On-Line Reflexology Training & Certification
Reflexology Educators, Mentors and Coaches since 1991
There is a brand new facebook page for the Lauren Slade Show – a series of podcasts on reflexology and health related issues.
Please visit the page, and listen to the series of podcasts on “Merging Science and Reflexology” and is “Reflexology Quackery?”
If you like the page you will get an on-air mention for your support. The new page can be found at http://www.LaurenSladeShow.com/
By Krogsgaard, Dorte; Poulsen, Edith; Kyhl, Torben; Bo Lund, Jens; and, Eriksen, Leila.
Twenty children, aged 5 – 10 years, who had a minimum of 3 night time bed wettings per week were treated with foot reflexology alone. Thirty-minute treatments were administered twice weekly for four weeks (with a minimum of 2 days between treatments), followed by weekly treatments for seven weeks. Parents filled out an observation questionnaire during treatment and for one month following treatment. Of the twenty children, eighteen completed treatment. A decrease in the nighttime amount of urine was reported by 43.8% of the parents, and 23.5% moved from the category of “soaking wet” to “a little wet”. Upon conclusion of treatment, one boy was completely dry.
For one month after the conclusion of treatment the effects were maintained, and one boy and one girl were completely dry, also one boy was almost dry. Some parents reported a change in their child’s sleep pattern: – now the child would awaken upon urination, which they previously had not done.
By Dr. Gowri Motha and Dr. Jane McGrath, Forest Gate, London
Thirty-seven of 64 pregnant women, who were offered free reflexology, completed the set course of ten treatments. The effects of reflexology on labor outcomes were perceived as outstanding. Some had labor times of only 2 hours, some 3 hours. The 20 – 25 year olds had an average time of First stage labor of 5 or 6 hours. The 26 – 30 year olds seemed to have the longest labors. In total, the average first stage was 5 hours, second stage 16 minutes, and third stage 7 minutes. This is compared to textbook figures of 16 to 24 hours’ first stage, and, 1 to 2 hour’s second stage.
“The Effects of Reflexology on Labour Outcome,” Dr. Gowri Motha and Dr. Jane McGrath, Forest Gate, London, England, Nursing Times, Oct. 11, 1989
Your cat has cancer because you have contained anger, says Reflexologist Kiannaa Leighland, who claims that pet health
problems have nothing to do with the animals, but are actually a result of pent-up emotional problems of the owners.
She says animals strive to relieve human stress, and they internalize human issues, which manifest in pet health ailments. “They aren’t the animals’ issues,” she said. “They get it from us.”
She believes that through her animal version of reflexology, the human exercise of applying pressure to certain areas on the feet and hands to supposedly repair other parts of the body, she can discover not only what is wrong with the animal, but also exactly what is wrong with the human.
For example, if the animal is having lung problems, she says the owner is having self esteem issues. If the animal is suffering from gallbladder problems, the owner is suffering from bitterness. And if the animal has cancer, the owner is holding onto anger. “You absolutely must heal the human if you want the animal to have a nice life,” she said.
A Washington state native, Leighland began practicing human reflexology in 1969 and traveled around the world, attending and teaching at conferences on the practice. Then at home in 1991, she purchased a very ill dog that doctors said they could not help. So she tested her techniques on the dog and claims the dog began getting healthier.
With experimentation, she said she discovered where each pressure area was on the dog’s leg and also on its spine and logged it onto a chart. Then in 2000, she mass produced her chart and has been selling it worldwide. She says her form of therapy works not just on dogs, but on any animal with a similar leg structure, including cats, rabbits and horses. She believes she is the first person to come up with these ideas on pet reflexology.
She now operates her own pet reflexology clinic, sells books and DVDs and travels around the country, teaching seminars.
Seven women attended, sitting on couches around Azzarella’s living room and taking notes. After the teaching session where the women practiced on stuffed animals, a real dog was brought in.
Barefoot and kneeling, Leighland petted the dog to calm it, then ran her hand slowly down its spine until she got to a spot where the dog started fidgeting and licking. At this spot, the dog supposedly feels irritated because it corresponds to the organ it has having problems with.
“Kidneys,” she said, nodding. The wide-eyed women in the room got to their knees on the carpet to get a closer look.
Leighland then lightly rubbed down the dog’s back leg until she found what she said felt like “grit.” The dog fidgeted.
“Definitely kidneys.”
When conducting an individual session, Leighland says she touches the animal, finds the problem, and then immediately asks the owner what is wrong in his or her own life. She says the owner usually gets very angry because they do not want to admit to having issues. Her typical customers are women who supposedly care more about their pets than themselves.
