All about Reflexology Careers

Reflexology is an ancient field that has become a growing field of study for holistic health careers. There is a high demand for reflexologists because individuals are searching for a more non-invasive type of health care. The growing trend now is toward holistic healing in the form of reflexology. Those interested in this field can learn all about reflexology careers by going online and finding accredited schools and colleges that teach it.

Those interested in learning all about reflexology careers will learn that going into the field of reflexology isn’t just a job, but it is a calling. It takes a special kind of person to be a reflexologist. Someone with a heart for people and dedication to helping them are the people that make the best reflexologists. The rewards from working as a reflexologist are watching your clients begin to change in front of your eyes. After the first treatment most people feel much better than they did before. Word of mouth is the best advertisement, so not only do you help people as a reflexologist, but they help you by telling people how you helped them to feel better.

Anyone interested in finding an accredited school to learn all about reflexology careers should go online to a site like Holistic Junction and locate a school near them. There are many holistic health care offices that hire newly licensed reflexologists on staff. Many reflexologists go into business for themselves after several years of experience, and build practices that compliment the medical field. It is quite common for a physician to refer a patient to a reflexologist when the patient does not want to comply with a difficult medical regime.

When one learns all about reflexology careers one learns that there is a mind/body connection. The mind, body and spirit are one. People go to reflexologists for many reasons; some may go to relieve tension and pain. Others may visit a practitioner to learn how to connect with their spiritual side. Healing starts from within; taking pills and paying doctors does not promote healing. It is the peace within that begins the healing process. Many patients are tired of being patients and want to take an active role in their health care. Reflexologists see people heal themselves. They teach their clients how to continue on with therapeutic touch through techniques they can do at home.

When learning all about reflexology careers, one learns they are not only therapists, but they are also teachers. They administer the art of healing touch and teach the client how to better take care of themselves. Just like in medicine, becoming a nurse or a doctor is considered a calling; the same is true for professionals in the area of alternative health care. If you are interested in learning all about reflexology careers you might want to visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at http://nccam.nih.gov for more information on the subject.

Learn the Points From Reflexology Socks

For those interested in giving self reflexology massage there is a product on the market called reflexology socks. A novice can learn the technique from reflexology socks because the pressure points on the feet are color coded on the socks. Right away you know where the pressure points are. There is a chart that comes with the socks that tells you what part of the body is represented by the schematic diagram on the socks.

For whatever part of the body that you want to affect through touch you only need to use gentle pressure with your thumb and forefinger. It is advised to use the socks as a tool to help you memorize where the pressure points are on your feet. Use the socks on yourself or on your friend or partner. To be sure that you are indeed learning the pressure points from reflexology socks, try to find the specific areas with your eyes closed. You should be able to find the pressure points corresponding with their organs and systems without looking. Finding them should be second nature to you over time.

Reflexology socks are a great teaching tool because they are a visual aid. They are fun to look at and certainly they would be a conversation piece, to say the least. However, for someone who has not been taught the art of reflexology, the socks make it simple. Wherever you hurt, just slip on a pair and ask someone to massage your pain and tension away; nothing for you to do but close your eyes and enjoy.

Reflexology is similar to acupressure, in that when pressure is administered to a specific zone on the feet, as shown on reflexology socks, this relieves stress to the corresponding organ the zone represents. Reflexology treatments relieve stress and unblock nerve receptors allowing for the pathway between the zone on the foot and the corresponding body part to come into a state of homeostasis or balance. In turn, reflexology promotes healing and a state of well being.

Reflexology socks are a wonderful way to teach your children about reflexology. Children learn by taking a hands-on approach; what better way than to learn to apply pressure on the specific zones. Children soak up information like sponges; the more you teach them, the more they want to learn. Reflexology socks are just plain fun.

You can purchase them at Amazon.com, Earth Therapeutics and Nextag, and other places online. Reflexology socks are sold in pairs. They come in one standard size; one size fits all, and are made of a stretchy cotton lycra blend. Reflexology socks are fairly inexpensive at $10 to $12 on line. You can get them even cheaper, under $5 before shipping on eBay. Follow washing instructions, most come with directions to wash on the delicate cycle.

