VoiceAmerica & hand expert Kenneth Lagerstrom presented in the 2nd episode of their new weekly radio show about hands: “Your Life is in Your Hands – HAND REFLEXOLOGY“ Kenneth Lagerstrom wrote on his blog: “I will be hosting a new show on VoiceAmerica.com, the worlds largest internet talk radio. The show is titled “Your Life is in Your Hands”, with topics each week relating to the hands (of course). Starting March 30 it airs live each Tuesday at 11:00am Pacific time on Voice America’s “7th Wave” channel.” The 2nd episode of the show was featured with the following introduction about ‘hand reflexology’: “Reflexology is considered a safe and effective method of maintaining optimum health, based on the theory that there are reflex points in the hands and feet which are linked to every organ, gland and part of the body. Through proper manipulation of these reflex points, the body’s nervous system naturally shifts to a state of homeostasis (optimum overall balance). Reflexology is an ancient practice first documented more than 4,000 years ago. After millennia of development and clinical application, Reflexology made its way to the United States in the early 1900’s. Our guest this week is Karen Ball, noted reflexologist and certified instructor since 1989. Listen in to today’s show and learn about how your hand reflex points can lead you to better health.” SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER READING: VoiceAmerica presents every tuesday a new episode about hands – 11.00 a.m. Pacific time, 2.00 a.m. Eastern time, 8.00 p.m. Central European time. |
Reflexology request by South-Africa governement
August 6, 2008
 Request for a reflexologist |
Reflexology request for the premier of South-Africa: Last week I received a memo on an official letterhead of the Office of the Premier. The subject of this very official memo was “Request for a reflexologist”. SOURCE: Time to reflect, the SA premier’s reflexology request |
| Last week I received a memo on an official letterhead of the Office of the Premier. It was dated July 2 and sent by Human Resource and Office Support to the senior manager of the supply chain. All according to the procurement rules, it seems. The subject of this very official memo was “Request for a reflexologist”. Signed by HR practitioner Nomonde Koyo, the memo reads: “This office requests a quote for reflex (sic) for 100 people that will take place on 29/07/08. The first quote must be for shoulder and back only, and the second one, the whole body.”
I was a bit confused by Koyo’s memo. Although it started off by requesting a reflexologist, it also talks of a “quote for reflex”, which made me wonder whether it meant that this was aimed as a reflection session for the outgoing Premier – by that time, she knew she was on her way. So, to make sure whether this was in fact a request for a real back-rubbing exercise (not uncommon in Eastern Cape politics, of course), I called Koyo. It’s true, said the very nice lady. We are doing it for the Office of the Premier as part of its wellness programme, she said. And the fact that the barefoot lady has left will not (necessarily) change the back-rubbing outings. “It has been integrated in the wellness programme,” said Koyo. “We always need a reflexologist,” she insisted. Problem is, she added, that the Premier’s Office employs 350 people, which makes it necessary that only 100 staff members at a time can go and lie on the couch for an hour or so. Must say, I was tempted to say that that would not bother some of the other departments that I have dealt with, but thought better. Let’s give the new regime a chance, I reasoned. Koyo also assured me that Balindlela never took part in the reflexology treatment, not even to reflect. She was too busy, said Koyo. In retrospect, it may have been a mistake, I thought to myself. Having a proper back massage is probably good in politics, where one’s back is quite a vulnerable part of the body. I’m not sure the new Premier will sanction this expenditure. I did some homework for the Premier’s Office. I called Takara Wellness Centre in Beacon Bay and asked for quotes for reflexology for the back and full body. You stupid, I was told, reflexology is only for the feet – at R150 per hour. That, of course, ruled out Balindlela’s former staff who wanted to go the full-body route. It would have been perfect, however, for the ousted barefoot Premier – if only she had had the time. What Koyo had in mind was the Swedish massage – R140 a half an hour for the back and shoulders, or R230 for the full Monty. That, according to my calculations, will cost the taxpayers about R23000 a month, if only 100 staff members go. Add to that man- hours lost, claims for out-of-town allowances, and overtime. My advice to Premier Sogoni is to instruct his staff in future, as part of the wellness programme, to rather run to office. In times of high petrol prices, it’s cheaper, and probably just as healthy, as back-rubbing. Got another letter this week. This time addressed to Buffalo City mayor Zintle Peter from the East London Hospital Complex board. It seems, said the writer, that since their appointment as the city’s representatives on the complex board, not one of the Buffalo City councillors has attended any meetings. Surprise, surprise. REFLEXIONS ON REFLEXOLOGY:
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Reflexology diagram
July 11, 2008
 Reflexology Diagram |
Reflexology Diagram: A reflexology diagram helps you to recoginize the reflex zones on the foot, hand, or the ear. For a reflexologist it is very important to have a detailed reflexology foot diagram, or a reflexology hand diagram in your head. For then it becomes much more easy to include intuitive processes for the benefits of the reflexology client. SOURCE:
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Interactive reflexology map
July 6, 2008
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Interactive reflexology hand chart: The interactive reflexology map was introduced by experienced reflexologist pioneers, Barbara & Kevin Kunz from Albuquerque, NM, United States. SOURCE:
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How does it work? Well, the foot is divided into various dermatomal patterns that corresponds to particular body part or organ in the body. The idea in foot reflexology is to stimulate the particular ‘zones’ of the feet and initiate a corresponding ‘reflex’ that will invoke a beneficial response to that body part or organ.
The basic concepts of reflexology in the foot include the following:
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However, it can be argued that this thought process is conceptual. Does pressing the bottom of the big toe, for instance, stimulate the pituitary gland. As Kunz describes, “For example, a single nerve travels from the center of the big toe to the part of the brain responsible for controlling movement, respiration, and cardiac acceleration. So pressure applied to the center of the big toe, the pituitary gland reflex area, triggers a revival response (as in fight or flight)”
Now, as any doctor or anatomist will know, there is really not a single nerve that travels from the big toe to the pituitary gland. Also, if this concept is true, scientific testing can validate the concept of pituitary stimulation by stimulating pressure receptors under the big toe. To my knowledge, this has not been studied. Or maybe its just too ludicrous to study? Like many arguments made with alternative medical treatments, it is harder to prove that something doesn’t exist rather than prove it does.
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