Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscular tension. It is applied with greater pressure and on deeper muscles than classic Swedish massage and generally focuses on one problem area.

Esalen Massage

This massage technique is meant to bring on a sense of well-being through deep and beneficial states of consciousness. Esalen massage focuses on the mind and body as a whole. It is hypnotic in nature and uses slow, rhythmic movements to bring about a general state of relaxation.

Neuromuscular Massage

This form of deep tissue massage concentrates on s specific muscle. Through the use of concentrated finger pressure, sensitive trigger points are released and blood flow increases.

Reflexology

Reflexology is the practice of applying pressure in a strategic manner to reflexes of the feet and hands, and even the face and ears. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow, enhance circulation and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding areas of the body. Furthermore, reflexology stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the release of endorphins, the natural feel good hormones that are well documented in relieving the effects of stress. Reflexology is meant to bring your body to a state of well-being. Only in this state is your body able to heal itself.

Reiki

In Japanese, reiki means "universal life energy." The practice of reiki promotes a return to health through wholeness. The treatment consists of the health professional gently placing his or her hands on a relaxed body. Your clothes are not removed for a reiki session. The practitioner's hands touch a variety of places, such as the chest, head, abdomen and back to promote energy to flow through the body. Some people experience deep relaxation, while others find it invigorating. It is easy to learn and very powerful. It is used to relieve stress, empower and heal.

Rolfing or Structural Integration

This method is based on the belief that function is improved when body parts are properly aligned. Through manipulation of connective tissue linking muscles to bones, the therapist attempts to restore fuller movement, resulting in a balanced body. This technique applies deep tissue pressure to the muscles of the neck, head, back, pelvis, legs and arms. It is effective for muscle pain, neck tension, back pain, headaches and increasing range of motion.

Shiatsu

Shiatsu literally means finger pressure in Japanese. It is an Oriental massage technique that focuses on acupressure points to restore and maintain health. Through firm and rhythmic pressures applied to specific points for three to ten seconds. This is supposed to unblock the energy that flows through the acupressure meridians.

Sports Massage

This massage technique uses a combination of kneading, passive stretching, and range of deep-tissue motions. It is designed to ease muscle strain and promote flexibility.

Swedish Massage

This technique, developed by Peter Hendricks Ling in the early 1800's, uses kneading, stroking, tapping and shaking to induce the body to relax. Swedish massage also relieves soreness and swelling, as well as promotes recovery after injury.

In order to become a certified reflexologist, there are a few different steps that you need to take. One is the written exam, which involves three hundred questions that are of the multiple choice or true/false formats. In order to successfully pass the written portion of the certification process, you will need to answer at least eighty percent of the questions correct. That means that you will have to respond correctly to two hundred and forty of the three hundred questions to pass.

Another key step in the process of becoming a licensed reflexologist involves a practical exam. Practical exams are 'hands-on' types of exams, and the reflexology program involves a thirty minute reflexology session where the certification candidate works on the proctor of the exam. This test is scored on a level of one to five, with one denoting an excellent score and a five referring to a complete failure. In order to pass the practical exam, candidates are required to score a three, which denotes an average level of performance.

Lastly, in order to become a certified reflexologist, you need to have documented some sessions of reflexology that you have performed on your own. You will be required to submit thirty sets of documentation, all of which pertain to three separate reflexology sessions with a particular individual. This section of the test is graded as a pass/fail type of test, so it is important to ensure that your documentation complies with the needs of the American Reflexology Certification Board. If you are working on your documentation, and you want to get a better idea of what proper documentation looks like, you may want to pay a visit to the board's website at arcb.net.

Without a doubt, it can be difficult to become certified in reflexology. However, it is important that the test is an all-encompassing inventory of your skills, as it helps to keep reflexology as a respectable type of treatment by keeping professionalism at a high rate. Although most states do not require reflexology certifications in order to practice the treatment, having your certification can make the difference between whether or not a prospective client will become a regular customer. The certification exam encompasses many of the aspects of reflexology as a business, and can be immensely helpful. To that end, if you are considering reflexology as a career, you should make getting certified a high priority. Best of luck!

Although reflexology is proven to be beneficial for a multitude of problems, your reflexologist cannot diagnose or claim to cure any diseases. They are not medically trained. Reflexology is meant to bring your body to a state of well-being. Only in this state is your body able to heal itself. If your body is full of toxins, your immune system is severely compromised, making you much more likely to succumb to sickness.

So what can you expect at a reflexology treatment? The reaction to a reflexology session varies greatly from person to person. Your therapy session will begin with a questionnaire or one on one question and answer session. This is, of course to get your personal history and determine where your therapy should be most concentrated. For example, if you are going in suffering from frequent migraines and neck pain, your reflexologist will concentrate on the areas of the feet and sometimes the hands, in areas that deal with the head and neck. Of course, you will be treated in all areas of the feet. In order to bring your body to a state of well-being, you must detoxify your organs and this is exactly what happens during reflexology therapy.

