Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Reflexology sessions for a holiday gift

One of the nicest reflexology gifts you can give is reflexology sessions. Most reflexologists have gift certificates.

But what if you are broke? Why not give a foot or hand rub as a gift by doing your own? You may not be a professional but even a simple foot or hand rub can be greatly appreciated.

Make a little gift card up and watch them smile.

Happy holidays.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, December 13, 2007

How to Touch Your Toes

Well you really do know how to touch your toes. But can you touch your toes?

This Men's Health web page , Stretch for Strength, has great explanation for why we have trouble touching our toes. The problem isn't just tight muscles but has to do with the fascia which surrounds the muscles and keeps them together as a group. Tight fascia means a tight range of motion.

Very interesting reading. It comes with a short video that demonstrates the suggested exercises as well as a written set of instructions. (I had a little trouble for some reason getting the full set of instructions so I just clicked the print button.)

The last exercise is rolling your foot on a tennis ball for 60 seconds and then moving onto the next foot. Of course a foot roller might do just as well.

Try it -it works.

Now let see. 1...2...3...

Kevin Kunz

Monday, December 10, 2007

Total Reflexology "flying off the shelves"


Our editor tells us that Total Reflexology, the reflexology kit, is "flying off the shelves. I did a little investigating and it does seem to be the case.

My cousin was standing counting how many boxes were at her local Barnes and Noble when an employee came up and said "if you are going to buy one of those you better do it now because they are selling out really fast."

Everyone who sees them wants the kit. Many are buying several and giving them as gifts.

You can check local availability right on the order page by pulling in your zip code. If they are out you can order through Barnes and Noble.com.

At $15 a kit it is appealing.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Reflexology Widget Now for Your Desktop


The wonderful and interactive Hand Reflexology Widget is now available as a standalone desktop widget. Go to ClearSpring.com and click on the "desktop" tab in the box in the upper right hand corner of the page. A Yahoo Widget icon will pop up simply follow instruction from there.

Unfortunately, it is Windows only. For now.

It is nice to be able to put this on your desktop to use whenever you feel like it. And remember it is linked to the acclaimed Hand and Foot Interactive charts. So click on the links at the base of the widget. Add the Hand Reflexology Widget to any number of pages like Facebook and MySpace.

Learn the reflexology areas the fun way.

Then buy the book, Complete Reflexology for Life.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Wet Babies


There is a saying that the only people who like change are wet babies. We are all prone to routine. It is hard sometimes to tell the differences between a routine and a rut.

There is a new brain imaging study that shows that reflexology affects areas having to do with homeostasis. Homeostasis is the natural balancing act that takes balance in our body day in and day out. May be that is why people often comment how balanced they feel after a reflexology session.

There is another concept that ties into this. It is called "allostasis". Allostasis is the process of stabilizing homeostasis. Tied to this is allostatic load which is the amount of adapting we have to do to maintain homeostasis.

Our bodies achieve stability through change. If we do not change the load increases and we are forced to adapt. If the load gets too big we stress out. So seeking change is a way of "taking a load off".

Reflexology is but one way to seek change and therefore a re-balancing of our bodies. Whatever way you seek wellness realize that it is the change that causes stability. Ask a wet baby.

How do you seek change?

Kevin Kunz

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Stunning New Reflexology Research

Scientist are now using functional magnetic imaging to peer into the brain and see what part of the brain reflexology affects. In a series of studies researchers have found that reflexology "lights" up parts of the brain associated with such things as pain and homeostasis.

We are producing a three part series on this exciting development. What is intriguing is that what reflexology has been saying for years can now be verified scientifically.

fMRI and Reflexology Research.

What a fMRI is

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Holiday Feet

Here's a quick list of ways to save your feet from the holiday blues.

1. Be aware of your feet. Do not get so caught up in the rush of the season that you forget your poor feet. Stay in tune with how they are feeling and don't over ride them.

2. Take frequent breaks. Feet were not meant to stand or walk on hard surfaces for hours at a time.

3. Wear sensible shoes. Save those stylish shoes for times when you are not doing combat at the malls.

4. Interrupt stress and do it frequently. Try a reflexology session or a massage. A nice session allows your body to relax helps your feet relax as well.

5. Stretch prior to events like shopping or cooking or standing at parties. You don't have to be doing a marathon in order to get the benefit of stretching.

6. Use a trick that waitresses use. Lie on the floor and prop your feet up on a chair or coach. It helps reverse the flow of all that blood that has accumulated in your feet after a long time of standing and/or walking.

7. Break up the pattern of stress by rocking side to side. Stand with your feet about shoulder width wide. Bend your knees and rock side to side across your feet.

8. Just rub them. Really rub them to keep the circulation going. You don't have to be a professional reflexologist to get results. (But hiring one isn't a bad investment.)

9. Buy your feet a treat. A simple foot roller can do wonders and isn't costly.

10. Recruit your family. Even amateur foot-workers can make you feel better.

But above all enjoy your holidays.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Is the Carpal Tunnel near here?

A friend of ours was using Complete Reflexology for Life to work on his girl friend for her carpal tunnel problem. He was getting good results just using the directions in the book. Then suddenly she got a rush of "hot blood" flowing down into her hand,

What he had been working on was the sides of the two and third toes. He found it curious because it was an area that was somewhat outside of the directions for carpal tunnel and ask us how that could be.

Before we could give him an explanation he thoughtfully said, "Well that area relates to the neck for one thing. and you have been telling me how much from what she said you thought her neck was contributing."

But what really floored him was how immediate the effect was. She got instant relief the moment the blood started to rush.

I said, " Now you have your key area for controlling the problem. It will take time to condition a response so that it becomes more or less permanent but you are well along the way."

Remember to explore all the possible elements. Sometimes the most important clues are right there at your fingertips.

Kevin Kunz


Monday, November 26, 2007

A Really Dumb Move

Our bodies do a fairly good job of moving about from place to place and most of the time we really don't make a "dumb move".

I was doing a radio interview last night. I brought up something I hadn't thought about for quite awhile- "movement intelligence".

Our bodies make fairly good choices on where to move and how to move. This depends on our movement intelligence. That is all the information we pool together to make decisions and some times very quick decisions.

But movement intelligence depends on having enough information to go on. That is what I really like about reflexology. By simply stimulating your hands and feet you can improve your "movement intelligence'.

It gives you more options and better ways to react when you have to make a move.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Turkey Trouble

Here's a quick self help tip from Complete Reflexology for Life for overdoing the eating portion of Thanksgiving dinner.

Take a golf ball. Place it between your hands on the palms. Intertwine your fingers. Then simply roll the ball around the palms of your hands. Keep rolling until you start to feel some relief. You are rolling right on the digestive reflex area.

Now if there was only a technique for dealing with the relatives...

