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Bosses at the prison are advertising for two part-time holistic therapists to give prisoners the kind of treatments offered by health and beauty salons in the city.United Kingdom Detention Services (UKDS), which runs the £65 million prison, in Saville Road, Westwood, plans to offer the calming effects of reflexology, aromatherapy and Indian head massage to the 216 men and 95 women who are currently behind bars in the modern jail.Today, however, Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson, said: “It is wrong prisoners are treated in this way. Are they using it as a Butlin’s holiday camp?..”But holistic therapist Brian Fossett, of Garden of Eden Holistic Therapies, Lincoln Road, Peterborough, said: ”Reflexology actually works to balance the body. This can help to reduce anger or emotional problems. An holistic approach to health can help to balance the whole person and those tendencies.”People may be doing time for a crime but it is of no benefit to anyone for these people to be stressed. There is no point in sending people out of prison full of anger and stress, it just increases the chance of re-offending.”
Dr Julian Whitaker’s Health & Healing Newsletter – Reflexology for Health
In the September 2006 Vol. 16, No. 9 issue of Dr. Julian Whitaker’s Health & Healing newsletter on page 5 he writes:
One of our patients’ favorite therapies here at the clinic is reflexology, which involves placing pressure on specific “reflex” points in the feet, hands, and ears. Studies have proven a wide range of benefits for this therapy including faster wound healing, improved circulation, reductions in sleep and mood problems, and declines in gastrointestinal symptoms, to name just a few.
One small study also revealed that reflexology may be useful for hypertension and high triglycerides. A group of patients received two weekly treatments of professional reflexology for six weeks then self-administered foot reflexology twice a week for another four weeks. At the study”s conclusion, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels fell markedly, compared to a control group, and quality of life improved as well.
Although reflexology is not a massage per se, it feels wonderful and has profound healing and relaxing effects. To receive treatment at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, visit whitakerwellness.com or call (800) 488-1500.
Source: Dr. Julian Whitaker’s Health & Healing newsletter September 2006 Vol. 16, No. 9 issue page 5
Reflexology back in vogue
As young Shanghainese discover the health benefits of foot reflexology, this ancient traditional Chinese treatment is coming back into vogue in a big way, writes Xu Wei.
At the spacious room of Shu Ya liang Zi Foot Therapy, a professional healthcare chain, customers enjoy a 90-minute, 88-yuan (US$10.6) service which includes soaking the feet in a special bath steeped with 28 kinds of Chinese herbal medicines and a hand-and-foot massage. It’s a therapy that leaves customers in a state of utter relaxation, both physically and mentally.
“Foot therapy is an ideal treatment, advocated by the World Health Organization,” says Li Xueren, director of the chain. “With people’s rising awareness of the quality of their lives, we have witnessed a considerable increase in our customers, who are eager to gain the health benefits from the bottom of their feet.”
The majority of its 22,000 permanent customers, according to Li, are white-collar workers who are obsessed with the pressure of work and eager to find out an outlet for release. (Shanghai Daily News 5th April 2004)
Airport Reflexology
Updated 9/27/2006 7:42 AM ET
By Robert DiGiacomo, Special for USA TODAY
Between terrorist warnings, crowded flights and tight connections, traveling by plane can stress the body and mind.
But thanks to a new generation of airport-based spas, it’s possible to relax — even find a bit of serenity — before you dash off to the gate.
“The best thing you can do is condition yourself for the trip and prepare your body for the journey,” says Moreton Binn, CEO of XpresSpa, which operates spa facilities in several airports, including John F. Kennedy International, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Unlike their city- or resort-based counterparts, airport spas generally don’t require an appointment and offer streamlined services geared to the flier in a time crunch.
Here’s a guide to facilities at some airports around the country:
•Boston Logan. Jetsetter Mini Spa (www.jetsetterspa.com) offers facials, manicures, pedicures and massage. The Journeyman ($85), for men, combines a manicure or pedicure, a facial, brow waxing and 10-minute chair massage. The Red Eye ($40) is a 25-minute hydrating treatment designed to reduce puffiness and make skin appear younger. The Hilton Health Club and Spa (www.bostonlogan.hilton.com/healthclubandspa) features cardio equipment and weights, whirlpool and a day spa; treatments include a 30-minute full-body massage ($45) and the 30-minute Happy Feet ($50).
