The basic reflexology techniques are not elaborate and the tools, which are used, are just thumbs and fingers that are used in a specific manner to put pressure in a certain way.
Before trying the technique on any patient, you must make sure you have mastered it fully and understand reflexology properly. In these techniques you have to get used to doing everything in a slow pace, until you feel you can go further with it.
The first thing to make sure before you develop the skill of thumb walking is that your nails should be cut short with no rough edges on it. Cleanliness and hygiene must be maintained. Thumb walking is the principal movement used in the treatment of reflexology.
Pressure is applied steadily moving gradually over each area. The thumb acts like a small lever touching the fine reflex areas in a competent manner. If you are a beginner, do not worry about identifying the reflex areas and points at the moment.
Place your first hand with the palm facing downwards flat on a table and let the second hand rest on it mildly, also with the palm facing downwards. Allow the thumb to rest on top of the hand beside the first knuckle joint and let your fingers rest not so tightly above this.
The thumb is utilized to exercise the movements, as later in the sessions you are required to learn how to change your thumbs and fingers. Observe how the top thumb touches with the tip and outside while resting on top of the bottom hand.
Allow this thumb to bend upwards, so it is flexed at the first joint. This will further allow the tip of the thumb to be on the skin with the remaining part of the thumb bent up.
By pushing off with this thumb on the surface beneath, the pad comes in contact with the skin. By achieving this, your thumb will lie flat and the rest of the hand will lie slightly across the surface with fingers in a relaxed position and wrapped with ease around the outer edge of the hand.
Draw the thumb back up into a bent position, hold down on the spot and proceed forward again. The thumb continues to perform the slow and steady motion just like the movement of a worm.
You will soon realize how the surface of the thumb comes into play as you walk along. This movement continues across the top of the hand. When you are in motion across the top of the hand, the fingers will be resting along the top of the hands above the knuckles.
Every movement is gradual and in control. Pull up at the joint and count till 3. Push down and gradually move forward on the pad of the thumb and count till 3. Bend up again at the joint and pull backwards slightly with the thumb and count till 3.
You can change your hands and work with the same type of movement across the other hand with the opposite thumb. At this point there should be no application of any extra pressure, only concentration is needed on the thumb walking technique at the moment.
Remove your hands from the table and go on performing this movement with your hands resting on your lap or on someone else's lap. Then turn your hands over and thumb walk on the surface going backward and forward. Let the fingers of the hand, which are in motion to mildly cup the back of the hand being worked on while working across the palm with your thumb.
Now put the thumb to rest on a table or a flat surface and watch how the thumb again takes the position. Your thumb will immediately mould itself into the thumb walking position. Once you bend and start the course of action, the thumb comes upwards a bit more on the surface you are walking on.
As you will perform this technique more and more often, you will feel that the hands are specially made for this work only. Reflexology is a simple and natural form of healing. And to master the technique, practice is the best way, like they say practice makes you perfect.
Placing the tip of the thumb directly on the point to be rotated is termed as rotation. The palm needs to be turned up to locate the gap beneath the little finger in order to carry out rotation. Doesn't matter which palm is being used, it needs to be rested cupped into another one. The fingers of the working hand should be rested below the knuckles.
A pressure by the thumb can be experience on the palm from the side of the little finger. The thumb needs to be placed below the knuckle bone and the toddling over it along with the sphere of the hand, horizontally and diagonally the palm.
The thumb-walking pressure will bring forth the feelings three little inchworm nibbling onto the bone. The tip of the thumb will be noticed, dropping into a gap following the joint bone is conceded over. These works out will further bring forth the next bony bang, which is smaller than the first.
A minute rotating movement is to be applied on the operational area, three times, forming a tender circle, after holding the hand steadily. Then inward pressing by really rotating the hand a little around the spot held by the thumb is needed.
The movement should be minimal; the movement of the hand should be just for the sake of moving. The thumb should be permitted to shift in acutely, without vigor. Without any alteration, the thumb should be forwarded to toddle along the remaining area.