Happy Thanksgiving.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

More on Stress cues

--- In reflexologycommunity@yahoogroups.com, learnecm wrote:
>
>
> Kevin,
>
> Thank you. Do you have any publications that talk more about the
> different stress cues like this one. I have been noticing others I
> would like to confer about.
>
> Thanks,
> Deb

Deb

We did two books on reading stress cues. The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology- When we revised it we added a section on stress cues. And our original publication on treading stress cues is MyReflexologist Says Feet Don't Lie.

This is a smaller book which really was blasted, sadly on Amazon.com. (Somebody trashed it for being too small.) Both are illustrated with sample feet.

What I like about reading stress cues is that it helps you to understand the individual. It tells you where the stress lies and allows you to much more quickly select areas for emphasis. Stress cues also gives you a stress history I think is better than a medical history for understanding the individual and their response to stress.(I actually prefer to look at medical history after I work on the individual.)

Being able to read stress cues gives your clients confidence in your skills. It also gives you a better sense of how long it will take to achieve results. And it helps you plan for getting results.

Reading stress cues is a skill worth developing. The future for me is studying large populations like Alzheimer's patients.

We think we have a stress cue connected to Alzheimer's. Statistically it is possible to see if you are in fact correct in the stress cue you have selected.

But simple memory loss I believe is also detectable.

Our photo shoot for Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips in 2003 was in London. As you can see from this book and the DK books that follow we use an absolutely brilliant photographer.

I had worked my way through the entire crew working on feet except our photographer who was constantly busy.

I asked her if I could work on her feet. She declined as she was as usual setting something up.

But then she asked what I thought of her feet. (The photographer shoots barefooted as she wraps herself around the camera. Her feet help steady the tripod. She and the camera are one.)

"Well how is your memory?' I asked.

She was taken back and said,"You know I forget where I left the kids. How did you know?"

Do you know how I was able to tell that there was something going on with her memory without actually touching her feet? Remember this is a highly intelligent woman.


Kevin Kunz

Tip: I love doing classes on reading cues as you see a wide collection of feet. I also keep a digital camera handy. Then you can project it on screen for the crowd. And you have a record of the unusual feet you will see. And I will tell you there are usually unusual stress cues in any crowd.



Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Nose on the Toe

--- In reflexologycommunity@yahoogroups.com, "ryanandbaby" wrote:
>
> Kevin, can you provide some insight on this? I had put this question
> out there earlier but not heard anything. I'm a reflexology student
> and three of my "clients" had extremely heavy callusing on the upper,
> medial portion of their big toes. Not down in the neck reflex area,
> but higher. Although none of them had mentioned it in my health
> questionnaire, upon further questioning, all three of them had
> suffered and been treated for a deviated septum. Coincidence, or is
> there something to this? I'd appreciate your insight.

This callus is what I call a stress cue. It is located at the appropriate place on the toe for an influence from a deviated septum. It could also reflect tension in the back of the head. Or it can be the whole plane passing through the head from the front to the back and all the accumulated stresses that gather there.

A deviated septum can reflect more than an injury to the nose. The nose is in a critical area just in front of the brain. Injury to the nose may involve a jolt to the brain as well. It depends on the force of the blow.

This stress cue also can reflect the brain stem. I am experimenting with this area for a variety of conditions. the brain stem is involved in a lot of issues including metabolism.

Hope this helps. Thank you for your query.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cobblestone Paths Have Been Tested


What if simply by walking you could improve your blood pressure, reduce pain and gain stability. Researchers at Oregon Research Institute have shown just that with testing of senior citizens. The catch is that you need to walk on cobblestone mats.

"These are very exciting results," notes John Fisher, Ph.D., one of the lead scientists on the study. "Compared to conventional walking, the experience of walking on the river rock-like surface of these manufactured cobblestone mats improved participants' balance, measures of mobility, as well as reducing their blood pressure. These issues are highly important for preventing and delaying the onset of frailty among older adults, as well as helping them maintain their current health status. ORI Press Release

When we first encounter these mats in Tokyo in 1990 they were made out of wooden beads.The Japanese did a test using these mats. The test showed that walking on the mats not only improve blood flow to the feet but to the hands as well. Since in reflexology theory we relate the hands to the feet and vice versa it confirmed this theory.

There are many different types of mats from all over the world but these are the mats that were tested. Someday walking on mats may be a way to keep our senior citizens healthy and on their feet.

Kevin Kunz

Monday, November 12, 2007

Reflexology Paths

Reflexology Paths are paths which are designed to stimulate the reflex areas on the bottom of your feet. The paths are walked on in bare feet and consist of embedded rocks and logs to simulate the takifumi experience I mentioned in the last post.

Barbara and I first saw reflexology paths when we attend a convention in Tokyo in 1990. The first path was done at Shiseido Cosmetic factory. They did it for the health of the workers. And they had engineers study the blood flow in the feet. The engineers designed these unique pathways to stimulate each and every part of the foot.

Since then there has been an explosion of paths in Asia. Parks departments have installed them for their citizens. And condo offerings often contain a reflexology path as well as a swimming pool, clubhouse or whatever. Often government officials will attend the openings of these pathways.

They have spread from Asia to Europe with German bare footed parks that are more like nature trails and can be a couple of kilometers long.

Now they are invading the US with several being constructed. Washington State Parks Department has installed two. Aegis Living Corporation did one for their employees and Bastyr University installed one as well. A spa in San Diego built one and there are more planned.

Try these links to explore the world of Reflexology Paths
Shiseido Builds Reflexology Stroll Paths
Reflexology Paths Around the World
Taking a Virtual Stroll on Reflexology Paths in Asia
Taking a Virtual Stroll on Reflexology Paths in Europe

Next post I will talk about research into Reflexology Paths and how they have been shown to help seniors.

Kevin Kunz

Friday, November 9, 2007

Takifumi- Stepping Upon Bamboo

It is said that the ancient samurai's would go off into the bamboo groves and lop off a piece of bamboo. The samurai's would then split the bamboo piece in half. They would place the piece of bamboo on the ground with the rounded side up. They would then walk on the bamboo to build their fighting spirit. This was called takifumi or stepping on bamboo.

Takifumi is a very good exercise for the feet. All day long our feet are compressed from the forces of gravity. Walking on bamboo pushes the foot back into shape and decompresses the foot.

I also find it very good for stamina and find myself better able to balance. I also seem to require less sleep and wake up ready to go.

What if you don't have easy access to bamboo? Try a piece of 4 inch pvc pipe from the hardware store. Cut the pipe about as wide as your shoulder width and then split it in half. Place it on the floor and test it.

There are commercial takifumi devices like the one produced by Footlex (see below). The takifumi devices are molded plastic creations that are based on the takifumi tradition.

Or you can find a nice rounded river rock and step on that. Get two and make your self a set. Keep going with more rocks and you have a Reflexology Path before too long.