Massaging Your way to Good Health Using the Foot Reflexology Chart

The theory of manipulating the foot in such a way as to apply pressure, massage, or squeezing specific locations that correlate to different areas in the body is an ancient practice. There are 10 such zones on the foot that have been mapped out and reproduced on a foot reflexology chart.

A foot reflexology chart is a very useful instrument that can be used for teaching purposes. The teacher of reflexology can use a large wall foot reflexology chart to illustrate the various pressure points. The student of reflexology can use a much smaller foot reflexology chart or diagram which is easily assessable in text books. There are books written specifically for the layman who just wants to learn and practice this ancient art for self improvement purposes as well.

Basically a foot reflexology chart is quite colorful, implementing a different color or shade for the zones or pressure points that correspond to a body part. For example, the color red is used to locate the site needed to be manipulated on the foot to stimulate the heart organ. A foot reflexology chart will also be labeled as an added measure to avoid mistakes. This quick and easy reference is particularly useful for visual learners who normally get boggled down with written instruction. It is also very useful for the student who enjoys the attention to fine detail. Now the student and practitioner alike can rest assured that they can practice their technique for therapeutic purposes with utmost precision.

The reflexology experts are constantly developing new instruments to aid in the understanding and practice of reflexology. Besides the courses offered to students who whish to become practitioners, the various reflexology institutions and practitioners do realize that there are a growing number of laypeople who do not want to practice reflexology; they simply want to learn this holistic art for their own personal use. They have come to realize that a good foot message has many medicinal purposes.

Few people would argue the fact that a foot massage performed after a long hard day at work can lift a person’s mood, circulate endorphins within the body, stimulate the blood flow and relieve stress. There is nothing more pleasant than a relaxing foot massage for those tired, aching burning feet. But over an above massaging the foot for the sake of massage, the foot reflexology chart does show the corresponding areas of the body that will be massaged at the same time.

The nurse, for example, or waitress that walks and talks all day long on the job, not only would be taking care of her poor tired and often swollen feet, with the foot reflexology chart she would also be capable of massaging her voice box, (larynx) by massaging the corresponding area on the foot. She would have easy access to exact location of the voice box through a foot reflexology chart found in the conventional books, or on the internet, or most recently, on a pair of foot reflexology socks. All she would have to do is follow the diagram. There definitely is a foot reflexology chart for just about anyone, anywhere, to use in anyway that is appropriate.

Reflexology DVD: Seeing is Believing and Benefiting at the Same Time

Anyone interested in reflexology might want to consider purchasing a DVD on the subject. A reflexology DVD will not only tell you all about the subject of reflexology, but it will show you where every organ and system is represented on the front of your hands and on the soles of your feet.

In a reflexology DVD you will see a reflexologist applying pressure to the feet or the hands. The hands and feet are divided into areas or zones that have more than 700 nerve endings that connect with certain areas inside the body. You can go online and purchase DVDs for under $15.00 or you can go on eBay and purchase a reflexology DVD for under $5.00. Two such DVDs, Massage Practice for Reflexology and Chinese Medicine Reflex Hand Massage can be bought without having to bid in the (buy now) category for about $5.00 each.

Reflexology isn’t new, in fact it is ancient. It has been rediscovered as an alternative form of health care. In our feet and hands we have pressure sensors that alert us when we are in danger. Our bodies are equipped with built in fight or flight responses to react to danger. What happens is that our body reacts as a response to the stimulus which spells danger or fear both of which will produce stress within the body. Adrenaline surges through the body, we breathe deeper and faster to pump oxygen into our lungs.

In a similar way reflexologists locate the nerve endings in our feet and hands to stimulate certain responses. By massaging and manipulating certain zones, the reflexologist can relieve stress in the different organ systems and promote a state of homeostasis (balance) throughout the body and promote healing.

By watching a reflexology DVD you can watch the therapist work on a client from start to finish. He/she explains what movements are being done and why. The therapist may take the client’s foot in her hands and shake it between his/her hands prior to applying any pressure. This is to start the relaxation process of the foot. Throughout the video the reflexologist explains everything he/she is doing to promote healing and gives the rationale behind it.

