November 2014

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Incorporating Reflexology into Your LifeFootprints for Health

The foot has a greater quantity of sensitive nerve endings than other body parts.

Whoever ishappy willmake othershappy too.-Mark Twain

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In this Issue

Incorporating Reflexology into Your LifeHappiness is ContagiousTry This Breathing Exercise

You walk on them all day, but did youknow your feet do more than carry youfrom one place to the next? They alsohave a unique connection to balancedhealth and well-being. In a form ofbodywork known as reflexology, the feetare said to contain reflex areas thatmirror and connect to all parts of thebody--and pressure on these points canactually influence your state of health.

What is ReflexologyThe roots of reflexology draw, in part,from the ancient healing art of footmassage, practiced the world over, fromAsian and Egyptian civilizations to tribalcommunities of the Americas. Earlyarchaeological digs have revealed statues

of Buddha in China and Japan, andVishnu (a Hindu god) in India,depicting markings of specific areas onthe feet. But it has only been within thelast century that this work has establisheda foothold, so to speak, in Westernpractice.

As we know it today, reflexology isviewed primarily as a stress reduction or

relaxation technique. Using the thumb,finger, and hand, gentle pressure isapplied to reflex areas of the feet inorder to decrease stress and bring thebody into equilibrium. While somereflexologists also apply treatment to thehands and ears, the foot--with itsgreater quantity of sensitive nerveendings--is considered the mostamenable to this approach.

Although simplistic in application, theeffects of the treatment can beprofound. Through activation of nervereceptors in the hands and feet, newmessages flood into the body system,changing its tempo and tone. In essence,the foot or hand becomes a conduit forsharing information throughout the

body. Function in the connecting area isimproved and, at the same time, thebody experiences overall relaxation andbenefits to the circulation andelimination systems. When the body'ssystems are at optimal functioning,self-healing is enhanced.

Scientific studies have documented the benefits of reflexology for a variety of ailments.

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In this sense, reflexology is not amedical treatment for specific symptomsor diseases, but rather a way to facilitatethe body's inherent healing power.Therefore, it stands to reason thatpaying attention to your feet can also bea great preventive measure and oneeasily incorporated into a daily routine.

How and why reflexology works the wayit does is still up for debate. Some say itinvolves communication through thenervous system; other theories point toopening blockages of chi, or vitalenergy, in the body. Regardless,scientific studies have documented itsbenefit for a variety of ailments, rangingfrom acute disorders to chronicdiseases. The majority of reflexologyresearch has come from China where thetechnique is commonly used in hospitalsand homes for both healthmaintenance, and as adjunct to medicalcare. Some of the positive findingsinclude reduction of pain, improvementin circulation, release of tension, andimproved effectiveness of medication, aswell as benefits for diabetes andheadaches.

Fancy FootworkKevin Kunz, author of severalreflexology books and codirector of theReflexology Research Project,emphasizes the importance of makingreflexology a part of your life.Consistency is key if you expect results,and foot homework is a low-cost,efficient way to extend the benefits ofweekly sessions with your reflexologist.The techniques can be practiced evenwhile you're busy doing something else.You can purchase devices such as footrollers for use under the desk, but eveninexpensive homemade devices will do,Kunz says. "You can put a golf ball in asock, tie it up, and you have a roller.Anything to cause stimulation has abeneficial effect."

Reflexology is also a safe and effectivetechnique for infants and children,soothing their emotions and promotingsleep. Naturally available andnoninvasive, this approach can enhancecommunication between parent andchild and aid in developing the child'sphysical awareness.

Feedback andStimulation

According to Kunz, lack of stimulationfor the feet is a major problem in oursociety. We box our feet in shoes andforbid them to traipse the naturalenvironment. Some American feetnever even see sunlight, much less travelnaked on a forest floor. "The feet carrythe body, in more ways than one," Kunzsays. "Constant feedback from the feet isneeded in order for the body to makethe proper responses." There is nochallenge for the foot in walking on flatsurfaces. Feet crave stimulation, andthey were built for a variety of surfaces.