Reflexology Paths are spreading like a wild fire throughout Asia and Europe. These paths are just now taking hold in the US. The paths use rocks and logs to simulate the takifumi tradition and can be quite short to several kilometers long.

But like any exercise you should gradually increase the pressure. And if you have a foot problem or it hurts a lot when you try this it may not be the exercise for you. Particularly if you have a foot problem you should consult your doctor before proceeding.

The next blog I plan to talk about Reflexology Paths. Or as I like to call it "Disneyland for the Feet".

See you next time. Best of health.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Do You Have a Longer Second Toe? Part 2

Last blog I talked about having a longer second toe and the effects of it on the foot and body.

As you will recall a longer second toe often times means more foot stress. Foot stress can lead to stresses in other parts of the body such as the musclo-skeletal system but it can also impact your energy levels as well.

So what do you do about a longer second toe since sawing it off doesn't seem practical?

1) Good shoes are a must. You need a roomy enough toe box to allow your toe to stretch out and not collide with the tip of your shoe.

2) Rock and roll your feet. If you caught my earlier blog this is a simple exercise for breaking up the stress patterns in not only the forefoot but also the middle part of the foot where longer second toes tends to lock this joint. If you didn't catch the last blog here is a simple version.

Stand with your feet about shoulder width wide. Bend your knees slightly and rock side to side rolling over your feet. If you have problems with balance hold onto the back of a chair. (You can even use two chairs.) do it for several seconds and try to do it several times a day particularly if you are in a standing profession.

3) Calf stretches. Again I mentioned this earlier but let me repeat. The calf muscles attempt to pull the foot flat while the foot tries to maintain an arch. So loosening the calf muscles also loosening the foot as well. Stretch the calf muscles daily if not several times a day.

4) Roll your feet on a simple foot roller. Rolling your feet causes the plantar muscles (the muscles on the bottom of the foot) to relax. There are a wide variety of foot roller styles to choose from. Use your roller daily to break up the pattern of stress associated with a longer second toe. Remember interrupt the stress and do it frequently.

5) Find a good reflexologist to work on your feet. This is an investment but like good shoes it is a good investment. And it is so soothing.

Next blog I plan to talk about an ancient technique that can be very helpful with longer second toes and the stress that comes with them. It is called takifumi and it is the hottest thing in Asia right now.

Until then.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Do You Have a Longer Second Toe? Part 1

We once submitted a book proposal with this title after observing how many people with a longer second toe showed up at foot reflexology demonstrations. They would circle the demonstration and swoop in when they saw an opening.

Many people have longer second toes. It is referred to as a Morton's toe after a foot anatomist named Morton. (It is a great honor to have a toe named after you,) The figures vary widely on how many people have it but it seems to be more common certain ethnic groups. And there are real problems with this set up for modern kind.

It is something you can blame on your parents and get away with it. It is genetic. A longer second toe is caused by the arrangements the bones in the foot called the metatarsal bones. It isn't the toe bones themselves but the bones in the body of the foot itself.

The second metatarsal bone is longer than the first metatarsal bone. It simply juts the toe outward. This probably would not be a problem if you were in the wild. But shoes cause complications with a Morton's Toe.

Shoes cause pressure along the long arch or longitudinal arch of the foot. Feet tend to fatigue with this type of pressure. But Morton's Toe also places pressure under the second toe on the ball of the foot. There is often a characteristic callus there.

There are often energy problems associated with a Morton's toe because the foot locks in response right over the pancreas/ adrenal reflex area. People who have the Morton's Toe and have locked across the middle of the foot often have a bump on the top of there foot.

I start asking questions when I see the bump. "How is your energy?" is my first question.

There are three varieties of energy responses. Some people are high energy and on the go all the times. Then there are people who have sudden drops of energy at 3 or 4 PM like clockwork.

Then there is the third category who used to be high energy but suddenly their get up and go got up and went. They were very active for years until things seem to spiral downhill.

In part 2 of "Do you have a longer second toe?" I plan to talk about ways to counter the affects of a longer second toe.

Kevin Kunz


Monday, November 5, 2007

Jan's 90th Birthday


We had a pleasant Sunday celebrating our friend Jan's 90th birthday. Jan actually got me into reflexology in 1976. Reflexology had been a hobby of mine up to this point.

Then Janey, her daughter, was involved in a head on accident. Janey was brain injured and lost use of one side. She also lost some speech.

Jan wanted to take a course to help Janey and wanted me to take it with her. We took the class together. It started a long chain of events that led to my reflexology practice. Then I taught reflexology on a nation level and finally we publish our very first book.

Jan and Rol Schneider helped us with our very first book, The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology back in 1979. We would go to their house to shoot photos and the kitchen was our photographic studio. Jan would make coffee and hold the drop light. Rol (who has passed on since) was our photographer. Barbara who then take those photos and make her now famous illustrations.

But it was more than the photos. Jan and Rol also gave us moral support. The first book wasn't easy. We had never published before. But Jan and Rol were always there for us.

As I sat next to Jan and reminisce about our long reflexology career it suddenly dawned on me how many people in that room alone she had an effect on with her pursuit on reflexology. There was her son who had experienced lime poisoning so severe the Poison Control people were calling him back every four hours. There was her sister-in-law who was one of my clients. There was her daughter, Jill who I have worked on countless times.

But it wasn't just my impact. Jan also worked on people like Linda who was sitting at our table. Linda had a very severe back pain while going through pregnancy. Jan both worked on her and also showed her some things to do for self help. As Linda drove away from Jan's house her back snapped back into place and she was fine.

Then there was Janey. The doctors told Janey after her horrific accident she would never live independently much less go back to work. She did both.

She retired after a long career at teaching and still substitutes from time to time.

And Janey got up and gave a short speech at her mother's birthday to thank everyone for coming. Who could tell her speech was effected.

That is not even considering the many people Jan helped without actually knowing them. We get letters, emails and so forth from people who tell us how much our books have helped them. What would have happened if Jan hadn't been there to encourage us on.

So happy 90th birthday, Jan. Pass it on.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Complete Reflexology for Life



I ran across this very nice blog this morning and thought I would share it.

Kevin Kunz
**************************************************

Complete Reflexology for Life

Having this past month off from blogging, gave me the opportunity to investigate new publications on reflexology.

I’ve got to tell you folks, I was so impressed with this recently published reflexology reference book by Barbara & Kevin Kunz, that I felt the need to share it with you.

I own several of their other publications; however, the beauty of this particular book, is the fact that it’s like an encyclopedia of most of their works combined.
Not only does it contain information on foot reflexology, but also hand reflexology as well.

It blew me away!

The illustrations and information are clear, precise, and easy to understand.
Not only is it beneficial for the novice, but also the professional as well.
It definately taught me a plethora of some new knowledge!

