“Should I Accept Clients Who Smoke?”
What a question!
“Of course. Yes.”
“But, what if they smell of tobacco? I find it very offensive. And, besides, I don’t want my healing space reeking of smoke.”
Well, I stick to my guns here. Cigarette smoking is an addiction. It is a disease. You accept the client and offer assistance, support, guidance as s/he struggles to give up smoking.
Encourage the person to cut down on the number of cigarettes smoked in a day. If you can get him/her to cut back to 5 or fewer cigarettes a day, the final push will be very easy.
When people think of diseases smokers contract, they always come up with the same usual suspects:
lung cancer
throat cancer
COPD
Emphysema.
In reality, the diseases caused are many more and the health damage done is much greater.
Smoking and exposure to second hand smoke is really hard on the immune system. Smoking ages the body faster. This results in
wrinkled skin
clogged arteries
emphysema
cancer
impotence.
The most important reason for not smoking is what it does to the immune system. Smoking wrecks the immune system causing it to become overactive. And, the effects are often easily seen.
It’s not necessary to see a person smoking to know you’re looking at a smoker. It’s also not necessary to smell a smoker either.
The effects of smoking can be seen in the skin, hair, nails, eyes, posture.
The effects of smoking can be heard in the classic smoker’s cough.
You cannot help your client partner stop smoking. What you can do is help with the cravings and other discomfort while they go through the 5-6 week withdrawal process. Reflexology for the Spirit, Reiki therapy, and encouragement can go a long way to support during this time.
Help your client partner become dramatically healthier. Nicotine patches are available. CVS sells a smoking cessation program which helps.
After the 6-week period, you can help your client partner do a cleanse and you can offer support choosing a physical fitness program.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Tara Sanders: Healing, Yoga, and Reflexology
As reflexologists, we add new clients to our practice often. Healing, yoga, and reflexology are important here. Depending on your personality, or your practice, you may ask a few or many questions from them on the intake forms and in the initial interviews.
Trauma is one area of a person’s life which we rarely approach. It is just too hidden, too destructive.
This is wise. Trauma is a subject which our client partners need to bring up when the time is right for them to share. Because nothing is said doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. It just means that the person isn’t comfortable discussing it.
Because, in reality, 1 woman in 4 has experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Personally, I question the 1-in-4 statistic. No woman reports domestic violence or sexual assault if she can possibly avoid it. Reporting is simply too painful.
When I first spoke with Tara Sanders, a Woodstock based yoga instructor and program director in the nonprofit Exhale to Inhale I was suddenly very alert. I realized that we, as reflexologists, need to be more sensitive to the secrets and hidden traumas of our client partners.
Exhale to Inhale yoga works to empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault to heal through yoga. Exhale to Inhale yoga guides women through postures, breathing, meditation. Taught in trauma sensitive style, practitioners are enabled to ground themselves in
their bodies
their strength
their stillness.
As this happens, the women connect to themselves. They work toward empowerment and worthiness. This practice can be transformative for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence when they shed the cloak of victimhood.
Healers, reflexologists, and body workers have long known that when a person is traumatized, the event is stored in the muscles.
We also know that reflexology sessions are given a boost when combined with other modalities such as yoga, meditation, breathing, Reiki therapy, and massage.
Tara teaches the classes without music. She does not touch the students to correct a posture. Lights remain on throughout the class. These sessions offer survivors an opportunity to reclaim their lives through the healing and grounding of yoga.
Tara uses the yoga classes to help her students feel safe, strong, in the present moment. As she teaches, she is a conduit for healing and healthful programs in our community. Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners are also conduits for healing as we work the reflex points to encourage homeostasis.
Exhale to Inhale is a New York-based nonprofit offering free weekly yoga classes to survivors of domestic and sexual assault. After June 20, Exhale to Inhale yoga classes will be taught free of charge to women in area shelters in Upstate New York.
Not everyone has a Tara Sanders available in the community. However, it’s possible to suggest reflexology sessions offered in tandem with yoga, meditation, breathing classes. Whether or not you are aware of your client partner’s experience with trauma or domestic violence is not important. What is important is that you invite your client partner to experience this boost to your modality. Think of healing, yoga, and reflexology as a package.
Hopefully one day soon, there will be more Tara Sanders yoga teachers in communities everywhere.
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Jennette Nearhood provided the media.
