A look at reflexology pressure points on the feet.
SOURCE: www.newhealthguide.org.
By Linda Haase
The holidays bring out the best in us. And the worst.
Over-the-top cookie baking and marathon shopping tire our bodies — and our minds. Frankly, we just need to relax.
But this I-can’t-do-one-more-thing sensation calls for more than a pick-me-up caffeine-laden drink at Starbucks.
One solution: foot reflexology. This ancient alternative therapy (evidence suggests a form of reflexology was practiced in early China and Egypt) is designed to rejuvenate body, soul and mind. Its theory: Areas in the foot correspond to organs and systems of the body, and applying pressure to these areas has beneficial effect on a person’s health.
“By stimulating the energy lines you can stimulate and neutralize problems. When I do this, it tells me a lot about a person’s body, for example if their thyroid might not be working right or if they are constipated,” says Angela Artemik, the director of Lake Worth based Academy of Palm Beach, whose programs include massage therapy and workshops in reflexology. “You can stimulate the healing process by stimulating the energy flow and it can relax a person which helps healing. It is mind and body harmony.”
Even the Mayo Clinic gives the treatment positive reviews.
“Reflexology is generally relaxing and may be an effective way to alleviate stress. It is generally considered safe, although very vigorous pressure may cause discomfort for some people,” Dr. Brent Bauer writes on the clinic’s website.
Bauer, the medical editor of the Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine also notes: “Several studies funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health indicate that reflexology may reduce pain and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, and enhance relaxation and sleep. Studies also show that reflexology may have benefits in palliative care of people with cancer.”
However, the American Reflexology Certification Board warns, it’s not a cure-all. “While historically reflexology has anecdotally been found to have a positive effect on the body suffering from a wide variety of chronic problems, it is not a panacea for all ills. Reflexology is not a substitute for medical treatment, but can be used as a complement to any type of medical approach or therapy.
“Reflexology can be incorporated into an overall healthy lifestyle, which includes attention to diet, moderate exercise and different forms of stress reduction,” the organization notes on its website. “Reflexology is primarily a relaxation technique which can negate the effects of stress while it helps the body relax and balance. Through the relaxation process the body is more capable of dealing with the stresses placed on it by daily living and those associated with illness.”
Stress reduction? Relaxation? Count me in.
I’d been hearing a buzz about foot reflexology bars that have opened recently — so a friend and I dragged our weary bodies to Foot Haven Reflexology Bar in downtown Delray Beach to seek nirvana.
The zen like feeling enveloped us the instant we stepped inside and closed the door, mercifully shutting out the construction din and hustle and bustle of the crowds. A softly lit, cozy room awaited, with comfy oversized recliners topped with soft blankets and pillows. Heavenly.
That’s exactly what owner Herman Garcia envisioned when he rented the historical cottage and former rectory, circa 1924.
“That historical aspect brings a special charm to it. It’s a nice, welcoming vibe. People come in and say ‘I could live here.’ I didn’t want to go too modern or minimalist. I wanted chic and timeless,” says Garcia, a licensed massage therapist since 2002.
Privacy is paramount so Garcia arranged the 15 recliners in four rooms. The arrangement allows friends, couples or families to experience healing and pampering together. If you prefer solitude, that can be arranged as well.
“These days everyone is on the go, people are rushing around. This is a way to relax and be pampered. You can come on your lunch break alone or with your family or friends,” he says.
Garcia opened the business in March. Others have opened recently in Boca Raton as well.
And the benefits? Numerous, he claims. “People can experience an increase in circulation, pain reduction and more. It’s an amazing therapy for runners and people who stand a lot. A lot of servers, bartenders and people who work in retail come every week. They tell us it has helped more than anything else they tried,” he says about the service which is performed by licensed massage therapists who get additional training from him. “Our feet are the first thing we use when we wake up in the morning and last thing used when we go to bed. We don’t give them the care they need.”
That’s for sure. Mine got lots of pampering during the 55-minute treatment, which began with a foot soak and 15-minute massage of my back and shoulders. (Tea, champagne or wine are complimentary with two of the treatments — and a hot stone massage, coconut sugar or raspberry lemon foot scrub and lavender paraffin wax dip are optional.)
Because we were sitting up we were engaged in the experience — and didn’t hesitate to inundate our massage therapists with questions.
Here’s part of what we learned (we missed a few things when we succumbed to sleep): Our big toes correspond to our heads, the inside arch corresponds to our spine and the area below the pinky toe parallels the shoulder area.
The treatment ends with a warm towel infused with essential oils enveloping legs. Although we didn’t feel our various aches and pains were cured, we walked out on a cloud — ready to put our best foot forward.
Foot Haven Reflexology Bar is at 62 S.E. Sixth Ave. Prices start at $28. For more information, visit foothavenreflexologybar.com or call 330-4084.
Linda Haase is a freelance writer on a quest to learn — and share — all she can about how to get and stay healthy. Reach her at lindawrites76 @gmail.com.
Comments