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Archives for 2019

Dec 04 2019

The Seven C’s of Success

For nearly three decades, Tom Morris, one of the world’s top public philosophers and pioneering business thinkers, has been on a mission to bring philosophy back to the center of daily life.

Traveling the globe, working with world-class business executives, athletes, coaches, administrators, and entrepreneurs, Tom realized that, regardless of the field or industry, everyone wanted the same thing: advice about excellence.

So began his search to find the universal conditions for success and the skills or arts involved to achieve it. “My claim,” Tom said in an interview with the DailyStoic, “is that for success in any challenge, the great practical philosophers have taught me that we need what I call the 7 Cs of Success”.

The 7 Cs of Success

    1. 1. A clear CONCEPTION of what we want, a vivid vision, a goal clearly imagined.
    1. 2. A strong CONFIDENCE that we can attain that goal.
    1. 3. A focused CONCENTRATION on what it takes to reach our goal.
    1. 4. A stubborn CONSISTENCY in pursuing our vision.
    1. 5. An emotional COMMITMENT to the importance of what we’re doing.
    1. 6. A good CHARACTER to guide us and keep us on a proper course.
    1. 7. A CAPACITY TO ENJOY the process along the way.

“You can find all seven of these ideas in the writings of Seneca or Marcus Aurelius,” Tom added. “The great thinkers understood greatness.”

All of Tom’s 7 Cs of Success fall under what the Stoics called the dichotomy of control. Basically, we can control some things and can’t control others—and we should focus on what we can control. The Stoics knew that in the chaos of life, as in sports, fixating on things we can’t control is not a recipe for success, but for great agony and despair.

The road to success—winning championship titles in sports, becoming a bestselling writer, or a successful entrepreneur— is just that: a road. And just like you travel along a road in steps, excellence is a matter of steps. Excelling at this one, then the next, and then the one after that.

Today, spend some time with Tom’s 7 Cs of Success. Where are you along the road? What can you do to make the next step? Focus on that—the things you do control.

(shared with permission from the Daily Stoic, because I think the above also applies to a bodywork practice.)

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Business · Tagged: Business

Nov 27 2019

Holiday Gratitudes

The holiday season officially starts tomorrow in the United States. For me, that’s Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice and Christmas. I’m excited! I LOVE this time of year. Lots of socializing with friends, yummy food and exchanging thoughtful expressions of appreciation.

Me

Annually, I mark the beginning of the season with a two-mile Gratitude Walk along Saint Augustine Beach with two of my Amigas. This year, one is going to be out of town, so we are adapting. Two of us will walk and take turns sharing things for which we are grateful. We will also take turns reading from a list supplied by our missing friend. It’s a great way to start the day and the season.

This year, I have even more for which to be grateful. After three years of dreamin’ and schemin’, including 10 months of being homeless (but not on the street, don’t worry!), and six months of designing and building, I have moved into my forever home! And, I love my new home!

As I write this, I sit amid chaos, but enjoying the energy of what I have manifested – with the help of many, many people, who extended generosity, hospitality, advice, and encouragement!

You

As a way to express my gratitude and appreciation to you, I wish to repeat the same gift idea that so many took advantage of last year.

With this solution, you will simplify your holiday to-do list, eliminate the stress of holiday shopping AND look like an angel to the people in your life. Buy everyone in the Saint Augustine vicinity a reflexology gift card! And ta-da! YOUR SHOPPING IS DONE!

Order these beautiful gift cards for your friends and family at the tremendously low price of $30 for a 30-minute hand or foot reflexology session!

Give REFLEXOLOGY!

* the gift of health and relaxation

* the gift that fits perfectly into the sensible practice of giving ‘experiences’ rather than ‘stuff’

* the gift that keeps on giving

* the gift they’ll be talking about for quite some time

Although I don’t usually give 30-minute sessions, I am offering them for the low price of $30 because I realize that not everyone’s budget can include multiple gift cards for the regular $85 70-minute session.

Let me know how many gift cards you would like, and we’ll determine the fastest way to get them to you.

LET THE HOLIDAYS BEGIN!

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology · Tagged: Foot reflexology, Hand reflexology

Oct 30 2019

Different Approaches to Knee Pain

Years ago, I was called to give a reflexology session to a woman awaiting knee surgery. Her pain and dysfunction had progressed to the point that she was relegated to a wheelchair to navigate her own home.

