As massage therapists, we are familiar with what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. We recommend these applications all the time. But how easy is it to get caught in the hubbub of life, and ignore our own health? A massage therapist shares his story, and encourages us to stay conscious of our body and the environment that we function in.

Common sense dictates that a therapist can only give to their client what is present within themselves. This can present a challenge to many bodyworkers, because many of us are so tuned in to “caretaking” that we neglect our own self care. It can become routine to skip a daily meditation, wolf down a fast food burger and speed through traffic to get to the spa - where eight back to back clients await your services. The “caretaker syndrome” describes the pitfall of putting others needs before our own and often leads to burnout or illness.

In the May 2005 issue of Acupuncture Today, Certified Massage Therapist David J. Razo shares his life changing experience in an article entitled “A Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Caring for Patients Means Caring for Yourself”. In this article, Mr. Razo describes his emotional journey as his dangerously high blood pressure (220/120) landed him a trip to an emergency room and subsequent hospital admission.

Mr. Razo’s predominant reflection was on simultaneously fostering the health and well-being of himself and that of his clients. In observing the environment of the hospital and noting its impact, the idea that everything one is surrounded with contributes to the healing process really hit home. His awareness of the used alcohol swabs littering the floor, the institutionalized bluish-green wall color and the burials at the cemetery just outside his window escalated to a broader understanding of the effect a healing environment has on the immune system.

A new zest for creating a healing space was compounded by the admission that he was good at giving advice and poor at following it. In all of this reflection, it became apparent that he had allowed all of the healthful lifestyle habits (the very ones he suggests to his clients) erode. In keeping a busy schedule, being hurried became his norm. Stopping to smell the roses, exercise or eat a healthful meal were just words that he repeated to help others - they were no longer a part of who he was. This groove is easy for any healthcare practitioner to fall into. It requires constant self checking to ensure that the inner self is not only heard, but being joyfully nurtured.

Mr. Razo recovered from his chest pain and high blood pressure scare, and is now successfully managing his health. According to Mr. Razo, “…that TLC we nourish our patients with also needs to be directed toward us…take the time to quiet your mind and feel the wind brush past your face.” Wise words from a bodyworker recovering from the “caretaker syndrome.”

Posted by Nicole at 05:54 PM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

Chinese reflexology is the ancient art of healing by working pressure points on the feet, hands and ears, which correspond to different parts of the body. Chinese reflexology is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which utilizes energy zones on the hands and feet to energize the body system and provide relief for a variety of illnesses. Chinese reflexology is commonly referred as foot massage by most of the Chinese people.

Chinese reflexology is based on the concept of energy channels, which is the central point. Chinese reflexology works on the principle that vital energy is channeled along various lines throughout the body, which are known as meridians or zones. In Chinese reflexology they are called zones. These zones transverse throughout the body and are curved or zig-zag pathways. The focus of Chinese reflexology is mainly on the zones of feet and on the reflex areas. These points are stimulated by specific pressure techniques.

It was discovered by some chinese people that Chi, or life energy, circulates in the body along the meridians or zones. There are 12 bi-lateral zones and each one of it is connected and related to a specific organ. Due to the connection and relation of these meridians or zones with a specific organ, they have a partner meridian organ that consists of a yin and yang. The body is regulated by yin organs, which are dense, blood filled types of tissue. Yang organs are the hollow organs that are involved in absorption and discharge from the body. There is a constant interaction between these two forces. But if the balance between the organs is interrupted, the flow of Chi throughout the body will be affected, resulting in illness.

Due to the illness, chi or vital energy pathways in the body are blocked thereby preventing the body from functioning normally. Chinese reflexology helps to unblock these pathways by eliminating the toxins from the body and improving circulation. This restores the balance between yin and yang forces, which in turn encourages healing and strengthens the body. Since each spot on the sole of foot corresponds to an internal organ, Chinese reflexology concentrates mainly on the foot. The theory of Chinese reflexology assumes that an ailment of an internal organ is associated with the nerve ending on the sole of the foot.

Chinese Reflexology involves applying firm pressure in sweeping movements on the various points of the feet with stimulating foot cream. Before the massage, the patient’s feet are kept warm by soaking them for about ten minutes in a footbath, which is a dark colored solution of hot water and Chinese herbs. The patient is also given warm fluids such as green tea throughout the massage session. This is done to improve circulation. The massage therapist then moisturizes the foot by using medicated cream. The medicated cream also helps to provide lubrication.

The therapist usually uses the knuckles on his hand since it provides a hard and smooth implement for the massage. As soon as the pressure is applied to the sole, if the patient doesn’t feel any strong pain then he is perfectly healthy as per the theory of Chinese reflexology. The massage therapists or reflexologists believe that the painful spots reflect illnesses of other parts of the body. So they rub and massage the painful spots to break down rough spots and accumulated crystals and increase circulation. The illnesses are cured when the sore spots of the sole are treated and removed by massage.

Based on the theory of Chinese reflexology, some shoe liners are made with pressure points to stimulate the soles of the feet in order to promote better health of the overall body. But the nature of these crystals has yet to be explained or demonstrated scientifically.