawgoverningthepracticeofReflexology,thoughmanytownsandcitieshavetheirownregulationsthatvaryinrequirements.

Therearesomebusinessesthatsaytheyoffer“reflexology”and“bodywork”butareactuallyfrontsforhumantrafficking.Theirstaffdoesnothaveformaltraininginreflexology,anatomy,physiology,pathologyoruniversalprecautions.Thispracticenotonlymisrepresentstheservicestheyclaimtoprovide;butalsoputsthehealthandwellbeingofthepublicatrisk.

Whenselectingareflexologist,lookforthefollowingkeyelements:

• Practitionerhasacertificateofcompletionordiplomafromanaccreditedschoolorrecognizededucator.

• S/heisamemberofstateand/ornationalreflexologyassociationssuchastheMassachusettsAssociationofReflexologyortheReflexologyAssociationofAmerica.

• Practitionerswillhavecredentialsandprofessionalaffiliationsinplainvieworeasilyaccessibleforreview.

• Sessionsaregenerallyavailablebyappointmentonly.

• Priortothesession,theclientwillbeaskedabouttheirlifestyleandcompleteaconfidentialhealthhistoryincludingalistofmedications.ClientmayalsobeaskedtosignanInformedConsent.

• Theclientremainsfullyclothedexceptfortheremovalofsocksandshoes.

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WhoWeAre

NaturalPathwaysisafamilybusinessownedandoperatedbyKathyKnightandDawnSkoglund.TheyreceivedcertificationfromtheAmericanReflexologyCertificationBoardin2004.

ContactUs

NaturalPathwaysisavailablebyappointmentonly.Formoreinformationorquestions,pleasecontactusbyphoneoremail.

Phone:508-864-0954Email:info@naturalpathways-reflexology.comWeb:www.naturalpathways-reflexology.com

NaturalPathways12OaklandDrive,Auburn,MA01501