Reflexology Lessons from the Berlin Wall – Bill Flocco

Shortly after the Berlin wall came down in 1989 I started teaching Integrated Foot Hand Ear Reflexology classes in Berlin, Germany. Many deep and richly rewarding experiences followed during the next 20 years of teaching in Central, Northern and Southern Germany. One such highlight came via the Berlin Wall. It still impacts my life almost 25 years later.

During the Beginning Foot Hand Ear Reflexology Workshop in as parsely yet tastefully appointed yoga studio in West Berlin, most of the students were from more affluent and free West Berlin. One student was from East Berlin, the part of divided Germany that for decades had been under totalitarian control, behind the Berlin Wall.There were visual and behavioral difference between students from West and East Berlin. West Berliners were like Reflexology students in any free country where I’ve taught;smiling, playful, obviously excited about learning. They also had brightness in their eye and vibrant skin tones. East Berliners seldom smiled, seemed withdrawn, subdued. The eyes seemed sullen, cautious, skin tones lacked color.

Part of my teaching style is to use approaches that empower students to explore new ways of healing and helping themselves, and others. During one such skill I asked students to do, everyone from West Berlin did so right away, but not the student from East Berlin. My associate and translator explained to me that people who had been under totalitarian rule behind the Berlin Wall for so many years, were afraid to take risks, afraid to make mistakes. Stepping out of line / doing something wrong,under the East Berlin Regime could get someone in serious trouble. With a gentle voice, I encouraged the student to give it a try, assured and reassured her that anything she did would be alright, that it was desirable to try new approaches. So she did. I was pleased for her, but gave it little more thought, as there was the entire class to focus on for two full days of instruction.

What this short story is about happened at the very end of the hands-on workshop. After reviewing what knowledge and skills had been learned during the two days, and giving everyone their Certificates of Attendance, two of the students, one from West Berlin the other from East Berlin, stood up, came to where I was, started speaking,talking to the class and to me, then quietly reached into a bag they were carrying.

I’m rarely at a loss for words, but the symbolism of what they gave me struck deep, and still does to this day almost 25 years later. Turns out, after class the previous day, the two students, one from the West the other from the East, went to get the gift, and in class gave me a rather large piece of the Berlin Wall.

I was profoundly moved that this gift came from the free and the newly free. Not only was this a symbol of an entire people being prevented from freedom to risk, to grow, to thrive, but also, a symbol of the walls all of us have in our lives, be they external obstacles or personal walls within ourselves.

To this day, when facing new challenges or any of my own personal inner walls, I look over at this gift, the gift of the Berlin Wall, and am reminded that, walls can and do come down.

May you dear reader, be able to have the courage and confidence to face your own walls and know that with persistence, they indeed, can come down.

for more info: www.americanacademyofreflexology.com

Featured-reflexology-product

       Once in a lifetime a book comes along that sets a new standard for an entire profession.

This latest, completely revised, updated book by veteran Reflexology historian and trail blazer, Christine Issel, does just that. If you have her previous edition, other then the cover looking similar, inside, you would not recognize this new edition, it is that much different. With 165 new pages, and 18 Mini-Biographies of leaders in the field of Reflexology, from cover to cover, it is overflowing in each

                        page with well-documented new insights of great depth and substance.

SECTION I – HISTORY – CHAPTERS 1, 2, & 3
SECTION II – SCIENCE – CHAPTERS 4, 5, 6 & 7
SECTION III – ART – CHAPTERS 8 & 9
SECTION IV – THE PROFESSION – CHAPTERS 10, 11, 12, & 13

                           Here is a taste of what you will discover in this far-reaching book: 

 

For shipping in california           For shipping outside in california

For more info: http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/featured-reflexology-product/

  

                                                  

        

Face Reflexology

Face Reflexology is a science and art of utilizing the mini maps of the human body found on the face to balance and rejuvenate the whole body. Face Reflexology uses a series of fingers and thumb techniques via the mini maps on the face that resembles the human body to achieve balance to the body, mind and spirit. In this class you will be learning the 2 important mini reflexology maps of the body found on the face.

Along with the specific techniques used on the face reflexology, you will also learn the 3 major face Reflexology routines and a lymphatic drainage routine on the face.Based on class interest there also might be discussions about the basic concepts of meridians, herbal formulas, essential oil remedies and Bach flower remedies utilizing the About Face book by Ko Tan as tools to learn how to look and feel great. The About Face book by Ko Tan is included in the class fee.

August 2-3, 2014 Saturday & Sunday 9:0 0 AM –5:30 PM Both Days

Location : 13315 W. Washington Blvd, LA , CA 90066 3rd Floor, TOT Room, near Lincoln Blvd, close to Marina del Rey, Free ground floor parking. Student lounge. Restaurants nearby. Ask for Hotel list.

Fee: $220 One month early, $240 thereafter. Refund100% if cancellation by day prior to class. Thereafter, refund less $25.Or, fee may be applied to future class or transferred to another person. Class size limited.

Prerequisite: Beginning Foot Reflexology from a hands-on school.

Receive: Document of attendance with class title, hours, school & teachers name, location.

