Archives for 2016

Dec 21 2016

Season’s Greetings

I’m signing off for the year so I can devote all my attention to the family members I am fortunate to spend these days with.

I want to wish you all a blessed holiday, filled with good friends, loving family, delicious food, lots of rest and time to give thanks for the year just past.

Whether you are in a snow-covered landscape or basking on the beach, the meaning of this time of year is the same. Boots or flip-flops, it doesn’t matter – I know from experience having moved from the Canadian prairies to the Sunshine state years ago.

My appreciation and gratitude to all of you. You are the reason I do what I do.

much love,

Karen

Dec 14 2016

The Almighty Digestive System – Let’s Give It Some Help This Season

The digestive system has always held an interest for me. In fact, when I was doing my teacher training in reflexology back in the 1980’s, I got to pick a couple of systems that I would like to teach. My first choice, without any thought, was the digestive system.

I have been fascinated since my early 20’s on how what we put into our bodies affects not only our physical, but emotional and mental health. I’ve formally studied nutrition and herbalism, as well as many thought processes that explore the effect of mind and emotion on our body’s ability to stay healthy.

In the simplest of terms, the digestive system is tasked with receiving all input handed it, whether thoughts, images, sounds, experiences or food; breaking those into forms that the body can assimilate; delivering those nutrients to the cells; and discarding whatever is not needed.

Things get complicated because we know so little about our own individual digestive systems, other than the general mechanics.

Many of us have food allergies, sensitivities and/or intolerances – and do not even suspect it. We don’t know what our particular metabolism thrives best on, so we eat what tastes good to us or what the latest food fad is, never questioning the chronic acid reflux, flatulence or constipation that we live with.

Add to poor food choices, an agribusiness hell-bent on making as much money as possible off our gullets, eating too much, too fast or too late in the day and you can already see the signs pointing towards disaster.

Although it is beyond the scope of my license and this post to discuss how you should eat, (Do you know there are over 40 dietary eating plans out there all purporting to be THE way to eat – and lose weight, of course?) I would like to share a few ideas that may bode you well over this holiday season.

* Chew food completely. And along with that, chew and eat slowly. It’s not a race. Taste your food. Enjoy it.

* Eat food – real food, in its most whole state as possible – not food-like substances.

* When you eat, eat. Don’t watch television, read a magazine or fool around on your device. Ideal way to eat is to share meals with family and friends. Talk, laugh and eat.

* Drink a cup of strong peppermint tea before going to bed. Great digestive aid.

* Indulge in this holiday season and all the once-a-year tastes and treats it has to offer. Don’t deny yourself; just be mindful of how much you are eating.

* Spend about 10 minutes when getting into bed each evening to support your digestive system’s attempts to digest and assimilate all that you’ve taken in.

Massage some lotion or butter into your feet – butters with essential oils of ginger and/or orange are good for digestion.

Thumb-walk the arches of your feet, between the pelvic and diaphragm lines, longitudinally and horizontally. Stop and gently hold any points that get your attention.

Work the Vagus nerve reflex, the longest cranial nerve ending in our abdomen and the most important nerve in our parasympathetic system. It helps to reduce inflammation (Irritable Bowel Syndrome anyone?), acts as the walkie-talkie between your brain and your gut, and generally aids in digestion.

* Get a good night’s sleep, so you wake refreshed to continue with the festivities the next day. Afterall, this time of year comes only once. Enjoy it!

Dec 07 2016

Start the Year Out With A Plan!

2016 has just about come to an end, folks. Looking back, are you pleased with the number of people you have been able to connect with and help with reflexology?

For those who are less than satisfied with the size of their clientele base, I’d like to suggest an easy way to spread your name in the community by reaching out to targeted populations. With a little pre-planning and implementation your response to the question above can be quite different at the end of 2017.

In the United States – and likely also in Canada – every month in the calendar year is marked to bring awareness to some group or organization. Many of these lend themselves well to a connection with reflexology.

I’ve compiled a monthly list for you and how you might reach out to these people with your message. Create a campaign for the whole year, or just pick the ones that speak to you. Your offers should reach people the last two weeks of the month prior to the event month. You can offer an extra 15 minutes to the session, or a one-time fee reduction (always time-limited to the month), or whatever other bonus that fits. I’ve made some suggestions below.

Use your blog, social media pages and/or newsletters to let people know what you’re up to. Incorporate testimonials.