Book Highlights
*The principles and techniques of reflexology
*Self-help sessions and treatments for any stage of life
*Effective ways to treat health concerns
*Treatments for personal and professional use
*The use of self-help foot tools
*Proper foot care
*Teaches you how to easily incorporate reflexology into your daily life.

As a professional…I highly recommend investigating this book.
You can either purchase it at your local bookstore, or you can visit Barbara & Kevin ; where they can direct you on how to order it online.
It’s one of those books you’ll be able to use for the rest of your life!
So enjoy it…and be well.

Ron, C.R. aka solework
Ron's Blog
http://solework.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/complete-reflexology-for-life/

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

I Give Up- Here Are Your Free Charts

We can't fight it. Every time we turn around we around we see our reflexology charts on web sites, blogs and so forth. All of this without permission.

So we have decided to open the charts up to certain uses. We have selected a Creative Commons License that allows you to copy, distribute and transmit the work but with the following restrictions. You must attribute the charts to us, Barbara and Kevin Kunz, Reflexology Research Project. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/)

No Derivative Works.You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work without our permission.

If you put these charts on your web site, blog or written material we request you include a link to our page. Seems fair payment.

There you go. You can print these charts out, include them on promotional/educational material, web sites, blogs or educational Powerpoint presentations. Give them to family, friends and clients. But please do include proper credit. It isn't a lot to ask.

Here are the links to free charts.

Foot Reflexology Chart-http://www.reflexology-research.com/footchart.html

Hand Reflexology Chart-http://www.reflexology-research.com/handchart.html

Enjoy.

Kevin Kunz

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Calf Loosening

Calf loosening isn't what cowboys do. Rather it is one of two really easy ways to loosen the foot.

The calf muscles tend to pull the foot flat in the act of trying to propel us forward in a footstep. The foot muscles try to maintain an arch. There is a type of oppositional relationship between the calf muscles and the foot muscles. The more you can loosen the calf muscles the more you loosen the foot muscles.

Stretching is an easy way to stretch the calf muscles. Here are some simple calf stretches. Walkinghealthy.com. http://www.walkinghealthy.com/walkinghealthy/Stretching/CalfStretch.asp

You can even buy a devices to help you stretch. But I like free.

I like to hang off a step. It is simplest of the stretches and very effective. And it resets the stretch receptors so every step you take requires less energy and lessens the impact on your body.

The second approach to foot loosening is a foot roller. You simply roll your foot up and down on the roller. There are a wide variety of foot rollers to choice from. Find one you like.

Resetting your foot muscles to a more relaxed state is easy. And the dividends are many. There are more details in Complete Reflexology for Life. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0756628520/reflexologyreseaA/

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

It's The Stress, Stupid


Politicians are quite fond of saying,"It's the economy, stupid." This is a phrase to describe why people vote the the way they do. Until the Iraq war it held up pretty well as a truism.

Recently the American Medical Association in a commentary in its Journal said that stress is a "powerful risk factor".

... stress is not “just” some benign complaint. Instead, it’s a powerful risk factor for disease, notes a recent commentary in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The article focuses on evidence showing that stress is linked to an increased risk for heart attacks, depression, cancer and the progression of H.I.V. and AIDS. Notably, an accompanying article in JAMA notes that workplace stress may be as bad for your heart as smoking and high cholesterol. And marital strife also poses a major risk to your heart health, the Archives of Internal Medicine reported this week. Tara Parker-Pope, Giving Stress More Respect, New York Times October 24, 2007.

So why aren't we saying "It's the Stress, Stupid." when confronted with the skeptics that question why rubbing feet and hands or many other "alternative therapies" can have an effect on a wide variety of disorders and yes, even diseases.

Reflexology is frequently put down as a "feel good" services. But "feeling good" is important because it means your stress level has been interrupted and the stress is lower than it was before.

Wellness is about feeling good. Feeling good lowers the risk factors that weaken our bodies and threatens our health.

It is interesting that you can't feel good and be depressed at the same time. There are a myriad of things that cannot thrive when you feel good.

So next time you feel stressed look for the things in your life that make you feel good and go for it. You might just save your life.

Kevin Kunz

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Feet's Features- The Importance of Your Feet

Your feet are important for a variety of reasons. When you think about buying cheap shoes versus more expensive shoes or you think you don't have time to take care of your feet or you override the pain in them think about the following facts:

• Feet provide you with the ability to move from place to place.
• Feet have an impact on your overall physical and mental health.
• Feet help shape how the body’s energy is expended.
• Feet have the ability to trigger the relaxation response.
• Feet if cared for continue to provide the capability to maintain independent living throughout your life into later years.

Keep your feet going and your feet will keep you going. But you must speak the language of your feet and that is the language of pressure, stretch and movement.

These are the signals that reset the foot's tension level and these are the signals that cause a relaxation response throughout your body. And finally these are the signals that will help them to keep in shape.

So grab your feet and get acquainted. What are you going to do for them today? And remember small investments in your feet can mean big returns.

Kevin Kunz

Friday, October 19, 2007

Reboot Your Feet- Reboot Your Body

Your feet and your body have a very "tight relationship". The feet help set the tension level for the body. the reason is simple. Standing upright requires tremendous coordination between the feet, the brain and the rest of the body.

Part of this is the proper tension level or "tone". Too little tone and you won't make it upright. Too much tone and you are wasting energy and placing a lot more demand on your body then is necessary.

So we are going to work on resetting the tension level of the feet and in turn resetting the tension level in the rest of the body. In computer parlance we are going to reboot the system.

Here are some of the things to help reboot your feet and reboot your body.

• Be aware of your feet and how they feel
• Pay attention to your feet: take an active role in keeping your feet happy
• Give your feet something new to think about: give them some stimulation
• Relax your feet by interrupting their stress frequently
• Avoid stressing your feet
• Strengthen your feet through exercise

This all about how much demand you place on your feet. We often are unaware of our feet and the stresses they face. We override their feelings. We expect them to function even though we may pay more attention to our car tires. If feet had tear ducts they would cry.

Feet are encased in a sensory deprivation tank of sorts, the shoe. Feet are quite simply bored to death from living in this environment and walking on flat unyielding surfaces.

Feet crave stimulation. Feet want to relax. And feet are willing to exercise.

I have a saying, "If your face was in that shoe instead of your feet you would take a lot better care of them". The feet are quite good at their job and that includes overriding overuse and even abuse. They can mask their feelings quite well.

So if you want to reboot your stress system start by taking care and maintaining your feet. Your feet will love you for it. Happy feet make for a happy body.

We are going to talk about rebooting schemes in the next few weeks as we head into the holiday season. And as you know rebooting is important to avoid system crashes. Holiday crashes.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A Stumble Caught in Time

A famous neurologist once called a footstep "a stumble caught in time". The art of walking takes an enormous amount of communication from our brain to the foot and the foot ot the brain. It also requires the integration of our balance mechanism into this whole process. If this any of this fails we fall. It is that simple.

