Reflexology for Life

The wonders of ‘kolkolis’

The wonders of ‘kolkolis’ - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Kolkolis is an indigenous form of reflexology where sticks are beaten on one’s soles. Songaben Payoyo, a 66 year old healer practices it in the Philippines.

“This is not mere massage. This is healthy to everyone, especially the old,” he says.

“Even when I was young, some foreigners would ask the elders in the village what kolkolis was good for. The elders would say it makes the nerves awake,” he says.

“It’s rare for those who undergo kolkolis regularly to suffer a stroke,” he says.

Editor's note- I have never heard of this. Has anyone out there ever tried this?

Rose Shapiro on how to spot quacks

© fabphotos. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
Rose Shapiro on how to spot quacks | Life and style | The Guardian:

"Radovan Karadzic"

Rose Shapiro
Just because Karadic was a war criminal, it doesn't follow that all alternative practitioners are genocidal maniacs, and indeed many practitioners sincerely believe in what they are doing and want to help their clients. But there have surely been enough cases now of blatant recklessness if not outright deceit to confirm that practising alternative medicine is very often the last refuge of the scoundrel.

My email to the Guardian:

I had a feeling when I first heard this story that someone blame this on complementary therapies.Thankfully Ms. Shapiro comes to the rescue. It is a relief that all practitioners are not genocidal maniacs in Ms. Shapiro's eyes.

Ms. Shapiro's point that complementary therapies are a great refuge for former tyrants may miss a fundamental point of logic. The complete makeover that Radovan Karadzic had undergone may have been more of a reason he wasn't discovered. He could have hidden out as a butcher. Then I imagine Ms. Shapiro would go after the butchers in their laxity of credentials. Or would that not achieve the aim of this diatribe which is quite simply to sell her book?

I can't believe the editors of the Guardian published this twisted rant.

Kevin Kunz

Reflexology Research Project

Relaxcation: I thought I had invented a new word

A staycation is a stay at home vacation. Staycations are all the rage now with gas prices so high and since everybody seems to be broke.

Barbara and I recently took a staycation because we simply could not get away. And we are lucky enough to have Hacienda Antigua down the street from us. I am working in this delightful place. And the best part is that Bob, the owner, told us that we should use the pool whenever we feel like it.

So we spent part of our staycation swimming and lounging around the pool. The Hacienda Antigua is surrounded by a large wall and beautiful surroundings. It really is not like being close to home. Yet you don't have the stress of airports or car travel.

That started me thinking about relaxcations or relaxing vacations at home. I thought I had invented a new word. A quick Google and I found out that the word was being not used widely but did exist.

It doesn't take away from the idea of designing your own stay at home relaxing vacation.

Reflexology is an ideal candidate for your relaxcation. Either set up a relaxing reflexology session for yourself or trade with your family and friends. Add the trimmings- soft music, nice lighting. Use your imagination.

What would you do on a relaxcation?

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Getting Into Reflexology- Part 4 Finding a Guinea Pig

© alptraum. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Where to find guinea pigs?

There is a lot to be said for "guinea pigs" contributions to the rise of reflexology. Family and friends have helped out many a reflexologist get started by acting as their first subjects or guinea pigs.

It is really the traditional way a lot of reflexologist get started practicing. First family and friends and then if the reflexologist is ready for the big league they started working outside of their volunteer circle. Of course, training becomes very important at this stage.

But there are other types of "guinea pigs" that can help you hone your skills. Senior citizen homes from assisted living to nursing homes can provide valuable experience to learn how feet change as we age.

Working with families in need and children have distinctive advantages in helping you get experience. You can get to know what stress can effect those who are struggling and how age can alter the response to stress. And you can provide comfort to people who can really use some help.

It can also be helpful to work with different groups of people with similar problems. People with similar disabilities can be helpful in learning what different feet can be like. I know one woman who became an expert on brain injury by helping the victims of this condition.

When I started out and tried to find as many different types of people as I could find. It gave me great insight to compare and contrast different feet and different conditions. I really feel it gave me an education that will last a lifetime.

People often ask me how I know just by looking at a pair of feet different facts about a person. It is all those feet and all those "lessons". After all every pair of feet is it's own classroom in a sense.

Every person out there can be a potential lesson for the reflexologist. I actually remember some of my key lessons from years ago and the people that were attached to them.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Getting to Reflexology Part 3

Learning the areas on the feet and hand is a key to technique application. While it is important to work the whole foot or hand at least one time through it is also important to know specific areas in order to add emphasis. Emphasis helps to bolster areas that are particularly under stress.

Learning how the organization of the feet is fairly straightforward. The right foot or hand represents the right side of the body. The left foot or hand represents the left side of the body. The exception is the brain which crosses over.

The toes and fingers represent the head/neck/sinus reflex areas. The ball of the foot and the upper palm of the hand represent the chest/lungs/breast/heart. The arch of the foot and the lower palm of the hand represent the internal organs such as the liver, stomach and so forth. The heel of the hand and the heel of the foot represent the the lower back and the lower parts of the digestive system.