I arrived at her home and after an in-depth assessment suggested a traditional Thai reflexology session. I explained that this particular model of reflexology acknowledged the muscular relationship between the feet and lower legs and extended the hands-on work right up to and including the knee. She agreed.

We were both ecstatic that she was able to get up and walk on her own following the Thai reflexology session. She managed to move about her home during the final week leading up to her surgery with only the aid of a cane.

Since that time, I have used both traditional Thai and conventional western reflexology to assist people with knee pain and restrictions and immediately following knee surgery. I have found reflexology to be very helpful in supporting people with the very real challenge of ambulation when living with knee pain.

I recently read a study that pitted another natural approach for knee pain against one of the leading pharmaceuticals drugs, diclofenac. You may enjoy reading it.

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Foot Reflexology, Thai Foot Reflexology · Tagged: Foot reflexology, Thai reflexology

Oct 23 2019

Have A Body? Then You NEED Bodywork!

Many people believe that the only time to visit a reflexologist is if you have foot (or hand) pain. That is so far from the truth!

If you have a body, then you need bodywork! It’s that simple.

Yes, reflexology can help with foot pain, but you are missing out from improved wellness, if that is all you think reflexology is good for.

Slaying a Dragon

 When I attended massage school, we all operated under the assumption that it was our mechanical manipulation of the soft tissue that relaxed the muscles we were working on. However, the latest research indicates that not to be true. It turns out that it is contact with the nerves that relays messages to the brain that then sends back signals to the muscles to ‘let go’ or ‘hang on’. The brain is what relaxes the muscles, not the massage techniques!

Which is one reason I love reflexology. There is no ‘middleman’. No matter the complaint, we talk directly to the brain for assistance and support. And get it!

The most important thing we can all do for our health in this wild and crazy world we live in is to reduce the negative effect of unwanted chaos and stress on our bodies and minds. Quite often it is our response to daily stressors that is what creates muscle tension, pain and substandard organ functioning. Making relaxation the first line of attack against the stressors life throws at us makes it possible to live a healthy life. Relaxation is the basis of health.

What To Do

 There is a lot you can do. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Remove or reduce the number of stressors you have in your life.

* Cut out activities that add to the stress in your life. Choose only activities that bring you joy and do not rob you of necessary ‘downtime’.

* Consider carefully with whom you spend your time. Choose friends that are positive, supportive and do not regularly seduce you into unhealthy activities.

* Get adequate sleep. With the right amount of sleep under your belt you will be less likely to respond to challenging events in a way that elevates the stress hormones in your body. Being well rested makes it possible to ‘go with the flow’.

2. Learn to say “No.” I used to be guilty of this one. Someone would mention something coming up that sounded like fun, or asked if I would help out with something (that I valued), and I would immediately say, “Yes!” Later, I would feel stressed by yet one more commitment I had made. Now, I stop and think about whether or not I realistically have the time to devote to it.

3. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques on a regular basis.
There are so many to choose from. The most important thing though is to just do something!

* Meditation. Even 5 minutes will help you to learn to still your mind and slow down your responses to external events.

* Take time in nature. Just be in nature though; not on your phone while in nature.

* Yoga or Tai chi. Not only are you moving your body, working on balance, and practicing intentional breathing, these two activities are fantastic at reducing stress.

* A luxurious bath. Dim the lights. Even put on some relaxing music, if you want. Lock the door and do not emerge until you have soaked for 20 minutes and then lovingly anointed your body with a body butter or cream.

* Structure regular bodywork into your life. If you are one of the people who think you don’t need reflexology because your feet or hands don’t hurt, I invite you to run an experiment: Schedule a monthly session and see how you feel in three months. Together, we can set a goal and then support your body to reach it.

P.S. The added benefit of regular reflexology is the support it gives to all the internal systems. Poor digestion and/or elimination, sleep issues, chronic headaches, high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances – all these, and more,

So, that is why you need reflexology on a regular basis, not just when your feet or hands hurt!

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology · Tagged: Foot reflexology, Hand reflexology

Oct 09 2019

The Complexity of Pain

Pain is a very complex issue that involves much more than just our biology.

Old paradigms held that pain was generated at the periphery, at the site of an injury. We know that not to be true now.

The high cost of war resulting in so many lost limbs has necessitated substantial research on phantom pain, and that has changed our understanding of where and how pain is felt.