January – Thyroid Disease Awareness. Write a blog or publish a post on your social media page about thyroid disease and how supportive reflexology is to the health of the entire endocrine system. Of course, focus your session on the endocrine system.

February – No surprise that this month is Heart Disease Awareness Month. Again a short piece on the effects of stress on the heart and how reflexology is a fabulous way to relax and reduce stress. If you want to get even more specific, February 5 is National Wear Red Day recognizing women’s heart disease. (Remember to wear red on that day!)

March – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month and Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Check your local listings to see if there is a support group for these health conditions in your community. Offer to come give a short talk and teach folks how to give themselves a little reflexology. Do your research about these health situations so that you can speak confidently about them and how reflexology might help support someone living with one of these conditions. If you have a client with one of these conditions, ask if s/he would accompany you and speak about his/her experience with reflexology. Offer a reduced introductory price for sessions. For CFS, give an overall general session; for MS, focus on the central nervous system reflexes. I’d make contact now, if this one interests you; these groups often plan their speakers well in advance.

April – Lots this month to choose from: Parkinson’s Disease, Autism, STRESS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and National Library Week (11^th -17^th). A few ideas: Give a talk at a Parkinson’s or Irritable Bowel Syndrome support group; offer reduced sessions to caregivers of children with Autism; offer a special to your local library staff. And stress, well that’s a no-brainer with reflexology. Write it up; let people know how well reflexology is able to reduce stress. Invite them in – guarantee they’ll feel more relaxed – no risk to them.

May – National High Blood Pressure Education Month, Better Sleep Month, Breath Easy Month and National Digestive Diseases Awareness Month. These are all naturals when it comes to reflexology.

Partner with a meditation teacher to give a short class to people with HBP; talk about reflexology’s ability to relax and teach them how to thumb-walk on their own feet and hands.

Share reflexology’s history of helping to relax the digestive system to ensue smoother operation of that critical system. Teach them how to work on themselves. Offer discounted sessions; focus on digestive, solar plexus, diaphragm and Vagus nerve reflexes.

For the millions of people who have trouble sleeping, offer sessions focused on the nervous and endocrine reflexes. Research some information for them on ways to change their sleep habits and give a pretty handout.

Breathe Easy: focus on respiratory, solar plexus and brain reflexes.

June – National Headache Awareness Week (1-7), National Men’s Health Week (14-20), National Cancer Survivors Day (6^th). Chronic headaches debilitate thousands of people on this continent. If you’ve taken my Say Goodbye to Headaches class you’ll know how to help people determine the cause of their headaches; offer sessions focused on the cause, not just the symptoms.

This might be a good time to reach out to the men in your community. Did you know that men are much more loyal than women when it comes to service providers? When they find the service and provider they like, they stick with it. Men are becoming more aware of the importance of self-care too, so this is a good time to invite them in.

Stage a day for cancer survivors. Invite other practitioners in your community to participate. A group that sells and makes smoothies; massage therapist to give chair neck and shoulder massage; aromatherapy talk and samples; and of course reflexology. Celebrate with these brave folks!

That’s a good start. In the New Year, I’ll post the July to December events, so you can plan those out. I hope you find this useful.

Nov 30 2016

How To Talk To Clients About Reflexology

Eleanor Miles, a student in this year’s Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification, wrote an informative document to share with her massage clients intended to answer their questions and peak their interest in trying a reflexology session. She has graciously allowed me to share it with you.

Reflexology – What Is It?

Reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques, such as thumb and finger walking, hook and backup and rotating-on-a-point, applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally.

The effectiveness of reflexology is recognized worldwide by various national health institutions, and the public at large, as a distinct complementary practice within the holistic health field.

What does that mean? It means I will apply manual pressure to points in the feet and hands which correspond to the entire body.

It also means that reflexology is different from massage. It’s actually closer to acupuncture. There are massage therapists advertising reflexology which turns out to be just some extra attention to massaging the feet. There is nothing wrong with extra attention to the feet. It feels lovely, but it does not address the specific reflex areas.

An actual reflexology treatment involves using the thumbs and fingers to walk the entire surface of the foot or hand. When the therapist feels congestion or the client reports sensation, that area or point is worked more specifically with deeper pressure. Also, points will be worked that correspond to individual organs or areas that were identified by the client as needing attention.

Does a reflexologist diagnose disease? No. Congestion may indicate that a body part is stressed. If this seems to support symptoms you have been experiencing, I will encourage you to see your doctor. If not, it may just show some temporary stress in the system.

