Academy of Ancient Reflexology

Reflexology Certification Programs and Workshops

Archives for October 2018

Ditch The Deodorant

Did you know that your body has two different kinds of sweat glands? And that one of them excretes a very pungent odor and the other doesn’t?

It’s true.

When your body needs to cool down, the eccrine sweat glands turn on to produce a watery sweat that evaporates through your skin, cooling your internal temperature. This watery perspiration does not generally produce any odor.

However, if the apocrine sweat glands are turned on, your body releases an oily and rather pungent type of liquid. It’s this oily substance that has a strong, ripe, smelly odor.

So, what triggers the apocrine sweat glands to turn on?

In a word, STRESS.

When under stress (either real or perceived), the body’s autonomic nervous system will shift into the ‘flight or fight’ state. And that turns on the apocrine sweat glands.

To elicit the relaxation response and curtail the action of the apocrine glands, we can turn to two simple proven techniques:

* deep, conscious, controlled breathing

* reflexology. Reflexology is a master when it comes to relaxing. Add in a focus on the diaphragm reflex to aid the stress-busting benefits even more.

Who knows? With practice at relaxing, you may be able to ditch your underarm deodorant!

It Takes A Village

The author, Isabelle Allende, once said that “The end doesn’t justify the means; the end is decided by the means. If we’re petty and greedy and shallow and put our need to win ahead of our humanity, then nothing good will come of our careers.”

We need to support each other.

As bodyworkers, we need to stop thinking of other practitioners as competition; instead, to see ourselves as part of a community working to improve the health of our friends and neighbors. Only healthy minds and bodies can build strong, healthy communities. And, as the saying goes, “It takes a village.”

We’re all in this together, so let’s start working together. Let’s focus first on helping to improve the quality of our clients’ health, not our client base. Ultimately, that will build our clientele.

When I first graduated from the Florida School of Massage in 1989, many naysayers predicted that it was impossible to build a practice in Gainesville – there were just too many licensed therapists in a town that boasted one of the top two massage schools in the country.

I thought about that. There were a lot of therapists in the city, and, I thought, that meant the community was likely more educated about massage and bodywork than one that didn’t have many people practicing in it. Therefore, I decided that having a lot of therapists around could be an advantage – I wouldn’t be starting from scratch to explain the benefits of my work – I just had to demonstrate that I was the best person to turn to. It was up to me to rise to the top, to STAND OUT IN THE CROWD.

There were thousands of people living in Gainesville back then. They all had bodies and therefore, they all needed bodywork to stay healthy. That meant there was a very large pool of clients to share with other professionals. That was – and still is – my perspective. I have my specialty; others have different approaches, skills and trainings that might be better suited in certain situations. We are a citywide team.

When I started out in 1989 in Florida, I brought a specialty to my practice – my training and six-year expertise as a reflexologist. That allowed me to stand out. And allows me to continue to stand out. When people talk about reflexology, my name is the first one people think of.

Have you found your niche? What interests you enough to stay engaged, to keep delving deeper into understanding the body, to stand out as the ‘go-to’ person in your community?

If you think reflexology might be your pathway to success, please check out the information regarding next year’s certification program. Feel free to contact me for a personal consultation on whether reflexology and the Academy’s program are a good fit for you.

Others have helped me over the years, and I’d consider it a real privilege to help you.

Sweet Pee

Diabetes mellitus comes from two Greek word roots meaning “flowing through” and “sweetness”. People with diabetes experience frequent urination and their urine is loaded with sugar. In old days doctors would place a patient’s urine in an open bowl near a beehive. If the urine was high in sugar, the bees would swarm to it.

There are several types of diabetes; type 2 (DM2) is the most common, the most prevantable, and one that years ago presented only in mature adults. Unfortunately, we now see young children living with DM2.

Some Facts:

* There are an estimated 30.2 million adults 18 years or older – 9.4% of US population – living with diabetes in the US (2015)

* $245 billion is spent each year in direct and indirect expenses related to diabetes (2012)

* The average medical expenditure for people with diabetes is $13,700  per year. That’s 2.3 times higher than that for people without diabetes! (2012)

* Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the US. (2016)

* There are 90,000 people in the US currently on a waiting list for a new kidney (mostly due to diabetic complications).

* Diabetes causes more amputations than any other disease.

Risk Factors:

When we look at predisposing factors that contribute to the development of diabetes, we see a lot of imbalances that Americans commonly live with in our society that often result in other serious health conditions as well.

* Smoking

* Excessive weight and obesity

* Physical inactivity

* High blood pressure

* High cholesterol

* High blood glucose

How Does Diabetes Develop

The stomach and small intestine convert the food we eat into usable chemicals that nourish our cells, and glucose (a form of sugar) that fuels our body with energy. When the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood rises, a signal is sent to the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin unlocks the receptors on our cellular walls to allow glucose to enter. The insulin also brings blood glucose levels back into normal range. All good.

