The First Step in a Reflexology Session – Part 2
In the last post, we discussed welcoming your client partner into your healing space, gaining trust, and offering essential oils. We’re now going to begin the healing process.
Remove the socks. Cover the feet with a towel. Rotate the ankles 4 or 5 times clockwise and then counterclockwise. This ankle rotation will tell you much about the person’s physical, mental, and spiritual health. As you develop your practice, you may find other things that have more meaning for you than the ankle rotation. For now, try the ankle rotations and see how they help give insight into your client partner’s needs.
Observe the skin.
Look for: hard skin, dry flaky skin, cuts, odor, pigmentation, color (red, yellow, pink, white, orange). Are there skin cracks, crevices, swelling, calluses, corns, sores, flaking? Where are your findings located? There are references to all of these things throughout the blog/book.
Hard skin and thickened skin patches represent places in a person’s life where extra protection is needed. Toenails will thicken up when protection is needed.
Hard cracked skin areas represent places where there are issues. An example of this is cracked heels. When you see this, you’re looking at a person with issues concerning core values. Other times it can be disease. If you see hardened skin over the thyroid area of the foot, for example, you’re probably looking at a thyroid imbalance.
The color of the feet reflects your client’s emotional and spiritual situation at the moment. White feet represent a totally stressed out person.
Red reflects anger. Sometimes, if a foot or part of a foot is red and hot, there’s a recent injury. The red heat is the blood rushing to the injury to carry off the toxins generated by the injury. This is a good thing.
Orange feet represent a person who is totally disgusted and may be experiencing a variety of emotions.
Blue and purple places on the feet represent the bruises (or may actually be the bruises) that s/he is dealing with in life.
If the total foot is not a particular color but the color is coming through in spots or places, note what these places reflex to. For example, if a person has white places on the feet in the area of the heart, you’re dealing with a client who is completely stressed out over a “love” issue.
Beyond the skin, examine the foot. Note bunions, hammertoes, flat feet, swollen feet and ankles, deformed or unhealthy nails.
Not only is it important to notice all the things on the feet and ankles, but it’s important to note where these things are.
We’ll finish the “first step” in the next post. I hope you found this helpful. Please leave your comments below and check out the other posts.
As always, this post comes to you from my Woodstock healing space.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
The First Step in a Reflexology Session – Part 1
Say “hello” with a welcoming smile and offer a safe, nurturing atmosphere which encourages the opportunity for deep relaxation and healing.
Use essential oils to enhance the aroma of the room. You may use a diffuser. Or, if you don’t have one, put a few drops of an oil on a rug or on the towel you are going to use on your client’s feet. You may decide to use just one oil always or to vary your oils with the client who is coming for a session. I know one reflexologist who uses two oils exclusively: Lavender for her female clients and Valor for her male clients.
As a person walks into your healing space, notice posture, ease of movement, gait, whether or not shoulders or hips match from one side to the other, etc.
Offer a place to leave the coat, parcels, umbrella, etc., and a place to sit down to remove shoes, (do not remove the socks yet).
Escort your client to your healing chair or table and help him/her get comfortable.
Verbal communication skills are important here, especially with a first visit. Nonverbal behavior is important also. If the person is from another culture, every effort should be made to know what is appropriate for him/her and respect the cultural, ethical, spiritual, and language differences.
If the person is new, introduce yourself by your full name and let the client decide how to address you. Always address the client formally until you have been given permission to do otherwise.
Find out what s/he thinks about his/her health problems.
Attitudes toward different health situations change from culture to culture and these differences will affect how you approach the Reflexology for the Spirit session.
Always respect a person’s values, beliefs, practices, and attitudes even if you don’t agree with them.
If family members come along, respect that in some cultures health is a family matter, not an individual situation.
If the person doesn’t show trust, do what you can to earn it, but don’t be surprised if it never develops.
Offer the client partner a drop or two of essential oil at this time. Sometimes it’s appropriate to anoint your client partner with 8-10 drops. There are many oils available. Offer 2-3 by showing them the label on the bottle and let the person choose the word most attractive to him/her.
