Can you answer dave karl’s question about Massage?:

contraindication is the time when reflexology is not advisable because it may cause damage or harm.

Relaxation Gifts

Reflexology reduces physical, emotional and psychological stress and tension. This reduction of stress and tension results in a greater degree of relaxation in the body and a consequent revitalization and rejuvenation of the functioning of the body.

Reflexology also increases the body’s awareness of itself. The combination of therapeutic relaxation and increased awareness facilitate movement toward optimal healthy functioning. In this sense reflexology is healing.

ART means that the application of reflexology is most beneficial when the practitioner is bringing their intuitive senses into play with their practice of reflexology. Everyone who uses the techniques of reflexology will find that the results are beneficial. However, the practitioner that develops awareness of their intuitive senses and applies reflexology in accordance with their intuitive senses will have more effective results.

The basic techniques used in the practice of reflexology are very simple and easy to learn. As in many other activities it takes some practice of the techniques to become familiar with them. In this process of practising the techniques it is inevitable that some of the benefits of reflexology will be discovered. The most common benefit to be discovered is how profoundly relaxing reflexology is for most (not all) people that it is applied to. Even for relatively healthy people in our hectic western society, the feeling of profound relaxation is a blissfully pleasant experience that is deeply appreciated.

Beyond these pleasurable feelings of relaxation, recipients of reflexology often report a wide range of other benefits, such as: feeling more centred, feeling more solidly connected to the ground and paradoxically feeling like walking on air, experiencing deeper sleep, relief from a wide variety of aches and pains, relief from headaches, clearing of sinus congestion, etc..

The range of potential benefits available from reflexology is very wide. It is believed that reflexology moves the body from functioning in the sympathetic nervous system modality (fight or flight) to the parasympathetic system modality (rest and repair), that reflexology improves the assimilation of nutrients to enhance the provision of nourishment for healthy functioning; that reflexology improves the circulation of the blood and lymph with consequent improved nourishment and cleansing of the cells and elimination of accumulated toxins; similarly, that reflexology strengthens the functioning of the immune system. In short, by revitalizing and rejuvenating the intricate functioning of the physical body reflexology assists the body in it’s inherent process of healing itself.

As a consequence, reflexology powerfully complements all other healing modalities. In particular it enhances the effectiveness of nutritional therapies including herbology, and, manipulative therapies such as physiotherapy and chiropractic.

When a person is experiencing extremely acute pain, such as a severe whiplash, reflexology, unique in it’s ability to relieve stress and tension through stimulation of the distant reflexes, can safely ease the pain until it is conducive to the direct stimulation of massage therapy or physiotherapy. In this way, reflexology is very beneficial for the person who is presently experiencing extreme pain and who is understandably not receptive to any direct stimulation of the injured area.

As reflexology gains wider acceptance as a therapy, it’s effectiveness for specific conditions is being researched. Recently, the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, a prestigious medical research journal, published an evaluation of the effectiveness of reflexology for women suffering with pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). This study, which evaluated 38 symptoms experienced by these women, reported that the symptoms were reduced by 46% during treatment, an improvement that was sustained at 41% for two months beyond the cessation of treatment. The journal concluded that reflexology should be considered an effective therapy for PMS.

Many other studies evaluating the effectiveness of reflexology for specific health conditions have been published in Denmark, England and China. In these countries, reflexology has been integrated into the national health care system - which has made it easier to get research studies conducted. The health conditions focussed on in these studies include: headaches, back pain, asthma and constipation - a wide variety of conditions for any one therapy to address. In general, the results of these studies report reflexology to be effective for 75% to 80% of recipients.



Thanks to Paul Fitzgerald for contributing this article to our Massage blog:

Online Massage Therapy School

Find Healing Arts Institute Programs in the United States and Canada. Depending on the healing arts institute in which you choose to enroll, there are multiple programs of study in which one can participate. A healing arts institute may provide training in massage therapy, while another may involve Oriental medicine training. A healing arts institute may also encompass energy medicine, hypnotherapy, herbal medicine, and other holistic healthcare modalities.

For example, a holistic healing arts institute often offers massage therapy and holistic health practitioner programs. Because each state varies in requirements and regulations, a healing arts institute program in massage therapy may range from 300 to over 1,000 training hours. If a student chooses a healing arts institute program in energy medicine, such as reiki, courses are often broken up into several levels of mastery; with each completion resulting in its respective level of certification. Another common educational program offered through a healing arts institute may include hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy courses, like most healing arts, vary in course duration and level of certification.

At a healing arts institute, students can also explore Chinese medicine and Eastern bodywork modalities, such as acupressure and shiatsu. Most of these academic programs result in certificates and/or diplomas; as do most massage therapy curriculums. A healing arts institute, too, often provides students with unique perspectives in natural healthcare, including studies in homeopathy, naturopathy, and herbal medicine remedies.

Students who opt to enroll in a healing arts institute should carefully examine the school’s accreditation, curriculum, prerequisites, and of course, tuition costs. Another area to review is whether or not the particular healing arts institute participates in financial aid assistance programs. While a number of these natural health schools do extend financial aid programs, some offer in-house financing. Additionally, a healing arts institute may participate in scholarship programs based on student need and academic achievement.

If you aspire to become a licensed massage therapist, a certified holistic health practitioner, a certified hypnotherapist, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, or even a naturopathic doctor - a healing arts institute will allow you to realize your professional dreams through course-intensive studies and hands-on training.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding a healing arts institute, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Healing Arts Institute Programs

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The CollegeBound Network

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NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.



Thanks to Gina LaGuardia for contributing this article to our Massage blog:

Top Ten Relaxation Techniques

Can you answer Tina S’s question about Massage?:

Is there a corellation between modern medicine and ancient plant medicine? I KNOW there is, but I am having a hard time finding documentable evidence for a paper I have to write. I know that there are plants that act the same as modern drugs. I’ve had the librarian at my college research this for me and I have come up lacking.

Massage Tips

Find Reflexology Massage Training in the United States and Canada. Reflexology massage in one of the many available massage therapies today that is notable for its effectiveness in relieving common health conditions and disorders like back pain, migraines, arthritis, and sports injuries, among others.

Dating back thousands of years ago, reflexology massage finds its roots in ancient China, Egypt and India. However, it was only introduced to the Western world in the early 1900s by Dr. William Fitzgerald.

This particular healing art is administered by applying pressure (using the hands, fingers and thumbs) to specific parts of the feet and hands (and sometimes, the ears). Each respective zone on these parts correlates to particular organs and functions of the body. This is where reflexology massage can make a positive impact on effectively promoting self-healing capabilities.

When administering reflexology massage, reflexology practitioners base their treatment on Chi energy, or the meridians of the body. One of the purposes for giving a reflexology massage is to release and unblock these meridians (energy channels) with the body to bring about whole healing and well-being.

As a complementary therapy, reflexology massage is often taught in conjunction with core massage therapy curriculums, as well as in a stand-alone certificate program. Currently, there are a number of specialty schools that teach reflexology massage exclusively.

Prospective students and professional massage therapists, who would like to enroll in a reflexology massage course, can anticipate practical training, theories and history of reflexology, and anatomy and physiology. In most instances, graduates of a reflexology program will earn either a diploma or certificate of completion.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding reflexology massage instruction, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Reflexology Massage: Innovative Bodywork

© Copyright 2007

The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.



Thanks to Gina LaGuardia for contributing this article to our Massage blog:

Deep Tissue Massage Techniques