Massage Therapy - What Is Reflexology?
There are a number soulanma.com/gangnammassage/ of massage therapy schools in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. Most offer a wide assortment of training and courses to meet all requirements of the massage therapist. Many of these provide Reflexology as part of a typical training program. What exactly is Reflexology? It is an alternative treatment approach that focuses on energy flow to help relieve the tension and stress found in the body.
It is not surprising that the popularity of Reflexology has spread quickly across the nation. The techniques for reflexology are very different from traditional massage, yet include it as part of an optional class for any of the accredited massage and shiatsu diploma programs in Minneapolis massage therapy school. Since it is such a popular modality, many massage therapists have chosen to include Reflexology as one of their massage specialties. Because of this, massage therapists can benefit by adding Reflexology as an additional modality to their clinic. Moreover, students pursuing a professional massage therapy degree or continuing their education can learn Reflexology at their school and then add it to their curriculum.
The benefits of Reflexology come from the specific regions of the body where reflex points are located. When applied properly, it is going to target these reflex areas in the hands and feet to help promote recovery through increased blood flow and decreased tension. This same targeted program will also improve muscle strength in the shoulders and back. However, just as with massage, there aren't specific areas of the body that are targeted for reflexology. Instead, it's thought that the feet and hands are the ideal place for applying pressure for maximum benefits.
Perhaps the most popular area where Reflexology is practiced is over the shoulders and neck. Massage techniques concentrate mainly on these regions because they're believed to harbor a great deal of energy that can be tapped for therapeutic benefits. Because of this, applying pressure points like those from the neck and shoulders is a fantastic way to both relax the body and create extra energy for healing. While massage therapy focuses mostly on stress points on the body, Reflexology applies its treatment methods to the specific areas where pressure points are located.
Another area where Reflexology could be implemented is over the ears. This is not surprising given the proximity to the neck and head. The ear is also connected to the brain which provides the ears their sensory organ, thus providing a possible source of sensory input. Because the ear contains sensitive nerve endings, the application of massage to the ears provides a relaxing effect as well as the potential benefits of stimulating the nervous system that assists in the healing process. This is why ear reflexology has been viewed as an effective modality in the treatment of chronic conditions like depression, stress and pain.
One of the key ways in which Reflexology might be used is through the application of pressure points on the whole body. Stress points refer to targeted areas on the body which allow for greater blood flow, thus allowing for increased general wellness. By way of example, there's a specific pressure point referred to as the acupoints located near the wrist. By applying pressure on these acupoints, the reflex points found in the wrist start to transfer blood flow to the whole body, including the skin. By increasing blood circulation, the entire body is able to increase its immune system and operate more effectively to fight disease and heal itself.
As previously mentioned, Reflexology uses its finger pressure points to stimulate the nerves in the body. It's this connection to the nervous system which makes Reflexology therapeutic oftentimes. However, as interesting as that may sound, the primary reason that massage therapy is frequently considered as capable of relieving pain and the treatment of an assortment of conditions is because of its ability to alter the state of a person's energy system. According to conventional reflexology, the body is made from the five standard meridians that run parallel to one another. By working each meridian with unique methods, the energy system of the person is able to be changed.
Massage allows for the easy transfer of energy across the meridians and into the various areas of the body. If done correctly, it can stimulate the appropriate flow in the body, allowing for organs to obtain the proper nutrients they need. In addition to potential benefits like improved circulation, there are also verified reflexology methods that may help decrease pain and decrease the recovery time after an injury or operation. Therefore, regardless of what you initially had in mind once you decided to visit the spa, it may be worth it to consider Reflexology.
