Reflexology Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Basic Knead by Michelle Ebbin
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October 26, 2011 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

Natural Allergy Relief

Are you suffering from allergies, asthma & sinus problems? I know more than a few people who are, myself included. According to allergy experts, with record pollen counts this fall has been one of the worst, and longest, allergy seasons yet. Due to a particularly wet summer, ragweed pollen levels have surged and standing water left over from summer flooding and Hurricane Irene has increased the amount of mold, a common year-round allergen, in the air. What’s more, the allergy season is expected to last a few weeks longer than usual this year, according to research published earlier this year in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For natural relief, try this reflexology tip: Hold a hard ball, ideally a golf ball or if you’re lucky enough to have a massage ball, in your hand. Clasp your two hands together, interlinking fingers. Roll the golf ball over your palms for 30 secs. Target the area below your thumbs-the adrenal reflex area. Focus pressure on areas where it is most sensitive.

On the hand, this “allergy relief” area is found on the palms of both hands, halfway down the long first metacarpal bone of the hand below the thumb. To find the area (first on your left hand), rest your right thumb on top of your left thumb. Slide the right hand down toward the wrist, so that your thumb presses in the fleshy area bewteen the base of your thumb and your wrist. Your hand is now positioned so that your right index finger can curl around the hand and you can use your right thumb to exert pressure at the midpoint between wrist and the base of the thumb. Press here with your thumb and make small circles for about 15-20 seconds.

Does the area feel normal or tender and sensitive? If it’s sensitive, you’re right on target to the reflex area to the adrenals. If not, reposition your thumb slightly to press and test another area.

Another reflex area to stimulate is the tip of each finger, which is the reflex area to the sinuses. Pinch each fingertip with your other hand for about 10 seconds each.

October 13, 2011 In Baby Massage, Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

Soothe Your Solar Plexus & De-Stress

Stress relief from my what?! In this day and age, who isn’t anxious once in a while? It’s a chaotic world, and it’s often hard to let go and really relax. Unfortunately, stress is very damaging to our entire system and most doctors agree that over 75% of our health problems can be linked to stress. When we’re stressed, our body’s defense mechanism begins to break down, making us more susceptible to illness and disease.

Anyone feeling stressed should become familiar with the SOLAR PLEXUS, the “nerve switchboard” of the body. This complex network of nerves, located behind the stomach and in front of the diaphragm, sends energy impulses to the upper part of the abdomen. Also called the “abdominal brain”, its purpose is to help balance the sympathetic nervous system, regulate the functions of the organs, and restore calm. It’s often affected by stress, anger, and depression.

Reflexology is extremely effective for calming and balancing the nervous system. It can help you let go of tension and soothe your mind. Reflexology is a drug-free coping mechanism for stress and a way to get in touch with what’s happening on the inside. For a quick route to stress relief, stimulate the reflex area to the SOLAR PLEXUS,
which is located on both feet, in the center of the foot, about half-way between the toes and the heel. This is a great starting point to relax yourself or your partner. Press the solar plexus point for 20 seconds to balance your nervous system and bring inner calm. Repeat this several times on each foot.

Stimulating the reflex to the solar plexus can relax the entire body and bring overall stress relief. It also promotes better, deeper breathing, and relieves the discomfort of allergies, asthma, and even acne. This reflex point is also the center of the third chakra, the Solar Plexus chakra, which relates to your personal power. Located an inch or two above the navel, this chakra is the focus point for our sense of power, ego, authority, self-control and discipline. It’s where the personality is formed. In addition to relieving stress, stimulate the SOLAR PLEXUS to better express your individuality and strength.

October 7, 2011 In Giveaways, Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Weight Issues, Women

Massage Your Salad!

Have you ever had a salad that just blows you away? I just used my hands to make a “Massaged Kale Salad” and I’m in heaven. While I normally don’t post recipes on my blog, this one I have to share because it is absolutely delicious, super healthy, and hey, it has something to do with massage.