As we age the communication between our brain and our feet starts to get dimmer. One reason is that shoes have an impact on this information superhighway. If you think of the foot as a sensory organ then a shoe in a sense is a "sensory blindfold" or a roadblock.

Currently there are research projects underway to amp up the signals from the bottom of our feet and from the very complex communication center, the ankle. It is very promising for preventing seniors from falling.

In one approach subconscious signals are sent through shoe inserts to the foot and on up to the brain in one project. The purpose is to keep seniors from falling by simply sending more information. More information means better righting position and better recovery from starting to fall. The translation is simple- less hip fractures, the killer of the elderly.

But falls also involve toppling over so another team is amping up the signals from your ankles. This device wraps around the ankle and "talks" to the brain about your ankle's position in relation to the ground. If you start to tip it feeds more information up the side where the tipping is taking place.

How to do this at home.

Until these devices are perfected there are a lot of things to do.

1) Take that sensory blind fold off or simply translated it means
remove your shoes. This alone amps up the signal from the foot to the brain.

2) Roll the bottom of your foot on a foot roller. A simple foot roller can do worlds of good in reawakening these lines of communication. And the bottom of the foot is the key to staying upright.

3) Add the element of touch and the communication is even richer. Research has shown that partner reflexology can be quite beneficial with patients undergoing chemotheraphy. The reason is simple. We all react very well to human touch.

Go to a reflexologist or find a foot friend to trade sessions with. And there is nothing that can truly measure a mother's touch. Family reflexology doesn't just provide a physical benefit but can be a lasting memory.

4) Rotate your ankles. This affects all four major muscle groups coming down from the legs. It also reawakens this communication hub we call the ankle.

Rotating the ankles moves nerve signals and both blood and lymph fluids through the bottleneck of the ankle. It opens up the traffic jam that occurs here and starts things flowing again.

To rotate your ankles simple rotate your ankles first in one direction then the other. You can use your big toe to draw a clockface in the air if you like but cover both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

There are a lot more ways to open up these pathways. We will cover them in upcoming blogs. But remember the more information we get from the feet the better chance we have to stay upright into a ripe old age.

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The First Boomer

Last night on the news they had a story on the first baby boomer to receive Social Security. The question that looms is whether we as a society can absorb the 79 million aging boomers.

I think about the medical costs we face or let say the generations following us face. And I think about the quality of life we face as we age. (Hell you can stick the kids with the bill but what about me?)

It was interesting that this report was also followed by a report on the decline in cancer statistics, The news report gave the all of the credit to the medical advances. Early detection and so forth is the key to this decline according to the news.

While I believe that early detection has contributed a tremendous amount there wasn't even a mention of self empowerment. There was no hint that people taking proactive steps towards nutrition, stress reduction, exercise and so forth could be contributing. Well I guess they know where their advertisers come from.

So on that note I plan to do a series of "Boomer Alerts" or things you can do empowering yourself to better health and being less of a burden on society and mostly your kids. We all don't want to be slackers, do we?

1st "Boom Alert" Have you ever notice how older people's chins are headed toward their belly buttons? This is gravity moving us out of alignment from a position where our head is supported in alignment with the rest of our bodies to where our head is dangling out ahead of us headed for our feet.

This does a number of interesting things. It makes us fragile and easy to topple over. Hip fractures contribute billions of dollars to health care costs.

We are more stressed as we have to adapt to this new stance. The feet tend to lock up since we shift our center of mass forward locking up the middle part of our feet or the locking wedge as it is called it.

This locks the the metatarsal heads (ball of the foot), our heart/chest/lung reflex area and locks the mid-tarsal joint which is right over the pancreas/adrenal reflex area.

Instead of circulating fluids they stagnant in not only the feet but the rest of the body as well. Stress is placed on the heart, kidneys and so forth.

The shoulders round over and a nice hump forms. The gait changes to adjust to this new stance. Sound familiar?

So here is a simple remedy for detaching your chin from your belt buckle. Bend back the other way. If you are sitting in a chair bend back and over the back of the chair and hold this for a few seconds. Or reach for the sky, partner. Only make sure to bend back as you do that. Again hold it for a few.

Or take up Yoga. But make sure you are bending in the opposite direction to the forward pull of gravity.

Break up that pattern of stress that is forming in your posture. Remember interrupt stress and do it frequently.

I will write more on the feet part of this solution in the next Boomer Alert. We need to unlock those feet before we get pounded to death.

Kevin Kunz

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Help the "Widgie Boy"

Our Irish friend, Michael calls me the "Widgie Boy" for my love of widgets. (It was "Widget Boy" but Michael does come up with the phrases.)

If you don't know what a widget is it is a small application that can tell you time, temperature or any of a thousand things. They are fun and can be very functional and educational. Or they can be just plain silly.

DK, our publisher, developed a hand reflexology widget for the release of Complete Reflexology for Life . the widget lights up various areas with you draw your mouse over it and tells you what area is related. It is a lot of fun and is spreading across the Internet like wildfire. http://www.clearspring.com/widgets/46dd6d7d25ffd441?p=46dd6d7d25ffd441

But just for fun I would like to see ithe widget spread even faster. Would you send the widget on to 10 friends and help spread the word about reflexology? (And of course, you will be helping us sell books as well.)

It is easy to send the widget on just click on "get & send" the button bar at the bottom. And be sure to click on the "Read Your Hand" bar to get to the big interactive charts.

Become a part of this vast conspiracy.

Kevin Kunz

Monday, October 15, 2007

I used to work for wild oats

> I am working at a benefit walk this weekend, Saturday, October 20. I am giving
Reflexology sessions after the walk and wondered if anyone has experience with short sessions.


I used to do the employee benefit plan for Wild Oats Health Market. The "front end" employees (cashiers) had 15 minutes with me. That meant 7 and a 1/2 minutes per foot.

Walkers have the same issues but may be not as severe. Standing is harder on the feet and legs than walking.

What I focused on was loosening the foot. Cashiers in the US stand all day so reversing the effects is a key. Traction is a fast and simple technique.

I used a lot of techniques we developed called "Stride Replication". The techniques are basically cupping, tapping and percussion applied to the foot (and sometimes the hands.) the ball of the foot and the ankle are great targets for cupping. It causes the whole foot to relax and resets the proprioceptors. (These techniques are in our latest book, Complete Reflexology for Life, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=0756628520/reflexologyreseaA/)

A quick pass through the endocrine glands and some desserts and you are onto the next foot.

I loved this job. It was fun. It also was very challenging. The challenge was different than working on a clients. It requires focus and flexibility.

