9 Things Reflexologists Don’t Do – and 5 Things we Do
Cure – Reflexologists do not cure. Instead, we promote healing, which can be a very
different thing, depending on the issue.
Patient – Reflexologists do not have patients. Physicians have patients. We have client partners. Some reflexologists have clients. But, whatever we have, we don’t have patients.
Recommend – We do not recommend. Instead, we work feet. We concentrate our energies on facilitating healing.
Advise – Reflexologists do not advise. We support our client partners in their healing path. Our work brings about homeostasis and synchronicity.
Examine – We do not examine. We read feet or hands or ears. .We notice where our findings are located. We work the feet, hands, ears, to bring about healing, homeostasis, and synchronicity.
Prescribe – We do not prescribe. That’s for physicians and other medical professionals. We rely on our hands and hearts to tell us what we find, to encourage healing, to facilitate homeostasis, to see synchronicity.
Dispense – We have nothing to dispense beyond the sessions we offer.
Diagnose – We do not diagnose. Physicians assist us in our healing efforts when they offer a diagnosis. This is important because it’s much easier to overcome a health issue if it has a name.
Administer – We do not administer anything. Instead, we read feet, offer sessions. Our noninvasive sessions have been offered to client partners for ages and ages.
Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners use our hands, brains, and hearts.
We do not need to over schedule our days to be successful. Twenty-five appointments a week is a full time practice for a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner.
We are not wedded to advertising. Some of us don’t even have business cards. Referrals work well for us.
Because Reflexology for the Spirit works well with other modalities, many of us also practice yoga, massage, Reiki therapy, flower remedies. That means we are always growing, learning.
We honor our heritage. Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners take our traditions back many, many years:
Our history takes us far back in time with beginnings shrouded in mystery. What we do know is that early references to reflexology can be found in China, India, Japan, Egypt, Greece, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Mediterranean, South American and North America.
Historians tell us that Egyptians practiced both hand and food reflexology as early as 2500 BC. If you ever travel to Egypt, please visit the burial ground at Saqqara. The Physician’s Tomb there has a famous wall painting showing two people receiving reflexology.
If you ever find yourself in Japan, be sure to visit the Medicine Teacher Temple in Nara. There you’ll find a stone carving depicting the soles of Buddha’s feet in a carving dating to 790 AD.
In India, there are paintings of Vishnu, the Hindu god’s feet with symbols corresponding to several reflexology points.
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian form of medicine becoming popular in our country. Reflexology is incorporated in Ayurvedic medicine.
Reflexology has been recorded in ancient Chinese writings describing pressure being applied to fingers and thumbs.
From this glorious history and recent twentieth century trailblazers, we now have thousands of people practicing various kinds of reflexology throughout the world.
Reflexologists the world over work in tandem with physicians as our field moves toward integrative medicine in the twenty-first century. Integrative medicine works to heal the total person: the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
Reflexology has endured the test of time and is modern as tomorrow in the 21st !century.
Thank you for reading this blog. It has been a long time since I’ve posted an article. I have been working full time/overtime on the new book! It’s happening!
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, New York
Progress of the Book
The book is, at last, being edited! Real book progress is being made. I hope to get it to the publisher soon. I plan to go over it one last time about mid July.
Thanks to everyone for your patience.
Please share this exciting news (for me, anyway) with your favorite media network.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
Reflexology for the Spirit and the Chakras – Now let’s put it all together.
We’ve spent the last few posts learning things we can use at our healing table. But, the question remains: How do we use what we’ve got here?
Suppose a person comes to your table with asthma. This is a fourth Chakra issue. So, right away, you know that you’re going to be working with the physical issues associated with asthma. But, you’re going to also be working with grief…a major issue that everyone faces at some point.
Offering Reiki therapy in conjunction with the reflexology will help balance the Chakras. Be sure to work the fourth Chakra reflex point.
When a person comes to you for reflexology sessions because they have lower back pain, you know that you need to work certain reflex points. But, in addition, it helps to know that a person with lower back pain is dealing with a first Chakra issue.
This person is grappling with his/her core beliefs. Reflexology for the Spirit and Reiki therapy will be very supportive. Include a few moments working the first Chakra reflex point.
This process continues up the body with each Chakra. When a person comes to your table with an issue, you determine which Chakra is affected. Knowing this will help you explore the spiritual issue. Then, you bring in Reiki and help balance the affected Chakra.
Another approach you may use is a Chakra session. In a Chakra session, you’ll work the Chakra reflex points exclusively. When you offer a reflexology session focusing exclusively on the Chakras, it will be shorter than a regular reflexology session. Your first such session should be no more than 30 minutes. Divided up, the Chakra session will offer 15 minutes of work on each foot.
In a 30-minute Chakra session, you’ll include a 5-minute warm up on the right foot, then work the Chakra reflex points for 5 minutes. Finish with a 5-minute warm down. Move on to the left foot.
Work the left foot the same way: Offer 5 minutes of warm ups, then work the Chakra reflex points for 5 minutes. Finish with a 5-minute warm down.
Complete the session by holding the feet for a few moments. Working the Chakras in reflexology can be deep therapy.