After the initial interview, your ears, feet and hands will probably be thoroughly looked over for discolorations and tender spots. According to the theories reflexology stems from, these things can be warning signs that correlating body parts are not functioning, as they should.

Reflexology should not be painful (overall). The reflexologist does apply firm pressure deep enough to reach the reflexes, however the feeling mimics a deep tissue massage. If sensitivity is felt, it is an indicator of where tension is in the body, and that is a good thing. Without locating these areas, you cannot take care of the problem. The areas that show the most sensitivity usually form a pattern that corresponds to the medical condition reported before the therapy.

The reflexologist should work within your comfort level and if not, find another one. Reactions, which may occur between sessions, are usually mild and last only a day or two. In actuality, this is a good thing, as it indicates the body is returning to a state of balance and is eliminating the toxins the therapy released. Overall, clients usually feel energized and naturally more positive after a reflexology session.

Success with reflexology depends on the level of commitment you are willing to contribute. The more often you go for therapy, the more energized you will feel and longer lasting results you will have.

Once you have made the decision to visit a trained reflexologist, you may be wondering what you can expect from him or her. You may also be asking yourself, what if I am embarrassed about my feet, or my feet are ticklish, how will I be able to handle the therapy? All of these are viable questions.

As far as the appearance of your feet, don't worry about them. All feet are different and there is nothing to be ashamed about. The only possible thing that might come up in direct relation to the appearance of your feet may be if you have a severe problem with corns or the like. In this case, your reflexologist may recommend treatment options.

Ticklish feet are not usually a problem for a reflexologist. Once pressure is applied, the sensation will quickly turn from a tickle to massage and you should be ok. Very, and I mean very few people that claim to have ticklish feet are unable to go through with the therapy.

Your therapy session will begin with a questionnaire or one on one question and answer session. This is, of course to get your personal history and determine where your therapy should be most concentrated. For example, if you are going in suffering from frequent migraines and neck pain, your reflexologist will concentrate on the areas of the feet and sometimes the hands, in areas that deal with the head and neck. Of course, you will be treated in all areas of the feet. In order to bring your body to a state of well-being, you must detoxify your organs and this is exactly what happens during reflexology therapy.

After the initial interview, your ears, feet and hands will probably be thoroughly looked over for discolorations and tender spots. According to the theories reflexology stems from, these things can be warning signs that correlating body parts are not functioning, as they should.

At this point the therapy will begin. It will usually start with rubbing of the ears, hands or feet and then will turn into pressing. It closely mimics acupuncture, but without needles. By pressing in certain areas of the feet, hands and even the ears, the brain will send signals and release neurochemicals to stop pain and relieve tension.

Probably one of the biggest expectations is the relaxation factor. It is true; you will become very relaxed during the therapy. Believe it or not, some people even fall asleep. It is one of the single most powerful ways to relax and eliminate stress in your body. Once you try it you will be a believer, furthermore you will be hooked.

Question: What types of symptoms is reflexology the most helpful for?

Answer: Many people find that reflexology can be a great relief when it comes to lessening the stress levels that they are feeling. Since there are a full seven thousand and two hundred nerves located in the feet alone, manipulating these nerves can be helpful when it comes to interrupting stress systems in the body, therefore making the patient feel much more relaxed and yet energetic. While stress relief is one of the principle reasons for why an individual may turn to reflexology, people also claim that it can be helpful when it comes to curbing feelings of anxiety, PMS, and even migraine headaches. As a complementary therapy to western medicine, reflexology can be quite helpful in putting the body, as well as the mind, at ease.

Question: How often do I need to visit a reflexologist in order to receive the fullest benefits?

Answer: While you can experience positive effects after just one session of reflexology, many experts from China agree that in order to achieve the best possible results, one should engage in reflexology once per day for six days. After two weeks, the patient's progress should be measured, and at that point, another two weeks of therapy may be recommended. The standard reflexology session tends to last around thirty minutes to an hour, and typically requires only the removal of the shoes and socks, although some massage therapists choose to incorporate reflexology into a traditional chair massage.

Question: Where can I find a reflexologist?

Answer: There are plenty of reflexology practitioners located across the United States and abroad. Many hospitals are now offering reflexology treatments, and insurance companies are even beginning to cover the treatment. To that end, you may want to speak to your family doctor in order to ask their professional opinion on where you should turn for reflexology therapy.

In this article, we've addressed the types of problems that reflexology can treat, as well as giving you advice on how exactly you should find a reflexologist that is qualified in your area and the length of time that is generally required in order to reap the full benefits of the complementary therapy. Hopefully, this increased understanding will be helpful when it comes to deciding whether or not you are in need of a reflexology session program. As with any type of therapy, it pays to do your research, so learn all that you can about reflexology before making a decision on whether or not it is right for you.