Thurman Greco
Sleep…Blessed Sleep
People seek out reflexologists when they have sleep issues. And, visiting a reflexologist regularly to encourage quality sleep is a good thing to do. Very few people receiving regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions have problems sleeping.
Regular sessions encourage homeostasis. It’s impossible to achieve homeostasis and have sleep issues at the same time.
Your body systems know immediately if you are sleeping properly. This is the rule:
The better you sleep, the better your immune system functions.
Your immune system needs to be calm and relaxed to function properly. This won’t happen if you’re not sleeping properly. Your immune system needs your body to receive not only enough sleep but the quality must be good as well.
Your body repairs itself as you sleep. Your immune system maintains itself. In order for this to happen, stress levels must be turned down. This happens during sleep.
Except when it doesn’t. There are sleep situations where the stress levels are not diminished. Examples include insomnia and sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. One symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. Snoring can, in some instances, be dangerous because if it is untreated, it can activate the immune system.
Insomnia is also a threat to a healthy immune system. Insomnia has several different causes. Insomnia is created when people burn the candle at both ends. Anxiety and/or depression also cause mood disorders in addition to insomnia.
Good quality sleep:
promotes a healthy immune system.
encourages overall good health.
helps slow down aging.
People sleeping well also look better. Several things can be done to promote healthy sleep habits:
Establish a bedtime and stick to it. Go to bed at the same time every night.
Create a peaceful sleep environment without
noise
light
television
computer
phones.
Make sure your bed has a
restful mattress
soft sheets
cozy blankets
comfortable pillows.
Establish a sleep ritual which prepares your body, your brain, and your immune system for a good night’s sleep. Adopt sleep-encouraging techniques such as meditation or self Reiki therapy.
If you have a partner, taking a few reflexology lessons can be a real boost to healthy sleep for you both. You can then offer a reflexology exchange in the evenings before you sleep.
Self Reiki is a wonderful sleeping potion. Easy to learn and use, it encourages sleep.
Use essential oils to encourage sleep. Put a few drops of a favorite oil on a tissue and place it inside your pillowcase or in a pocket.
And, finally, don’t become obsessive about sleep. Sleep will come. You can learn to sleep.
Lotus Heart Healing with Tom Rigler
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Thurman Greco
Renee Ruwe offered the photo used into today’s post.
Anxiety Affects Many People Both Physically and Spiritually
ANXIETY AFFECTS CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS. Anxiety is the word used to describe feelings ranging from mild unease to intense fear.
ANXIETY CREATES A VARIETY OF SYMPTOMS BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL. Common physical symptoms include heart palpitations, stabbing pains, shortness of breath, headaches, back pains, and muscle spasms. Excessive sweating, dizziness, digestive problems also are included in this lineup.
SPIRITUAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE FEELINGS OF INSECURITY, FEAR, HELPLESSNESS. Spiritual issues also include preoccupation with the future and past. A person’s life has a flow which anxiety can get in the way of.
A person suffering with anxiety needs, first, to learn to try to overcome the fear which plagues anxiety sufferers. Getting proper medical care as well as nutritional advice along with reflexology can help.
Because anxiety has a strong physical aspect to it, it’s important for the sufferer to be aware of the proper nutritional needs in addition to the needed medical care. This involves eating the proper foods, recognizing what food allergies exist, and identifying the needed vitamins and minerals necessary for a recovery.
MANY PEOPLE CAN LESSEN THEIR SYMPTOMS BY ELIMINATING CAFFEINE, SUGAR, AND ALCOHOL FROM THE DIET.
I always recommend calling Liz at Village Vitality (Woodstock Apothecary) for an analysis of vitamins and minerals needed. Her number is 845-679-0790.
When offering reflexology sessions to a person suffering with anxiety attacks, the first step is to work the entire endocrine system to balance the spiritual aspects of the issues.
Work the nervous system.
Work the digestive system and focus on the pancreas reflexes.
Work the endocrine system and focus on the pituitary gland reflexes, the thyroid and parathyroid reflexes.
Finish the session by working the liver and solar plexus.
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Peace and food for all.
Thuran Greco
Reflexology Blog – Prostate Disorders
Prostate problems are common in men over fifty. The most common disorders are prostatitis, benign enlargement, and cancer. Over half of men over 50 suffer from prostate problems. By far, the most popular is enlarged prostate.
Causes of prostate problems are nutritional, hormonal, and spiritual.