The Japanese, as well as Europeans, haveaddressed this basic need by creatinghealth pathways to stimulate every part ofthe foot. "This comes from taki fumi,"Kunz says, "to step upon bamboo. Herewe call them stroll pathways. The idea isthat you stroll along, and as you do, youare strengthening the system. It's greatexercise and gives you more endurance."

In Asia, pathways frequently featurecobblestones for stimulation, but asandy beach or rocky hiking trail canprovide variation underfoot.

Whatever path you choose, get off thepavement, free your feet, and let themdo their thing. "Over thousands ofyears," Kunz says, "every culture hasdiscovered it in some shape or form.The foot is it."

Surrounding yourself with happy people is healthy!

Happiness is Contagious

Try This Breathing ExerciseAnne Williams

Maybe mom was right. Research suggeststhat surrounding yourself with friendsand family who are happy can actuallyincrease your own happiness.

Scientists at Harvard University and theUniversity of California, San Diego,found that emotions, particularlyhappiness, have a viral effect in how theyspread from one person to another. Forevery happy person in your physicalsocial network, you have a 9 percentchance of increasing your ownhappiness. The effect is morepronounced the closer someone is toyou geographically, and it does not seemto include electronic communications.The study, "Dynamic Spread ofHappiness in a Large Social Network,"can be found online in the BritishMedical Journal (www.bmj.com).

This is especially good news consideringthe potential health benefits ofhappiness and positivity. A studypublished in Stroke magazine hasindicated a "significant association"

between optimism and a reduced risk ofstroke. This is in addition to studies thathave linked optimism to a healthierimmune system, faster wound healing,and a lower risk of heart disease. Whilethe exact cause of the benefits is notclear, one theory is that optimisticpeople are more likely to take care oftheir health. In addition, there is hopethat teaching optimism could becomepart of a preventative program forvarious conditions.

What's one way to get happy? Trymassage! Exposure to stress, acontributing factor to unhappiness, overa long period of time can increase therate of neural degeneration and increasethe risk for Alzheimer's disease. Luckily,a study from Umea University in Swedenhas shown that just five minutes ofmassage has the potential to lower stress,and 80 minutes of massage has atremendously positive effect on stresslevels. Get massage, get happy, and cheerup your friends and family!

Do you ever find yourself unconsciouslyholding your breath when you're tense?This can cause tension to build in yourbody and may let the chest collapse,leading to misalignment.

Proper breathing provides oxygen to themuscles and body, helps you stay relaxedand centered, and even helps youmaintain correct body alignmentthroughout your day.You can also use breathwork as part of astress-reduction program by followingthis progressive relaxation exercise.

1. Begin by lying in a comfortableposition without crossing your arms orlegs, and focus on your breathing tocreate a slow, deep pattern. Inhalethrough your nose while counting to 10and expanding your abdomen. Hold thebreath for one second, and exhale

through your nose on the count of 10.Inhale and exhale in this pattern fivetimes.2. Beginning with your head, tense yourfacial muscles as tightly as possible andcount to five. Release the musclescompletely, and sense the musclesfeeling heavy and still. Work down yourentire body, tensing muscle groups andthen relaxing them. After the head,move to the neck, chest, arms andhands, abdomen, back, thighs andgluteals, lower legs, and feet.3. After relaxing each set of muscles,mentally scan your body for any areas ofremaining tension and ask those areas torelax completely.4. Repeat the slow breathing exercise.5. Gently begin to move your body tocome out of the deeply relaxed state.

Try using progressive relaxation directly

before or after your sessions, directlybefore bed, or at any time during theday as a pick-me-up. Focus on takingfull, deep, even, rhythmic breaths. Witha little practice, you can become moreaware of your own breathing patternsand use breathwork effectively as youmove throughout your day.

Sometimes thecure forrestlessness isrest.-Colleen Wainwright

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107 Wilcox Road Suite 107CStonington, CT 06378