Does a reflexologist treat disease? Again, no. The point work stimulates the nervous system and supports the body’s efforts to function well. I believe that deep relaxation is where healing happens, and reflexology facilitates deep relaxation.

During my student clinic experiences, my five classmates and I set up in one big room. I worked with five clients over two days and audible snoring happened with all five. When we were practicing on each other that session, I was so relaxed that I snored. I took a little bit of teasing over being the “snoring queen”!

Does reflexology hurt? There is disagreement among practitioners. I have heard of clients who were told the treatment had to hurt to be effective. I do not believe this. More pressure does not mean more healing. Yes, there may be tender spots and point work may feel intense. If it does not feel good to you, always speak up and a good therapist will adjust the pressure.

How does reflexology work? There are several theories: that it affects energy such as Chi, that the rest, repair and awareness provided during a treatment stimulate healing, or that the physical point work affects nerves and chemicals directing the body’s workings. There is no scientific evidence of how reflexology works.

But let me be very clear – there is ample scientific proof showing that reflexology does work. There are hundreds of scientifically performed studies available online showing a measurable change in disease conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson’s or sinus issues.

Will you like reflexology? Try it! If you don’t like having your feet touched, consider having your hands worked.

I believe that health can always be improved. Our job is to support our body as it does its work. We do this by getting medical attention when needed, and providing the nourishment and rest our body needs. Reflexology will help you rest and heal.

Nov 23 2016

Reflexology is NOT Massage!

What tickled me most about writing this article was that the idea came from the editor of Massage Magazine and a well-respected massage therapist in this country. They both felt it was time that massage therapists stop passing off foot massages as reflexology; that reflexology be respected. The article appears in Massage Magazine’s November issue. Enjoy!

Foot Massage is NOT Reflexology – Respect Specialization

It’s frustrating to spend good money for something and be handed something else instead. In the U.S., that is too often what happens to people who request a reflexology session from someone other than a certified reflexologist.

Consider this situation experienced by massage business educator and author, and Alliance for Massage Therapy Education President Cherie Sohnen-Moe earlier this year, when she and her sister headed out to celebrate Cherie’s birthday at a well-known spa: Cherie chose, as one of her services, a foot reflexology session, a service described in the spa menu—as it is described in many spa menus—as specialized pressure techniques applied to specific wellness-related reflex points on the feet to release blocked energy, relieve stress and boost circulation.

“Unfortunately, that was not what I received,” said Cherie. “I got a foot rub. Granted, it was a very nice, relaxing treatment, but it was not a reflexology session.

“I know what reflexology is,” she added. “I kept waiting for the therapist to actually do reflexology, but it never occurred. I asked the therapist a couple of questions and it became very clear that she wasn’t a trained reflexologist.”

Cherie added, “I did mention my displeasure on the survey form. I received a voice message from the manager that he wanted to discuss this with me. I called back the next day and was left on hold for more than six minutes. I [also] emailed him, but he never followed up.

“Needless to say, I will never return to that spa, and I’ve told all of my friends and family not to go there,” she said.

An increasing number of spas and massage therapists are offering foot massage that they call reflexology. Where did this confusion between a foot massage and reflexology originate? I suspect partly with fashioning text to license massage therapy.

Licensing
In the U.S., four states—New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee and Washington—have separate regulations for massage and reflexology. Thirty-three states exempt reflexology from their massage regulations.

Five states—Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Vermont and Wyoming—do not have a massage law. Reflexology is also unregulated in those states.

Four states, plus Washington, D.C., require a massage therapy license in order to practice reflexology. The problem with this is very few massage schools afford more than a passing glance at reflexology training.

Typically, what happens is a massage instructor—not a qualified reflexology instructor—explains the general theories behind reflexology and points out the general location of reflexes on a large wall chart, with instructions to press on those points if the client has health issues with that organ or gland. That is analogous to asking a sports medicine practitioner to teach cranialsacral massage.

With no training in reflexology, yet armed with a license that allows them to practice the discipline, it is no surprise that most massage therapists in those states head out knowing nothing about reflexology, yet believe they are able to offer it; or practice with an inaccurate impression that it is simply the application of pressure, during a massage, on sensitive points in the feet.

The lack of congruency across the country has arisen, in part, because of the broad definition of massage within various state laws. In some fashion or another, most states define massage as the manipulation of the soft tissue—muscles, fascia, tendons and ligaments—of the human body. Because any hands-on application to the body will result in manipulating, or feeling or moving a body part, it is easy to see why reflexology has been lumped in with massage—particularly if the people lobbying for massage licensing have no formal understanding of reflexology.

