Balancing Touch Reflexology

Anatomical Reflexology Charts Complete

2011-12-18T03:48:00.000-08:00

The complete set of reflexology anatomical charts or maps

The Reflexology Visual Dictionary Series now has a complete set of reflexology anatomical charts.

About the Project
Being a reflexology instructor I wanted to create an easier understanding of the foot/body connection for my students.

I had not seen too many reflexology charts that had all the body parts illustrated right on the feet so, I figured that would be a good place to start. This seemed to be an easy enough task, right? not so easy ... ran into a major problem, which I think a lot of other reflexology charts ran into. The issue: a 2 dimensional chart was trying to express that of a 3 dimensional foot and body. For example the kidneys get buried behind the stomach and liver when you are using the anatomical drawings or pictures. It makes sense to me now why a lot of the reflexology maps out there are simple outlines that are labeled with the organ names rather than a clear drawing or picture of the actual body part. This problem has turned into a blessing because now I have created all the systems of the body in a visual clear way. This project is a lot of work / play and is still growing but now there is a set of charts to show.

I have a deep respect for those who are brave enough to tackle a Reflexology chart and for the great variety of Reflexology charts that are out there. If one speaks to you that may just be the right Reflexology Chart for you.
Happy Reflexology
Yours warmly,
Adam.

To see the complete set please visit The Reflexology Visual Dictionary Series at www.balancingtouch.ca

The power of Sesame oil

2011-08-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

I keep running into the benefits of massaging with sesame oil. I first heard about it when I was reading Perfect Health-The Complete Mind Body Guide by Deepak Chopra. He mentioned doing a daily massage using Sesame oil and how beneficial it is for anxiety and stress so, I tried it and after only one time I felt great. I have been recommending it to my reflexology clients and many have had great results.

A little Background:

Sesame seeds were one of the first crops processed for oil as well as one of the earliest condiments. Sesame oil is also used in many Ayurvedic (a system of traditional medicine native to India) medicines, for treating various ailments like pacifying stress related symptoms.

Sesame seed oil absorbs quickly and penetrates through the tissues to the very marrow of the bone. Sesame seed oil helps joints keep their flexibility. It keeps the skin supple and soft. It heals and protects areas of mild scrapes, cuts and abrasions.

Which Sesame oil do you use?

For the best results choose a sesame oil that is cold-pressed, and organic. The oil will look like the oil in the picture above NOT the dark brown coloured toasted Sesame oil, that is for cooking.

Steps to cure or purify your Sesame Oil:

When you follow this process it makes the oil so it does not go rancid. Usually sesame oil only lasts about 3-6months after opening.

Purchase cold-pressed, chemical-free organic sesame oil which offers the best results for massage.
Pour the oil into a sauce pan.
Use low heat, and don't leave the oil on heat unattended
Wait until you start to see steam or bits of smoke rising from the oil (like mist rising off a lake in the early morning) DO NOT boil!
Remove from heat and set it aside to cool down (I put it outside because it has quite a strong smell)
Pour it into a container for storage. You can use the same bottle it came in which is usually a glass container.
Massage with the oil ... Enjoy! Sesame oil is easier than most oils to wash out of cloths but still be cautious with the cloths you wear.

Massage with Sesame Oil:

When using the oil as a massage oil, stroke the long limbs up and down. Use circular motions over all joints to stimulate the natural energy of those joints. I find it best to do a full body massage just before I get into the shower. Here is a link on how to give yourself a massage: Click HERE to watch a Youtube Video on self massage

Reflexology FOOT CHART #2

2010-10-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

Adam C.O. Thomas talks about his creation Balancing Touch's Reflexology FOOT CHART. He covers 4 main points about what he thought was important in creating the Reflexology Chart. First point was to make it as easy to understand as possible, second point wanted it to look professional, third point was to print using the most environmentally friendly technologies as possible and last point to do all the previous points and still make it affordable.

Get the deals Adam was talking about in the video by the following link: GET THE DEALS ... Click HERE

Muscular Reflexology

2010-09-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Yahoo ... Another Body System Complete.