Dietary recommendations

Adopt a diet that is low in simple carbohydrates and high in protein. Follow the dietary guidelines of the hypoglycemic diet.

Include almonds, almond milk, parsley, fennel, garlic, fresh cherries and fresh pineapple in your diet regularly.

Stay away from foods that contain the amino acid tyramine, which includes aged meats, bananas, beer, cabbage, canned meats, dairy products, eggplant, hard cheeses, potatoes, raspberries, plums, tomatoes, wine and yeast. Also eliminate all alcohol, aspirin, chocolate, MSG and nitrates.

Get massages regularly, which should include areas of the neck and back of your head, as well as reflexology for the feet.

Reflexology treatments

Reflexology is safe for everyone and proven effective. If you are not familiar with reflexology, it is the practice of strategically applying pressure to reflexes of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow, reduce stress and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. With this, many forms of sickness and disease can be reversed or at the very least, the symptoms can be effectively treated.

One of the most common uses for reflexology is for stress relief. In our fast paced society today, everyone is looking for a way to unload the stress of everyday life and for good reason. Stress is a silent killer. The effects of stress have been studied for quite some time and it is known that if you do not release stress from your body on a regular basis, it will eventually wreak havoc on your body in the form of one of many different sicknesses or diseases. Furthermore, stress can definitely be a factor in migraine headache development. Relieving stress is an important step in becoming well.

Although reflexologists cannot diagnose or claim to cure a sickness or disease, the results speak for themselves, making it one of the most sought after treatments today. In fact, celebrities pay an arm and a leg for just a few minutes of reflexology. Not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator. In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; acne; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments. I started using reflexology therapy a few years ago just for the purpose of relieving the tension headaches I was experiencing due to stress. I can attest to the fact that it works, as I have been successful at curing my headaches without the use of drugs ever since.

The cleansing of our kidneys is only one of the primary reasons we need to take detoxification seriously. Toxins are everywhere. The food we eat, the products we clean ourselves with, as well as the air we breathe all contribute to the build up of toxins in our bodies. Without effectively eliminating those toxins from our organs, they will eventually cause havoc and we will be led down the path of sickness and disease. In a society that relies heavily on chemically laden prescription drugs, psychotherapy and surgical procedures to "heal" the sick, it is more than time to put matters into your own hands.

Our society has become very curious about detoxification. In fact, nowadays there are so many products trying to get your attention, that it can be very challenging and overwhelming to know just what is best. If you search for detoxification online today, you will find everything from detox diet plans and fasting to high priced spa treatments, herbal cleansing pills and patches.

Far Eastern cultures have been using alternative treatments for thousands of years and still do so today. Even the most technically advanced countries such as China and Japan, appreciate the effectiveness and simplicity of natural medicine. So why not try a form of therapy that is effective, yet has no side affects? However, with so many products on the market begging for a sale, where do you begin? Maybe it is time to introduce you to reflexology.

Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs. By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body. Reflexology is not only effective for self-healing, but has made it's mark as an effective detoxification procedure as well. And maybe most importantly in today's society, it is free, depending on which therapy you use and very convenient. Yes, unlike our current healthcare system, reflexology therapy is available to everyone!

Reflexology is safe for everyone and proven effective. No matter what your state of health is at this time, reflexology can be a part of good preventative care. Without effectively eliminating toxins from our organs, they will eventually cause havoc and we will be led down the path of sickness and disease. In a society that relies heavily on chemically laden prescription drugs, psychotherapy and surgical procedures to "heal" the sick, it is more than time to put matters into your own hands.

1.Time=Value. In other words, it takes time to build your clientele and to get a name for yourself. The more feet you work on the more success stories you will receive from satisfied, paying customers. In a business like reflexology, this is key to success. The truth of the matter is, one person could be responsible for making or breaking your reputation, but more commonly, it takes many satisfied customers to get a foothold in your community. Word of mouth is one of the best tools you will have to build your business, so the more people that leave satisfied, the more you will be talked about.

2.If you already have an established business, but don't have the stable clientele that you need to thrive, try the compare feet technique, as I like to call it. When you are finished with one foot, kindly ask your client to stand up and compare how their feet feel. Not only does this put quality into your service right away, but also it sticks the "wow" factor into the equation. Soon your clients will be longing for the feeling they get after one of your sessions.

3.Make sure you are communicating effectively with your clients. In other words, you MUST know if you are being too hard on their feet or too soft. If you are too hard on their feet, and they leave in utter pain, you cannot expect them to return. In the same respect, if they leave feeling no different than they came, you did not do your job effectively enough to warrant a return visit. Make sure you tell them up front that you can change your degree of pressure to suit their needs. That is the only way they will know that you can accommodate them and are not just unknowledgeable and inexperienced.

