Thursday, August 28, 2008

Reuse Pringles Can As Foot Massager


Reuse Pringles Can As Foot Massager

© Photographer's DLeonis. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

I've found another use for a Pringles can. I recently injured my back and have nerve damage in my foot and leg. My foot burns constantly and the muscles in my lower leg are pretty well shot. I've found relief by rolling a Pringles can forward and back, from heel to toe. I can do this under my desk while I work. It feels like an incredible massage on the bottom of your foot. I believe it's helping to build my muscles back up in my foot and lower leg, as well. This is what you call "good and cheap".

By Artlady from Edmond, OK


As you can spend a lot of money on foot rollers. but you can also use found objects for a pretty good foot roller. The Pringles can from Thriftyfun.com is a good idea. Here are some others.

Our first typist on The Complete Guide to Foot Reflexology used an old coffee can. This worked fine until it shot out from under her desk at the office she worked at. It hit her boss's foot who happened to be walking by. He was quite puzzled.

A couple of old golf balls dropped in a sock is nifty. Tie a knot so the golf balls don't escape.

A tortilla rolling pin which looks like a fat dowel stick works. It was a traditional practice for Mexican women to drop it on the floor after a long day and simply roll their feet. (see picture above) Hopefully they washed it before the next use. :-)

Dog toys are cheap and frequently have interesting features which make them good for rolling your feet. A example is a throwing stick which has ribbing on it. Of course if your dog is around this may proof troublesome.

What can you think of that is one effective and two cheap to free?

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com


Friday, August 22, 2008

Reflexology at the Olympics


© pomortzeff. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

It is interesting reading all the blogging coming out of China. There are a lot of reports of people talking about their reflexology experiences. The athletes and journalists have been reportedly treated to reflexology through the Olympic village. But the spectators have share the experience as well since reflexology has become so popular in China.

As the Olympics draw to a close there is all ready a move on by UK reflexologists to provide athletes and media reflexology at the 2012 Games in London. Have the chinese started a trend which may continue into the foreseeable future?

Might the future of athletics be shaped by the introduction of reflexology into the Olympics. When Dara Torres misses a gold medal by 1/100th of a second could reflexology have helped? Could gymnasts vying for the gold have a better chance with reflexology because reflexology contributes to their balance and body awareness? Or could sprinters have that little extra burst of energy at the finish line to make that winning dash?

I have always felt reflexology had more than a health role to play. Health is critical. But we also enjoy our recreation.

Sports are increasingly competitive. What could reflexology do to contribute to helping those athletes chase their dreams?

Something to think about.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

No Pain- No gain

YouTube - 绍甫脚底按摩

You won't believe this footwork. It is real torture. Notice the bamboo held between the teeth.

Not recommend technique. It is almost funny if it wasn't so painful to watch

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Reflexology at the Olympics

Just got a spotting of reflexology on the Today Show (US). It was 8:45 AM (August 19) in a segment called "Today from Beijing". If anyone can tape it we would be most grateful. Please send it to footc@mac.com.

It may be shown tonight.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

BTW The foot reflexology widget has gone crazy. There are 19,000 hits so far.

Friday, August 15, 2008

In Japan, dressing up from toe to toe


In Japan, dressing up from toe to toe - International Herald Tribune: "reflexology"
Toe socks

We were given toe socks as a present when we visited Japan in 1990. They are a bit hard to get on but a lot of fun.

This was years ago and toe socks were not distributed in the West that much. Toe socks get a lot of attention.

I liked taking off my shoes at demonstrations and wiggling my toes. It looks very strange. The toes look like little stubby fingers.

The ancient Egyptians saw the toes as being associated with different gods. As this article points out the Japanese believe socks are an important part of dress.

They do have their own individual personalities. Perhaps the toes for a lot of reasons need their own space.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Thursday, August 14, 2008

The Olympic Village and Reflexology


ART & TRAVELS: The Olympic VillageCRYSTAL'S ART

© PCUMMINGS. Image from BigStockPhoto.com


With an estimated 5 million reflexologists in China according to the Chinese government it was bound to happen that the athletes encounter reflexology. But we would not have guessed the athletes would have unlimited reflexology at the Olympic Village according to New Zealand blogger, Crystal Bretschger.


The Olympic Village


"Oskar gave me a tour yesterday of the Olympic Village and it's awesome. The guys are staying at a 5-star hotel, but for free. All athletes have at their disposal; unlimited massages/reflexology, healthcare, food (dining hall and take-away cafe), gym, olympic sized pool and an army of volunteers."


***********************************************

I am hopeful that the TV will cover this.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The premature baby who was kept alive by tickling her feet

© MyShotz.com. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
The premature baby who was kept alive by tickling her feet
| Mail Online


"Being so premature meant that Emma's heart had not fused together properly, so at six weeks old she had to have surgery to correct it.'

"The operation was a success, but afterwards Emma was faced with another life-threatening problem. She would suddenly stop breathing dozens of times each day.'

"Mrs Young said: 'The first time it happened Emma's face went white and I thought we had lost her. But then the nurses leapt into action and tickled the soles of her feet.'

"Suddenly her little chest started to go up and down again.'

"The nurses told us that because she had been so premature, her body kept forgetting how to breathe.'
By LUCY LAING, Daily Mail
Last updated at 7:46 AM on 04th August 2008

My comment:
Dr. Oz in his book, 'Healing from the Heart" talks about saving a young patient's life by pumping his foot. We have revived several people using the "pituitary" area of the foot. Isn't it time to look at the main ingredient of reflexology, pressure to the bottom of the feet, as the most important element in the workings of reflexology?