Anyone not familiar with reflexology, who wants to know more about the subject can go to Youtube.com and watch a video, or they he/she can purchase a reflexology DVD anywhere they are advertised online. There are so many reasons why one would want to be massaged by a reflexologist. Men and women with migraine headaches can be helped through reflexology massage. Women with PMS symptoms report relief from the pain, irritability and bloating associated with premenstrual syndrome.

If you are watching a reflexology DVD, for the first time, pay attention to the technique. Watch how the therapist applies pressure to the feet and hands. Watch how the reflexologist uses his/her thumbs, fingers and hands to massage the specific areas to promote relaxation and healing to the specific organ systems of the body.

Reflexology Points of Interest

Reflexology is a healing art that has been practiced since ancient times. Specific areas on the hands and feet correspond to nerve endings that supply neuronal pathways to the various organ systems of the body. There are many reflexology points of interest; just like our ears and eyes perceive the world around us, the skin on the hands and feet are much more than sense organs. Information can be sent to the specific organs through the nerve pathways when specific areas of the hands or feet are touched, massaged and manipulated.

One of the fascinating reflexology points of interest is that you can relieve a sinus headache by applying pressure to the ends of your toes. Your second, third, fourth and little toe on both feet are connected to the nerves in your head and sinuses. The next time you have a bad sinus headache, before you reach for a pain reliever try gently squeezing the end of your toes for a few minutes. It only takes a few minutes, try it for 15 minutes. Better yet, if you have a partner, ask him/her to do this for you. It always feels good to get your feet rubbed, and during the foot massage ask to have special attention applied to the ends of your toes. It always feels better when someone else does it, but you can do it yourself also.

There are many reflexology points of interest; the crease next to the last two toes and the sole of the foot is the neuronal route to the ears. So if you have an earache, rub this area. Apply some gentle pressure to this area on both feet. Each foot represents half of the body, when you have an earache in your left ear; rub the area adjacent to your 4th and pinky toes and the sole on your left foot. Take your time massaging that area and feel the pain start to fade away.

One of the many other reflexology points of interest, the area adjacent to the 2nd and 3rd toe and the sole of the foot, is the neuronal route to the eyes. If you have eye strain, gently rub with kneading pressure in this area. If you have someone to do this for you, just close your eyes and relax and enjoy this for a few minutes.

On the hands, reflexology points of interest, is the area between the index finger and middle finger on both hands. This area corresponds with the eyes also; therefore if you don’t have a partner to massage and apply pressure to your feet, and you don’t want to do it yourself, you can relieve your eye strain by massaging this area with gentle pressure. Just close your eyes and massage this area on the anterior side of your hand between the first and second fingers and the palm of your hand. To relieve eye strain on both eyes remember to massage this area on both hands. This technique is especially helpful for people who work in front of a computer screen for hours at a time. It really does relax the eyes and makes you feel fresh, like you have had a nap.

If you would like to learn more about reflexology points of interest there are many books out on the subject. The book, Complete Reflexology for Life, written by Barbara Kunz is reviewed as being very easy to understand; the directions of how to administer the healing techniques are easy to follow. There are many sources of education to learn about this healing art. There are DVD’s on the market and there are many videos on Youtube that you can watch to learn more about this form of holistic healing.

About The Center For Natural Healing

You have read all about natural healing and the alternative healthcare society. You practice several aspects of alternative healing and truly believe in all that it encompasses. You may have turned some of your friends and family onto this all natural lifestyle and they have had great success and happiness in their life. How about learning even more and perhaps moving your career to reflect your ideologies? There is so much to learn and you are not sure which avenue you would like to take. Well, it is always best to familiarize yourself with different subjects before taking the plunge and investing your precious time and energy.

A Quick Overview

You may have a pretty good idea of what all the alternative health care systems are but it is always good to have a refresher. There are what seem endless choices or theories of alternative health therapies. You may know of a few and some of those may include:

• Herbal medicine
• Massage and massage therapy
• Naturopathy/naturopathic medicine
• Holistic medicine
• Meditation and related studies
• Chiropractic healing and chiropractic medicine
• Yoga

Within each of these there are further specializations and focuses that a practice or treatment plan can take. For example, naturopathic medicine can be focused very specifically toward the provision or study of naturopathic nutrition. Massage therapy can be specialized into one of many subsets such as Usui or Reiki.

