Sole-Soothing Reflexology

Nestled in a narrow storefront on West Village’s Perry Street, Angel Feet nurtures New Yorkers’ weary feet with reflexology treatments while soothing their senses with candlelight, meditative music, and diffused essential oils.

The tiny, two-station reflexology boutique sports bare brick walls and vaulted ceiling that charm visitors. Indeed, Angel Feet has been written up in countless newspapers and magazines, including the French Marie Claire, Italian Elle, American Vogue and the global New York Times. “I had one client from England who was referred to us by a hotel concierge who had read about us upon learning the man would be visiting New York,” recounts owner Barbara Morrison.

Angel Feet isn’t the only business basking in the media’s glow: Reflexologists across the country say the write-ups and TV sound-bites recently have had a tremendous impact on their business. “I was written up in Los Angeles Magazine last year in a story on reflexology, and I had a huge influx of new clients,” comments Marla Fisher, a nail technician and reflexologist at Skin Sense in Los Angeles. “I’ve been doing it for seven years, and in the past two years my clientele has tripled.”

Believed by many to have the potential to improve the body’s overall health and sometimes aid the healing of various diseases and disorders, the 4,000-year-old healing art has come a long way in the U.S. in the past few years as the public’s interest in wellness and holistic health treatments has grown.

“There’s much more awareness and recognition of reflexology than there was 10, and even five, years ago,” says Jan Rosenstreich, who practices foot reflexology, neuro-linguistic programming, hypnosis, and Reiki. As founder of Edison, N.J.-based Mystic Gate-way holistic therapy center, he also facilitates healing circles, lectures, and workshops.

“It’s been featured on TV news segments. And it’s starting to make its way into salons as an adjunct to services, so it’s becoming more well-known that way, too,” he adds. “Beauty salons seem to be where the growth is happening right now because the practitioners are there and have a clientele who is coming there already for other services.”

While reflexology technically is not s massage technique, it is using pressure, stretch, and movement on specific points on the hands and feet to affect corresponding parts of the body. Therefore, it shares some similarities with massage in that it promotes circulation and the removal of toxins while, among other things, promoting relaxation. Nail technicians benefit, as well, from a highly profitable add-on or stand-alone service: The nail technicians we asked charge anywhere from 50 cents to $1 per minute for reflexology. Alicia Weathers, a nail technician at Z Salon & Spa in Louisville, Ky., says she incorporates 15 minutes of reflexology in her spa manicures and pedicures, and offers it as a stand-alone service for which she charges $60 for one hour. “Clients love it,” she says. “In fact, I had one new pedicure client who felt so relaxed afterward that she’s now booked a one-hour weekly reflexology session in advance for the next several months. This is in addition to her regular manicures and pedicures.”

“There are three reasons people seek reflexology,” states Kevin Kunz, a reflexology researcher and practitioner in Albuquerque, N.M., who also has authored several books on the topic. “One is for relaxation. There are people who find it lowers their stress levels. Then there’s another class who is coming for relief from tired, achy feet. The third class is using it to address a particular health issue.”

Mind, Body, and Sole

While reflexology’s roots are hard to trace, in modern times, interest in reflexology resurfaced when a doctor discovered that sticking a pin in a person’s face while applying pressure to a particular spot on the foot caused no pain. From this research arose the “zone therapy” theory, which finds its basis in acupuncture. Simply, zone therapy divides the body into 10 longitudinal zones that run from the head to the toes. Each finger and toe represents a corresponding zone on the both sides of the body. Then, in the 1930s physiotherapist Eunice Ingham, credited as the founder of modern reflexology in the U.S., studied the response of different areas of the body to zone therapy. Through her research, she began studying the relationship between tender spots and crystal deposits beneath the skin on the feet, to glands and organs in the body. Over time, she charted the corresponding areas and developed a map of the reflexology points on the feet and the parts of the body they correspond with.

Ingham’s work proved a basis upon which others have built, and different researchers have developed a number of theories as to how hand and foot reflexology impact other parts of the body. According to Kunz, who also hosts an informative website for those interested in reflexology (www.reflexology-research.com), there are six common theories of reflexology.

