Simply Reflexology Courses at The Haven
Sonia Jones ND from the Hav
en Spa and Health Clinic
I am also a reflexologist with 20 years experience in this field.
In September 2009 my book was published in the US by Sterling Publishers title SIMPLY REFLEXOLOGY
REFLEXOLOGY COURSES will be held at the The Haven Spa, Boquete, beginning 2010. More news later.
Learn the healing art of reflexology, to use on yourself, your friends, your partner, or children. Learning new skills has been proven to be health enhancing in every way.
If you are interested please leave a note in the comments box (it will not be published) so I can send you information on forth coming dates and costs etc. Classes will be a maximum of 6 people and a minimum of 4 people. Everything you need to learn reflexology will be provided.
You can buy the book here at the Spa from the middle of November – it is optional for the reflexology course.
Level 1 – six sessions
Level 2 – four sessions
Learn a new skill, have fun, treat yourself, your family and friends.
For thousands of years a system of pressure and massage applied to the feet has been honed and refined into the holistic health treatment known today as reflexology. Reflexology not only has the capacity to help many conditions, it is also possible to detect existing ailments and any potential future problems we may face.
Reflexology is a whole body therapy applied through the feet, the principles of the treatment work with the reflex areas in the feet and hands that correspond to all of the body’s tissue, glands, organs, in fact every part of the body, plus the mind and soul. It is a method of activating a healing response within the body. Stimulating these reflex areas correctly can help many health problems in a truly natural holistic way.
Reflexology is not just a foot massage it is a serious therapy in the health field helping many conditions. The wonderful thing about reflexology is it can be learned by anyone and be given to anyone from babies to the elderly, with no need for any special equipment. Just using the hands, making it a very safe and simple but extremely effective therapy, that can be done anywhere and anytime.
Our body is constantly trying to achieve homeostasis, a Greek word for balance. Medical text books devote many pages to explaining how the body achieves this. Every second of the day hormones and chemicals are produced to either speed things up or slow things down. When we get cold the body shivers in an attempt to keep us warm, when the body gets hot we sweat to cool down. Certain foods and drinks elevate our blood sugar levels too high, the body responds by producing the hormone insulin to bring blood sugar levels down again. Then there are hormones that break down calcium in our bones and others that rebuild it again. Of course this is a mere fraction that goes on every split second of every day. Reflexology stimulates responses in the body that help the body in its quest for homeostasis, this intricate balancing act.
The feet and hands contain thousands of nerve endings, stimulation of these sensory nerve endings send messages up the spinal cord to the brain. The brain then reads these impulses as potential problems in the corresponding part of the body which is related to that part of the hand or foot known as reflex zones. This is a very similar principle to acupuncture. The body then decides for itself whether a part needs stimulating or calming down. Reflexology actives the body’s own healing power.
It feels so wonderful, a real treat, even a short massage on the feet can ease away a stressful day and make you feel less tired. Everyone loves having their feet massaged. The second thing people say ‘they couldn’t possibly have a foot treatment like reflexology because their feet are far too ticklish’. In the many years I have practiced reflexology this has never been a problem. The feet are handled in such a way that even the most sensitive of people have had no problems what so ever.
Studies have shown that people who incorporate some fulfilling activities into their lives like – meditation, or an absorbing hobby or some form of treatment like reflexology are healthier, happier, more positive and effective in all areas of their lives.
Though reflexology does not treat specific diseases, it does bring about a change in the body that enables it to heal itself.
Reflexology goes back thousands of years to ancient times, the Egyptians, the Chinese, and to many other ancient cultures. Many ancient texts have been found on the subject of healing through the hands and feet. Just like acupuncture it has stood the test of time. Reflexology as we know it today is about 100 years old, much research has been done allowing reflexology to go from strength to strength helping many people. It was in the mid-1980s that reflexology really took off, and has become a huge growth area. Some twenty-five years on nearly every one has heard about reflexology and knows it is a treatment applied mainly to the feet to bring about a change in the whole body.
Reflexology is truly a holistic treatment, a system of health care that is completely different in its philosophy, approach, and practice compared to conventional medicine also known as allopathic medicine. In holistic medicine a person is viewed as a physical, psychological and emotional being, and sees a mind, body and soul connection. Holistic medicine gives the body what it needs to heal itself naturally. Despite us, the body will endeavour to heal itself come what may, a cut will heal and a broken bone will mend. Holistic means ‘the whole’, in this case ‘the whole person’. Like a watch ‘the whole’ watch needs to be in good working order for it to keep good time. All the components of the body need to be working well for the body to be in balance.
Reflexology is extremely effective at encouraging the body to ensure all the parts are in good working order, encouraging balance. As all systems in the body are so completely interrelated, only one part needs to be slightly out of balance. This imbalance will lead to problems in other systems of the body, and if left untreated will become chronic problems.