It is important to gain some understanding of the specific types and specializations of natural healing before committing to any one practice. By doing this you will be able to choose the practice that is best suited to you and your interests. Specific natural healing practices very often rely on a strong belief system, and that must be in tune with your own theory and belief or you will find it very difficult to succeed in that area.

With the many choices available there is no reason to dedicate yourself to an ill-fit. Finding the right fit, though, does require some learning before hand, and more in-depth research before you far into study.

These listed here are just a few out there in this wonderful world of alternative healing, but you can find out about even more by checking out The Center for Natural Healing. Here, you can learn about those listed and others like: homeopathy, reflexology, iridology, and aromatherapy. Each one of these philosophies is comprised of many theories and levels to learn before you can pass on your newfound information. In addition you can learn how one practice can complement another, and how you might incorporate various aspects of one or more of them, or practice in collaboration with other natural healing practitioners.

The Center For Natural Healing

You want to learn more. You have narrowed your list of possible alternative health therapies down to a handful, but how do you find out the specifics of all that is involved. There are a variety of options and you would do well to explore all of them to get the full story. The first is to check out the generalities of your choice subject by logging onto sights like Wikipedia and find out the general history and definition of your choice therapy.

Another good idea is to find a licensed practitioner in your area and have a conversation with them; ask them all the questions you may have and ask them about resources to learn more. One of the resources they may offer is The Center For Natural Healing. Log in and find out the answers to the rest of your questions, find local resources and perhaps even blogs from other users that discuss their testimonies of the site and their therapy of interest. After all that research, you are sure to find the road of natural health that is best for you.

There are a lot of twists and turns to take when trying to learn something new. You may start down one path and with a little research you may learn about a different avenue that you never even thought about taking. It is best to compile all the facts and then make your decisions. The Center For Natural Healing will help you achieve that.

About The School Of Natural Healing

People who commit to a lifestyle of natural health often find that they have a much stronger interest in the subject that goes beyond personal healing. Once interested it is not uncommon to want to share your success with others. One of the best ways to do that is to pursue a career in natural healing practices. There are many options for this, and getting started might be easier than you think.

Access to Natural Healing Learning Resources

Because natural healing practices fall outside the mainstream of modern medicine it can be difficult to locate reliable, reputable educational programs. It can be very hard to find something within the local community that offers a comprehensive program to serve as a basis for a strong career.

The world wide web has made it much easier to access educational programs for natural healing. Online and distance learning opens a whole new world of possibilities that was not readily accessible prior to the internet. Not only does the internet open access, but it also offers flexibility. Online learning programs allow you to move at your own pace and study when your schedule fits. This adds personal accessibility to the programs.

Discovering Your Destiny

To have gotten this far there is a very good chance that you know a lot about natural healing. There are many options within this field, though, and so it is prudent to take the time to learn more about them. There are what seem endless, choices or theories of alternative health therapies. Just a sample of areas of study includes herbal medicine, naturopathic medicine, meditation, massage therapy, holistic medicine, chiropractic medicine, and supporting practices like yoga.

Each of these areas offers further opportunity for specialization. Nutrition and exercise, for example, are two possibilities for specialization. You can also specialize by age; for example specializing in geriatric, adult, or pediatric care within your chosen area of study.

To really enjoy your practice and career in natural healing you will need to take care to decide what form that practice should take. You can find out about even more by checking out The School For Natural Healing. Here you can learn about those listed and others like homeopathy, reflexology, iridology, and aromatherapy. Each one of these philosophies is comprised of many theories and levels to learn before you can pass on your new specialty.

The online site for the School of Natural Healing is an excellent way to research your career options. It allows you to log on and investigate each course available and the classes you need to take to become a learned professional. All the advisory and mentoring services you need are available through the school as well.

Once you have decided on a course of study you can use the site to order the correspondence course and DVD. These courses are designed so you can learn in the comfort of your own home. Perhaps you have a friend who is also interested; it is always more enjoyable to learn something with a friend so you can share your experiences along the way.