As an example, according to the new model of pain initiation, if you drop a heavy object on your foot, receptors will transmit that sensory input to the brain. Pain is not actually felt until that information reaches the brain and is interpreted there.

 We also now know that interpretation takes into account, not just the sensations from the object landing on the foot, but memories of similar past experiences, psychological concerns (such as fear) and other stressors.

In other words, the brain is more involved in the experience of pain than we once believed. It is, in fact, more involved than the actual site of injury, and as I stated at the outset, pain is multi-factorial – a very complex issue.

Bodywork and Pain

Because of the unprecedented and tragic results of opioid addiction in the United States, the medical field is scurrying to find other routes of pain mitigation.  This puts bodyworkers in a strategic position to be of service, since loving therapeutic touch does reduce pain.

Reasons that bodywork is so powerful in addressing pain:

* People coming for bodywork bring much more than their physical selves into the room – their entire history arrives with them. Research shows that hands-on approaches impact people on far more than just the physical level – therapeutic bodywork touches every layer of a human being, not just the physical. A pill cannot claim that!

* We are just now learning that it is less about what you are doing and more about how you are doing what you are doing. The latest research shows that it is the deeply relaxing and positive aspect of hands-on interventions that actually works with the brain and nervous system to help reduce pain. This is why I love reflexology so much. The modality is masterful at relaxing, and speaks directly to the brain through the neural circuits. No ‘middleman muscle’ even needs to be touched.

* Bodyworkers create longer-lasting relationships with their clients – one hour (sometimes more) versus the 15 minutes doctors budget. Giving clients the time to talk about their pain allows them to better understand all that contributes to the situation, and perhaps discover healthy ways in which they might shift the quality of their lives. Empowerment and hope do much to smooth the edges of chronic pain.

* Reflexologists and other bodyworkers take great pride in designing environments that are soothing and calm, not sterile and hectic as is the case in a medical office. Soft lighting and quiet music sets the stage for deep relaxation. And, remember ….

RELAXATION IS THE BASIS OF HEALTH!

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Research, General · Tagged: Reflexology

Oct 02 2019

Changing the Shape of Your Heart

I was intrigued when I read the title of a recent TED Talk that claimed that emotions actually change the shape of our hearts.

Cardiologist and author, Dr. Sandeep Jauhar, called on the medical profession to acknowledge the critical role emotions play in coronary health.

He went on to state that although the heart is commonly associated with love, it is not the source of love. He explained that the heart does not generate our feelings, but is responsive to them. And that is why the state of our emotional health is so important to our overall wellbeing.

As examples, he showed how fear and grief set off a cascade of changes such as pinching the shape of the heart muscle, speeding up the heart rate, contraction of blood vessels, and increasing blood pressure – all of which can result in damage to the organ.

The above are all triggers that occur in what is commonly referred to as ‘broken heart syndrome’, a biological event that can cause ‘death by grief’. On the other end of the scale, emotions such as joy and happiness create opposite changes in the heart that support healthy functioning of the organ.

All of these observations have led to studies with some surprising results. The one that caught my interest the most was ‘The Lifestyle Heart Trial’, published in 1990 in The Lancet, a UK science publication.

In it, the subjects, all living with coronary disease, were divided into two groups: the control group, who received regular allopathic practices, and the lifestyle group, who were put on a program of vegetarian diet, moderate exercise, stress management techniques and a social support network.

The results were undisputable. Although diet and exercise played a role in slowing the progression of coronary disease, the prevalent decider was stress management techniques and social connection. Those who receiving loving touch experienced less aortic disease than those who didn’t.

Dr. Jauhar concluded his talk with sharing that over the last 10 years the decline of coronary disease has slowed, at the same time the external stressors of modern life have increased.

It’s time we take stress management seriously. Our lives depend on it.

You can watch Dr. Jauhar’s full 15-minute talk here.

 

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Research, General · Tagged: Self-care, Research

Aug 21 2019

Avoiding Boundary Crossings

Boundaries are a very sensitive subject in bodywork, more so in the area of massage than reflexology, but still one worth the attention of all reflexologists.

Where else does one remove all or some of her clothing minutes after meeting someone and allow that person to touch their body in an intimate, familiar way in a dimly lit closed room for an extended period of time, with no one else present, and likely being encouraged to close their eyes?

That scenario requires a lot of trust; trust that must be earned, not assumed, by a practitioner.