•Chicago O’Hare. Like its Boston airport counterpart, the Hilton Athletic Club (www.hilton.com) is a full-service gym with workout equipment, lap pool, steam room and sauna. Swedish or deep-tissue massage costs $50 or $100 for 30 or 60 minutes. The Backrub Hub at Terminal Three can soothe the savage back with 10- to 30-minute chair massages ($15-$35) by licensed therapists.
•Denver. A Massage Inc. on concourses A (303-342-6821) and B (303-342-6821) offers chair massages (10 to 30 minutes, $13-$36), as well as full-body table Swedish or deep-tissue table massages (one hour for $72).
•Detroit. In a serenely minimalist white and chrome environment, OraOxygen Wellness Spa (www.oraoxygen.net) features a menu of traditional massage and facial options, but what’s unique are oxygen stations purporting to stop jet lag, soothe the nervous system and help you sleep better; a 15-minute session costs $18. Showers ($15 or $10 with treatment) also are available.
•Indianapolis. With a location in Terminal C and four other kiosks, Passport Travel Spa (www.passporttravelspa.com) specializes in fast-track treatments. Massages (chair only) start at $18 for 15 minutes. Foot massage: $1.50 a minute.
•New York John F. Kennedy. XpresSpa (www.xpresspa.com), which operates its flagship facility here and is at five other airports, offers services on the go in a traditional spa atmosphere with wood floors, indirect lighting and live bamboo trees. Clients can receive several treatments simultaneously while relaxing in custom-automated massage chairs. Services include a 30-minute seaweed facial ($60) and a traditional Swedish massage ($60 for 30 minutes, $110 for one hour). Sites: JFK (Terminal 1, 718-751-2235); LaGuardia (scheduled to open this year); Philadelphia International (Concourse C, 215-365-2515); Pittsburgh (Terminal A, 412-472-5136); Raleigh-Durham (Terminals A and C; scheduled to open this year); and San Francisco (International Terminal Boarding Area A, 650-821-1042).
•Newark Liberty. D-partures Spa (www.departurespa.com) at Terminals B and C is a full-service facility offering everything from haircuts and blowouts to manicure-pedicures and massage. The Weary Traveler ($85) is a 45-to-60-minute treatment combining a pedicure with a heated massage, 10-minute foot rub and paraffin treatment, plus extra time for a power nap, depending on your flight schedule. A 10-minute chair massage goes for $10.
•Seattle-Tacoma. Massage Bar (www.massagebar.com, 206-985-7177) is a chain with locations here (C concourse and North-Satellite), as well as Columbus International in Ohio (concourse B), Nashville (B and C concourses), Newark Liberty (A Terminal and A-3 Connector) and Washington Dulles International (B concourse).
Available are chair massages as single (15 minutes for $20) and double shots (30 minutes for $35), as well as 10-minute foot reflexology sessions ($12); prices are slightly higher at Newark and Dulles. Each site also features a happy hour with $1 discounts on services; check the website for details.
•Vancouver, British Columbia. At two locations within the airport and a third at the Fairmont Airport Hotel, Absolute Spa (www.absolutespa.com) caters to travelers seeking a bit of luxury, with a full menu of services from a haircut and facial to hydrotherapy and massage.
The Flight Delay Package ($75 Canadian) pairs a 15-minute oxygen treatment with a 15-minute chair massage and 30-minute manicure. Those in a hurry can opt for a 20-minute Circulator Anti-Swelling Leg Massage ($30 Canadian). Locations: Level 3, Domestic Departures; Level 3, U.S. Departures Gates; Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel, Level 3 (604-248-2772).
Queen goes for a Yoga & Reflexology doc
The Queen has a new found love for the East as she seems all taken in by the ancient Hindu ritual of practicing Yoga!