The Visual Dictionary Series Presents: The Muscular System

So many many muscles Yikes!!! ... finishing this chart has been a great challenge. Some modifications had to be made to show the different layers of the muscles. The Right Foot side and Right side of the Body display the top muscles while the Left of the Body shows the deeper muscle groups.

Gaining visual understanding of how the muscles line up on the feet allows a Reflexologist to go deeper into the amazing world of Reflexology. Science has been revealing how important and powerful visualization can be in the healing of our bodies and lives.

Get your own Muscular Chart

Save $4.00 when you order before October 15^th 2010. I want to offer you a chance to purchase this chart at a special introductory price of:

Choice 1: Large Size

Size: 11”X17”

Regular price: $15.95

Your Price: $11.95 (expires Oct. 15^Th 2010)

Choice 2: Small Size

Size: 8.5”X11”

Regular price: $9.95

Your price: $5.95 ( expires Oct. 15^th 2010)

Click on the menu to select which size you want and then push the Add to Cart button.

Happy Reflexology!

Yours warmly,

Adam.


Working with many Anatomy books and charts

Yippy ... I'm getting somewhere.

For more information on

The Reflexology Visual Dictionary Series please visit: BT's Reflexology Charts

www.balancingtouch.ca

Join our mailing list to keep up to date on new Reflexology Products and specials. Join our mail list on the right side >>> at the top.

Resources
Here is the most useful and amazing anatomy book I have found, you can see in the pictures above that I use it all the time. Click on the Buy from Amazon button if you want more information or want to purchase a copy for yourself. Again Highly recommended!!!

Reflexology Desserts to de-stress

2010-08-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Dessert anybody?

Desserts are what my Reflexology instructor called the relaxation or warm up techniques in Reflexology. I really like this term ... she also used to say "we are lucky as Reflexologists because we get to have Dessert, before, during and after a Reflexology session". Another great thing about calling them Desserts is in the name. Take the De turn the sserts around and you get De-Stress ... which in my opinion is the main benefit of these techniques.

It seems to be the simple things, the most fundamental techniques in Reflexology that can have the most impact in a session.

One of my first experiences with the power of Reflexology

I was working at a hair salon downtown Vancouver on week-ends during my Reflexology practicum. I had an elderly lady who wanted to work on her balance and mobility, she came in every week with her walker. After about 2 months of weekly appointments she just stood up and started walking out of the session room towards the front to pay for her session. I was in complete shock as I followed her with her walker.

So, what Reflexes did I work?
One of the things that surprised me the most was after the first session with her I had decided to only work desserts since I found her feet so rigid, that I found no point in working all the Reflexes until her feet had loosened up. I would work an entire 45minutes doing Reflexology Desserts, making sure to relax every muscle and tendon in her feet and ankles with gentle stretches. I did not even get to the Reflexes and she was already walking with ease and grace. Totally amazing.
These Desserts were the first techniques I became familiar with, and now I know how powerful they are. These Reflexology Desserts can be used as an entire session all on their own.
I have make some quick videos explaining these in detail and I have included the links below. Enjoy! Happy Reflexology!!!
yours warmly,
Adam.

If you join our mailing list you get the Videos

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

or
Watch the desserts video CLICK HERE

For more information please visit: www.balancingtouch.ca

Videos made easy

2010-08-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

Make Really cool Videos

I have been playing with a really cool website that makes videos for you. It is so simple and it looks great! I have created a couple of Videos using it. Below are examples I put together in a matter of minutes. This is very useful if you have a lot of beautiful pictures or short video clips that you want to put into a video.

Video 1

Video 2

The website is called Animoto and you can try them for FREE but the thing is you can only make a 30second video for the free membership and you can not download it ... but it gives you a sense of it, to see if you would like to use it or not.

I signed up for the All Access which is only $30/year and it's fantastic. Many of you know that I just had a daughter and that means hours of Videos and millions of folders full of pictures. This Program allows me to put a quick and easy video together, bringing those stored memories back to life instead of living in untouch folders.

Animoto just makes it so easy and I didn't have to spend hours editing and making videos as I have done using other standard video programs.

Anyway this is something that I came across during my travels and it's quite fun ... I highly recommend trying it.

