Reflexology is a form of massage that few people know much about, yet it has amazing health benefits to the immune system and to the central nervous system. Many people use reflexology to help them relax and to help them sleep better at night if they suffer from chronic or occasional insomnia.
You can perform reflexology exercises on yourself, but they are often more effective when performed by another person, especially when using the feet to perform Reflexology. Here are two Reflexology exercises you can use to help you or someone you love sleep better at night.
Reflexology Exercises for Insomnia
This first Reflexology exercise is performed on the feet.
- Have the person you are performing the Reflexology exercise on lay down, relax and close their eyes.
- Tell them to start breathing slowly and deeply, being sure to use their stomach instead of their chest to breathe in so that they get a full breath into their diaphragm.
- Find the middle of the foot, and move up 2 inches or so (1 inch in children or in those with smaller feet) until you reach the middle of the foot about an inch or inch-and-a-half below the bottom of the toes. You’ll be able to feel the center point or “diaphragm area” of the foot as you press in.
- As the person breathes in deeply, relax the pressure on the diaphragm area of the foot.
- As they breathe out slowly, push slowly and firmly onto the diaphragm area of the foot.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 for 1 to 10 minutes as the person continues to take deep breaths in and out until the person is completely relaxed or asleep.
This second Reflexology exercise is performed on the ear. This exercise can easily be done on yourself.
- Lay down in bed and relax, closing your eyes.
- Work to breathe in and out deeply and fully from the diaphragm.
- Find the “Insomnia 1” point for Reflexology on your ear. The best way to locate this point is to put your finger where you would have an ear piercing on the upper part of your ear. The Reflexology point is not on the curved part of your ear, though; it’s on the inner flat part of your ear next to the curve.
- Hold the “Insomnia 1” point of your ear, squeezing it somewhat firmly between two fingers for a minute or so, and then release.
- Repeat step 4 for 1 to 5 minutes.
Insomnia is a serious problem for many these days, but by making improvements in lifestyle and diet, and by adding in relaxation exercises such as the ones listed above, insomnia can be cured.
As with any exercise, it’s important to consult a physician before beginning a Reflexology program, as some health conditions aren’t conducive to Reflexology techniques. For those able to use a Reflexology program, however, it can have tremendous overall health benefits to the body.
Source: http://www.how-to-do-reflexology.com/reflexologysleepingtechnique.html
Source: http://goodnurture.blogspot.com/2012/01/reflexology-for-insomnia-and-better.html
This Site Was Inspired By An Interest in Protecting the Environment
We had the privilege and joy of learning from Dr. Charlie Stine who instilled a love for the natural world through incredible field trips with the Johns Hopkins Odyssey Certificate program in Environmental Studies. At the time, the program was endorsed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Sadly, after Dr. Stine retired, the program was phased out. We hope that we honor his legacy by shining a bright light on environmental issues and sharing good news about the success of various conservation programs when possible.