One night as I was checking out from the service counter the guy behind the
counter snapped my picture with a Polaroid camera. Next thing I know he is on
the loudspeaker telling the store of the employees appreciation award I was being given.

I still run into people from Wild Oats who know me as the "foot guy". And I still have that award.

Kevin Kunz

Friday, October 12, 2007

Undercover Work

Yesterday I received a call from a friend whose mother was in the hospital. She asked me
to come over to the hospital to see if the reflexology might help.

The surprise was the young doctor who showed up and watch what I did for over an half
an hour. He was quite curious and we had a very pleasant chat. I talked about some research with
him and he respond very well to that.

But then he turned very serious and asked how medical personnel respond to me working
in the hospital. I replied that I used to call it "undercover work" years ago since I quite
literally worked under the covers. And when medical personnel approached I would
withdraw my hands.

I told him quite a few years ago I notice quite a bit of change. My grand nephew came
down with flesh eating bacteria and nearly died. I work on him everyday (most days- twice
a day) for 23 days while he was in intensive care.

Then one day a female doctor walked in. I backed up from the bed to let her gain access to
Jake. She said that it was all right, continue with my work and she would work around me.
So I did.

When she was finished her exam, she turned to me and said, "Now make sure you work on
the lungs," and then left. I looked around to see what planet I was on.

The young doctor was amused with my story. I ended up giving him a copy of Complete
Reflexology for Life. He seemed so very interested.

All in all a very nice experience.
Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Stepping on a Tack

I just ran across an old quote of mine that Reflexology Association of Canada liked.

"Kevin Kunz, one of the pioneers of reflexology, puts it best -- 'Imagine stepping on a tack. Your whole body reacts because of something perceived by the foot. Reflexology with a full range of pressure sensors, utilizes the same body system of fight or flight to relax the body.' Indeed,the feet and hands are more sensitive than most people realize. Similar to how we use our eyes to detect light, the hands and feet detect pressure, stretch, movement and weight distribution."

As we age our feet and hands lose communication with our brains. So stimulating the feet and hands as a sensory organs with different signals like pressure, stretch and movement can reconnect that trunk line between our extremities and our brain.

Even heat/cold, vibration and the scratchy surface of a loofah sponge or hairbrush can reestablish those lost connections. So when you think of the whole body reacting to stepping on a tack that same communication system can keep all our body parts connected to each other.

So you don't have to step on a tack to get the same effect.

Kevin Kunz


Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Judging a reflexology session

Judging a reflexology session
by Kevin Kunz

How long the relaxation effect lasts between reflexology sessions is a good indicator of how effective the session has been. It can also give you a sense of how long it may take to achieve some results.

If the relaxation effect lasts only a short period of time it may mean a number of things. It may mean that your stress level is high and may take some time to lower. Your body is literally in a state of emergency. Or it may mean that you did not respond very well to the session because of a number of factors. Or you may not be comfortable with reflexology as a modality. Sometimes it can be a reaction to a particular practitioner.

If your relaxation response lasts a moderately long period of time this is good news. It may take less time to achieve a conditioning effect or to reach the goal you are seeking. Work with the practitioner with self help to stretch out this effect.

Finally you may have just needed a nudge and the reflexology session has had long lasting effects. You are one of the lucky ones who respond well to reflexology. It will probably take a brief period of time to achieve your goals. With some self-help you can help speed along the results.

I look at it this way. When our stress load is extremely high all our resources are focused on surviving. If we can move the stress gauge down a bit the body responds by starting its own self repair process. Finally if we can lower the stress load sufficiently we can achieve a state of wellness where you feel good almost all of the time.

Awareness of your relaxation response is a key element in achieving success through reflexology sessions. Never feel timid about talking to the reflexologist about your progress. And finally find the reflexology style and reflexologist that best creates the relaxation effect you need for wellness.

Kevin Kunz

Monday, October 8, 2007

Oat Bran and Reflexology

No this isn't a blog on reflexology and digestive issues (although reflexology has done very well with this according to research). It is about the state of research in reflexology and prejudice towards the feet as impacting health.

Two scientific studies were done on oat bran. They show positive results on digestive issues.

Farmers suddenly couldn't plant oat bran fast enough to keep pace with the demand for in the marketplace. Now the consumption of bran in some form is a daily habit for millions of people.

We have documented 163 studies with a 90% positive rating for reflexology and various disorders. (The bulk of the negative studies have to do with the reflexologist's diagnostic abilities. Duh...) The research studies are detailed here. http://www.reflexology-research.com/Abstracts.html

Don't get me wrong. Reflexology is doing very well. But it is still fighting a strong headwind of prejudice towards the feet as having an impact on the health of people. Even though there is scientific evidence that it does impact health.

Any thoughts as to why this resistance?

Kevin Kunz

Saturday, October 6, 2007

What is Reflexology?








What is Reflexology?

Just updated the page "What is Reflexology/". Take a look. click here.
http://www.reflexology-research.com/whatis.htm

All the best,
Kevin Kunz
Complete Reflexology for Life

Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips
Over 370,000 sold- 18 languages
Interactive Foot Chart- http://www.dk.com/reflexology
http://www.reflexology-research.com

Friday, October 5, 2007

Rock and Roll Your Feet

Here's a simple way to break up the patterns of stress that form in your feet during the day. This exercise is also very good if you stand for long periods of time. It resets the pressure sensors in the feet and legs. And it strengthens the lateral muscles of the legs that are frequently under stimulated.

First stand with your feet about shoulder width wide. Bend your knees slightly. Next gently rock from side to side. You kind of roll across the foot.

If you have trouble with balance be sure to hold onto the back of a chair.

A lot of time you will hear popping and cracking as the joints loosen up. Nothing to worry about. The joints re simply releasing their tension.

You don't have to do it for long periods of time. It is actually better to do it several times a day for a few seconds than to do it for a long period of time. And never push it to extremes.

One of my clients does it after every session to open her feet up even further. And when you reset the tension level in the feet you also reset the tension level in the rest of the body.

So rock and roll your feet to better health.

Kevin Kunz

Complete Reflexology for Life

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Reflex Revival Technique





Could a reflex technique provide a helpful technique for one of the world's leading causes of
death - sudden cardiac arrest?

Worldwide, some three million people a year suffer a sudden cardiac arrest with a survival rate estimated to be less than 1%. Yet, by applying a reflex technique, reflexologists Kevin Kunz and Larry Clemmons have revived individuals who had, to all appearances, experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Given the serious nature of sudden cardiac arrest with slim chances of survival and the devastating impact on those left behind, the possibility that reflexology could make a difference is worth exploring - after all it made a difference for three individuals who encountered Kunz and Clemmons.

Read More
http://www.reflexology-research.com/revival.html

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

The "Poop Nurse"

The "Poop Nurse"
by Kevin Kunz at

We used to know a nurse down in Lubbock, Texas. She was nicknamed the "poop nurse" for her work with infants.