If a premature baby can be reflexively brought back to life by tickling her foot, what is the systematic application of pressure techniques doing?

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Friday, August 8, 2008

Foot Reflexology Interactive Widget


What a surprise! This morning I ran into DK/Penguin's last widget - a foot reflexology widget based on our books.

Sneaky #$%&*. DK didn't tell me. Wanted to surprise us.

the Foot Reflexology Widget is even better than the Hand Reflexology Widget as it is even more precise in locating the areas.

You can put this widget on your web page, blog or social networking site such as MySpace or Facebook with the click of a button.

Spread the word. Tell ten friends. thanks.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Balance problems? Step into the iShoe

Balance problems? Step into the iShoe - MIT News Office

"Your grandmother might have little in common with an astronaut, but both could benefit from a new device an MIT graduate student is designing to test balancing ability.'

"The iShoe insole could help doctors detect balance problems before a catastrophic fall occurs, says Erez Lieberman, a graduate student in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology who developed the technology as an intern at NASA.

CNN Balance problems? Step into the iShoe
MIT grad student's invention could one day prevent fall.'
Anne Trafton, News Office
July 16, 2008

The smart shoe may be on it's way. The idea behind this shoe is to prevent catastrophic falls. But the inventor seems to have plans beyond that.

"Lieberman is now testing the iShoe technology in a small group of patients. The current model is equipped to diagnose balance problems, but future versions could help correct such problems, by providing sensory stimulation to the feet when the wearer is off-kilter."

I predicted the smart shoe years ago. I was disappointed when the first shoe was simply a running shoe that tracked your activity. The IShoe shows real promise as a revolution in footwear for seniors.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Hand reflexology - Clearspring


Hand reflexology - Clearspring

We are closing in on a million hits on our Hand Reflexology Widget. Close to 3500 web sites, blogs, and social networking sites have put the widget on their sites.

Help us pass a million. Come see our Hand Reflexology widget. It is fun and the widget link leads to the great interactive charts produce by our publisher DK/Penguin. http://www.dk.com/reflexology

Learn reflexology the fun way.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Reflexology Charts


Reflexology Charts

People Love Charts

We just put up a page on our reflexology charts in bulk. It is probably the fastest and easiest way to spread the word about your reflexology practice. We can have the charts personalized with your name and number on them. It is a really good marketing tool. People hold onto charts forever.

If you don't have a reflexology practice we can produce charts without your information. It is a great way to spread the word about reflexology. And it is a fun conversation piece.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Russian Astronauts and Children's Development



Years ago there was a Russian device that was meant to help with the effects of weightlessness in space. Rather than the high tech devices like the American space program this was pretty simple.

It looked like a detached swing like from a playground swing set. You hooked the "seat" around your feet and pulled on the ropes to produce pressure to the bottom of the feet. Astronauts experience a lot of serious effects of zero gravity. Astronauts particularly lose a great deal of bone mass in the heel. Pressure to the bottom of the feet helps mitigate the effects.

Imagine our surprise to find a similar device to help kids develop neurologically. Again the device loops around the feet and kids walk on it. Maybe these kids are future astronaut in training.

Kevin Kunz

http://www.reflexology-research.com

Monday, August 4, 2008

No pain, no gain

YouTube - foot reflexology

"Taiwan set a World Record by arranging for 1,008 people to have a foot massage simultaneously."

The above is a video of this Guinness book of record attempt at the largest foot reflexology session ever held. The event took place in Taiwan.

The interesting part of this video is the expressions on the participant's faces. They are expressions of pain. The Asian view of reflexology in general is "no pain, no gain."

This video took me back to our trip to Japan in 1990. We attended the Rwo Shr conference. Our host, a Japanese company that marketed foot rollers, paid our whole way and entertained us in lavish style.

I had given a speech for several thousand people which was indeed intimidating but I got through it. I felt it was all downhill from there.

Then they asked me to give a speech to their consultants. They were reflexologists who worked in a type of product show room that featured reflexology and massage products for the home. It sounded like a piece of cake since it was only for 60 people.

But at the last second they asked me to explain the difference between the Rwo Shr method and our method. Having been worked on by a Rwo Shr practitioner I was a bit panicked. The pain was incredible. I begged off the second foot. And I have a high tolerance to pain.

Father Josef, a Swiss priest brought back some of the ancient techniques. The Rwo Shr method (meaning Josef in Mandarian Chinese) was named for him. He explained to us that he is really pretty tough with his technique application but he got results.

What was quite awkward was that Father Josef was sitting in the first row with the other dignitaries of the Rwo Shr method. Then it struck me. My old martial arts background was the ticket.

While we were waiting to be taken to the conference earlier that day I had been fooling around with one of those travel kiosks that tells you about sites of note. Having practiced Judo in my younger years I looked up the Kodokan. The Kodokan is the home of judo in Japan.

The kiosk information talked about judo being "the gentle way". That was it. When I gave my speech I explained that in Juijitsu, the forerunner of judo there were two schools- the soft school and the hard school. We were the soft school of reflexology like judo was to juijitsu. Around the room there was a nodding of heads as this seemed agreeable. The front row seemed very pleased as well.

The only downside of this was my nickname from then on. I was "software" from then on among my Japanese friends.

Seeing those faces grimacing in the Guinness record video brought all that back.

Kevin Kunz