“It’s harder for us to look at what’s going on in our own lives than just accepting what’s physically wrong with our animal,” she said. However, she says by the end of the session, owners thank her.
Critics of pet reflexology say humans cannot transfer their emotions to animals, and animals can become healthier through regular massage, reflexology or not.
Leighland says reflexology improves lymph and blood circulation, disperses pain in tensed muscles, reduces stress and tension, restores proper mobility and flexibility, aids behavioral problems, builds trust and bonding and restores homeostasis.
“Just by touching an animal, you’re helping them,” she said. “You’re pushing energy into their problem areas.”
Massaging their problem areas for a few minutes a day will make the ailment go away in only a few weeks, she says, but the ailment will return if the human does not heal him or herself.
“Working on a single organ doesn’t fix the problem. People must fix their emotions,” she said. “If you stay healthy, your pet will stay healthy.”
Leighland is ending her countrywide tour and returning home to work on her PhD in Metaphysics before traveling to Scotland in November.
Let that anger go. Your veterinarian will thank you.
Source: Lagniappe, Mobile, Alabama, June 2007
BEING a self confessed shopaholic, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is certainly one of the spots not to be missed but each time I happen to be in the area, eager promoters from the rows of reflexology centres would appear without fail to coax me into trying it out.
Every time they come to ask me if I need foot reflexology, I would shake my head and walk straight into an adjacent shopping centre, all because I thought it was a “thing’’ more suitable for the elderly. Thinking that my friends would all probably laugh their heads off, I thought I would put a foot massage aside until I really needed it. Like if I ever had to play football and sprained my foot, then it would be appropriate to visit and not get laughed at.
It wasn’t until I was asked recently if I had ever tried getting a foot reflexology treatment that I went around asking my colleagues if they had ever tried it. To my surprise, most of them had and they enjoyed it too.
Last weekend, I tagged along with a colleague to get my feet massaged for the first time at Happy Feet Foot Reflexology centre. The dimly lit room accommodated more than 20 reclining chairs and I took a corner seat next to my colleague.
The foot reflexologist assigned to massage my feet then came with warm towels and a tray of foot powder, lotion and oils.
My feet were cleaned with the warm towels before Fung Tow Lan wrapped my right foot with a towel and began spreading lotion on my left foot.
At first, I felt ticklish when the massaging lotion was evenly spread on my foot. He then began rubbing the sole of my foot and when it came to certain points, it was extremely painful and Fung glanced at me and asked, “You have a sweet tooth, right?” I could only nod in agreement as I thought of my fondness for cakes and pastries. But how did he know?
He explained that there were certain formations on the foot soles, which can be felt when he massaged it that indicated the conditions of one’s health.
“We are not doctors but we are like messengers telling our customers which area of their body that they should pay more attention to,” said the 57-year-old.
He advised me on the dangers of diabetes and how I could prevent it at a young age. The massage went on to my toes which he said I was a person who had enough sleep which he thought was a good sign.
I also did not tell Fung that I was down with flu but he managed to find out that my nose was giving me some problems and that I should take more fruits.
Besides that, Fung, who is a keen student of Chinese herbs, also gave advice on what herbs I could try. For instance, he recommended a cup of warm water with red dates as an excellent source of vitamin C. Fung moved on to the next foot before ending 30mins later. Both my feet were then brushed with powder to prevent them from being too oily.
I realized most of what Fung said was true. Our feet may have more than 70 points with different indications while most of us do not even know that it could actually foretell our health conditions quite accurately.
Fung, who has been in the industry for eight years, said that a session of foot massage was equivalent to an hour of exercise and it is also good for blood circulation.
He also added that it was not only meant for the elderly or athletes but his customers ranged from school-going children as it helps them to de-stress as well. “Children would often come for a foot reflexology especially during the school examination period as it helps them to relax,” laughs Fung.
After the foot massage, Fung said that it is advisable to drink a cup of lukewarm water to detoxify ones body. At least for now, I know that I would be cutting down on my sugar intake for sure.
Source: thestar.com.my 27 February 2007
New York dentists Greg Lituchy and Marc Lowenberg provide the services of a hand and foot reflexology practitioner for anxious clients. So far, it’s been a strategy that works for the two who attract a “movie star list to their Central Park office.” Courtney Cox and Paul Reiser of television fame are among patients along with super-model Cindy Crawford.
“What attracts celebs to this dynamic dental duo? How about this? If you make a visit to the dentist entertaining, the entertainers will come. ‘Patients who are overly anxious can have reflexology on their feet or hands, or a shoulder massage,’ Lowenberg said.” (Parnes, Francine, “Stargazing at the Dentists’ Office” Associated Press release to Newsday, Feb. 4, 1998.)