According to massage educator Rick Rosen, in his white paper On Becoming a Profession: The Challenges and Choices that will Determine Our Future (April 2008; www.massagemag.com/onbecoming), the then-more-than-25 state massage laws passed since 1990 were almost all a result of government relations efforts conducted by individual state chapters of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

As Rosen explained, each of those AMTA chapters are allowed autonomy in their legislative efforts, and although acting on behalf of the entire field, AMTA members do not represent all of the massage therapists in any given state.

That small representation of massage therapists, armed with their own individual biases and preferences, and sometimes possessing little or no experience with the complex world of government lobbying, has been responsible for the all-inclusive licensing laws that included reflexology and other bodywork therapies under the large umbrella of massage.

Responsibility must also lie with the reflexology community, which has, up until this point, left its practitioners to define reflexology as they wish.

Reflexology Defined
This past summer, the three arms of reflexology in the U.S.: the American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB: www.arcb.net), the nonprofit, independent testing agency; the Reflexology Association of America (RAA; www.reflexology-usa.org), the national membership organization; and the National Council for Reflexology Educators (NCRE: www.reflexedu.org), the voice and resource center for reflexology educators, agreed on one definition to describe the practice:

Reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques, such as thumb- and finger-walking, hook and backup and rotating-on-a-point, applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally.

The effectiveness of reflexology is recognized worldwide by various national health institutions and the public at large as a distinct complementary practice within the holistic health field.

This definition serves to clarify the differences in technique between reflexology and massage, and clearly states how reflexology differs in its intent from massage therapy, a practice that manipulates soft tissue with the intent to relax muscles. This distinction is crucial for states pursuing reflexology licensure separate from massage.

Similarities & Differences
As noted in an article I wrote for MASSAGE Magazine’s futureLMT (www.massagemag.com/massage-therapy-school) publication in May 2012, “People seek out reflexology for different and the same reasons they seek out massage. Both improve circulation of the blood and lymph and enhance the recipient’s quality of life.

“Western massage techniques are designed to relax tension within the soft tissue, with the goal of restoring the health of the anatomy,” I wrote. “The intent may be to diminish pain, improve posture and/or structural function and/or produce physical, emotional and mental relaxation.

“Although the benefits of reflexology include relaxation of mind and musculature, the primary intent is to support the health of the body’s internal systems,” I wrote. “Reflexology typically focuses on reflexes corresponding to stressed organs and glands, not the connective tissue elements of the body part being worked.”

Reflexology uses unique manual techniques quite different from massage, and has a long history distinct from massage, as outlined in the books Reflexology: Art, Science and History and Eunice Ingham: A Biography, both written by reflexologist Christine Issel, who is also legislative consultant for RAA and ARCB. In addition, reflexology is recognized by the National Institutes of Health, and hundreds of studies worldwide have brought evidence to its effectiveness in improving the quality of life for people in times of challenging health situations.

Qualifications
Training in reflexology ranges from one-day introductions to full certification, depending on the individual’s level of interest and how he or she plans to incorporate reflexology into a practice.

Of course, a one-day introduction does not provide training sufficient to offer reflexology in a massage practice. It can, however, inform the participant of the basics of reflexology and help him or her decide whether or not to pursue more complete education.

The majority of certified reflexologists offer strictly reflexology to their clients; perhaps augmented with hydrotherapy and aromatherapy. They create reflexology-based practices that safely help people of all ages restore homeostasis, optimize physiological functions and address system imbalances and weaknesses.

Some massage therapists, such as Florida-based Shea de Oliviero, have discovered that beginning a massage session with reflexology helps relax muscle tension and calm the nervous system enough that the massage portion of the session is easier on their hands and far more effective.

“I love what I am learning,” de Oliviero said. “I absolutely love it. I have used the relaxation techniques and the musculoskeletal protocol on about 20 people since last week, and the results are inarguable.

“The majority of my clients are regulars, so I am very familiar with their tissue in various stages and during various parts of a massage,” she continued, “and when I worked their hands and feet first, wow, the rest of the tissue became butter, just as inviting and easy to work with as ever.”

Credentialing
The member association, RAA, representing state affiliates and individuals in the U.S., welcomes practitioners with all levels of training.