CE Hours: 12 CE Hours for ARCB, ABMP, NCBTMB & Many States

For more info :http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/

21 Advantages & Benefits of Attending Reflexology Conferences By Bill Flocco

• Network with Reflexologists form other towns, cities, regions, states, countries
• Talk one-on-one with speakers and other leaders in the field
• Gain updated information to take back home to share with clients or colleagues
• Lear nnew hands-on techniques by sharing with people from other methods & schools
• Be among the first to be introduced to the newest trends in the field
• Meet and break bread with the trendsetters
• Learn about key issues in legislation, human trafficking, state Reflexology laws
• Meet those who have been actively dealing with these issues on behalf of you and the field
• Explore latest publications, books, DVD, and more at exhibit booths
• Renew your fire and passion for your practice and your profession
• Start or renew professional relationships you can continue on social media or in person
• Develop a mentality of always learning & always growing professionally
• Seek out people who can help you with questions or issues you bring from your practice
• Make your intent, before each presentation, to learn at least one new bit of information. Imagine how many new insights you will have gained by the end of each day.
• During each break meet at least one new person
• Occasionally sit next to someone you don’t know
• Learn during breaks as well as during meals
• Become a force to reinvigorate your national, regional, state Reflexology Organizations
• Discover opportunities to be of service, nationally, regionally, at the state or local levels
• Ask how you can help – conventions always need help with greeting, party favors, etc.
• Thank the people who, for a year or two, worked to make the conference work for you.

For more info :- http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/

A One Page Abstract

The following Abstract appears at the beginning of the Research Study Published in 1993 for readers to gain a quick overview of the study to determine if they would like to look into reading the entire published study.

Randomized Controlled Study Of Premenstrual Symptoms
Treated with Ear, Hand, and Foot Reflexology
by Terry Oleson, Ph.D., and William S. Flocco

Objective: To determine whether reflexology therapy – the application of manual pressure to reflex points on the ears, hands, and feet that somatotopically correspond to specific areas of the body – can significantly reduce premenstrual symptoms compared to placebo treatment.

Methods: Thirty-five women who complained of previous distress with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) were randomly assigned to be treated by ear, hand, and foot reflexology or to receive placebo reflexology. All subjects completed a daily diary, which monitored 38 premenstrual symptoms on a four-point scale. Somatic and psychological indicators of premenstrual distress were recorded each day for 2 months before treatment, for 2 months during reflexology and for 2 months afterward. The reflexology sessions for both groups were provided by a trained reflexology therapist once a week for 8 weeks, and lasted 30 minutes each.

Results: Analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in premenstrual symptoms for the women given true reflexology treatment than for the women in the placebo group.

Conclusion: These clinical findings support the use of ear, hand and foot reflexology for the treatment of PMS. (ObstetGynecol 1993;82:906-11)

For more info :- http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/

Reflexology For Emphysema

A 55-year-old lady suffering from emphysema experiences dramatic relief from her symptoms and greater ease of breathing.

Emphysema is surprisingly prevalent among people who smoke pipes, cigars or cigarettes, those who live or work in highly polluted areas, such as around spores, herbicides and pesticides, factories with high air contaminants, or people who live in especially polluted urban centers.

Emphysema results from the breaking down of the little air pockets in the lungs, called alveoli, causing larger spaces. Lungs lose the capacity to take natural fluids or mucus up to the throat and out.  As this condition worsens, people with emphysema develop a cough, because of the fluid build up  in the lungs, the result of the lungs inability to expel the fluids naturally.

Reflexology is the natural health science of applying finger and thumb pressure, using specific techniques, to points found in the feet, hands and outer ears that correspond to reflex maps resembling a shape of the human body. By placing specific finger and thumb pressure on the lung reflexes of the feet, hands and ears, in a surprising number of cases people report relief of their lung related tensions and discomforts.

For Reflexology for emphysema, first go to your feet, lung reflexes are located, primarily, in the grooves on the top of your feet.  Place the tip of your thumb or index finger in each groove, and apply gentle pressure.

For Reflexology for emphysema, second go to your hands, lung reflexes are located, primarily, in the grooves on the back of your hands.  As in the feet, place the tip of your thumb or index finger in each groove, and apply gentle pressure.

For Reflexology for emphysema, third go to your ears, lung reflexes are located in the lower valley, the recessed area near your ear canal, merely by placing the tip of your index fingers against the part of the ear in the lower valley.  In effect, you will be gently applying pressure directly against the head bone.

It is recommend that you reflex each of these areas for 5 to 10 minutes, once or twice a day.

When you work on your lung reflexes, if you find tenderness in your feet, hands or ears, look at this tenderness as a gift and spend more time working on tender areas.  Frequently, the result is that people report feeling better in the related part of the body.

It is often recommended to drink an extra glass or two of water to help flush toxins out of the body. If conditions persist, it might be wise to see your primary health care provider.

Like the 55-year-old lady, you or those you work on can experience relief with Reflexology for emphysema.

For more info :http://www.americanacademyofreflexology.com/

Reflexology For Vermont Flood Victims

On August 29th Hurricane Irene caused the worst flooding in over a century to small towns in upstate New York, and Southern and Central Vermont. The normal peaceful meandering rivers became ravaging flood waters within hours. Houses along these rivers quickly flooded and people were evacuated. The waters quickly receded within hours of the flood but left lingering damage.

I had the opportunity to provide reflexology services to 15 flood victims in Moretown, Vermont two weeks after the flood. Moretown is a small town along the Mad River, near Stowe Vermont. Many of the victims had immense flood damage to their homes or their properties and they also had harrowing stories of escaping from the flood waters.

Being a psychiatric nurse, I naturally honed into the mind-body connection, supporting their emotional being via the physical touch of reflexology.

I listened to their stories while working on the adrenal, pituitary, heart, kidney, liver and spinal reflexes of their feet. Since the majority of the clients had shallow breathing as the result of the trauma (several of the clients had to climb out of their kitchen windows in order to avoid drowning)…I worked on their lung and chest reflexes.

The clients relaxed, were calmer and some even began to express emotion. Mental Health Services had provided education and counseling to the town the previous week and all my clients were well-versed in the different stages of grieving.

Words can not fully express the experience of providing reflexology services to clients after a disaster. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I have never been so grateful for my reflexology training.See more at: www.americanacademyofreflexology.com