Reflexology For The Spirit

spirituality of one's health

What’s Your Definition of Healthy?

When I first studied massage therapy at PMTI, I was a bit overwhelmed by the number of things that make up the healthy human body.  There are, for example, over 600 muscles.

From the beginning of this class in 1980, I have never stopped studying and learning about the human body, its wellbeing, and its health.  Not even for a moment.

The question looming over all the studies, classes, and courses is this:  What is the definition of healthy?

As a healer, my goal is to be a conduit for your healing.  I am not here to change your story.   And, I certainly cannot define “Healthy” for you.  Each person I meet in my daily travels has a truly unique and individual definition of “Healthy”.

An important word in my vocabulary as healer is “homeostasis”.  Through the years, I’ve worked to make that word and it’s definition a part of your life, too.

Homeostasis is the return to balance of your body.  As a Reflexologist, my goal was and is and will be to bring your body to homeostasis.

And, of course, Homeostasis is a big word because the body has so many thousands of working parts.

That being said – what is Healthy?  For me, as a healer, that word is loaded.

For many, healthy comes down to what you eat.  After all, we’ve all heard and read the saying:  “You are what you eat.”

And, I think we can agree that something that is perfect for one person is not good for another.  That’s why there are so many different diets for people these days.  Each of us has individual needs when it comes to what we need to be healthy.  So, it comes down to this:

One body needs different foods compared to another body.

Our dietary needs continually shift.

Whether we’re talking diet, exercise, sleep, or any other activity, our daily decisions are spiritual.

So, this all includes judgement and criticism.  This is an extremely eye-opening statement for some.  But, I know it to be true.  Many people feel judged for what they eat, where they get what they eat, and how they store, prepare, and serve  what they bring home.

People not only feel judged for what they eat, they feel judged for how they look, whether they are over or underweight, and their lifestyles.

When we eat to be healthy physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally, we come up against a lot of opinions and questions.

Something I try to never do is criticize another person for what they eat or don’t eat.  However, that’s a tough thing to do.  But, really, we never literally know what another person needs to be healthy.

You can simplify your life a bit if you just believe that we don’t know what another person needs and we don’t need to know.  It’s just not anybody else’s business.

And, it’s easier to do this if we factor in the cost of food these days.  Nowadays   it’s getting to be more common to encounter people who simply don’t have the money to eat the way they might otherwise eat.

Instead of feeding their bodies and souls, they are” robbing Peter to pay Paul” (as my mother used to say) as they choose between rent and food.  We can’t blame our unhealthy activities and habits on the rising cost of food when our rents have risen from $800 per month to $2000 per month.

Meanwhile, the job is paying more but not THAT much more.

Guess what, this blog post has just degenerated from a spiritual discussion of the word “healthy” into an economic  politically spiritual one.  Our struggles all have a spiritual component.

And, when a person finally loses the roof and life’s struggle includes finding a warm, dry place to sleep for the night, I wonder how they fit healthy into the struggle to get to work, get the children to school, and find a meal.

At this point, “healthy” becomes a lot about how to breathe deeply for grounding.

And now, I’m reminded of Kerrith McKechnie, my massage teacher at PMTI.  She spoke a lot about breath, breathing, grounding and staying healthy.

I listened to her when she spoke about breathing and its importance to our health.  And, every time she lectured or instructed us about breathing, I  wondered how this was going to fit into the next exam.

Well, Kerrith McKechnie, I finally know the answer to my question.  When the rubber meets the road, proper breathing techniques are essential.

Proper grounding and healing breathing techniques fit smack dab into the middle of the situation.

When you can, please schedule a reflexology or reiki therapy session for yourself, your family members, and even your pets.

If this seems a bit expensive, maybe it’s time to learn to practice Reiki or reflexology.

Thank you for reading this blog post article about the spiritual journey we are all on.  My intention is that this article can be a conduit for your spiritual growth and healing.

If you haven’t yet read “Healer’s Handbook” this may be a good opportunity for you to order a copy.

Please forward this article to your preferred social media network and share it with your friends and relatives.

If you want to communicate with me, please email:  thurmangreco@gmail.com.

“Ketchup Sandwich Chronicles” is about the spiritual journey of hunger as illustrated by the shoppers in the food pantry line.

 

 

 

3 Ways Self-Care Helps + 5 Things to Ease Your Toxic Overload

                                   

Self-care is part of my daily life.  Practicing self-care develops personal happiness.  It honors a balance between personal life and career.

Self-care offers things that are important in daily life.  But, that’s not all.  Self-care activities diminish burnout, stress, and fatigue.

Occasionally, I review my physical, mental, and spiritual toxicity to boost my self-care agenda.  Actually, a toxicity review is good for everyone, whether or not self-care is the issue.

To pamper myself, I’ll declare a detox week.

Your body continually self-cleans.  But, sometimes this process needs a focus and boost because of the hordes of chemicals confronting the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, bloodstream, and skin.

Toxins come in many forms:  too much sugar, caffeine, and processed foods.

They also invade us through pesticides in the produce we eat, formaldehyde in carpets and cosmetics, plastics, and paper products.

I’ll start off a detox week with a water flush, drinking filtered water to cleanse my tissues. (I normally drink filtered water but, with  a detox week, I’ll add a variety of waters which I get at the health food store.  I also drink some of the Saratoga Springs Waters.)  And, I’ll alternate my water with herbal teas to support my liver, lymphatic system, bowels, urinary tract and skin.

DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER

DRINK 2 CUPS OF HERBAL TEA

For a fresh-air treat, I go to my local garden center and buy a new plant to help detox my home.  I love ferns. Truthfully, I love any plant that I can grow.  I started growing houseplants during the pandemic.  I definitely don’t have a green thumb but I’ve managed to collect plants which are surviving in my home.  The oxygen they produce is important.

GET A PLANT FOR FRESH AIR

My detox week includes a daily cleansing walk,  a short 20-30 minute walk I take in my neighborhood to breathe fresh air and enjoy my community.

TAKE A 20-MINUTE WALK

Finally, I include breathing properly to dispel toxins and wastes.  When I celebrate a detox week, I set aside time each day to practice deep, slow, rhythmic breathing.  This clears my mind, lifts my energy, and boosts my mood.

TAKE 10 CLEANSING BREATHS

SCHEDULE A WEEKLY REIKI OR REFLEXOLOGY SESSION

Reiki and Reflexology work well with a detox week.  Include one session for the week or, if time permits, include a daily session.

Thank you for reading this article.  Please share it with your friends and family.  Forward it to your favorite social media network.

Find out more about Thurman Greco at www.thurmangreco.com.  You can purchase Thurman’s books in both ebook and paperbook form.  ENJOY! 

So far, “A Healer’s Handbook” has gone out to readers in over 30 countries.

Explore more about self-care in “Let’s Live with Thurman Greco” YOUTUBE productions.

SARATOGA SPRINGS STATE PARK 

PS –  Because I live in the Hudson Valley of New York, I’m close enough to Saratoga Springs to benefit from the many mineral springs located throughout the Saratoga State Park.  If you ever get the chance to visit this area, just north of Albany, be sure to visit a few of the springs.  Maps are available as well as descriptions of the waters found at each one.

Tours of the springs are scheduled regularly.  Join in the fun if you are in the area!

www.parks.ny.gov