I taught professional boundaries and ethics to the massage community for over 20 years. It’s a topic dear to my heart and one I wish bodywork schools took more seriously. Even if you think you have a good understanding of professional boundaries, one thing I would ask you to remember is that many of the people who come into your space have had their boundaries violated – and sometimes by well-meaning, but ignorant people. The responsibility to re-frame someone’s experience of receiving reflexology as a safe event, therefore, will fall on you.

So, what are boundaries?

Boundaries separate me from my environment; from the surroundings that include people, not just inanimate objects.

Boundaries are both innate and learned (what we grew up within our families and in our culture) and dependent on context and location (work, public or personal environments, country or region).

There are 5 types of boundaries.

1. Physical

In this culture, an arm’s length (two to three feet) in front and back is comfortable for most people; one foot on the sides. In other cultures that distance can vary.

In somatic practices, contact is expected and appropriate during the session. It’s questionable before and after, depending a lot on culture. In Latin-speaking countries, for example, hugging is more prevalent than in the Anglo-Saxon based cultures, where a hug might feel forward.

Do you automatically reach out to hug your clients when they arrive or are about to leave? Have you asked if they would like a hug that day?

How do you feel when clients grab you for a hug without checking in first?

2. Emotional

Emotional boundaries are essential for all healthy relationships, both personal and professional. And this is an area where boundaries can be radically different depending on context (friends vs. the first-time client vs. retail store clerk) and culture (African-American vs. Caucasian, for example).

Are you aware of how different cultures feel about sharing emotions and/or personal information with strangers?

It is important that clients not feel that they are expected to share emotions or personal aspects of their lives that don’t directly relate to their reason for seeing you.

3. Sexual

Sexual boundaries are actually a subset of physical and emotional boundaries.

Everyone has the right to determine with whom, when, where and how s/he expresses herself sexually. The healthcare relationship is one in which sexual safety must be paramount.  Somatic practitioners should not have sexual relationships with clients, period.

4. Intellectual

A person’s thoughts, opinions and beliefs form her identity. To ridicule, criticize, ignore and/or dismiss another’s opinion is a boundary violation.

Many seasoned practitioners have put discussion of potentially heated topics such as politics or religion off-limits in the clinic room; if for no other reason than discussions such as those put someone in their head rather than in their body where relaxation is initiated.

5. Energetic

The human body conducts electrical currents through an electromagnetic field. As practitioners, we must prevent being influenced by a client’s energy at the same time that we protect the client’s energetic boundary.

Some therapists are somatically intuitive and can ‘read’ other people’s energy.  It is a boundary violation to share unasked for perceptions. Always remember that the person has come to you for a reflexology session, not an intuitive energy reading.

I’ll close with a few ways you can strengthen your professional boundaries:

1. Increase your awareness of your client’s experience. Pay attention to what your client is asking for and not asking for, both verbally and non-verbally.

Does your client:
* pull back when you try to hug them?
* avoid answering certain questions you ask?
* tense up when you touch a certain place or move their body in a certain way?

2. Manage the energy field. Before and after each session consciously direct your energy to build a protective bubble around both you and your client. Release it all when you are done, either through a physical practice or by spraying the room with an essential oil blend.

3. Learn to identify clients’ behaviors that indicate a crossed boundary. Example: muscle tension/eyes open/stubborn behavior or a change in customary behavior.

4. Ask questions that identify when you suspect a boundary has been violated:

“I’ve been asking you some personal questions in the last few minutes. Have any made you uncomfortable?” Or, “Let me apologize if any made you feel uncomfortable.”

Show respect for client boundaries. Admit and apologize when you overstep. This will go far in building trust.

5. Teach clients how to establish their own boundaries and to articulate their experience. Fully explain that you have no way of knowing what the session will feel like to them, and since you want to give them the best experience possible, you need them to partner with you by informing you of what is working and what is not.

Regarding getting feedback during the session, ask, “How do you respond to pain? Do you grin and bear it, or do you say something?”

If a client says she doesn’t want to break ‘the spell’ by speaking up when receiving, establish non-verbal cues that can be used to inform you when you’re on a point that wants attention or if pressure is too much.

Do you have a particular behavior that you practice that delivers strong professional boundaries? Please share, so we can all learn.

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Business · Tagged: Business

Aug 07 2019

Three Smart Business Practices

I think one of the best ways to build a practice is to really take care of the clients you already have. By that, I mean going beyond just providing excellent hands-on service.