An easy way to learn the parts of the feet and hands is to go to www.dk.com/reflexology. These interactive charts allow you to learn the areas at your leisure. Also free charts are available for your download at http://www.reflexology-research.com

And if you want a complete description of the organizational scheme for charts try The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology for the feet and Hand Reflexology: How to Work on Someone's Hands for the hands.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

These Shoes Don't Fit

[求购信息]求购女士按摩减肥凉鞋

Okay if you follow this link you will find an odd picture of a shoe that doesn't fit. The request was, "I am looking for a shoe with magnets , it reduces weight if you wear it and it works by the principle of reflexology,"

The factory's response is as follows:

1.They are designed SMALL with a great purpose in mind. They fit only ¾ of your foot! Your heal must hang off the end of the shoe for the effective reflexology and body alignment to take place.
2. The structure of the slipper engages different muscles while walking and strengthens core muscles.
3. The Magnets in the slippers stimulate circulation and Reflexology points.

Okay how come I feel like the factory had an overstock of small shoes and came up with this brilliant marketing scheme. How come reflexology gets attached to all these weight loss products? And finally how about the people with really small feet?

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Advantages of Reflexology

A question in Yahoo Answers came up about the advantages and disadvantages of three different modalities, one of which was reflexology.

Here is my list of advantages:

Advantages

Relaxing

Effective

Can be used at any age.

You do not have to disrobe.

Cost effective

Can be perform as self help.

Helps your feet and your body.

Pays attention to a long neglected part of your body.

Green practice

Does not require expensive equipment.

These are other advantages I thought after I quickly wrote the first set.

Can be a bond between people.

Has an impact on the mind as well as the body.

Has been a lifesaver to some.

Often works even if a person doesn't believe in it.

The tools of the trade are always at your fingertips.

Can be a pure comfort at times.

Addresses problems such as stress which medicine has trouble addressing.

A study which is very interesting and can be lifelong.

It gives benefits to both the receiver and the giver.

What do you think the advantages of reflexology are?

Kevin Kunz

Getting into Reflexology Part 2

Looking at books in a bookstore or on Amazon.com is a good way to get a feel for whether reflexology is for you.

Are you excited at the prospect of helping yourself and/or helping others. Or does the sight or the idea of working on feet and hands simply turn you off? (Hands seem to be more appealing to people who see working on feet as a turnoff.)

Look through books at your local bookstore and get a sense of your reactions. Are you ready to do reflexology or would you rather go to a spa and have them do it for you? Be honest. It saves a lot of time.

I am obviously biased towards our own titles and don't want to be critical of other reflexology books. So here is a good way to avoid all that is to go to Amazon.com and search for reflexology books. Read the description and the reviews and see what appeals to you. There are a lot of titles to choose from.

Are you interested in self help or family help? Or are you interested in reflexology as a potential occupation? Are you into energy work or are you more oriented towards the nervous system approach?

Get a little background knowledge from whatever book or books you select and try it out either as a self help workout or do it for someone else. Again use this exercise to gauge your reactions. Don't expect to do a whole session at first. It takes time to learn the techniques and to build up a little strength to do them.

Understanding your reactions is an important step to a successful reflexology experience whether that is self help, family help or a career in reflexology.

Kevin Kunz

YouTube - Reflexology Park

YouTube - Reflexology Park

This is really a pretty good video of a Reflexology Park in Korea. It is from YouTube.

The first reflexology path Barbara and I saw was in Tokyo in 1990. It was built by Shisiedo engineers. The idea was that the path would work each and every part of the foot. There were even temple bridges that used small pebbles to work the toes.

The engineers used rocks embedded in concrete that varied in size and shape. The were also set at different distance apart to change the level of challenge. And they had bypasses if you found the going too tough.

The engineers used logs to simulate takifumi. Takifumi means to literally "step upon bamboo". Legend has it that samurai warriors would chop down some bamboo from the forest. The Samurai's then split the bamboo and walked on the rounded part for fighting spirit.

In 1990 we thought that the reflexology paths would spread like wildfire throughout Asia. But it hasn't stopped there as it continued onto to Europe.

The Germans really were taken with the whole idea. They built sensory pathways that run for a couple of kilometers at times. They include such elements as mud, grass and straw.

And now it is here in America with Bastyr College and the state of Washington Parks Department building some of the first in the US.

Here are some links for you.

Paths in Europe

Paths in Asia

Reflexology Paths

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Reflexology Reunion

I missed my class reunion. It was too bad as I had family obligations at the time. Joyce invited me even though I ended up graduating from another school. She very nicely wrote me an email to help link me with my boyhood friends after the event.

But her attendance was almost a disaster as she was struck by migraines during the reunion. Let Joyce tell it in her own words.

"I awoke Friday morning in Las Cruces with a migraine, so I called my son who is staying with us in Norman and had him get out your "Complete Reflexology for Life" book and look up the hand and foot points for migraine. Thank you, Kevin!!! It worked. Then again this morning (after traveling yesterday) it hit me again. This time I gave Jim (my husband) the book and had him work on my left foot big toe. He could feel the pressure point flatten out and disappear as he worked on it. And I got immediate relief. I've been a believer for a l-o-n-g time; I think Jim was swayed this morning. I can't get over how thorough the book is, and the illustrations are very helpful! I told a lot of schoolmates about your accomplishments and renown."

I am going to try like crazy to go to the next reunion. I have to meet Joyce again after all these years. And I hope to get a chance to work on her feet.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Complete Reflexology for Life