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Reflexology classes and sessions with Merrie Bakker in Vancouver, BC Canada

Reflexology ~ an art, a science and a skill ~ can help eliminate the many causes and symptoms of poor health. Reflexology can aid with a specific health concern and have a therapeutic benefit. Reflexology helps dissipate high levels of stress and tension. Reflexology can be a pure indulgence, a blissful treat, a much needed delicious pleasure or a special indulgence for benefits you deserve.

  • reducing your aches, pains and stiffness
  • promoting a deep sense of your well-being and sleep
  • rebalancing your energy and vitality
  • improving muscle tone
  • providing relaxation of your muscles and reducing your tension and stress
  • improving your circulation and lymphatic drainage
  • stimulating and boosting your immune system
  • improving your body's innate ability to do its own natural healing
  • reducing symptoms and discomfort

It doesn’t tickle and I use gentle or strong pressure - your choice. Pain is not in order - offers no advantages.

So how does this work?
Between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, we know all communications are possible. Some of this is best comprehended through cranio-sacral information. The brilliance of this fluid system is that it is very present in the spinal column, the lining of the brain’s ventricles, through the foramen of magendie and luscka and in the sub-arachnoid spaces (brain and spinal cord).
And this fluid also seeps out along all periferal nerve pathways - an integral part of every nerve - even the tiniest - en route from the central nervous system to the periferal areas.
This fluid is eventually returned to our blood via the arachnoid villi which protrude from the subarachnoid space on through to the superior sagittal sinus of the brain to rejoin the venous blood. This is truely holographic!
When we feel a pain in a certain area of a toe, for example, as it is touched, it relates directly to a specific place elsewhere in our body and the communicative brilliance is achieved through the cranio sacral fluid and the nervous system.
Some theories have just the nervous system as the great connector/communicator. Nerve receptor cells do inform our brain about pain. Nerves in the feet are connected to nerve bundles travelling to our sacrum and then into the main power cable. The rest of the passage - from spinal cord to related organ, signalled by the foot touch, where the action originated, may or may not be via our nerve endings or may be via the cranio sacral fluid or both. But it works - and has - for 3000 years!

Read about some practical resarch results and studies for diabetes at:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/76387244/Research-Studies-Evaluating-the-Effectiveness
by Duan Zhi-gin et al., Department of Physiotherapy, First Hospital Affiliated to Beijing Medical University.

Get a free Reflexology Foot Map at: http://www.dk.co.uk/static/cs/uk/11/features/reflexology/footchart.html

Need to ask a question? Contact us at info@reflexologyreiki.com

Hop over to the next page and see our details on having a Reflexology "session". http://www.reflexologyreiki.com/sessions

Skip over to the "classes" page and see when you can learn Reflexology in a fun and thorough onew day class ~ http://www.reflexologyreiki.com/classes

REFLEXOLOGY CLASSES - one day class for People Who Wish to Learn Reflexology for Self-Help Health but don't need to write an exam for receive certification ~ a Fun & Empowering Environment ~ Help your Friends, Family & Self ~ with a one day class, 10am - 6pm. Course fee: $125 plus HST. next one February 19th

We cover all important areas of the human physyology and all important health challenges in this class. Course notes, "how to's", step by step manual to guide you after the class. If you'd like to work with a buddy - then come together and you'll both receive a 10% reduction.

Come and experience it for yourself. What do you have to loose?
604-261-7742
(if you receive voice mail, we will call back promptly).
Or email me for more information on future classes ~ info@reflexologyreiki.com

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What is Cranio-Sacral Reflexology?

Cranio-Sacral Reflexology has been pioneered by Dr. Martine Faure-Alderson over many years and is now being taught in many countries.
She has drawn on her background and training in several modalities including homeopathy, acupuncture, naturopathy and osteopathy but most particularly on her work as a cranialsacral therapist, osteopath, cranio-sacral therapist and reflexologist.

Dr. Faure-Alderson insists on a rigorous knowledge of anatomy and physiology; encourages a highly developed sense of palpatory skills and teaches her students to interpret the cranio-sacral rhythmic impulse in conjunction with the stages of stress, to evaluate the individual needs of their patients.

She has developed three original protocols for the feet, by which the cranio-sacral reflexologist works to eliminate the underlying source of any dysfunction, thus restoring health and vitality. (http://www.craniosacralreflexologyinternational.com)

We were lucky that she came to Canada to teach us. Come and experience it! 

Biography of Dr. Martine

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The Phenomenon of Aging ~ Life expectancy continues to increase.

Treating the imbalances due to age is as common now, for therapists, as treating disease.
Cerebral aging begins in the brain ~ in particular, that of memory. Neuro-imaging has made it possible to pinpoint the zones in the brain that are responsible for the different forms of memory. In the cerebral cortex, the temporal lobe is the seat of long term memory and the putamen is the seat of functional memory. In the limbic brain there is the hippocampus (memory bank), the amygdala (unconscious memory and emotional memories) and the caudate nucleus (the seat of instinct and the coded memory of the past and genetic memory). Of course different zones in the brain can be activated simultaneously when a piece of information is recalled or encoded and this in turn governs our behaviour.

As our brains internalize the outside world and uses signals provided by our environment, the brain constructs representations that are no longer just a simple reflection of reality. These representations guide our actions. Each action has a temporary network of neurons. Years after a concert, for example, a melody will float back into memory because it has left an imprint, an amnesic trace, inscribed in the synapses where it can be evoked and thus reappear years later.
Inactive memory is a latent form of remembering with potential, in which the altered synapses guide access to a ‘sleeping’ memory. It can be said that memory is a psychological concept, an organized collection of interrelated representations and relationships. Synaptic plasticity  is a neuro-biological concept, on the other hand. Forgetting goes hand in hand with the disappearance of the synaptic modifications connected with the learning of something once remembered. Is the forgetting absolute ~ is it erased or has it simply become inaccessible?