DM2 develops if the pancreas can’t make enough insulin to keep up with a constant influx of sugar into the system, or if the cell receptors stop working, or even worse, if both are not functioning.

With no access to sugar, cells must burn protein and fat for energy. The excess metabolic waste that is left behind by protein and fat metabolism is like dumping sand into the bloodstream. Unchecked, this will lead to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to plaque buildup) leading to hypertension (high blood pressure), and eventually stroke or heart disease. The additional pressure put on the kidneys to clean the blood can result in renal failure.

So, what I shared above is the generally accepted theory in medicine of how diabetes develops. If you would like to hear a new and different perspective, especially regarding the relationship between obesity and diabetes, watch this TED-talk video from Dr. Peter Attia.

Treating Diabetes

DM2 is preventable and treatable. To reverse the early indications of DM2 developing, however, requires both a serious commitment to lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, stress management) and a partnership with a doctor trained in the area. Please do not ignore the early warning signs: frequent hunger, thirst and urination.

Reflexology and Diabetes

Both my own personal experience and controlled studies show that well-managed diabetes (diet, exercise, medication) responds very favorably to foot reflexology. I’ve included links at the bottom to three case studies completed by Academy grads that you will find interesting.

There are some important points to take into consideration when offering reflexology to diabetic clients:

* If fatty plaques from atherosclerosis accumulate in the legs, peripheral neuropathy may result. Reflexology is excellent for helping to manage peripheral neuropathy, but you must keep in mind that the client’s ability to sense pressure or temperature will be diminished. Watch your pressure and the temperature of the water if you do foot soaks  – your client’s ability to recognize discomfort may be off.

* Poor circulation damages the skin, especially in the feet. Sores take longer to heal. Ulcers and nerve damage can develop from chronic ischemia (reduced blood flow and delivery of oxygen to cells). Even minor injuries like blisters and ingrown toenails can become threatening if left to develop into an infectious situation. These skin conditions may also force someone to alter their stance and gait; balance then can become a challenge. Avoid all contact with skin ulcers. Insist that your client have them covered before arriving for a reflexology session. Strongly encourage clients with skin issues to see a professional – not to perform ‘self-surgery’.

* Blood sugar often drops during reflexology. Before beginning sessions with a diabetic client determine how she is prepared to respond in the event she feels dizzy and/or light-headed afterward. Many carry a quick-acting candy with them at all times.

* Although reflexology will bring blood sugar levels closer to a normal range, DO NOT advise clients to adjust their oral or injected medications! That could be life threatening! Although it is possible to get off diabetes medications, the process to do so takes months and is only accomplished with a determined commitment from the individual and strict monitoring by a medical doctor. Reflexology cannot cure diabetes. It can support and improve someone’s efforts to heal their endocrine system.

* Schedule sessions for the middle of your client’s insulin cycle; not right after they’ve taken insulin and not later when they’re getting hungry and blood sugar is dropping.

 

Diabetes and Foot Reflexology

Type 2 Diabetes and Reflexology

Reflexology for Peripheral Neuropathy

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2017.
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics/statistics-report.html

 

 

The Academy’s Foot Reflexology Poster

Allow me to brag here for a few minutes. Rather, let’s let Massage Today do the bragging for me! They rated my foot reflexology poster a 9.5 out of 10! Here’s what their reviewer, Ronnie Ginsberg had to say:

“This attractive, professional chart is large, and that is a good thing. The 38-by-22.5-inch size allows plenty of blank space to allow for easy visualization. Foot structures are marked colorfully against a sedate background. There are a lot of reflexology charts out there, and many are too crammed with information in a small space to be of much practical use while working. This one is easy to read for the clients and for a practitioner to use during a session. The large size allows for some structures to be indicated that are not often on smaller charts (i.e., vocal cords, Eustachian tube, axillary and cervical nodes, etc.).

Left and right views clearly are differentiated, which is particularly useful for the plantar views. There also are dorsal, medial and lateral views, which many charts either do not indicate, or the print is too tiny to be easily seen. Left and right views are included in the dorsal, medial and lateral views; this is convenient, but redundant, in that the info bilaterally is the same. Still, the views offer a convenient no-brainer for quick access.

The whole poster is laminated on both sides, also useful if the need arises to remove oil marks. Grommets for easy mounting are provided in the four corners. I recommend this poster, and it will find a place in my office.”

If you would like to own one of these informative and attractive wall charts for your office, please visit this link. They are a great visual teaching tool to use with clients after their sessions, and provide a good-looking professional wall hanging for your practice space. With close to 100 reflexes identified, you might just learn something too!

Academy Foot Reflexology Poster