Kale is an amazingly nutritious leafy green vegetable. It contains high amounts of beta carotene and vitamin C. It’s also rich in minerals and high in folic acid. This ‘Superfood’ is a low in carbs and high in protein. One cup of cooked kale contains :
– 50 Calories
– 10 gm of Carbohydrates
– 3 gm of protein
– 2 to 3 gm of fiber
– 8000 IUs Vitamin A
– 150 to 200 mg of Calcium
– 30 mg of Magnesium
– 2 mg of Iron
– 300 mg of Potassium
– 125 mg of Vitamin C
– Less than 50 mg of Sodium
– 40 mcg of Folic acid

The high calcium and magnesium content of kale helps in building bones and is great for preventing osteoporosis. Vitamin A and C are antioxidants that protect against many degenerative diseases. The high potassium and low sodium content of Kale makes it an alkaline food and helps those who suffer from acidity and other digestive disorders. Potassium also reduces blood pressure and helps in fighting heart disease. Being a cruciferous vegetable, Kale contains sulfur compounds which help in fighting cancer.
Now, onto my new favorite salad…

Michelle’s Massaged Kale Salad

1 bunch curly kale
½ cup cooked quinoa
½ cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 carrots, peeled & grated
1 avocado, cubed
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2-4 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. sea salt
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Rinse kale and tear the leaves from the stem. Rip them into smaller pieces. Place in a big bowl with the quinoa, onion, carrot, and avocado.

In a separate small bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic powder, and sea salt.

Now, here’s the fun part: With both hands firmly massage all the ingredients together. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Massage the avocado into the kale so that it smooshes and there are no more chunks. Do this for about one minute so that all the leaves are covered with the dressing. This massage, together with the lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, helps to tenderize the kale.

Finally, add the tomatoes, gently toss the salad, and put it into the refrigerator for 6-8 hours. I like to make this salad the day before I plan to eat it and let all the juices sink in. Remember, the longer it stays in the fridge, the better it gets!

Just before serving, give it a hearty round of freshly ground pepper and taste to see if it needs more salt.
You can beef up this recipe with more grated carrot, avocado and additional quinoa if you like. ENJOY!

May 31, 2011 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Weight Issues, Women

#1 Best All-Natural Painkiller: MEDITATING!

While massage can be an effective way to ease your aches and pain, there’s new evidence that meditating (yes, meditating!) is the single best all-natural painkiller. In a recent study, people who had a pain-inducing heating device placed on their legs were able to reduce the pain by 40 percent, simply by meditating. “In comparison, morphine only decreases pain by about 25 percent,” says Robert Coghill, PhD, the study’s senior researcher and associate professor of neurobiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Subjects used the “focused attention” technique: Close your eyes, breathe through your nose, and concentrate on the air coming in and going out. According to Coghill, “the more you practice, the better it works.”
There are even more benefits to meditating:

Better Focus: People trained to meditate are better able to sustain their attention that those who aren’t, according to a study in Psychology Science,

Lowers Blood Pressure: People with hypertension who meditated reduced their blood pressure. In fact, “it was as effective as adding a second blood pressure medication,” says lead author James W. Anderson, MD, from a University of Kentucky study,

Relieves Stress: Practicing meditation for eight weeks not only relieved feelings of stress but actually caused physical changes in the amygdala, the area of the brain that controls those feelings, according to a study published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

February 8, 2011 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

Valentine’s Day Lesson: How to Give Good Foot


For Valentine’s Day, why not give your partner the gift of a soothing, sensual, foot massage. Using the Sexy Love Sox as your guide, you can stimulate the entire foot, and in doing so, the entire body. The following routine will guide you step-by-step through a complete reflexology treatment. I recommend doing this routine to start, and then later you can focus on specific areas of your feet that need particular attention. If you want to experiment and play around with your own routine, just remember that it works best to build anticipation by progressing to the areas of the sexual organs, rather than just starting there. Think of foreplay…
Working the entire foot has its advantages. A benefit of this approach is that you don’t need to develop a vast knowledge of human anatomy and physiology in order to be effective. Since the systems, glands, organs, and parts of the body are all so intricately intertwined in their functioning, thorough stimulation of all of the reflex areas in your feet can effectively reduce stress and tension, creating a space for healing and rejuvenation to occur.
This full-foot routine includes many reflexology techniques, but not all of them. It’s up to you to pick and choose the techniques that will work for you and your partner. Later on, as you learn to locate specific reflex areas to the erogenous zones and tap into your partner’s energy, you’ll be able to tailor your technique, and give the most effective, relaxing yet sexually arousing reflexology session possible.

10-Step Full Body/Full Foot Reflexology Technique

Step 1: Relax. I always begin a reflexology treatment by first washing my hands so that they are clean and clear of any negative energy. Next, relax both yourself and the feet by taking both feet in my hands and just holding them for ten seconds. This helps me direct my focus to the feet and allows my partner to get used to the feeling of my touch. Take a deep breath, count to three, and exhale. If you have the Sexy Love Sox™, then no lotion or oil is necessary. If you want to work directly on the feet, take some lotion or oil and warm it in your hands. Gently spread the lotion or oil over the top of the foot and the sole. Concentrate on the sole and work the lotion in so that there’s only a light layer remaining. This lets your fingers slide with control.