The Effect of Reflexology on Aging
Reflexology makes it possible to slow the aging process and to keep your organs and senses functioning well ~ memory, sensation, motivation, analytical faculties and co-ordination. Reflex massage in general and cranio-sacral reflexology in particular, improves and stimulates cellular renewal.
The stimulation of all the parts of a given zone in our body can have a profound impact on other zones further removed (for example, a blocked zone in the foot affects the occipital zones of vision in the brain).
There are fundamental facts and principles in order to use reflexology most effectively.
Stimulation of points for hormonal glands on the foot impacts all the other hormones and because they all interact, they should not be treated in a fragmented way ~ quickie sessions are not advised.
The cranio-sacral system in our body covers all the zones and special attention should be given to the skull reflexes, the sacrum/coccyx reflexes and spine reflex points. The all important cranial nerves are a priority ~ on each of the smaller four toes ~ as aging first effects the organs of the senses: eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.
The Big Toe receives a lot of attention as our whole body is reflected in all ten zones on these two big toes, including the cerebral zones ~ hippocampus, limbic brain, pituitary gland, pineal gland and the carotid and vertical arteries ~ treated millimeter by millimeter in order to stimulate every cell and activate blood, lymph and cranio-sacral functioning.

 

A few notes on Reflexology's past:
Reflexology existed in the ancient culture of Egypt - about 2300 BC. A discovery of a wall painting depicting the practice in the tomb of Ankhmahor at Saqqara, gives us this proof. We also believe that reflexology had it's ancient origins and development alongside the Oriental practices of shiatsu and acupuncture, which in turn most likely had it's footing in Ayurvedic medicine which evolved in India many thousands of years ago.

In Egypt there is a wall carving in the tomb of Ankhmahor, who was the physician to the king at Saqqara. The above pictograph is often used as proof - it seems to show two people (physicians?) working on foot and hand. Christine Issel, author of Reflexology: Art, Science and History,gives us the following translation according to the Papyrus Institute in Cairo: “Do not let it be painful.” The reply is deciphered as: “I do as you please.”

We know that reflexology was practiced in Renaissance Europe from publications that still exist today.
A Dr. William Fitzgerald noted that pressure on specific parts of the body could have an anaesthetizing effect on a related area. Developing this theory, he divided the body into ten equal and vertical zones, each ending in the fingers and toes. He concluded that pressure on one part of a zone could affect everything else within that zone and that pressure, when applied to certain points on the body, could relieve pain and improve the functions of specific organs. He looked at using this method initially for anesthesia and analgesia and he published this information in 1913 in "Zone Therapy". In addition to practicing in the American Northeast, Dr. Fitzgerald also worked and lectured in London, England and Vienna, Austria spreading the information.

Eunice Ingham, who initially worked with Dr. Fitzgerald as a physical therapist, became a tireless teacher of Zone Therapy and helped develop it further. Her two books are now classics: "Stories The Feet Can Tell" (1938) and "Stories The Feet Have Told" (1951). She established the National Institute of Reflexology. Her nephew, Dwight Byers, continued to teach throughout North America after her death in 1974 and zone therapy became known as reflexology and so began a new wave of interest.
There were early pioneers in Vancouver in the 1960's, who had studied with Eunice Ingham - Ed Johnstone, Ena Campbell, Laura Kennedy and others. They changes the name to 'Reflexology', too, as the local physiotherapists objected to their use of the word 'Therapy'.

There are reflexology associations everywhere in the world, today. They range form loosely organised social groups to very strictly set up and monitored educational institutions. In Canada where health is regulated at both the national and provinacial levels. Reflexology is the kind of modality that falls under provincial jurisdiction. Because it is a modality in which it not possible to 'do any harm/wrong" (short of pulling out someone's toes) it is therefore a modality that the government doesn't care to legislate around or monitor at present. There is therefore no set up, nor an institution to self govern, self police or report to government or to oversee the education of reflexologists. The reflexology associations that do exist, locally, provincially and federally, promote the best education, professional practices and continuing education seminars they can create - there is no standard. Certification comes from individual teachers themselves or through the associations that the teachers are members of, but not the government or any certifying entitiy.

The International Council of Reflexologists (I.C.R.) has supported the exchange of knowledge of all aspects of the practice of reflexology around the world. I.C.R. holds a conference featuring speakers from every corner of the globe, every two years ~ http://www.icr-reflexology.org. 

Pacific Holistic and Merrie Bakker ~ 604-261-7742 (if you receive voice mail, we will call back promptly).
 

Some reflexology websites you may enjoy:

Links to REFLEXOLOGY SCHOOLS and ORGANISATIONS

http://www.anthonylarkin.com/
Reflexology book Lists - hundreds of books and charts that are in print.

http://www.reflexology-research.com
Kevin and Barbara Kunz have written many books on Reflexology - beautiful interactive charts, too.

http://www.ocr.edu
The Ontario College of Reflexology has many links to wonderful sites

http://www.alwaysb.com
Chris Stormer is an author and instructor who hails from South Africa and travels the world and teaches. Her Reflexology approach includes emotions and energy - the Language of the feet. Her energetic teaching and intensely rich and fun seminars, lead people to see so much more in reflexology - and she takes people on healing retreats with whales and dolphins and South African safari discoveries.

...and some detailed case studies at: http://www.icr-reflexology.org/case_studies.htm an international, reflexologist organization 

 

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