What Kind Of Courses Are Available?

You want to start learning and pass on your newfound knowledge to the world so they can start reaping the benefits of the natural health lifestyle. Each available course of study will have specific requirements before you can gain certification and practice in a professional capacity. For example, a course breakdown of Reflexogy, the study of reflex points found throughout the body which is used to enhance health, would look like this; a few of the topics include:

• Heart Disease
• Arthritis
• Back Problems
• Sinus Infections
• Diabetes
• Kidney Stones

A student of reflexology also is learned in basic herbology, anatomy, physiology. This course is designed towards Licensed Massage Therapists, Naturopaths, Midwifes, and others in the alternative healthcare fields that would like to offer their patients further assistance. However, it is open to all who are interested in learning more about this one avenue of natural health.

Whether you choose reflexology or one of the many other courses available, The School Of Natural Health is a vital tool in the options of correspondence courses for alternative healthcare. The information resources alone are a great resource that can help you on your way to a career in natural healing.

Free Reflexology Chart: Some Resourceful ways of Getting Freebies

Reflexology charts can be found almost anywhere: in bookstores, libraries, the classrooms, on reflexology mats, on reflexology socks, online, and so on. But what does a person do when they want to obtain a free reflexology chart? Perhaps you are simply curious about the subject of reflexology and you are not ready to commit to the belief or discipline just yet. You want to have some more knowledge on the subject and background or material before you invest any money. Of course when this is the case you will be looking for all the free aids and material that you can find and yes that will include a free reflexology chart.

Perhaps the interest in the subject is there but the funds just are not. Again you will need to be resourceful and be able to get a free reflexology chart and all the other material and aids that you can find.

Many students barely have the means to pay for their tuition fees at various institutions so purchasing material on top of their dues becomes a financial burden. Fortunately some courses do provide a free reflexology chart for students along with other instruction material. When looking into the various courses and institutes for reflexology you would be prudent to find out in advance if a free reflexology chart is provided in the material or if this is something you have to pay for out of your pocket.

Though it might not be the best of options, if there is a wall chart in the classroom, you may need to reproduce the chart by hand, making sure to get all the labeling in and the areas mapped out in the right order and location. It may be long and tedious but not all is lost, you will learn the material much easier than a student who has not had to do this laborious task. You can truly say that you earned your free reflexology chart because you manually reproduced it yourself.

Perhaps you are not a student but you do know one. You can then ask to photocopy the handouts that you will need to get a taste of the subject. Surely a student would have a free reflexology chart for you.

Some students, who lack sufficient funds to purchase text books and supplies, often buy second hand text books and second hand starter kits for reflexology and within these tools you will certainly find a free reflexology chart.

Some students are so financially strapped that they cannot afford to buy the text books. Since many courses have text book illustrations of reflexology charts, some students have resorted to photocopying text book material. However be careful about this option, there are copyright material laws.

If you are simply interested in looking at a chart and not actually considering keeping it, you can get a free reflexology chart by taking out a library book, or borrowing from a friend.

Finally do a Google search for a free reflexology chart and see what you can come up with.

The origin of the Reflexology Map and its Usage

The reflexology map is another way of saying a reflexology chart. As with the reflexology chart, the reflexology map is a map of the pressure zones or points in various parts of the body which correspond to other organs and body systems. The pioneers of zone therapy which latter became known as reflexology was a team of doctors working at the Riley School of Chiropractic. Dr. Fitzgerald, Bowen and Starr White founded the theory of Zone Therapy, while Dr. Riley continued the work and was largely responsible for the propagation of the discipline. In his life time, Dr. Riley wrote several books. The last book dating back to 1942, called Zones Therapy has become a classic in modern reflexology courses today. Dr. Riley lectured all over the country, he was known in some circles as the greatest healer of all time.

Both Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Riley were instrumental in the innovation of the reflexology map. Dr. Riley put a lot of emphasis on charts and diagrams of various reflex zones in the human body. His reflexology map of the ten different zones may not have been colorful like the ones we have today, but they were invaluable tools to both the practitioners back then and the practitioners of today as well.