Nutritional causes include low levels of nutrients – selenium, zinc. If you have prostate issues, now is a good time to have a nutritional analysis. As always, I recommend you contact Liz at Village Apothecary – 845-679-0790.
Hormonal issues suggest a trip to a medical professional.
Spiritual issues call for regular reflexology visits.
This is also a time to examine how you feel about your self and your life. What words come to mind?
Feeling: ashamed, helpless, inferior, resentful, stuck.
Allow yourself to express your feelings as opposed to suppressing them.
Focus on the positive aspects of your life.
When addressing prostate issues begin the session by working the endocrine system by working the pituitary reflexes, testicle reflexes, and the prostate reflexes..
Work the nervous system as you focus on the spinal cord reflexes.
Work the lymphatic system.
End the session by focusing for a few moments on the liver and solar plexus.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
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Reflexology Blog – Headaches Always Have a Muscular Component
Headaches have many causes:
Alcohol
Drugs
Emotional Stress
Excessive Noise
Food Allergies
Glaring Light
Poor Diet
Tension in the Neck
Tension in the Shoulder Muscles
Vision Problems
On a spiritual level, the causes are just as numerous:
Feeling out of control
Frustration
Overwhelmed,
Overcrowded
Over thinking
Self Critical
Undermined
A good first step in dealing with headaches is to figure out what is happening in your life just before a headache begins. This investigation may require a headache diary.
Begin by keeping track of everything you are eating. You want to find out if a food can be the cause of your headaches. Marge D’Urso always said that two biggest causes of headaches are wheat and dairy. She recommended that a good first step in dealing with headaches is to give these items up for six weeks.
Keep track of your environment and how it’s affecting you. Describe your feelings. You’re looking for evidence of repetitive behavior and/or attitudes which may affect your headaches.
Record your headaches: location, duration, severity.
There’s a muscular component to all headaches. Addressing this component involves regular visits to a reflexology for the spirit practitioner. Regular sessions relieve stress, encourage homeostasis, improve day-to-day functioning.
Record your sleep patterns. Is insomnia a factor?
Thyroid and adrenal hormone imbalances can cause headaches. Visit an endocrinologist.
NOTE: If you discover that the headaches recur regularly, you need to visit a medical professional.
When offering a reflexology session to a headache sufferer, begin by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.
Work the nervous system as you focus on the brain reflexes.
Work the respiratory system as you focus on the sinuses.
Work the digestive system as you focus on the pancreas.
Work the sense organs as you focus on the ears and the eyes.
Work the muscular system as you focus on the arm, shoulder, and neck muscle reflexes.
Work the spinal reflexes.
End the session as you spend a few moments on the liver and solar plexus.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco.
Work the digestive system as you focus on the pancreas.
W
Reflexology Blog – Are Varicose Veins a Problem for you?
IT’S THE JOB OF THE VEINS TO LET THE BLOOD FLOW upward toward the heart without allowing it to come back again. When this process breaks down, blood accumulates in the vessels, making them swell. Varicose veins appear to be knotted veins lying just below the surface of the skin on the legs. People suffering with varicose veins feel as if their legs are fatigued, sore, swollen, and cramping.
Some causes of varicose veins are standing or sitting in one position for long periods of time.
SPIRITUALLY, A PERSON BEGINS TO SUFFER WITH varicose veins when s/he is carrying such a heavy load that the legs can no longer support the weight. Words that apply for a person suffering with varicose veins include fear, helplessness, insufficient support, disappointment, stress, responsibility, pressure. People suffering with varicose veins see no way out of the situation and see no opportunity to move forward.
Being physically active helps. Walking, bike riding, jogging, swimming promote muscle contractions in the leg to assist the circulation.
Reflexology definitely helps bring about homeostasis and helps the sufferer cope better.
WHEN OFFERING A REFLEXOLOGY SESSION to a person suffering with varicose veins, begin by working the circulatory system as you focus on the heart reflex.
Work the endocrine system and focus on the adrenal gland reflexes.
Work the hip, thigh, and leg reflexes.
Finish the session by working the liver and solar plexus.
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Thurman Greco
Migraine Headaches: severe throbbing pain beginning on one side of the head which can last from 4 hours to 3 days
Migraine headaches are both very painful and very common. They can be hereditary.
They have very definite emotional and spiritual causes. People suffering with migraines are experiencing fear of failure for one thing. The person is in a situation where it’s necessary to heavily control feelings as well as environment. These controls may be coming from outside as opposed from inside oneself. Parent? Boss? Spouse?