If you would like to give it a try or at least visit their site click here.

If Animoto is something that you would like to use they gave me a code to use when you upgrade or purchase the product level of your choice.

Simply enter in this Code: a_qzuydnfw

Happy Video making!!!

Yours warmly,

Adam.

P.S stay tunes for more Reflexology Foot videos ... Now that I have Animoto he he he.

5 power points - Reflexology

2010-06-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

There are so many points in Reflexology ... Let's focus on 5 of my favorites.

This post will cover 5 Reflexology points that are found to be very powerful in this wonderful world of Reflexology.

I have given a quick description of how each reflex relates to the anatomy, a "How to work section" and a picture to make it easy to see where the points are.

If you are new to Reflexology, working the general area indicated, using your fingers and/or thumbs anyway that feels comfortable to you and the person you may be working with will be just fine. Yes, please try these out on yourself and see if you notice any changes.

Enjoy!

Adam Thomas, Reflexologist

http://balancingtouch.ca/index.html

1. The Solar Plexus

Central point for the breath

The first step in proper breathing is to expand the lungs. In reflexology, we do this by pulling the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes down to create more space.
Breathing and speech are related, and breathing and tension are also related. Most people hold their breath when under stress. Many ailments and most tension can be dispersed with proper breathing.
Working both reflexes is extremely important to the person with asthma, allergies, and faulty blood pressure. For those problems also work the adrenal glands. (see - 5. Adrenal glands)

How to work this reflexology point:
Place both thumbs on the center just below the ball of the foot, where there is a bit of a dent (Yellow stars). With your thumb, push in towards the clients knee and hold this reflex for 30 seconds. This is the solar plexus. Now place your thumbs on the diaphragm reflex below ball of the foot. You may place your thumbs together or on both ends of the diaphragm reflex. Using your thumbs simultaneously or alternating, stretch the diaphragm downward, so the lung has more room to pull in long deep breaths.

2. Thymus

The center of our immunity

The thymus gland is the center of the immune system, recognizing and sending out the appropriate antibodies to fight disease.
The thymus reacts to stress by shrinking, therefore unable to fight disease. It trains antibodies; it is vital to the immune system. You'll find it sensitive with anyone suffering with allergies, when there is stress. Since your thymus is at attention all of the time, it will probably be sensitive.

How to work this reflexology point:
Located at widest portion of the foot. Place your right thumb of the right foot on the trachea reflex, directly across from what is known as the bunion bump. Hook your thumb inwards, and medially.

3. Pituitary Gland

The center of all the glands

The Pituitary gland is "The Master Gland". It over looks all of the other glands of the body and all the bodily functions. It secretes nine hormones, it influences growth, is a part of the triangle of life along with the sex glands.

Work this reflex to reduce fever (every 15min) alleviate dizziness, faintness, muscle pain, muscle strength, congested breathing.

How to work this reflexology point:
Find the cave where the swirls of the big toe comes together now put the hooking part of your thumb directly in the center of this cave and hook to the medial side. This may be quite sensitive. It is a good idea to watch subtle movements on the face or you can even ask if it is sensitive.

4. Pineal Gland

Center of Goal setting

The hormones of the Pineal Gland feeds the muscles, one feeds the memory, and one improves the nature of your sleep (produces melatonin)

It is important in dreaming, goal setting, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, muscle aches, spasms. Also work it for Parkinson's disease.

How to work this reflexology point:
Using your index finger between your fist and second knuckle. Press in and down on the little ledge (nose) on the medial side of the big toe, just above the bump and even with the base of the nail.

5. Adrenal Glands

The center of the stress response

The adrenals have about 50 functions and many known hormones, among them, adrenaline which causes sugar to be released from the liver for quick energy in times of stress or for the fight/flight reflex. We tend to run on this faulty adrenal energy which causes exhausted adrenals. The adrenals fight infection, aid in muscle tone, make extra estrogen and testosterone, regulate our lymph glands, and the body's mineral balance. They fight fatigue, allergies, viruses, and clear up the bronchi oles. The adrenals glands are involved in arthritis and migraines. You're never wrong to work the adrenal gland, no matter what the problem.

