Massage Therapy - What Is Reflexology?
There are a number of massage therapy schools in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. Most offer a wide assortment of courses and training to meet all needs of today's massage therapist. Many of these offer Reflexology as part of a standard training program. What exactly is Reflexology? It's an alternative treatment approach that concentrates 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 country. The techniques for reflexology are extremely different from traditional massage, nevertheless include it as part of an optional class for any of the accredited massage and shiatsu degree programs in Minneapolis massage therapy school. Since it's such a popular modality, many massage therapists have chosen to add Reflexology among their massage specialties. As a result, massage therapists may benefit by incorporating 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 areas of the body where reflex points are located. When applied correctly, it will 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 which are targeted for reflexology. Instead, it is thought that the feet and hands are the ideal location for applying pressure for maximum benefits.
Perhaps the most popular region where Reflexology is practiced is over the neck and shoulders. Massage techniques concentrate mainly on those areas since they are thought to harbor a lot of energy that can be exploited for therapeutic benefits. As a result of this, applying pressure points like those in the neck and shoulders is a fantastic way to relax the body and create additional energy for healing. While massage therapy focuses mostly on pressure points on the body, Reflexology applies its therapy methods to the particular regions where pressure points are located.
Another area where Reflexology may be applied is within the ears. This isn't surprising given the proximity to the head and neck. The ear is also on the brain which provides the ears their sensory organ, thus providing a potential source of sensory input. Because the ear comprises sensitive nerve endings, the use of massage to the ears provides a relaxing 강남출장안마 effect as well as the potential advantages of stimulating the nervous system that aids in the healing process. This is the reason why ear reflexology has been seen as an effective modality in the treatment of chronic conditions like depression, tension and pain.
One of the key ways in which Reflexology might be used is through the use of pressure points on the whole body. Pressure points refer to targeted areas in the body which allow for better blood circulation, thus allowing for increased general wellness. By way of example, there's a particular pressure point referred to as the acupoints located close to the wrist. By applying pressure on these acupoints, the reflex points found in the wrist start to transfer blood circulation to the whole body, including the skin. By increasing blood circulation, the whole body is able to increase its immune system and work 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 is this connection to the nervous system that makes Reflexology therapeutic oftentimes. However, as interesting as that may sound, the principal reason that massage therapy is frequently considered as effective at relieving pain and the treatment of a variety of conditions is due to its ability to alter the state of a person's energy system. According to traditional reflexology, the body consists of the five basic meridians that run parallel to one another. By working every meridian with different methods, the energy system of the individual is able to be changed.
Massage allows for the easy transfer of energy across the meridians and into the different areas of the body. If done properly, it can stimulate the proper circulation in the body, allowing for organs to obtain the proper nutrients they need. In addition to potential benefits such as improved circulation, there are also verified reflexology methods that may help decrease pain and reduce the recovery time following an injury or operation. Therefore, whatever you originally had in mind once you chose to go to the spa, it may be worth it to consider Reflexology.