Professional-level members must provide proof of at least 300 hours of foot or hand reflexology education (the national standard), 160 of which must have been accrued in a live classroom setting with an instructor. Although membership renewal does not require continuing education, most members have gone on to study various advanced protocols involving the feet, hands, outer ears and face from nationally and internationally recognized educators.

Practitioners with less than the Professional level of education are welcomed as Associate Practitioners. Reflexology students, reflexology schools and supporters also enjoy Associate memberships, including discounted admission fees to RAA’s biennial conference.

Through ARCB, eligible applicants can sit to take board examinations in foot and/or hand reflexology. Successful applicants will have passed a 300-question, psychometrically valid test; submitted 90 documented session forms; and passed a hands-on practical exam to earn the designation of National Board Certified Reflexologist (NBCR). Continued status requires 24 hours of approved continuing education biennially.

The Public is Aware
Despite the trend of foot massage being passed off as reflexology, the public is becoming more aware of reflexology and the training qualifications of certified reflexologists. Although there aren’t statistics to support this statement, I have been hired numerous times by high-end spas to teach their massage staff how to give a true reflexology session. They have told me this training is needed because reflexology is on the menu; their staff isn’t trained; and their informed clientele are complaining loudly that they are paying extra to receive reflexology and being given a glorified foot massage.

Also, when I teach two-day workshops, participants tell me they had a two-hour explanation of reflexology in their massage program but have been offering “reflexology” to clients who request it.

“Without separate reflexology laws setting educational standards with legal oversight, and because without proper training there is little or no expense involved, reflexology continues to grow as an add-on service in both the massage and beauty/nail salons and spas to increase income,” explained Issel.

Protect Scope of Practice
Spas and massage therapists will not be able to pass off foot massages for reflexology much longer, if they want to retain their credibility in the community.

Just as reflexologists don’t claim to be doing massage, massage therapists and spas should not claim to be offering reflexology when it’s really foot massage. It serves neither group to misrepresent their qualifications or mislead the public as to what various services are.

A foot massage is a lovely service, and so is reflexology—but they are not the same. Just as massage practitioners’ scope of practice should be—and must be, in most places by law—not infringed upon, trained reflexologists should be afforded the respect that comes from earning specialty certification.

The world needs more reflexologists. If you want to offer this specialty, contact one of the organizations mentioned in this article, or an experienced continuing education provider, and begin your journey into this rewarding and beneficial specialization.

Nov 16 2016

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis, in which acidic crystals have accumulated within a joint capsule. It is often found in the hallux. “True gout” – hyperuricemia – involves deposits of uric acid (a by-product of protein metabolism); “pseudo gout” involves calcium pyrophosphate crystals (from the breakdown of purine proteins found in organ meats, sardines, anchovies).

Pain can be excruciating and is accompanied by redness, swelling, heat and the inability to bear weight and walk. Gout can lead to the development of kidney stones, so it is important that the person suffering with gout not ignore the symptoms.

Reflexologists can bring relief and support to someone living with gout.

But first, let’s look more closely at what causes gout and what the allopathic community does to address the condition.

Contributors

Risk factors include high usage of aspirin, diuretics, niacin and sugar, and moderate to heavy alcohol intake. Excess weight gain (especially in youth), high blood pressure, dehydration, abnormal kidney function and an acidic diet can contribute.

Certain drugs and diseases can also cause elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Abnormally low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism) are often seen in patients with gout.

Gout was historically known as “the disease of kings” or “rich man’s disease”, because of the historically lavish and decadent diets enjoyed by royalty in years gone by. Dietary causes account for about 12% of gout today and include a strong association with the consumption of alcohol, fructose-sweetened drinks, meat (especially organ) and seafood. Vegetables (e.g., beans, peas, lentils and spinach), once thought to contribute have been proven not to.

Prevalence

Gout has steadily risen in the United States over the last twenty years and now affects 8.3 million (4%) Americans. It is more common in men than in women and more prevalent in African-American men than Caucasian. The chances of having gout rise with age, with a peak age of 75. In women, gout attacks usually occur after menopause.

Allopathic approach

The most common strategy employed by western medicine is the intake of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Reflexology & natural approaches

If the person is experiencing a flare-up you will not be able to work the feet. The individual would refuse to let you touch his foot – it’s that painful!

Offer a cool foot soak instead with ½ cup of Epsom salt and a couple of drops of analgesic/anti-inflammatory essential oil. Let the client dry his/her own affected foot. Perform reflexology on the hands with a strong emphasis on the reflexes to the adrenals, kidneys and all lymph vessels and nodes.