How to work this reflexology point:
Find the slight indentation halfway between the base of ball of Foot and the Waist Line, in line with the stem of the Big Toe. Place fingers over top of Ankle and with your thumb, hook medially into the Reflex.

If you would like to study Reflexology in beautiful Vancouver B.C. , Canada,
Balancing Touch Reflexology Offers many courses in the field of Reflexology please visit: http://balancingtouch.ca/courses.html

balancingtouch.ca - Balancing Touch's reflexology foot chart

2010-06-17T23:01:00.001-07:00

http://balancingtouch.ca/btfootchart.html
Balancing Touch's FOOT CHART brings the understanding of Reflexology into the realm of "Oh … I get it!" I wanted to make this chart visually stunning and simple for anyone to see how the foot - body connection is made through the science of Reflexology.

Reflexology Foot charts deal

2010-03-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

Buy a Big FOOT CHART and Receive a small FOOT CHART totally FREE!
Want more information about this chart, please visit
Balancing Touch Reflexology

Interesting connections with Japan and Feet

2010-03-25T22:37:00.000-07:00

I have run across some crazy connections along my path, you could say fate or someone even dropping clues as to YES you are on the right path. Here are a couple of them.

Because of the Reflexology I meet my wife. I was scheduled to do my Reflexology practicum at this place that offered Specialized Applied Kinesology which is what got me into Reflexology in the first place but I did not feel it was a good fit, so I did not go there. I recieved a call from a professional Reflexologist the person who was my first to work on other than my class mates and offered me to work where she did. I was so excited ... I could finish my practicum. The job was working week-ends at a hair salon downtown on Robson Street. To make a long story short this is where I met my Wife, Emi. Which was my gateway into Japan.
I got Married to Emi very fast and had 2 Marriages one in Japan (This is where Emi is from) and One in Canada (On my parents property) The Crazy foot connection here is that Emi's home town is called "Ashikaga", "Ashi" means legs and feet but mostly referres to the feet. So All over the city on man hole covering, on water lines and pretty much everything that has to do with the city has a marking of the feet. Crazy Eh? Look at the pictures below it is in Kanji (Chinese charaters, Japanese use these aswell as japanese charaters) and it represents a little person in movement. You can see the head, neck, one arm, and 2 legs in a running motion.
The Shires or Temples in Japan are Amazing and again I found a connection with feet. When you enter a temple you take a certain path and after you make a prayer or wish to the deity at the Temple or Shire you take a separate path and the meaning is that you are now walking a new path leaving the old way you use to walk and bringing in a new way of your walk through life.

Thanks I know there will be more to come.
Thanks,
Yours warmly,
Adam.

A new way to view Reflexology

2010-03-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing Balancing Touch's FOOT CHART

To learn more about this chart please visit: http://balancingtouch.ca/visual.html

Welcome ... What is Reflexology?

2010-01-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

My name is Adam C.O. Thomas and I wanted to invite you to the world of Reflexology. This blog is intended to share this wonderful world of Reflexology with you.

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is working on the feet, hands and ears using a compression technique or a firm comfortable digital (finger, thumb) pressure applied with the hands to improve circulation, promote relaxation and assist in assimilation and elimination of anything that we are processing with the body. Our goal in Reflexology is to relax the muscles, tendons, tissues by breaking up tightness, calcium deposits and what ever else gets in the way of the optimal foot condition and performance. By improving the condition of the feet the whole body experiences a feeling of well being, all the organs of the body have more space to operate and function. These happy feet then provide more of a foundation for the body and mind to operate and carry out the greatest grandest vision that we ever held of ourselves.

The feet can reveal your sub-conscious
One of the greatest things that I have found from working with the feet is I get the honour of working with a persons soul through access of the persons sole. Once you have learned how to walk, the feet and legs are not used in the conscious level of thinking anymore and move into the sub-conscious level. These feet now start to reveal incredible information about how a person is operating their walk through life. Every callous, every pain and everything that shows up on the foot can lead you to a very different and interesting view of what is going on in the sub-conscious mind.

I will be submitting Reflexology articles from time to time so if you are interested in Reflexology please follow this blog.

For more information: www.balancingtouch.ca