Infants have to defecate and urinate within a certain period or real trouble will ensue. This nurse used her reflexology skills to trigger a response. Thus her nickname came into being.

At one point a new supervisor came into the hospital. she forbid her from doing her infant reflexology work. So the poop nurse quit her job and move on to the next hospital that was more than happy to hire her.

Infants have tiny feet so it doesn't take much pressure to effect the organs of elimination. Gentle pressure to the bottoms of the feet does wonders.
For further information try


Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Bubbles on my feet











> hi All,
> I am looking at my feet right now and they look fine. I notice some nites there are
> bubbles on my feet just above my spine reflex from my heel to the end of my arch. what
> does this mean? Debbie
>
Debbie

Have you ever injured your tailbone? Frequently these bubbles connect this to injury to the tailbone and/or the back. By pressing on the heel with the flat of the thumb you can bring these areas out. We call this "press and assess".

Fractures tend to be more pronounced but all kinds of injury can produce these bubbles. Child birth can even cause injury to the tailbone. But sometimes people don't recall the injury but do notice discomfort sitting for long periods of time for example, extended plane flights.

The good news is you now have "targets" for technique application. Point it out to your practitioner. A golf ball or even a superball can be used to apply self help technique.

A side note: Technique application to the heel will often lessen the overall foot tension. But Jim Ingram of FRAA came up with a great tip. Work this tailbone area to loosen the foot. It has the same effect without wearing out your thumbs on tough heels.

Kevin Kunz

Monday, October 1, 2007

A Simple "Read Your Feet" Tip

A Simple "Read Your Feet" Tip
by Kevin Kunz

If you have worked on feet or even if you work on your own feet you may have noticed "white areas". As I said in a previous post "white areas" tend to indicate that the body is having trouble getting blood to an area. The Chinese saw this as a depletion of energy.

If you are working on the big toe reflex area as an example, it may be reflecting a lack of circulation to head/neck or sinuses. See these charts.

With practice and some careful questions you can often find the source of the stress. A neck injury can show up as a white streak on the base of the big toe. Go here for an example. http://www.reflexology-research.com/stresscue.html

Note that there are two white bands with a red area in between. This was a severe throat infection.

Now here is the clever bit. If you have noticed these white areas have you ever taken note on how fast they fade away? The longer they take to fade away the more chronic or severe in general the condition. By asking follow up questions you can usually figure out whether it is a current stress, severe stress, chronic stress or not much of a concern.

You have to try a lot of feet to get a feeling for this. But with observation you can get pretty good at this. I sometimes just press and hold an area and then release it to see how long it takes to normalize. I have even timed it.

You can do this with self help as well. Try pressing on an area and then releasing. How long does it take to fade?

Does it stay white? Does this match your assessment of the corresponding area? Can you see changes in the area after you apply technique for awhile? Does it get better after a series of sessions with a reflexologist or with consistent self help application?

Let me know what you observe.

Kevin Kunz

Sunday, September 30, 2007

The Bagel Bribe

Bagels and cream cheese as a bribe for reflexology was a Sunday ritual for a radio broadcaster we met.

It was a Denver radio show several years ago. The host liked his feet done but his usual sidekick did not like her feet touched. This interview she was out sick and had a replacement. The replacement loved to have her feet done.

It was more than foot reflexology for this DJ. It was a Sunday family ritual. Dad would "bribe" the kids to rub his feet with bagels, lox and cream cheese. As she told the story a very warm smile passed over her face. It was obviously a family moment and a "dear old Dad" moment as well.

With our busy lives it is difficult to find such moments. We know of several families where reflexology has been a centering experience. Do you have a ritual that involves the family?

Kevin Kunz

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Red, White and Blue Feet

Red, White and Blue Feet
by Kevin Kunz

Red, white and blue feet are not patriotic feet but stress cues you can pick up from visually observing the feet. The color of feet tell you a lot about not only the general condition of health but may well give you clues as to very specific health problems.

The Chinese say that red is an engorgement of blood while white is a depletion of energy. I put it this way. Red the body is having trouble getting blood away from an area. White it is having trouble getting blood to an area.

An overall redness and there is a general stress on the system. An overall pale white look there is a general weakness. You could call the red foot a "yang foot" and the pale white foot the "yin foot".

What about the blue foot you ask? Well that foot is indicating a problem with oxygen and usually appears with people with lung problems.

Where this gets very interesting is when color stress cues are very specific. Stay tuned. We will have more.

Remember this isn't medical diagnosis and shouldn't replace standard medical care. It is stress cue assessment and can indicate where stress is present.

For more information see. The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology and MyReflexologist Says Feet Don't Lie.

Kevin Kunz

Friday, September 28, 2007

How to Read Your Feet

Feet can tell you a lot about your body. Calluses, for instance, can tell you where there is stress in the body. Callus on the back of the heel tells you that you are pitching your weight to the lower back. Callus on the side of the big toe is a stress cue that could be pointing to stress at the base of the skull. Callus on the ball of the foot directly below the little toe could be pointing to shoulder pain.

Curled toes tell you a lot as well. They usually indicate hidden pain in the ball of the foot. The toes try to curl to protect the area and give you a little lift off the ground. It does not work very well but often points to tension in the upper back and chest.

These are visual stress cues which are the easiest to pick out. But there are also touch and what we call "press and assess". The later stress cue is fun in classes for picking out tailbone injuries. Bubbles will appear on the side of the foot when you press the heel. Always a crowd pleaser.

I will cover more stress cues in this blog but if you want more information on this The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology and MyReflexologist Says Feet Don't Lie cover this subject extensively.

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Google rejected us

It was our first. The first time we were turned down for a demonstration. The email came this morning from authors@Google .com.

I don't blame them. There was a dozen potential list reasons for turning us down. Any one of those reasons could nix the deal. But usually people are enthusiastic about a demo.

I am disappointed. It is not the curiosity factor of seeing the Google campus. It isn't really meeting the Google team. Although both those factors would be great there is something more.

I love to do demonstrations. I love to do them because you meet such interesting feet. Even famous feet at times. But I will take ordinary feet anytime because they can be intriguing.

We once did a series of demonstrations for Wild Oats Markets. A woman sat down in my chair. I picked up her feet and said, 'I've worked on these feet before."

She said, "You are amazing. You worked on feet over ten years ago and only for one time. I walked out of your office and my neck popped back in place. It was fine. I felt guilty about never calling you and telling you what happened."

She asked how I knew I had worked on her feet. I explained she had a distinctive stress cue on her foot. And then I joked, "I might not remember your face but I remember your feet."

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Reflexology Paths for Elephants

Reflexology Paths for Elephants
by Kevin Kunz at 5:47 AM PDT, September 26, 2007

A rug salesman years ago told me that elephant's feet are so sensitive that Barnum and Bailey's circus had a special rug designed for their elephants. His company had designed the rugs for them.

