WHAT IS REFLEXOLOGY?
THEORY OF REFLEXOLOGY Feet are understood to serve as mini-maps of the human body. The neurological theory behind reflexology states that reflex areas in the hands and feet correspond to all the glands, organs and musculoskeletal systems in the human body (see the reflexology zone map below).
Wearing shoes all day as we go about our daily lives which can include a sedentary job or lifestyle, stress, illness, lack of hydration and inactivity can cause muscle tissue to weaken, and blood flow to stagnate. This blood stagnation culminates in waste matter collecting in the feet. This waste matter forms crystalline deposits at key nerve endings located in the feet. Reflexology practitioners call these deposits grainy or sandy structures. What does the presence of crystalline deposits indicate? Just as a river that is clogged with sand and silt fails to flow smoothly and feed its many tributaries, the health and balance of your body and its organs are dependent on the nourishment provided by healthy circulation. Lack of the smooth flow of energy due to poor lifestyle habits, trauma, or genetics can result in toxins accumulating at the neurological endings found in the foot. Thus, soreness in the reflex zones of the feet is understood to reflect imbalance in the corresponding organ, gland or structure of the body.
WHAT ARE REFLEXOLOGY PATHS?
The Egyptians, Chinese, Native Americans, Europeans, Indians, Japanese, Australians, Malaysians, Thai and North and South Americas have re-discovered the benefits of reflexology foot acupressure massage over the last 90 years. Reflexology clinics and reflexology paths are as ubiquitous in Asian urban centers as coffee houses in the United States and Europe.
History of Reflexology Paths
Throughout time, we can chart the Asian progression of man fashioning bamboo sticks with which to eat, the first use of the knife and fork in the Middle Ages in Europe, but what of the first shoe worn or first reflexology path built? Walking barefoot on pebbled paths, cobbled stoned streets, sand dunes, and hard cement are not new phenomena. Primates continue to practice reflexology walking barefoot and allowing the earth and gravity to remove and dislodge areas of stagnation. In the human realm, universal adornment for protection and fashion can be charted back a few centuries. The building of community reflexology paths in China began with the communist revolution after 1949 and the communist policy of affordable health care with a focus on prevention. The advent of Mao’s communist revolution resulted in the building of communes, the organization of Danwei or communist party organizational units simulating the ancient feudal courthouse structure. The courthouse structure afforded a centralized region in the middle of a housing project/apartment complex for organization, planning, as well as for daily activities, socialization and community exercise. Since the 1980's and the search for empowering public health, foot reflexology paths have been constructed in Asia and more recently in Europe and the Americas (please visit our Products section, The Dao of Foot Reflexology Paths: A Global Self-care Tradition, Marazita & Spano).
Why build a Reflexology Path?
Since the 1980's reflexology paths have been built around the world to enhance employee productivity, decrease student stress, enhance community vitality and to educate medical students and the public in public health and self-care. You can revitalize your work-place, your community center, school or home with a reflexology path. We are ready to consult, design and/or train you.
THEORY OF REFLEXOLOGY Feet are understood to serve as mini-maps of the human body. The neurological theory behind reflexology states that reflex areas in the hands and feet correspond to all the glands, organs and musculoskeletal systems in the human body (see the reflexology zone map below).
Wearing shoes all day as we go about our daily lives which can include a sedentary job or lifestyle, stress, illness, lack of hydration and inactivity can cause muscle tissue to weaken, and blood flow to stagnate. This blood stagnation culminates in waste matter collecting in the feet. This waste matter forms crystalline deposits at key nerve endings located in the feet. Reflexology practitioners call these deposits grainy or sandy structures. What does the presence of crystalline deposits indicate? Just as a river that is clogged with sand and silt fails to flow smoothly and feed its many tributaries, the health and balance of your body and its organs are dependent on the nourishment provided by healthy circulation. Lack of the smooth flow of energy due to poor lifestyle habits, trauma, or genetics can result in toxins accumulating at the neurological endings found in the foot. Thus, soreness in the reflex zones of the feet is understood to reflect imbalance in the corresponding organ, gland or structure of the body.
WHAT ARE REFLEXOLOGY PATHS?
The Egyptians, Chinese, Native Americans, Europeans, Indians, Japanese, Australians, Malaysians, Thai and North and South Americas have re-discovered the benefits of reflexology foot acupressure massage over the last 90 years. Reflexology clinics and reflexology paths are as ubiquitous in Asian urban centers as coffee houses in the United States and Europe.
History of Reflexology Paths
Throughout time, we can chart the Asian progression of man fashioning bamboo sticks with which to eat, the first use of the knife and fork in the Middle Ages in Europe, but what of the first shoe worn or first reflexology path built? Walking barefoot on pebbled paths, cobbled stoned streets, sand dunes, and hard cement are not new phenomena. Primates continue to practice reflexology walking barefoot and allowing the earth and gravity to remove and dislodge areas of stagnation. In the human realm, universal adornment for protection and fashion can be charted back a few centuries. The building of community reflexology paths in China began with the communist revolution after 1949 and the communist policy of affordable health care with a focus on prevention. The advent of Mao’s communist revolution resulted in the building of communes, the organization of Danwei or communist party organizational units simulating the ancient feudal courthouse structure. The courthouse structure afforded a centralized region in the middle of a housing project/apartment complex for organization, planning, as well as for daily activities, socialization and community exercise. Since the 1980's and the search for empowering public health, foot reflexology paths have been constructed in Asia and more recently in Europe and the Americas (please visit our Products section, The Dao of Foot Reflexology Paths: A Global Self-care Tradition, Marazita & Spano).
Why build a Reflexology Path?
Since the 1980's reflexology paths have been built around the world to enhance employee productivity, decrease student stress, enhance community vitality and to educate medical students and the public in public health and self-care. You can revitalize your work-place, your community center, school or home with a reflexology path. We are ready to consult, design and/or train you.