Dr. Riley’s hand reflexology map was extremely detailed leaving no area of the hand, fingers, and wrists unaccounted for. The ear reflexology map or chart that was first developed by Dr. Riley is still available for sale at the Modern Institute of Reflexology. Dr. Riley even created a reflex zone drawing or reflexology map for the face.

Dr. Riley was not alone in his development of reflexology maps, several of the doctors did work in this area. The chart or reflexology map of one side of the human body was created by Dr. Fitzgerald. He clearly marked meridian points by numbers, for example zone 3 and 4 represented the Eustachian tube and middle ear combined, while zone 4 was just the middle ear alone. According to his research there was twelve meridian points in all and they could all be accessed through manipulating and stimulating the feet. Dr. Fitzgerald was also noted for applying pressure by squeezing the fingers and fingertips to reduce pain in various areas of the body.

Dr. Eunice Stopfel created reflexology maps of the feet and was renowned for her writings about extracting crystals in the human body hovering around nerve endings. This work however has never been authenticated, though the Modern Institute of Reflexology claims they were able to extract a crystal from a human body and examine it.

Modern reflexologists have advanced the work of these great pioneers and have created some new reflexology maps. Still, the old standards continue to play a key role in the art of reflexology.

Ear Reflexology There is More to it Than Simply What you Hear

Ear reflexology is not new as is commonly believed; in fact it has been around as long as hand and foot reflexology. Hippocrates, considered the founder of modern medicine manipulated the ears as a form of birth control. Though we know today that ears were not effective as birth control agents we can clearly see the importance the ancients put on these two organs. Ear reflexology has been used for centuries, several millenniums in china, Persia, the Arab countries, ancient Rome and Greece as a treatment for the relief of sciatica.

In modern times the work of Dr. William Fitzgerald promoted foot, hand, and ear reflexology in his scientific papers and books. Over the years, ear reflexology somehow took a back step to foot and hand reflexology but is now once again recognized for its healing properties. Modern day ear reflexology has evolved from the older “Aucular therapy” also known as acupuncture of the ears.

The older Chinese form of ear reflexology is based on the meridians of the body while western ear reflexology concentrates on zones or reflex points within the ear. In Chinese reflexology the chi or energy is reflected within the ear and they believe that a person having long thick ears will have a long and healthy life. Each ear is unique and like the kidneys, they are important to a person’s well being. A person who is a good listener will also have good kidneys according to this ancient belief. The Buddha is often portrayed as having long earlobes, reflecting his wisdom, longevity, and general good health. The ears are like gateways to the inner being of the person and can be read in order to reveal the inner nature of the client and thus detect any imbalances within the human body.

The process of ear reflexology requires the stimulation of strategic reflex areas within the ears that are said to correspond to other body organs and systems. Yet, unlike acupuncture the ears are massaged without the use of needles. The technique used for stimulation is different from hand and foot reflexology because the ears are much smaller in size.

The Universal College of Reflexology has found that ear reflexology is very effective in working with muscular and skeletal problems. They say they have witnessed clear cut results in only a few minutes of massage (treatment). Some of their clients have had chronic conditions that have improved with ear reflexology. The Universal College of Reflexology offers both on campus and a comprehensive home study program to get you started on your personal journey to good health or your wonderful career in ear reflexology. The course explains both the western and eastern approaches to ear reflexology which are similar yet different in its applications.

The use of magnets in the ear has become an ear reflexology aid. The benefits from these magnets are said to include weight loss, an aid in the cessation of smoking, menopause, stress, nervous tension, anxiety, tinnitus, pain, hair loss, prostrate problems and more.

Ear reflexology like foot and hand reflexology is a lot more than just the manipulation of zones within the ear to promote good health. An ear reflexology chart will acquaint you with the reflex points of the ear. Most charts come in color and are clearly labeled. However, you must remember that ear reflexology like any variety of reflexology takes a holistic approach to good health. Besides performing the ear reflexology massage techniques, the practicing reflexologist will draw upon his knowledge of other healing forms, his good listening and communication skills, his empathy and support and other people skills.

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