It is beyond the scope of a reflexologist and/or massage therapist to give nutritional advise, but you can do your clients a big service by recommending they see a good nutritionist. The dietary association is high. There are many foods to avoid and many good ones to eat regularly that will help.

I have worked with many people over the years who have suffered with gout. It’s painful for me to just pay witness to these folks’ suffering, and at the same time, humbling to be able to bring much needed relief and pain reduction. I hope you will offer the same to your clients.

Nov 09 2016

Self Care for Long Term Health

Toni Creamer, a soon-to-be graduate of the 2016 Therapeutic Hand & Foot Reflexology Professional Certification program, began a blog this year to help educate her community on the benefits of self-care.

I’d like to share her introductory post with you. Toni writes clearly and with wit about common sense things that don’t seem to be common sense to a lot of people. Feel free to share with any clients and friends that you think might benefit following her monthly musings.

Nov 02 2016

The Body Electric

Changing the polarity (electrical charge) of nerve fiber endings, so as to restore balance in the autonomic nervous system (usually moving from sympathetic to parasympathetic), will reduce the percentage of nervous tissue and increase the availability of vascular elements within the tissue.

This is important to consider since we know, from research completed in Spain under Dr. Jesus Manzares’ supervision, that sensitive, congested reflex points contain more nerve fibers than healthy ones.

With a focus on balancing the body’s polarity we have the possibility of creating a different internal environment.

Less nervous tissue – less inflammation.

Less inflammation – less Substance P in the tissue.

Less Substance P – less pain.

Less pain – more blood flow.

More blood flow – increased delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the cells and improved removal of waste products.

In plain English – restore balance in the energy body and we remove a cascade of obstacles preventing our body from doing what it was designed to do.

Reflexology is such an effective and enjoyable way to balance and restore homeostasis in the body. The physical action of reflexing is also very effective at breaking down Substance P in the nerve fibers.

Sometimes I like to think it’s not any more complicated than that. Just reflex my own feet for a few minutes daily and receive an hour session from a professional on a regular basis. It’s pretty simple to give my body the support it needs – and deserves.

Oct 19 2016

Two Ways to Boost Confidence

One of the things I am presented with often when teaching, whether at the beginner level or advanced, are people who lack confidence in themselves.

There are a lot of actions that we can take to increase our level of confidence and probably even more articles and books written on the topic.

Recently though I read a blog written by Dr. Travis Bradberry that listed, amongst others, two things that really got my attention:

1. Genuinely confident people challenge themselves regularly, even when their efforts yield small successes. Okay, that didn’t surprise me. What did was this:

Small accomplishments build new androgen receptors in the brain that are responsible for reward and motivation. More androgen receptors equals more testosterone equals more confidence. Apparently, a series of small victories can boost confidence that can last for months!

So, if tackling a large goal seems overwhelming to you, break things down into baby-steps, and celebrate those smaller accomplishments. Acknowledge them as stepping-stones to your ultimate destination, and smile, knowing that even the smallest of victories is building your “confidence muscle”.

2. Confident people exercise. Exercising twice/week increases feelings of competency on all levels – socially, academically, and athletically. Self esteem rates higher too; that and the endorphin-fueled positivity from exercise increases confidence.

Is there anything that exercise doesn’t help?

Oct 12 2016

I Have A New Foot Toy!

For years, I have used and recommended the wooden footsie roller as an easy and effective way to release muscle tension in the feet and reduce plantar
fascia pain.

In fact, I remember one day, years ago, walking into a Target store and seeing a bin of footsie rollers in the $1 bins at the entrance to the store. I bought 10 or 15 of them and gave them away to clients. I wish now I had grabbed the whole lot – every time I walk into a Target I still look to see if they have another shipment! No luck yet.

Fast forward to today: I was up in Vermont last week teaching and was gifted a version of a foot roller that I like even more.

It’s called a Foot Wheel.

It’s not as long as the wooden versions and is made of nylon and steel – virtually impervious to water or bangs.

What I like most about it is the roundness of the spindles that you roll into your tissue. They’re not as sharp-edged as the wooden footsie roller, which allows you to better use this tool standing, in addition to sitting. You can attain great depth without it hurting.

The large spaces between the three wheels also allow you to invert and evert your foot a bit and work the medial and lateral sides of the foot, which is a really nice feature.

Amazon carries the Foot Wheel if you want to try one for yourself. They would be a great item to sell in your practice if you want to recommend them to clients with sore feet.