Here are three easy ways to do just that:

One

Whenever a client talks about a friend or family member dealing with (fill in the blank) you can pretty well safely assume that s/he is looking for some help for that person. So, give it to them!

* Either inquire a little about the condition/situation and share your insight, or offer a piece of self-care advice for your client to pass on to the friend.

* Explain how you can help this person and then ask your client if s/he would like to give the friend your business card. (Give ‘em two, just in case.)

Two

Give first-time clients ‘goodie bags’. It can be an actual bag or it can be as simple as an envelope, file folder or presentation folder. Inside include a few business cards and brochures of reflexology and/or your business. Add in any of the following:

* discount coupon for a friend

* small foot chart

* toe separators or a small container of the foot scrub you used in your session

* reflexology bookmark

* hard copy of one of your key past online newsletters

* supportive/non-supportive steps for good health

* resources specific to client’s situation.

Ensure that your business name and contact information is on as many items as possible.

Three

Send a hand-written card of appreciation to clients that refer someone to you. Send it by snail-mail! It’s such a treat to receive something of value in the mail these days and so much more personal than a text or email. In order to protect confidentiality, do not name the new client.

Keep a record of clients who refer to you and how many people they have sent your way. When they reach a certain threshold (five? ten referrals?) comp their next session. I call this a WOW! experience. When they go to pay and you tell them the session is on you, they usually say Wow! And they likely will talk it up with others afterward.

These are easy ways to let your clients know you value them. Try it. It’s as simple as one, two, three.

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Business · Tagged: Business

Jul 31 2019

The Biology of Stress

One hundred years ago, the pioneering endocrinologist Hans Selye first defined the way the human body responds to stress. He articulated three occurrences that develop when humans are under prolonged stress:

  1. Multiple stomach ulcers develop.
  2. The adrenal glands enlarge four or five times from their protracted effort to produce copious bursts of adrenaline.
  3. The immune system (specifically the thymus, lymph nodes and the lymph tissue in the gut) atrophies.

None of which, is good.

When Selye refers to ‘prolonged stress’, he is referring to what is classified as Type 2 stress. There are two kinds of stress:

Type 1 is a prehistoric, hard-wired response to a simple stressor.

– The source of stress is definable.  An example: a tiger running towards you.

– There is a specific action that can be taken, from which there is an accompanying reaction. (Run away or kill the tiger; eliminate the stress)

Type 2 is our modern-day, complex form of stress

– The source is not always identifiable.

– A vague sense of worry

– Ongoing, multi-faceted

The sad thing is the body doesn’t know the difference!

If you want to learn a lot about the biology of stress, take a few minutes to watch this very informative video from biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton.

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: General · Tagged: Self-care

Jul 10 2019

Explaining Reflexology

I wrote the following to enclose with gift cards people purchase. I figured that some people receiving the gift certificates might not know what reflexology is and therefore hesitate to redeem their amazing gift. And that’s not good!

Please feel free to use what I wrote. 

REFLEXOLOGY

For thousands of years, cultures all over the world have known how to positively influence the body’s complex physiology through the feet and hands. The earliest record of therapy on the feet and hands was documented in the form of hieroglyphics in the Physician’s Tomb at Saqqara, Egypt during the early Sixth Dynasty (about 2300 BCE).

In the modern day, the intentional, therapeutic touch of the feet and hands is known as Reflexology.

Today, 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. It is commonly used to relax and support people facing challenges that threaten the quality of their lives.

Reflexology has grown over the centuries into a protocol of unique manual techniques 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.

People choose reflexology when they are experiencing:

  • high levels of stress, resulting in sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, etc.
  • pain in the feet and/or hands from overuse, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, excessive text messaging, injuries, gout, etc.
  • less than optimal functioning of a body system, manifesting as respiratory allergies, digestive problems, headaches, diabetes, reproductive issues, dementia, weight gain, ADHD, cancer, etc.

Although hundreds of case reports and research studies have been and continue to be executed proving the efficacy of reflexology, the proof is really ‘in the pudding.’ Try it for yourself. Whether you choose to receive reflexology because your feet and/or hands hurt or to enjoy an increase in well-being of your overall health, I think that you will find reflexology a great way to relax, rejuvenate and restore.

Written by Karen Ball · Categorized: Business, Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology · Tagged: Foot reflexology, Marketing, Hand reflexology

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