The foot is not constantly rotated by a reflexologist. It varies with the type of reflex or the operational spot. According to the law of thumb, rather anatomically (physically) the foot can not be rotated, when the toe is the operational area. On the other hand, when the solar plexus reflex is the functioning area, the foot can be easily rotated. But all this needs a lot of practice.
The technique that permits the thumb to effort gradually, in a straight line on the reflex top is known as rotation. Maximum amount of attention is needed when the toddling down of the thumb reaches a reflex point.
Possibly the skin is harder, with a crispy sense below the thumb, or the method so this exacting reflex needs rotating through resting on the position. No matter what ever the reason may be, but to the recipient the rotation causes a fact of great experience.
Pressing is skill where the complete thumb surface is used, grasping a level along the base of the foot on an exacting reflex. Without excessive pressure, the thumb is within a holding location. Pressing is specified, usually following rotation, it evolves pressing down and holding tightly without stirring.
Pressing permits to attain an intact reflex surface in a tenderly linked way. This is an additional practice which, when employed appropriately gives the thumbs a relief. Pressing on a reflex permits one to experience the delicate move that will occur when the reflex unites with the energy and the release of tension from operational area.
The minor amount of pressure is employed in this technique. There is no call for pushing hard or digging. The thumb will in fact rise up a little from the skin as the reflex rests, indicating the thumb to move on.
The rotation of the hand on the time of pressing will widen the functional area. The thumb is to be pressed in the axis of the other hand, letting the thumb to press the middle to external in the direction of the edge of the hand. The thumb is to be pressed on an unreal line starting from the core to the outer rim (lateral side) of the hand.
The fingers are to be lifted, turning the hand in the direction of the thumb. Staying linked to the reflex can be felt, permitting the area to develop.
Pressing method can be practiced at any point of time, when one has a level surface to toil, to find when it is helpful and at what time it is not.
Hooking and pulling back is a highly developed progress, which permits one to attain a mode into a reflex, motivating severely, exclusive of aching. The hook method is in fact advanced in three divisions. Firstly, the thumb walking is employed to travel to the point of reflex, analyzing the spot. Followed by rotation, which is employed to zero into the accurate point.
The thumb hooks in on the reflex finally. A close attention is paid by the reflexologists to the skin, beneath the thumbs to observe whether the area is stressed or workable. The hooking method can be practiced only by the thumb. The left thumb should be held up bending in the other fingers to provide enough room to the thumb. The fleshy pad of the thumb should be in the front.
Then looking at the initial section a line should be imagined running from the peak to the downward of the thumb along the center to the primary joint. An imaginary has to be drawn across the centre of that line.
From the narrow fraction of the thumb till the intersection of the two lines, the thumb of the other hand should be toddled up; letting the tip of the thumb, resting on the intersecting point. Hereon the rotation approaches into process as circular movement is employed in on the accurate point. This will evoke a push back feeling which is exactly desired.
Gently the circle on the spot is to be continued, using the thumb in order to affect tender, firm pressure since the circles shift in, objecting the correct dot. Once the thumb is permitted to touch in acutely, then the thumb is twisted intermediately around (180 degrees) the reflex, pressed in, as well as hooked up.
The movement of hooking is ended by means of the tilt of the thumb as it pushes in. Along with the hook movement in place, the thumb has to be pulled back; however secured bait has been just imparted on a hook.
It will not call for any worry as one cannot hook in too distant as the body will prohibit. Therefore, holding in a position by means of hooking is to be done by tenderly pushing in beyond. A slow release while moving on is to be done after counting three to five.
Short nails are to be ensured as this method goes in really deep. A trivial blaze of pain might occur, which subsides with the holding of the point.
The pain that feels similar to a pinprick or an extended fingernail is a suggestion of congestion at the exacting reflex. If the sting does not fade away, then move on to solar plexus reflex, where you should press in with the thumb, soliciting the beneficiary to respire gradually and intensely.
After discharging the reflex, return to the aching area and hooking in again is required. The pain is ought to be disappear or minimize. But if the pain still persists, move away from the reflex and go on with the session.