Step 2: Stretch. Bring both hands under the heels and pull back, giving a slight stretch to the lower back.

Step 3: Side to side ankle loosening. Move your hands to one foot and place the outer edges of your hands at the heels. Move your hands from side to side to loosen the entire foot.

Step 4: Ankle Rotations. Bring one hand underneath to support the heel, and rotate the ankle in one direction a couple of times, and then the other.

Step 5: Achilles Tendon Stretch. Gently stretch the toes back to release the arch of the foot, and then bring the toes forward, stretching the top of the foot. Next, flex the foot backward and then pull the toes toward you. Repeat this stretch.

Step 6: Solar Plexus Relaxer. Hold both of your thumbs at the solar plexus point, which is in the middle of the foot. This reflex point can relax and calm the entire body. Press here for 10 seconds, release and repeat.

Step 7: Finger-Walk: neck/shoulder line and up. Beginning at the inner edge of the foot, finger-walk up from the heel to the top of the toes. Bring your thumb back to the heel, move over about 1/4 inch, and again finger-walk up to the top of the toes. Repeat this until you reach the outer edge of the foot. Finger-walking the entire foot will allow you to touch all of the erogenous zones so nothing gets left out. Later, you can go back and focus on specific reflex areas that correspond to the exact erogenous zones you want to target.

Stimulating all the reflex points on both feet can encourage the entire body to come back into balance. Work both feet to treat the entire body. Try to cover every inch of each foot, including the ankle, with this finger-walking technique.

Step 8: Don’t Forget the Toes. Many people find the toes very sensitive. Take each toe, one at a time, between your thumb and index finger, and slowly roll them back and forth. Try to move your fingers around the entire toe so that you stimulate the whole toe. The area between the toes, close to the crease is very sensitive in a lot of people. If your partner enjoys this, spend extra time applying light pressure here.

Step 9: Stimulate Specific Sexy Areas. This is the best part. (Or at least I think so!) Using the Sexy Love Sox as your map, choose the areas that you or your partner think need the most attention and use the “Finger-Pressure” technique to bring awareness and energy to that area. If your partner responds, then change up the technique to include the “V” slide or make small circles with your thumb, staying in this area to promote maximum circulation to this particular erogenous zone.

Play around with each of the erogenous zones to get to know what, how and where your partner likes to be stimulated. After a bit of fun practice and good communication, you’ll be able to really tune in to your partners hidden passions and desires.

**As you work on each area, feel for “grainy” areas or places where the feet are tender. By discovering grainy or tender areas, you are clued in to energy blockages and potential “problem areas.” This allows you to focus on areas of the body that may need the most help.

Step 10: Happy Ending: Feathering. Finish by lightly brushing your fingertips from the top of the toes to the feel, several times, on both feet. At this point, you can even remove the Sexy Love Sox and do this with bare feet so that you have real skin-to-skin contact. Or, leave the Sexy Love Sox on if you choose.

December 30, 2010 In Giveaways, Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

New Year’s Hangover Help

It’s New Year’s Eve! In preparation of a BIG night ahead, read on for a few quick, easy reflexology techniques for hangover help.

Rather than just lying in bed waiting for the alcohol to seep out of your body so you can feel better, be proactive and take control of your hangover. Try reflexology on the reflex areas of the body that need the most help, namely the liver, kidneys, stomach, brain and solar plexus.

Start with your liver point in order to help push out the remaining alcohol in your body. This is located on the outer edge of the right foot, starting from about the middle of the foot. This area is approximated the size of a quarter. Press here for 10 seconds, release and repeat again.
Next, move to the kidneys, which coordinate with the liver in the elimination process, and drink lots of water! This reflex area is located on both feet, in the middle of the foot moving towards the heel. Press for 10 seconds, release & repeat.

To get rid of a headache, press the fleshy part of both big toes, just behind the nail. You can apply firm pressure here. Some people even use clothespins on their big toes to prevent and relieve headaches.
If you’re experiencing nausea, stimulate the stomach point, located on the inner edge of both feet about midway between the heel and toes. Finally, stimulate the solar plexus region, located in the middle of both feet, if you find your entire sense of center has been disrupted by the hangover.

**In addition to these techniques for hangover help, I personally recommend an icy Coke and a large order of McDonald’s fries. Good luck! And pass this on to friends in need…