However, he is less concerned with the theories than he is in proving its effects on the body. “Right now, the research is just happening to discover the answers,” he says. “For example, there is a double-blind study on diabetes that is very interesting, and there is strong research on headache relief from reflexology coming out of Denmark.” In China, he notes, an association of 6,000 medical doctors is researching the impact reflexology can have on all the most common – and some of the not-so-common – medical disorders.[PAGEBREAK]

And in some cases, the proof lies at your fingertips. Suffering from a tension headache? With the thumb of one hand, apply pressure to reflex points at the side and base of your thumb, the inside base of your thumb across the bottom of the palm, and diagonally across the middle of the palm. “Walk” your thumb to work these reflex areas, working first one hand and then another.

Suffer from allergies, asthma, and sinus problem? Kunz recommends applying pressure to the adrenal reflex area. “To find this area on the hands, rest your right thumb on the top of your left thumb,” he says. “Reposition the right hand, moving the right thumb down toward the wrist. Your hand is now positioned so that your right index finger can curl around the hand and exert pressure at the midpoint of the long bone. Rest your fingertip on the palm of the hand and press.” If the area doesn’t feel sensitive, he says to reposition your fingertip slightly and test another area.

“Once you have a target area, try a pressure technique,” he continues. “Position your fingertip on the sensitive area and exert and release pressure eight to 10 times.” Then, repeat on the other hand. Of course, to reap the most benefits you must commit to it like you would any other exercise program.

“Just as a certain number of sit-ups is needed to influence one’s waistline, a certain amount of reflexology technique application is needed to get results,” he says.

Emphasize Wellness Over Healing

While research promises to provide scientific facts that back the myriad health benefits reflexology claims, practitioners must take great precautions about making any health or medical claims in relationship with reflexology, Kunz cautions. “I don’t offer medical advice, I don’t diagnose conditions or prescribe, and I don’t perform reflexology to treat a specific illness,” he asserts. “I saw a practitioner in Illinois sell a bottle of aloe vera juice to someone after telling them what’s wrong with them and she was convicted for practicing medicine and podiatry without a license.”

“We don’t diagnose,” Rosenstreich agrees. “We just observe what the body is saying and prepare it to take care of itself. Building up the body builds the immune system, which helps the body care for itself. Don’t make any claims – we’re not trained to make a diagnosis, and at times what you could observe could be caused by 20 to 30 things, and you’re not trained to know which it is.

“What I do as a professional is educate the client about reflexology and how it works, explaining that it doesn’t have a direct effect,” he continues. “Always let them look at it from the big picture of bringing the body back into balance.”

By the same token, Kunz and Rosenstreich agree that reflexologists really can’t cause physical harm by working pressure points in the hands and feet. While too much pressure could cause discomfort and even bruising, clients generally risk no more than wasting their money with someone who is inadequately trained.

Learn to Earn

Training is a major issue in reflexology, as less than 10 states and a handful of cities nationwide regulate reflexology. Indeed, the profession hasn’t been able to agree on training or certification standards. As the field gains more interest from other professionals such as massage therapists, nail technicians, nurses, and physical therapists, some state regulatory agencies are giving the profession a second look. For example, Kunz says he is currently battling the massage therapy industry in New Mexico, which wants reflexology to fall under the purview of the massage therapist license. He, on the other hand, counters that their current curriculum requirement for 12 hours’ training in reflexology gives them no basis of knowledge in the art to claim it as theirs. In the meantime, he says, professionals like nail technicians are probably exempted from most certification requirements.

That doesn’t mean just anyone can do reflexology, however. While one-day and weekend seminars have been very popular with nail technicians for several years, both Rosenstreich and Kunz recommend more extensive training to master the technique. “A two-day course just isn’t enough,” Rosenstreich asserts. “And there should be spaces between training sessions. To do a two-day course and then be on your own just isn’t enough. You need to do that and then work outside practicing for awhile, and then have your technique monitored and corrected and learn more in the classroom. It’s important to get feedback from someone who can show you what you need to work on.”

“I see reflexology breaking into two areas, “Kunz adds. “If you’re going to work on a relaxation level, I would say 50-100 hours of training is good. To work on a therapeutic level, training requirements might go as high as 500 hours. A two-day seminar is good for knowledge, but not to do the technique.”

Fisher agrees, saying she’s taken a two-day seminar twice. “The first time I went I was confused because I had no clue about anatomy,” She admits. “The second time I went I concentrated on my technique.”

The effort, though, was well worth the results both she and clients enjoy. “I think nail technicians who want more diversity should consider doing reflexology,” she says. “I charge $25 for a half hour of reflexology, while I charge $15 for a 30-minute manicure. It’s nice to have something extra in your menu.” This is not to mention the extra potential income in your career.