After your client partner gets off the table, spend a few quiet minutes with him/her just to make sure the transition back to “now” is smooth.
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Thurman Greco
The Fourth Chakra and Reflexology
The fourth Chakra reflex point is found on the ball of the foot. This is where we find the heart, lungs, breasts, thymus gland, shoulders.
Fourth Chakra issues include:
self esteem
personal power
intimacy
forgiveness
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN ABOUT FOURTH CHAKRA ISSUES WITHOUT QUESTIONING:
Are you able to express your emotions?
Do you need to protect yourself?
Do you have problems giving and receiving love?
Are you living a divided life?
Have you created a protective barrier around your heart?
Do you have trouble forgiving people?
Do you fear rejection?
Do you feel vulnerable?
Is it physically/emotionally painful to move forward in life?
Are you hiding your true self from others?
Grief is a fourth Chakra issue. We know as Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners that grief is housed in the ball of the foot – the heart – the lungs.
The fourth Chakra builds on the lower three Chakras as our thoughts and dreams take on language, expression. The fourth Chakra is where the moment of inspiration which took place in the first Chakra, now becomes entire paragraphs, both spoken and written.
The fourth Chakra links the spiritual and physical bodies as well as their issues. This is because the fourth Chakra is the our energetic center, working to fuse the physical and spiritual bodies.
When this happens, we are able to touch others as well as allowing them to touch our lives. The goal is unconditional love. A good way to get insight about unconditional love is to pay attention to cats and dogs, 2 creatures which practice unconditional love routinely.
Our heart Chakra pulls us into relationships involving
intimacy
risk
forgiveness
sensitivities
fear
grief.
Grief is an important fourth Chakra issue. Grief blocks fourth Chakra energy. Letting go of grief and wounding opens our hearts.
The state of the fourth Chakra is easily seen in one’s posture. People suffering with heart Chakra issues may be
round-shouldered
sunken-chested
stiff
rigid.
Unbalanced fourth Chakras can also been seen in people with heart and respiratory problems. Heart surgery can have a direct impact on the heart Chakra.
Meditations can be important. Meditations focusing on:
grief
heart opening
breathing
can help balance the fourth Chakra.
When you work with your client partner’s fourth Chakra, you offer the opportunity to help him/her release grief. It’s in the fourth Chakra that we find
an open heart,
the energy to give,
and a straighter body.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
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Thurman Greco
Photo donated by Jennette Nearhood.
Time-Out for Sharing then Moving on to the Chakras.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing with you. I’ve offered information in each post for you, in turn, to share with your client partners. I’m following the advice of my teacher and mentor Marge D’Urso who emphasized the many things we can all do in conjunction with reflexology to encourage homeostasis.
Not all of this information applies to all of your client partners.
Some people come to our tables in order to feel better. Others want us to help them take greater charge of their own health. Yet others simply want to hop on the table, receive their reflexology session, and go away blissed out. And, there’s nothing wrong with that.
One special group wants to add other things to their lives which will help them
feel better
look better
avoid chronic disease
live longer
enjoy better health.
By sharing this information slowly, in small increments, you can, along with your reflexology sessions, give your client partners an opportunity to completely change their lives for the better in a non threatening way.
These gradual changes when mixed with reflexology offer dramatic improvements over time. The idea is to be sharing opportunities for good health without complicating lifestyles any more than they already are. You’ll be leading your client partners to a a more healthy lifestyle. They can completely change their lives 1 step at a time.
Slowly
Easily
Comfortably
Not all client partners will adopt every suggestion offered. Some won’t choose any suggestions. Some will try everything suggested for a time. Then, they’ll drop the health step after a few weeks. There’s something here for everyone. We are all different. Our attitudes, ages, and lifestyles are all different.
What’s important is that you are gently, without pushing, sharing suggestions for a healthier lifestyle.
When your client partners are ready, they’ll have this knowledge to use in the way which works best for them.
I’m taking a break with this series of posts to offer you, the reflexologist, some more hands-on posts. Then, I’ll return to these wellness posts for awhile longer…until I feel you have something to offer most client partners over a period of a year or more. You want to be sharing something which a person may accept and live with for awhile before taking on another health giving change. It’s important to let an adopted change settle in so they become lifetime habits.
Beginning next week, I’ll offer posts about Chakras and the feet. We have reflex points for Chakras in our feet. I hope you find these articles interesting. I hope you can use this information in your work!
Thanks for reading this blog/book.
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Thurman Greco
“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
Calm…and Nurtured
To be as healthy as possible, your immune system must be calm and nurtured.
Your immune system is a warrior – fighting off dangerous and threatening diseases. Help your immune system protect you by making your life, the environment you live in feel safe.
Begin with the space you spend the most time in…your home.
Make sure your home/apartment/wherever you live is allergen free. That means the air you breathe is clean, the water you drink and bathe with is clean, and you have as little mold, mildew, and insect presence as possible.
Environmental pollutants and toxins irritate your immune system which means they are bad for your health. Exposure to unknown chemicals can negatively affect your entire life. The 3 most threatening toxins:
molds,
insects such as cockroaches,
dust mites.