That’s always the oil that’s accepted. Place a couple of drops of the chosen oil in the palm of one of your client partner’s hands. Instruct the person to rub the palms together and then breathe in the aroma. Wait a moment while s/he adjusts to the impact that the oil is having. Suggest s/he may want to rub his/her palms over the face, head, hair, halo, etc.
Sit at your client partner’s feet facing the plantar (bottom) portion of the feet and begin the healing process.
This subject will continue with the next post. I hope you found this information helpful. Please leave your comments or questions below and check out our other posts.
There were actually three collaborators on this book. Michele Garner was a major contributor to this post.
Peace and food for all
Thurman Greco
Woodstock, NY
What Goes Into Your Reflexology Healing Space?
One nice thing about Reflexology for the Spirit is that you can practice is without a lot of expensive or complicated equipment or props. Your healing space doesn’t have to be the Taj Mahal.
Reflexology for the Spirit works best if the recipient has a body length surface to lie on, face up, or a chair to sit in comfortably. This can be a massage table, sofa, recliner, or zero gravity recliner.
Often, a recliner is the practitioner’s first choice. If you have one at home, try setting up a special space in the corner of your living room, or other spare room for your healing work. Arrange it so the space is comfy and cozy. The standard reflexology furniture is a zero gravity recliner which can be purchased anywhere selling lawn furniture.
It’s fine to use your sofa, as well. When your client partner lies on the sofa face up, their feet hang over the arm.
Some practitioners use massage tables which can be folded up out of the way when not in use. The height is adjustable.
With a recliner or sofa, you’ll need a stool or small chair that can go low to the floor. (The zero gravity chair and recliner don’t fold out too high.) Massage tables are adjustable to you can use whatever chair you’re comfortable with. (It’s important for you to be comfortable, too.)
Create a sense of place that is peaceful and inviting – a ‘safe’ environment that invites the person to return, a reminder of a sense of peace. Your environment needs to say “this is your special time”. Silence the phone – no one making noise, opening doors, etc. Any other people in your home should be instructed to keep noise levels low. Purchase a white noise machine.
A massage table with several heating pads lined up under the bedding will ensure the table is warm. Turn them on a few minutes before the client partner arrives so the space is warm and friendly upon entering. Table warmers for massage tables can be expensive, and for the beginning practitioner, heating pads will do just as well.
Pillows are important. They go under the knees as well as under the head. You need towels to use under the feet as a cushion and also to protect your linens from oils and creams which you’ll be applying. Wrap a towel around each of your client partner’s feet after you work on them.
If you’re happy working in the space you create and feel it is a sacred space – so will your client.
Many practitioners play low volume music. Choose something you think will be appealing or offer a selection to choose from before beginning the session. Find your music from classical, spiritual chants, Reiki therapy music, yoga music, meditation music.
Make the décor simple and peaceful. Keep the lighting subdued.
Be certain that everything is tidy and orderly, the area clean. No one wants to receive a session in a chaotic atmosphere.
Things need to be kept clean also. People are coming and going; they could come with a few germs, pick up a few when with you (hopefully not), or leave a few. After each session, change the linens. Wash everything with a disinfectant or 1% bleach solution. Whatever you choose, its gotta be clean.
I hope you found this post helpful. Please leave your comments below and check out other posts.
The next post will focus on the first step in a reflexology session. This focus will cover two posts.
Thanks again.
Thurman Greco
Woodtock, NY
Even if You’re Not in Woodstock, Reflexology Works – Here’s How
Energy follows intent. In order to use reflexology as a tool for spiritual work, you and your client partner need to agree on an intention.
Reflexology for the Spirit practitioners are trained that the entire body is reflected on the foot with the left foot reflecting the left side of the body and the right foot reflecting the right side of the body. The head is reflected on the large toes. The body is then reflected down to the base of the spine which is reflected at the bottom of the heel. Practitioners work with maps of the feet showing the different body parts and their locations on the feet.