4.Take an active approach in respect to customer service. Call your client the day after therapy and ask how they are doing. Furthermore, it is the perfect opportunity to get feedback and invite them back for a subsequent visit. You will build trust and better yet you will know how well the treatment went and if you will need to adjust your treatment the next time.

5.Make sure your prices match your skill level, experience and reputation. I wont go into great detail here because prices vary according to many factors, just do your homework before you set your prices and if they are too high, change them.

6.Create your environment carefully. The setting in which you do your therapy will add value to your service or it will break your service. If you choose to work out of your home, as many do in the beginning, price your services accordingly. Also, because reflexology is such a relaxing therapy, create your setting to compliment it. Avoid areas with clutter and set it up as comfortable as possible. Soft music and very soft essential oil scents are good compliments to your setup.

7.Finally, you must determine what hours and what services you will offer to your clients. This will partially be determined by how serious you are about your career. It is pretty safe to say that the more flexible you are, the more clientele you will attract. For example, if you will work nights to accommodate schedules, or make house calls, you are setting yourself up for a favorable amount of business. Furthermore, by offering services such as "self help seminars" where you teach your clients how to do some of the basic techniques, complimented with say aromatherapy or herbal treatments; you add instant value and credibility to your practice.

Contraindications – contraindications is a word that you are probably unfamiliar with. In terms of reflexology, contraindications denote conditions that you may be having with your health that make it so that you should not receive reflexology as a treatment. Individuals who have recently fractured a bone are cautioned to avoid undergoing reflexology, as well as those who have any types of un-healed wounds or a case of gout that is flaring up. Consequently, if you have had a past history of heart attacks, osteoarthritis or if you are pregnant, you should speak to a doctor in order to ensure that reflexology is the right type of treatment for you.

Homeostasis – Homeostasis is referred to by some of those who practice reflexology as the state of the body in which everything is well. Reflexologists often contend that the reason that people become ill is the fact that the body's stress patterns are not able to flow correctly through the body, believing that reflexology can work towards clearing up blockages in the stress system in order to help the body to be more at peace. Once reflexology has been performed, practitioners believe that the stress patterns of the body can return to normal which will make the body more able to overcome many different types of illness on its own.

Self-reflexology – many people who understand the art of reflexology choose to perform it on themselves within their own household. Since it is useful when it comes to making the immune system more strong and able to fend off illness, it can be a great idea to perform self-reflexology on a regular basis in order to keep your body healthy and strong. Although it can be difficult to perform standard reflexology procedures on yourself, there are many different tools that you can buy that can make it much easier for you to perform. For instance, there are foot massager tools that can be helpful in the process, as well as reflexology mats, which are beaded, textured mats that can be employed when you are exercising in order to help break up the stress that is located within your feet.

Hopefully, this article helped to give you a better idea of what the reflexology practice is and how it can be useful when it comes to helping you to relieve stress and recover from illness. It is a potent type of alternative treatment that is gaining more and more recognition, so you should do your best to learn all that you can about it.

Question: What does a certification get me? Am I required to be certified in order to practice reflexology?

Answer: The American Reflexology Certification Board offers a certification that is not required in order to practice reflexology. There are, however, two states that have certain requirements that need to be met in order to work as a reflexologist. That is not to say, however, that the certificate is without its merits for a person who wants to learn more about reflexology and possibly perform it for a career. The certification program consists of written work, practical examinations and documenting all of the progress that you make. By doing so, you are sure to be a competent reflexologist by the end of the certification program. In addition to basic reflexology techniques, the course also offers helpful information when it comes to running a reflexology business and the ethics of doing so. Plenty of clients will appreciate that you put forth the effort of getting certified and will be more likely to become repeat visitors.

Question: How much will it cost me to become certified?

Answer: The answer to this question is dependent on where you attend reflexology school. There are plenty of reflexology schools located across the continental United States that offer programs that will prepare you for your reflexology certification. While programs are different for certification from school to school, they all require at least one hundred and ten hours of study in order to qualify. Post-graduate sessions are also offered which can serve as a great refresher for the reflexology practice. It costs $150 to take the reflexology certification exam, and after the exam is passed, you are required to pay $40 per year in order to remain an active certificant. 12 hours of continuing education in the field of reflexology are required to be undertaken every two years in order to ensure that you remain up to speed about the latest techniques and advancements in the field.

Hopefully, this article has helped you to become more confident in terms of understanding the reflexology certification exam and what is required of you with respects to preparing for the exam. It is not an easy process to prepare for the test, but it can really pay off to have your certification in terms of showing your clients your level of professionalism and your dedication to the art of reflexology. If you want to find a school that will prepare you for the exam, check out http://www.arcb.net, the official site of the American Reflexology Certification Board. There you will be able to find plenty of links that will assist you in your quest to become a reflexologist.