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There are a number of massage therapy schools in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Most offer a wide range of training and courses to meet all needs of the massage therapist. Many of these offer Reflexology as part of a typical training program. What exactly is Reflexology? It's an alternative therapy approach that concentrates on energy flow to help relieve the tension and stress found in the body.
It's not surprising that the prevalence of Reflexology has spread rapidly across the country. The techniques for reflexology are extremely different from traditional massage, nevertheless include it as part of an optional course for any of the licensed massage and shiatsu degree programs in Minneapolis massage therapy school. Since it is such a popular modality, many massage therapists have chosen to add Reflexology among their massage specialties. As a result, massage therapists may benefit by adding 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 regions of the body where reflex points are situated. When applied correctly, it will target these reflex areas in the hands and feet to help promote healing through increased blood flow and decreased tension. This same targeted application will also improve muscle strength in the back and shoulders. However, just as with massage, there are not specific regions of the body that are targeted for reflexology. Instead, it is believed that the feet and hands are the best place for applying pressure for maximum benefits.
Perhaps the most popular area in which Reflexology is practiced is over the neck and shoulders. Massage techniques concentrate mainly on those regions since they're believed to harbor a great deal of energy that can be tapped for therapeutic benefits. Because of this, applying pressure points like those from the neck and shoulders is a good 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 specific regions where pressure points are located.
Another area where Reflexology could be implemented is within the ears. This is not surprising given the proximity to the neck and head. The ear is also on the brain which provides the ears their sensory organ, thus providing a possible source of sensory input. Because the ear contains sensitive nerve endings, the use of massage to the ears provides a calming effect in addition to the potential advantages of stimulating the nervous system which assists in the healing process. This is why ear reflexology has been seen as an effective modality in the treatment of chronic conditions like depression, tension and pain.
One of the crucial ways in which Reflexology may be used is through the application of pressure points on the entire body. Pressure points refer to targeted areas in the body that allow for better blood flow, thus allowing for increased general wellness. By way of example, there is a particular pressure point referred to as the acupoints located near the wrist. By applying pressure on these acupoints, the reflex points found in the wrist begin to transfer blood flow to the entire body, including the skin. By increasing blood circulation, the entire body is able to increase its immune system and operate more effectively to fight infection and home page heal itself.
As mentioned before, Reflexology uses its finger pressure points to stimulate the nerves within the body. It is this connection to the nervous system which makes Reflexology therapeutic oftentimes. However, as interesting as that may seem, the primary reason that massage therapy is often regarded as capable of relieving pain and the treatment of an assortment of conditions is due to its ability to alter the state of a person's energy system. According to conventional reflexology, the body is made from the five basic meridians that run parallel to one another. By working each meridian with different techniques, the energy system of the person is able to be changed.
Massage allows for the easy transfer of energy across the meridians and to the different areas of the body. If done properly, it can stimulate the appropriate circulation in the body, allowing for organs to receive the proper nutrients they need. In addition to potential benefits like improved circulation, there are also verified reflexology methods which can help decrease pain and decrease the healing time following an injury or operation. Therefore, whatever you originally had in mind once you chose to go to the spa, it might be worth it to consider Reflexology.