According to The Sun, the Queen has a new pal in the form of Dr Timothy Evans, who favours alternative medicine and has currently taken over as the Royal Family’s GP. Evans, who favours alternative medicine, offers Chinese herbal medicine, aromatherapy, reflexology, acupuncture and yoga.
According to sources, Prince Charles is thought to have recommended the doctor to his mum and palace insiders believe the Queen also has a keen interest in alternative therapies. (London – February 23, 2004 ANI)
Pope John Paul II received Foot Reflexology
On November 26, 2003, on the recommendation of the Taiwan ambassador to the Vatican, Reverend Josef Eugster, who is originally from Switzerland but who has lived in Taiwan for decades, made his first visit into the bedroom of Pope John Paul II. Reverend Eugster situated himself at the feet of Pope John Paul II and began giving the pope a foot massage. “I told the pope that foot reflexology is the way that I spread the gospel in Taiwan,” Reverend Eugster said.
“When I was massaging his feet, I was not nervous in the least. It was only later that day after I had left the pope that it dawned on me that I had just given a massage to someone who I revered. It was at that time that I became so excited that I could not asleep that evening,” he said. Reverend Eugster is well known throughout Taiwan for his method of spreading the word of Catholicism via foot reflexology. The reverend’s keen skills in foot massage have long set him apart from other members of the Church throughout Taiwan. However, never in his wildest dreams did he think that one day his massaging talents would be precisely what would get him through the doors of the Vatican in to see the pope.
In relating the story, Reverend Eugster said it all began with the recommendation that was provided by the Taiwan ambassador to the Vatican. In 2003, the ambassador took it upon himself to write a letter to the bishop that was responsible for taking care of the pope. In the letter, the ambassador wrote that there is a reverend in Taiwan who uses foot reflexology as a means to spread the word of the Church. He said that he hoped that the Vatican would give the reverend an opportunity to try and come to the aid of the pope. The ambassador wrote such a letter twice, but did not get any response. The third time he wrote to the bishop, however, he received a reply.
At the time, Reverend Eugster was in the Vatican attending a conference on depression. The first person to meet with him was quite a tall cardinal. To test out the reverend’s skills, the cardinal put out his feet and asked Reverend Eugster to give him a foot massage. After Reverend Eugster massaged the cardinal’s foot, he informed the cardinal of what he believed were the health problems the cardinal faced. The cardinal was extremely surprised that Reverend Eugster was able to discern his health issues simply through foot reflexology. After that experience, two other bishops came to see the reverend and once again he correctly identified the health problems facing the two of them. Having been successful on time occasions, Reverend Eugster finally was given the opportunity to have an audience with the pope.
“Actually, at the time what I was concerned about the most is that the pope for many years had been afflicted with diabetes as well as Parkinson’s disease. I worried that the bottom of his foot had lost a good portion of their ability to react. If this happened to be the case, there would be no way that I could be of any help,” Reverend Eugster said. “Luckily, when I began massaging the big toe of the pope, I noticed an expression on his face that indicated an ache. I then told the pope that this meant that he usually did not sleep well,” the reverend said. Reverend Eugster added that on that day, he spent about 20 or 30 minutes massaging the various pressure points on the soles of the pope’s feet. One by one, he explained to the pope in German about how the sensations from this or that pressure point indicated various problems, including problems associated with his vocal chords, spine and knees.
“The pope did not speak much during the time when I was massaging his feet. He only nodded or made short remarks indicating that he understand the explanations that I was providing him,” Reverend Eugster said. “I do not know whether there was anyone else thereafter who massaged the pope’s feet. However, the ambassador did tell me that two weeks later, the pope’s voice had improved quite a bit and that he was able to lift his head more than he had in the past. Reverend Eugster continues to perform foot massage and instruct others on the benefits of it. When asked if the experience of massaging the pope’s feet changed him in any way, Reverend Eugster said that at least now other people realize that there is nothing wrong with foot reflexology.
Date: 2005/04/04 11:34:16
SOURCE: Liberty Times
Editors Note: I have personally met and received Reflexology from Fr Josef Eugster and the word Reflexology and Massage are used interchangeably by Fr Josef.