The sufferer may be in a situation in life where feelings must be repressed. The person is actually emotionally/spiritually hiding.
Words that describe the migraine sufferer’s situation include conflict, punishment, control, overcommitment, guilt, fear, anxiety.
Events triggering a migraine headache include our old friend stress, bright lights, allergies, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, oral contraceptives, foods: cheese, smoked fish, red wine, chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, bananas.
Getting rid of migraine headaches takes some real focus. It’s important to examine all the underlying problems including nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and endocrine system imbalances.
Reflexology for the Spirit can be a real help but it’s best to work from a prevention standpoint. In other words, a migraine sufferer needs to include a weekly reflexology session in his/her schedule – not just for awhile but as a lifestyle activity. This commitment is necessary to keep the stress down and to address the underlying causes. Having a reflexology session only when the migraine headache occurs is not the answer to the problem.
Nutritional issues can be addressed by consultations with a nutritionist knowledgeable of migraines. Then, after the consultations, the migraine sufferer needs to omit the necessary foods and add the necessary supplements and herbs. This amounts to a lifestyle change. Any diet and supplement changes will take at least six weeks to have any real impact.
Whoever you consult with will probably recommend magnesium, fish oil, B vitamins. If you are already taking these supplements, consider that you may be using a product which isn’t suitable for you. That’s why it’s necessary to consult with a nutritionist. As we all know by now, I use Liz at Village Apothecary here in Woodstock: 845-679-0970.
Eliminating food triggers is important. Some suggested triggers include wheat, oranges, eggs, tea, coffee, milk, chocolate, cheese, beef, corn, sugar, yeast. Here again, the migraine sufferer needs to work with a knowledgeable professional.
My Reflexology teacher, Marge D’Urso always told us that the first thing a person should do is eliminate wheat and dairy from the diet. She felt those two foods were the cause of many of our health problems.
When offering a reflexology session to a migraine sufferer, begin by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.
Work the endocrine system by focusing on the pituitary gland reflexes and the adrenal gland reflexes.
Work the nervous system as you focus n the brain reflexes.
Work the circulatory system as you focus the heart reflex.
Work the urinary system as you focus the kidney reflexes.
End the session by working the liver and solar plexus.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
vitamins.
A
Why we have Heart Disorders
Let us consider for a moment a bit of vocabulary surrounding the heart and how it interacts with our lives:
big-hearted
heartless
cold-hearted
half- hearted
heartfelt
from the bottom of your heart
take things to heart
You have touched my heart
talk heart to heart
Heart disorders occur when the body is unable to perform its pumping functions smoothly. Because the heart is both a physical and spiritual body part, there are many reasons for these disorders to occur.
The heart functions begin to fray when we are overloaded with anger, fear, criticism, heartbreak and no longer give and receive love.
Beyond the spiritual and emotional aspects, there are the old familiar physical aspects which actually begin to affect the heart many years before the disease manifests itself.
In all cases, the diagnosis of these disorders is best left up to professionals. However, much of the prevention is up to us.
Whenever I study heart disorders, diet, nutrition, and exercise are front and center. There is a whole line up of supplements for heart disorders. On one end of the spectrum, it’s easy enough to take the list and head for the local pharmacy or grocery store and get whatever is on sale.
For me, a better way is to get only those supplements which apply to your situation and which are recommended by a professional who knows the products. I’ve mentioned her name many times, but my supplement professional is Liz at Village Apothecary here in Woodstock. She knows the products, how they’re manufactured, how they fit into my total lifestyle mix, age group, etc.
Her number is 845-679-0790.
On a physical level, an ongoing goal is to reduce the risk factors associated with heart disease: smoking, elevated blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes, physical inactivity.
Reflexology for the Spirit is important in this mix. Homeostasis is an important element in a healthy circulatory system. When we encourage homeostasis, we make a pathway for the emotional/spiritual healing which is necessary.
When offering reflexology sessions to a person concerned with cardiovascular health, begin the session by working the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.
Work the endocrine system with emphasis on the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands.
Work the respiratory system with emphasis on the lung reflexes.
Work the circulatory system with emphasis on the heart reflexes.
Work the urinary system with emphasis on the kidney reflexes.
End the system by working the liver and solar plexus.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please share this article with your preferred social network.
Please send a comment.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco