Reflexology for sciatic issues

People with sciatic issues have been popping into my life lately which has given me ample opportunities to determine the accuracy of the sciatic reflex. In all 3 cases that I saw, the reflex gave me a visual cue in the way the area blanched and gave the illusion of being raised. I was able to see this distressed reflex on the plantar aspect of the foot and palmar aspect of the hand of two others.

The hand showed me a reflex just lateral to where it should have been which made me think, if the body is suffering some type of distortion would the reflex reflect this as well? So I worked the reflex in the distorted visual cue area with excellent results.

I had good results with all 3 cases and more people are suddenly developing this issue and talking to me about it. Seemed I should share my findings. So happy hunting this sometimes elusive reflex.

Reflexologist heal thyself!

I did something or I caught something or something. Yesterday I woke up with a wee bit of a knot close to my right shoulder blade. It's a long weekend. I didn't want to take the time to do anything to it, so I popped a couple of acetominophen (I know, not an antiinflammatory but drugs are few and far between in my house). Didn't help. Then I start begging various family members to do the layman's term of shiatsu/acupressure in the area. Temporary relief. Got into the hot tub. Temporary relief again. Every time the pain came back it spread to more and more areas - mostly joints - so I started thinking viral. So then the genius in me said try reflexology! Quel surprise! I am the reflexology version of a cobbler. I don't have shoes or in reflexology speak, I keep on forgetting to treat myself. And since my husband said for better or worse in our vows, I handed him my feet. Yep, there it was. He worked the area for a while which helped considerably. I had a good night's sleep. I woke up this morning with the ball of my foot sore to the touch in the corresponding area. Later in the day my thumb started to ache in the corresponding area. This is a good sign. The issue is coming to the surface to disappear forever. The area in my shoulder itself has a lingering light echo of how it felt yesterday.
I will work the areas on my foot and thumb and put this baby to bed! So remember reflexologists, not all discomfort is related to organ imbalance but muscular issues. Don't forget muscles when assessing a client.

What's wrong with a placebo?

I have been a reflexologist since 1997 and I played with it for years before that. This healing modality has surprised me repeatedly with what it can do. I will be the first to admit that it cannot do all things for all people, but really, what can? Think about it. There are no wonder drugs out there that work for every condition. There are no healing modalities that have a one hundred percent success rate.

My gumption gets riled when people attribute success in healing to placebos. The implication is that a placebo is a false deity. They shake their heads at the people they feel have succumbed to the placebo affect. So let's analyze this placebo affect. The individual is better. They have had a successful response to treatment. In the case of a placebo response to a healing modality that does not involve ingesting medication, they have not taxed their liver and kidneys by processing medications. Personalize it. You are sick, you try a healing modality like reflexology. You feel better. Your friends or family say it is a placebo affect. You are better. I'd take it. I know reflexology works and I know the mechanism is not always placebo affect. But I will embrace these successes as well. The client is better. This is why we offer reflexology. We want people to heal themselves. If the result is through a placebo affect so be it. Let's not make it a dirty word.

Reflexology

I am a member of a number of reflexology groups on facebook. I am amazed at the diversity within the field of reflexology. The definition of reflexology and methods of application are diverse as well. I don't agree with all of them. I am sure some of these members don't agree with my principles as well. The underlying denominator and what keeps us gelled as a group is the underlying desire to help. Notice I said help and not heal. The healers are the people themselves who come to us with their issues. We are simply facilitators. As in all things, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I started thinking about how reflexology has impacted my life. I have a large circle of friends because of my love for teaching reflexology. My family is healthier and has a greater appreciation for their bodies and how they work. I feel less helpless when life throws curve balls at me. Reflexology techniques can help to deal with these. Even as I begin to envision myself in the future as a retiree, I have a picture of myself doing reflexology. I guess I am an addict.

Hello, my name is Sue and I am a reflexology addict. Anyone else out there?

touching base

It seems I've been deficient in my blogging. I seem to be suffering from writer's block and a lack of enthusiasm for projects near and dear to my heart. So I have decided to attempt a break through this block by forcing myself to put pen to paper. Actually it would be more accurate to say finger to keyboard. It seems fitting to blog on New Year's eve and to look back at 2009.

It has been a good year I think, it just seems blurry. My children still remain my greatest source of pride as I watch them grow and stumble and find out who they are. My husband has had to summon inner resources and explore his darker side in an effort to do what is right at work. He is learning that a good offense is sometimes a smarter strategy than a strong defense. It's hard when you are a nice guy.

I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up and so I feel much empathy for my boys who are asked this question everytime they talk with adults.

My reflexology business was busier this year and I am grateful and look forward to increasing revenue with this.

And so success, a blog has been written. It shall end with a sincere wish that everyone have a healty, happy and prosperous 2010.

Metamorphasis through Renovation

We have lived through a summer renovation. I have been teaching reflexology out of the basement for the last 5 years under less than ideal conditions but there were reasons not to tackle the expensive reno. And then last spring I had had enough. Life and business felt like it was in a holding pattern and I felt it was time to improve my work environment. We finished it last week and the change is already palpable. I have had a sudden increase in interest in my courses and more clients are booking sessions. Many of them don't know I have completed a renovation. I am attributing it to a positive change in energy, or a change in feng shui. The basement is now a wonderfully bright refuge for the kids and for work. I am looking forward to teaching in it. I must invite past students in to see the new space. It shows why so many decorating programs are on television these days. Your environment can affect your life so declutter and pretty it up.

Riding the Wave

I have always considered September the month that marks the beginning of my New Year. I don't know if it is because it is my birth month but pivotal things seem to happen to me a lot in September. The astrology reports for Virgo are astoundingly positive for the next two years. I am a devout follower of astrology when reports are good and I always shake my head when the reports are less cheery. Those are always meant for someone else. In any case, I must admit to feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation for the future. My gut tells me something good is going to happen. I will be happy with a lottery win or with a banner year for all reflexologists. As a community we are sensing good things to come. Our feet are planted firmly on the ground and so our heads are not in the clouds but looking straight ahead at a positive future. September 20 to 26 is World Reflexology Week. So if you haven't tried it you should. If it's been a while, maybe it's time to book a session. Pick up a book and read about it. Check out my website for more information if you like. www.suetoddreflexology.com

Hopefully your September will unravel in a positive manner. Love your feet to help achieve your feats.

Sue

Simple pleasures

I am always fascinated with how different people experience different pleasures. A great example is golf. So many people love this game. I would rather watch the grass grow and the paint dry. Here is a list of some of my simple pleasures.

* the first cup of coffee in the morning
* checking out the news of the day on my laptop
* walking my dog
* having a reflexology session
* receiving email
* getting regular mail in my mailbox
* yakking with a neighbour on the front porch
* a glass of wine
* spending time with friends
* watching any kind of creative process
* writing down my thoughts
* quiet conversations with my husband at the end of the day
* any smile from my kids

What are your small pleasures?

Blog preempted by summer

It seems I have been negligent in completing my weekly blogs. Sorry, the weather is decent so I am living life instead of commenting on it. I'll touch base again with all of my wonderful insights when the weather turns to cooler temperatures.

Take your shoes off and let mother nature perform some free reflexology on you. Enjoy summer while it's here.

Creativity

Creativity isn't an entitlement of the artistic mind. I can remember how I had to knit or crochet or work at some craft in order to feel sane. The creativity of seeing something come together fed me on a deep intrinsic level. I felt calmer, more centered and more fulfilled while working on crafts. I thought that perhaps I was "crafty". Imagine my surprise when I let go of my crafts completely. I had started teaching reflexology and the lesson planning and study aids I developed were satisfying that same deeper need. This was surprising to me. Theoretically, this was work, but it felt like play! I learned that creativity comes in all shapes, sizes, forms and interests. The key is to find the one that interests you. You leave the work energized as opposed to fatigued. I am starting a new project now that should take a couple of years. I am developing a head/neck reflexology course. I am excited and grounded at the same time. Wish me luck and I wish you the same enjoyment I feel with your creative endeavours.

Empathy in medicine

There has been a constant theme running through my life for the past decade. It has crossed through my dental hygiene career, into my reflexology career and on into my coaching career. It seems I am being pushed to speak about medical empathy. I am an empathetic hygienist/reflexologist/teacher/life coach and have a happy clientele to prove it. They are so thrilled to finally have someone who listens to them. I am not performing miracles for reflexology clients who come to see me and say I am their last hope. I am listening and at times I am finding habits that lead to their physical problems. Many times my clients have been told that their situation is hopeless, not necessarily fatal but it will not improve. This can become a self fulfilling prophecy for some people. Others look for people to give them hope and that is how they come to me. I listen and I tell them one simple thing. Nobody knows your body like you do and you do have some say in what your body can do. Many of them burst into tears when I say this. I do believe the body can do wonders if the mind is in a positive state.
The complaints about health care are coming to me fast and furious these days and I feel driven to comment. The few sites I have read regarding medical empathy are trying to quantify it in beakers and lab experiments. We are trained in empathy from infancy. At some point these medical practitioners choose to stop using it. Why, who knows? Bring it back. Your clients need it and you do to. Some day you will be a patient too.

Being open

I can run the gamut of emotions from tears to joy in a single day. I don't enjoy days where I run that intense a cycle but then I don't enjoy days where I'm down and the amazing days just make the down days seem worse. What to do? I think the key is being open to what is happening to you at any given moment. What is that moment or that emotion supposed to be teaching you? I just learned that when you are in depression you are at your most creative. That is an amazing example of yin/yang at work I believe. So I guess we should just accept the emotions and remain open to what they are telling or teaching us. You can't have joy if you haven't experienced sadness and all of us can admit to learning not just from positive experiences but the negative ones as well. So be open, there is a lesson in everything.

Looking for positive amid all the negative

If you look outside right now the odds are all you will see are dirty piles of snow and streets lined with debris that has collected over the winter. It just feels dirty and gray and damp and heavy. It really reflects the attitude everyone seems to have about our economy. News commentary about the state of our economy is dim and grim and gray and heavy. Guess what though folks. Guess what is peeking up through the gray piles of dirt and snow. Bulbs of daffodils and snow drops and tulips are determined to overtake the gray landscape. I think this is a good time to take our cue from Mother Nature and show the same determination to reflect a positive and growing attitude about our own economic future. We do control this you know.

The February Blahs

Hello everyone.

It seems we are all affected with a case of the February blahs. What is it about this time of year that tests our patience to such a downer level? I have decided to make February my personal investment month. Economic times are tough but one way I elevate my spirits is by taking online courses. I had a eureka moment with one of these courses and as a result I am in the process of developing an additional career as a life coach. It just seems to complement my reflexology practice since I seem to coach clients and students alike already.

Try it. Universal classes is an online site with very reasonable rates for their courses. You can afford to explore your interests without sinking a lot of money.

Enjoy the rest of this month and exercise your brain with a little education.
Sue