A South African reflexologist wrote me awhile latter about how the local zoo had noted that if available the elephants will roll their feet on rocks. It had made the papers. Perhaps they are doing this for their sore feet.

If you google elephants feet you find out what a terrible problem sore feet have become. A Wall Street Journal article, "Elephants Have An Achilles Heel, and It's Their Feet", points out that a number of elephants have died from the complications of sore feet. Several zoos have closed out their programs because of the problem and the Federal government last year solicited the public for solutions.

I was talking to my friend, Michael, in Ireland explaining this situation. Without hesitation Michael said "Why don't they build reflexology paths for the elephants?"

He was referring to the reflexology paths that are spreading throughout Asia and Europe . These paths are just now starting to spread throughout the US.

They are designed to stimulate the bottom of the feet with well placed rocks and logs to simulate the natural surfaces we no longer experience because of shoe wear and flat surfaces. And research has shown they impact the health of senior citizens.

If you were to design an elephant reflexology path how would you design it?

My thanks to Michael Kinneavy for this great idea.

Kevin Kunz


Complete Reflexology for Life

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Interactive Hand Chart

Click all the buttons.

Disneyland for the feet and hands

"Variety is not just the spice of life it is the very stuff of life itself." This was the statement by a man who had just left a sensory deprivation tank. It holds true to reflexology as well.

Feet and hands need variety to achieve stability. Shoes have been called the modern cradle-board because of the way they reshape the feet. Hands are subject to repetitive stress injuries because they are way overboard with the same tasks.

A new concept is gaining hold. It is called allostasis. It is the ability to achieve stability through adaptation or change. We need change to achieve stability. Flat, boring surfaces stress the feet. Pounding on a keyboard stresses the hands. They stress and weaken our whole system.

A reflexology session to me is like Disneyland for the feet and hands. It is a variety of sensations that we seldom experience in our day to day lives. The variety of techniques creates stability not only in our feet and hands but within our nervous system as well. The nervous system needs change to remain stable.

What if you were put in charge of creating a Disneyland for the feet and hands- what would you design?

Kevin Kunz
Complete Reflexology for Life

Friday, September 21, 2007

You've got me under pressure

Too much pressure and you can trigger a fight or flight response. Too little and there is not much response at all. Finally the response I think sums up proper technique application is that it "hurts good".

I have three rules on applying pressure techniques.

1) Stay within their comfort zone. Too much pressure and you can trigger a fight or flight response. Too little and there is not much response at all. Remember Goldilocks?

2) Maintain eye contact. Or at least fairly constant eye contact. The eyes frequently indicate the response to your technique application.

3) Ask if it is comfortable enough. Even with eye contact some people are very stoic which isn't really good. They will say after a session, "you really killed me."

Finally the response I think sums up proper technique application is that it "hurts good". How many of you have heard this expression?

Kevin Kunz

Thursday, September 20, 2007

I have to share this with you

I have to share this with you. We are so excited. After months of working with the DK IT team the widget is a smash hit. This article also talks about the Interactive charts which have become "the most viewed content on the publisher's website".

DK develops reflexology 'widget'
20.09.07 Joel Rickett
The Booksellers.com

Dorling Kindersley has created a "widget" for users to grab and add to their websites and profiles on Facebook and other social networking sites.

The widget, which supports the launch of Reflexology for Life by Kevin & Barbara Kunz, lets users read their hands using a reflexology map. It is based on DK's online reflexology charts, which have become the most viewed content on the publishers' website.
******************

Try the widget. And then it on a friend or post it on your web site or Facebook page.
http://www.clearspring.com/widgets/46dd6d7d25ffd441?p=46dd6d7d25ffd441

Or if you like go directly to the highly addicted Interactive Foot and Hand Charts.
http://www.dk.com/reflexology

Okay I will calm down now. Sort of...

Kevin Kunz

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Three Factors that Determine Success in Reflexology

Three Factors that Determine Success in Reflexology

The Chinese reflexology researchers figured out awhile back how to make reflexology more successful.

They varied these 3 factors:

Frequency or how often you did reflexology.

Duration or how long you did reflexology.

Strength of signal or how hard you did reflexology.

To deal with serious health concerns you increase the frequency and duration of sessions but not necessarily the strength of signal. That needs careful attention.

The Chinese arrangement is usually daily six days a week for two week segments. Then they assess the progress. If they need more application they do another two weeks repeating the pattern.

This seems an impossible accomplishment. The Chinese however will use a combination of practitioner help, family help and self help. But if you have a serious health problem would it be worth daily applications to overcome it? Of course.

I actually use frequency with critical ill people long before I knew of this research. I found that every 6 hours with a critically ill person can be quite helpful, life saving in fact. (It seemed to save my grand nephew from the ravages of flesh eating bacteria.)

The strength of signal is interesting because it is somewhat like the tale of Goldilocks. Too light and the technique application has little effect, too heavy and the technique application can actually be counterproductive.


Best

Kevin

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

We appreciate your reviews

We Appreciate Reviews
Do you like our books? Do you think they could help others? Your Opinion Counts.
Reviews on Amazon are extremely helpful to both the reader and the author. Reviews help the reader make an informed choice. Reviews also help us with feedback about what you liked about our books.
A few sentences on why you liked the book are just fine. A formal review is not really necessary.
Please only do this if you read our book(s) and feel your review will give guidance to other reflexology readers.
Thanks,
Barbara and Kevin

Complete Reflexology for Life


Complete Reflexology for Life has been released in the US. Yeah :-)

We have decided this is our favorite book. It has a lot of "us" in it. It also has a series of techniques I developed years ago to rejuvenate the feet.

These techniques are fast and quickly loosen the feet. They are really pretty simple to perform.

The techniques work off the concept that the foot is a sensory organ and responds to sensory signals of pressure, stretch and movement. What the foot does in response to these signals is to relax.

This book is aimed at all age groups and both genders.

Have fun

Hand Reflexology Interactive Widget

Click all the buttons for fun.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Wow, what are the odds?

Barbara and I went to a birthday party last night. We usually don't go to parties because I end up working on feet all night.

At any rate we meet the host /birthday boy, Mark at the door. We are carrying our new book, Complete Reflexology for Life to show Mark.

Mark leads us into the kitchen and introduces us to three people.

These people were well familiar with our work. One of the women, Jill explains that she bought our book, Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips . Wow what are the odds of that.

But then Jill goes on. Her daughter's baby had swelling on the brain in our local university hospital. They were frantic when the nurses had them try reflexology and it worked.

She also told me about using our book to work on inducing labor. That worked as well.

Jill went through every page in the new book very carefully. I was wondering what was going through her head.

I have to find out more.

Kevin