Natural Health & Reflexology

Free Online Self Help Reflexology Course

... by Dieter Luske - Editor for useNature

Reflexology - Foot Reflex Massage

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Part 3 - The Reflexology Treatment

Time to learn how to massage the feet! - You will learn to use several techniques.

HOW TO START:

• Your partner (the patient) should be in a comfortable position.

• Nothing should restrict the patients circulation.

• A good position is on a Recliner chair, or a massage table. The head should be elevated.
  The practitioner must see any reaction of the patient.
  One pillow should be under the knees.

• The room should be pleasant, quiet and well ventilated.

• The patient should be covered with a blanket, to prevent loss of bodyheat.

BEFORE TREATMENT:

• Help the patient to get into the right position, to relax and to breathe correctly.

• Make the first contact. Take patients feet into your hands and do a few light strokes, but firm enough to avoid a ticklish feeling.

• If the patient is nervous, start off with a relaxation technique, or use the "reflexology first aid technique".

• With the first contact, start your first observation.
  Check on Skin texture, temperature, tissue and muscle tone.
  Any mole, calluses, bone dis-alignment, anything out of the ordinary?

• Anything that could be contradictoray? NO? .. good .
  Now, we are ready to do some Reflexology!

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REFLEXOLOGY TREATMENT

Time to learn how to massage the feet!

You will use several techniques, but by far the most important, which is used for 90% of the treatment is;

THE THUMB WALKING TECHNIQUE

As the name suggests, you move the thumb in a kind of walking fashion. The massage movement starts by laying the thumb flat on your patients foot. Then, apply pressure by flexing your thumb joint up to 90%. Hold it there for a second and continue by slipping your thumb into a straight position again. This slipping movement will have moved your thumb a tiny distance forward.

Next, apply pressure again as in the beginning.

Keep this continuous movement up. This will give a thumb "walking" like impression.

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START TREATMENT

You will use both hands.

One hand will be the holding hand, always holding the foot of the patient, never losing touch. With the other hand, start the treatment.

As described above, you will use the thumb walking technique to massage the whole foot in a continous movement.

This technique ensures that you touch or run across each reflexpoint of the foot from all directions. To gain better access and to make sure your thumb is not tiring, you may change hands inbetween. Just make sure by changing hands that you do not lose contact with the patient.

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HOW HARD YOU PRESS?

This depends on your patients sensitivity. The aim of reflexology is to heal, not to inflict pain.

This is also the reason why you would never use any implements to put pressure on the reflex points.

Start with a light pressure using your thumb running across various reflex zones a few times. This will give you a feeling of how hard to press. If you press too hard, everything will be painful, therefore you wouldn't be able to find the more sensitive reflex points.

Once you have established the right treatment pressure, stay with it throughout the treatment.

 

NEXT: Part 4 - Reflexology Techniques

More massage treatment techniques.

ANY QUESTIONS? Simply post on our facebook page > - www.facebook.com/useNature

Free Reflexology Course Menu:

1. Reflexology Introduction
   

2. Foot Reflex Points
   

3. Reflexology Treatments - Foot Reflex Massage
   

4. Reflexology Techniques
   

5. Reflexology Zones
   

6. Reflexology Treatment Reactions

7. Foot problems

 

Article / Course provided by useNature.com - the Editor:
Dieter Luske ©

 

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Related Treatment Modalities : Massage

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* Disclaimer - Any general advice given in any article should not be relied upon and should not be taken as a substitute for visiting a qualified medical Doctor.