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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:[email protected]:www.naturalpathways-reflexology.com
NaturalPathways12OaklandDrive,Auburn,MA01501