These locations on the feet are called points. When a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner works a client’s feet, using thumbs and fingers to stimulate these points, tension and congestion are released, blockages are cleared, and homeostasis results.
As a practitioner works the client partner’s feet, several things are noticed. The practitioner may feel crystals under the skin. Hollows, mushiness, swelling, also resistance are also noted. The location of these observations tells the practitioner
what body part is affected and also provides information about what spiritual sensitivities the person is experiencing. The client may experience sensitivity, itching, pain, the feeling of sensations moving up a leg, etc., as feet are reflexed.
As the practitioner works to dissolve the crystals, reduce swelling, calm resistance, etc., homeostasis occurs.
Reflexology for the Spirit is truly a holistic modality. The client is seen as a whole being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
The path to wellness is a process, not a pill. It’s offered through the encouragement of homeostasis.
Reflexology for the Spirit works best when applied at regular intervals over a period of time. It, therefore, requires a commitment to the process of healing. And, after a while, your client partner may own up to having some control over this process.
The Reflexology for the Spirit client partner needs to give his/her body an opportunity to allow homeostasis to occur. This process can be felt on several levels.
General relaxation throughout the body is a common response. This feeling is so rare in some people that it takes several sessions before they even realize what they’re feeling.
With time, they begin to feel their body healing itself. This process of self healing is a new concept for many people. They begin going to a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner thinking they have no control over their health at all. Then, as they realize their body is moving toward homeostasis, they feel empowered by what happens. For many, this is a spiritual event.
Then, of course, they observe the condition of the feet themselves has improved as well as their overall health. For some, specific parts of the body begin to improve as the body seeks balance. Then, of course, an improved sense of emotional wellbeing begins to take place.
This brings about an increased awareness of one’s body and how it feels and works when healing on several levels. WOW!
Thank you for taking the time to read this very important post. I hope you found it helpful. Please contact me if you have questions, observations.
Our next post, coming to you from my Woodstock healing space, will discuss healing spaces in general: how to set one, what’s important, what’s not, what I use in my healing space.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Who Should Receive Reflexology for the Spirit?
The short answer here is almost everyone. Reflexology for the Spirit is safe for people of all ages.
Because Reflexology for the Spirit brings balance on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels through homeostasis, it’s a wonderful tool to be used in our everyday lives.
Babies respond very well to short, gentle sessions. this is a great way to bond with your little loved ones.
Children respond well also. Sessions with children are shorter than they are for adults. (Children’s feet are much smaller.) Children are more receptive to Reflexology for the Spirit when they learn that it helps their sniffles, etc.
Women are wonderful recipients of Reflexology for the Spirit. The balancing effects of the sessions help women with their cycles and offer support in the perimenopausal years. For women, Reflexology for the Spirit is a practical wellness tool when used to help their family and friends. Many everyday health issues faced in a family can be improved with regular sessions. Reflexology also offers women the relaxation they need to get through a stressful week in their lives.
Men are especially appreciative of Reflexology for the Spirit. Many men are in professions that stress their shoulders, hands, feet, legs, etc.
Many chronic illnesses and conditions can be balanced out and minimized or eliminated through regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions which encourage homeostasis.
Seniors love Reflexology for the Spirit because it offers improved circulation, pain relief, better sleep, etc. Reflexology for the spirit also offers something that many seniors need: the healing power of touch.
I hope you found this post helpful. Please leave your comments below and check out our other posts.
As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock.
The next post explains how Reflexology works.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Who Shouldn’t Receive a Session and Why (Contraindications) – Part 2
Advanced Osteoporosis
Use a very light touch and a very short session (begin with 10 minutes) taking care not to fracture bones. Please note: persons suffering from mild osteoporosis or osteopenia greatly benefit from Reflexology for the Spirit. The red flag starts flying when a new client approaches you with advanced osteoporosis. By then, it’s too late for your services without permission from the physician.
Extensive Athlete’s Foot, Etc.