Begin to calm and soothe your immune system by doing a walk-through of your home. Make a list of any and all things needing attention:
water stains,
trapped moisture
evidence of pesticides and rodents
mold.
Clean all carpets, rugs, upholstery, curtains, bedding to include blankets, throws, bedspreads.
Have your water tested.
Mask unwanted noise if you live on a noisy street.
After you have gotten rid of the toxins and pollutants, it’s time to make your home environment a peaceful oasis. This won’t take a lot of $$$. It will take attention instead.
Create places where sunlight can stream in during the day and where the area is dark at night. Fill your place with smells and aromas which will feed your soul:
fresh flowers,
home-baked bread
scented candles
a favorite essential oil
wind chimes
music you love..
Use colors in your surroundings which offer peace, calm, soothing feelings. The idea is to create a space which makes you feel happy the moment you enter it.
Create a meditation corner. It doesn’t have to be large – You only need enough room to sit or recline comfortably without being bothered. If you can have a space where you can put up your legs for a few minutes each day, you will be refreshed and nourished – something we all need.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.
Don’t forget to join the email list
Jennette Nearhood provided the photograph for this post.
More About Allergies and Reflexology for the Spirit
Be aware of the products used to clean the home, pets, car, and workplace. Products should be used that come under the category of “hypoallergenic”. It won’t do much good to wash sheets and blankets in hot water with a detergent containing scents and coloring that create allergic reactions.
Finally, your client partner needs to try to resolve issues with persons causing problems. Your client partner will then have more energy to deal with the other allergens in life.
Often, it’s necessary to use the services of an otolaryngologist and an allergist as well. Desensitizing treatments can be very effective for persons suffering with contact allergies. One tried and true natural method is allergy shots.
This may seem like a lot to do. But, over time, a better quality of life will emerge. The purchase of over-the-counter preparations to deal with constant allergy symptoms will decrease. Life will, hopefully, improve.
AREAS TO WORK: respiratory system, immune system, sinuses, digestive system, endocrine system, liver and solar plexus.
ESSENTIAL OILS: German or Roman chamomile, wintergreen, lavender.
That completes the section on allergies. Our next section will be on ankle breaks and sprains – both very spiritual events.
Thanks for reading this blog.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Your Allergies and Reflexology for the Spirit, Continued
If your client partner’s dog has a long coat, she/he can consider having it trimmed short. This being said, some breeds should not be trimmed down: shelties, collies, Labrador retrievers, etc. Other breeds can be very easily kept trimmed short. If she/he take the dog to a groomer, ask your client partner to make sure the groomer knows about the allergies. a good groomer will have appropriate shampoos on hand and will know special brushing and hair drying techniques to remove as much hair and dander as possible to keep shedding to a minimum at home.
Some breeds of dogs don’t cause allergic reactions: poodles, shih tzus, etc. These breeds have hair, not coats.
Your client partner should work to keep his/her sinus cavities clean. Frequent washing of curtains, drapes, throw rugs, stuffed animals, human and pet bedding, etc. will help remove allergy triggers in the home. Maybe some of these things can just be gotten rid of. The question to be asked is: “Do I really need these dusty curtains, stuffed animals, etc.?”
Periodically, dust should be removed on everything in the home with a damp cloth. the idea is not to stir up the dust but get it in the damp cloth. When everything has been thoroughly dusted, the used damp cloth should be put in a plastic bag, sealed, and discarded.
All carpets and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed frequently. If central heat or an air purifier is used, the filter should be kept clean.
Eliminating roaches and/or mice is mandatory. They create problems for allergy sufferers. However, be careful of the products used to eliminate these pests. They can offer problems as well.
The subject of Allergies will continue in the next post.
Thanks for reading this blog.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Allergies and Reflexology for the Spirit
The next several posts will be devoted to the issues presented by allergies.
Allergies plague many people year round and present spiritual challenges. Although people don’t realize it, very few people have food allergies. Most allergy sufferers experience conditions like sinusitis, hay fever, and asthma. In order to overcome allergies successfully, a real commitment is needed. Clients suffering from allergies should visit a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner weekly. This is a long term commitment, not just a few visits.
They can lessen or prevent outbreaks of sinusitis, hay fever, etc., by avoiding allergy triggers. This boils down to asking the question: What is the source of the allergy?
On a spiritual level, allergy sufferers are dealing with a power struggle and how it affects them which translates into allergies.
People allergic to pollens should try to avoid them. People with sensitivities to indoor allergens should use dust mite covers on their mattresses and pillows and eliminate house dust as much as possible.
Pets are often a source of allergic reactions. People should not have to give up their pets because of allergies. after all, pets offer so much. A couple of things your client partners can do is brush the pets often and bathe them weekly in a shampoo that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction in the humans.
Cats are easy to bathe if you can avoid letting them hear the splashing water. Gently lower your cat into a sink of warm water. Soap the cat up, then gently rinse it in warm running water that doesn’t make splashing noises. Towel your cat dry. Fold up the used towel and then launder it.
In the next two posts, we’ll be discussing more things your client partners can do to make life with allergies easier.
Thanks for reading this post.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