Whenever there’s a rash, an open sore, athlete’s foot, etc., offer hand reflexology instead of working the feet. If you are uncomfortable offering hand reflexology, use gloves.
Advanced Diabetes
Clients with mild diabetes respond well to Reflexology for the Spirit offered to both hands and feet. Offer gentle pressure when working the pancreas. Offer lighter pressure in general for diabetics because their skin may be thinner than usual and bruise easily. also, reduce sessions to 30 minutes or less for new clients.
Heavily Medicated Clients
Persons taking a lot of medicine may have a buildup of toxins. Because Reflexology for the Spirit offers a natural detoxing action you need to take care not to overload the person. Offer a light touch and shorter session.
When you encounter people who shouldn’t receive Reflexology for the Spirit, consider offering Reiki therapy.
There are no known contraindications for Reiki therapy.
It’s easy to learn.
People enjoy it.
It’s easy to combine Reiki therapy and Reflexology for the Spirit.
The list seems almost endless. Remember this: few people with conditions on the above list will ever approach a reflexologist. For whatever reason, they just go elsewhere for their therapy. So don’t get discouraged. You won’t see them.
As always, this post is coming to you from my post in scenic Woodstock, NY.
Our next post will focus on who SHOULD receive reflexology.
Thank you for reading this book/blog. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Woodstock
Who Shouldn’t Receive a Session, and Why (Contraindications) Part 1 of 2
Cancer Patients
Reflexology for the Spirit is wonderful for cancer patients. It’s now offered in many hospitals throughout the country. However, patients receiving chemotherapy shouldn’t receive reflexology for 48 hours after the end of a chemotherapy session. This is for your protection. The theory is that the patient is toxic for 48 hours after receiving chemotherapy. If you decide to offer a session to a patient in less than 48 hours, please wear gloves.
Pregnant Women
Women in the first trimester of pregnancy experiencing an unstable pregnancy should not receive reflexology. Nothing is more wonderful than a reflexology session offered to a woman who is in her 7th month of pregnancy and has not seen her feet for a couple of months and still has 2 months to go. The rule is to avoid offering reflexology in the first trimester and stay on the bottom of the feet when you offer sessions thereafter. If you have any concerns, switch to Reiki therapy. Reiki therapy is wonderful for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
With a regular Reiki therapy client, you can offer sessions weekly and can offer to go with your client partner into the labor and delivery stages of the birth process. Then, of course, you have two clients.
Clients with Infectious Diseases
Infectious disease and/or fever sufferers should not receive Reflexology for the Spirit for your protection. To offer a session to someone in a contagious condition, consider some options: gloves, mask, etc.
Severe Congestive Heart Failure
This is a good time to use your Reiki therapy skills.
Gangrene
Gangrene occurs when a person’s cells begin to die in a particular place when there is no circulation in a certain place in the body. Gangrene is fairly rare but can be seen in cases of advanced diabetes. This situation requires a physician’s attention.
Thanks for reading today’s post. We will conclude the Contraindication Section in the next post. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.
This post is coming to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
22 Reactions to a Reflexology for the Spirit Session
During a reflexology session, several things can happen. A reaction is a sign that the therapy is working. Most clients respond to Reflexology for the Spirit by the 5th session at the very latest. A rule to remember is that we don’t know how a person’s body will respond to or react to any given reflexology session. The responses differ somewhat each time. The body changes daily because of the continuous changes taking place on a cellular level. Also, energy follows intent.
Common reactions include sweating palms and soles, coughing. laughing, sighing deeply, weeping, runny nose, increased urination, more frequent bowel movements, increased vaginal secretions, twitching or tingling in limbs, sudden cramps, electric-type shock up a zone, warmth in treated area, feeling movement or clawing feelings, great fatigue, overwhelming desire to sleep, and/or disappearance of all pain and discomfort.
A common reaction to Reflexology for the Spirit during a session for regular clients is sleep. Many client partners fall into very deep sleep states in which the throats become extremely relaxed. This can be a strong healing state for them. The space surrounding them always becomes quite warm when this happens.
But whatever the reaction to the reflexology session, the time frame is no more than 24 to 48 hours after the session. And whatever the session, this is a sign that it is working. Therefore, the reactions are a benefit.
There are some long term reactions to Reflexology for the Spirit which occur when the client partner makes a commitment to regular sessions received every week to 10 days. These benefits include consistently sleeping better, overall stress reduction, improved circulation, regular bowel movements, a gentle, natural detoxing, and a feeling of improved disease prevention.
These generalized benefits occur in addition to the specific one that the client partners can achieve through regular sessions.
There are many reactions which a client can exhibit during and after sessions. It’s best not to elaborate on them because a certain percentage of people will experience reactions simply because you discussed them. Let them occur naturally…if they are going to happen.
People come to a Reflexology for the Spirit practitioner because they want to deal with one or more issues bothering them, such as sinusitis, for example. They often deal with the sinus problems and then also experience better sleep patterns, overall stress reduction, improved circulation, natural detoxing, etc. This is because Reflexology for the Spirit works to balance the entire body through homeostasis, not just the one problem that was offering symptoms.
It works on a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual body offering benefit to a person’s overall health and well-being.
Thank you for reading this post. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
There are at Least 13 Benefits of a Reflexology for the Spirit Session
Reflexology for the Spirit provides instant relief to tired, swollen, itching feet.
It boosts the lymphatic system as it helps the body detox naturally as the practitioner works the lymphatic system.
Reflexology for the Spirit increases blood flow and can be used to improve circulation. It helps the body to balance blood pressure.
It relieves tension, overall stress, and brings about a deep sense of relaxation to the entire body.
The benefits derived from receiving regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions offer an opportunity to observe physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual changes which create an ongoing atmosphere of body awareness, and a sense of healing.
A strong feeling of well-being is created with regular sessions.
Reflexology for the Spirit deepens sleep and reduces insomnia when it is received over time in regular sessions.
Reflexology for the Spirit eases aches and pains as it relaxes the muscles.
Joint mobility is improved.
Women suffering from PMS, menopause, or other reproductive issues are offered relief.
Sufferers of indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive disorders can find relief through regular sessions.
Reflexology helps urinary problems such as cystitis.
Reflexology helps adjust emotional imbalances and increases nerve energy.
So there you have them…13 benefits all lined up.
Thank you for reading this book/blog. Our next post will focus on reactions. Please contact me with any comments/questions you may have.
Hopefully you’ll be able to read tomorrow’s post as well. As always, it will come to you from my healing space in scenic downtown Woodstock.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Colon Cleanses and Liver Cleanses: What do They Have to do With Reflexology?
Colon and liver cleanses are referred to throughout this blog/book. They’re important to one’s overall health if the goal is homeostasis. It’s very hard to achieve homeostasis with a toxic body. Diseases and health issues are easier to deal with when the body is clean.
It’s been said that health begins and ends in the colon. For me, this statement is true.
Colon cleanses are neither expensive nor complicated. Basically, you go to your local health food store, select an item from the colon cleanse products on the shelf, take it home and follow the direction. Cleanses involve taking pills or powders for a specific period of time such as a week.
For the most part, cleanse product are gentle and easy to take.
Liver cleanses are usually found on a different shelf. You do the same thing with liver cleanses that you do with the colon cleanses: Select a product, follow the directions.
Remember: Complete the colon cleanse before you begin the liver cleanse. If you take the liver cleanse before the colon cleanse, you may not feel well during the cleanse. This is also true if you take both the colon cleanse and the liver cleanse together. The uncomfortable feeling occurs when too many toxins are released at the same time.
You need to have the colon clean before you begin the liver cleanse because when the liver releases toxins, you need a clean colon to wash the toxins from the body.
That’s it.
Thanks again for reading this post. Our next post will focus on the many benefits of a Reflexology for the Spirit session. Hope you’ll join in on this post as well. As always, this post comes to you from my healing space in Woodstock, NY
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
