Ancient Tomb Painting Alive in Brooklyn, NY, USA! - Reflexology Has Come a Long Way Like Yoga!

 "live" tomb painting

- If you are a reflexologist, please, take a close look.  I'd like to think the reflexes worked on area the pituitary gland reflexes (more or less in the center of the thumb/toe prints).   

Here is more info about the painting: 
- Speaking of which, "do not let it by painful," that is, if you have ever had a reflexology session, you may know that some areas might be sensitive, depending on the health of your feet, genetics, your general health, etc.  

Origins of Reflexology most likely are China, India, Egypt - all makes sense to me - but ultimately we will never know.  It makes sense to think that all ancient cultures had enough awareness to sense the interconnectedness of the body.  They had to be much more in tune because it was a matter of survival.  They also did not have television, books, phones, internet, cars for distraction.

As for the live painting, I met my three fun loving and spontaneous partners in crime through a New York State Reflexology Association (now TRA: Tristate Reflexology Association on FB) continuing education workshops and/or World Reflexology Week (WRW) events celebrated annually the last full week of September, during which reflexologists around the globe educate about and promote reflexology.  Links are towards the end of the post. 

I think it only took two weeks to plan this.  Carol has to be thanked for scouting out two beautiful locations, had very specific advise on the color scheme via a personal Disney contact and hosted.  Lynn guided us through clowning.  Patricia figured out the anatomy.  Brian drove/assisted, and the late Luise for wanting to help behind the camera despite health-related challenges due to her love for reflexology.  I initiated it.  

  

Ancient cultures must have known about the significance of the feet.  If they knew about the meridians, chakras, etc. why would they not have known the micro systems, the "reflexes?" 

Foremost, it was all about getting something off my bucket list, be creative and have a fun get together with my colleagues. 

A photo wound up on the cover of RAA. 

(Reflexology Association of America Magazine (thank you, Carol), and sported the website of ICR (International Council of Reflexologist) for a while.

Egyptian Tomb Painting

(I finally got to work on this again - the formatting - and resurrected this post. 
Keeping fingers crossed the formatting will stay intact.  In case it does not, we'll blame it on google. 

Have you come across the said Egyptian tomb painting which reflexologists believe to depict Foot and Hand Reflexology (see below)? 

The earliest known reference to Reflexology is believed to be nearly 4,450 years old. Illustrations found on the wall of the Physician's Tomb at Saqqara, Egypt dating to around 2,330BC shows the therapeutic benefits of manipulating points on the hands and feet.  According to the Papyrus Institute in Cairo, the hieroglyphic writing above the scene reads "Do not let it be painful" says one of the patients. "I do as you please" is the reply. 

- The four of us (on the left; from left to right Lynn Levy, Carol Schwartz, Birgit Nagele (that is me), and Patricia Sanzone) - a few thousand years later doing the same thing in August 2013 at the waterfront in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, USA.  

Reflexologists support you by using very specific techniques - different from massage (this needs to be stressed) to bring more balance to possibly painful reflex and usually as well as the entire body's reflexes and that affects the entire body.  The result is improved harmony or homeostasis.  I prefer the term homeodynamic. 

There is gentle touch reflexology (Sue Ricks, UK based), moderate pressure and those of you coming from deep tissue massage might prefer very deep pressure even during a reflexology session.  I personally have tried all levels of pressure and prefer mostly gentle touch to get in touch with my body and be more present and get deep rest if possible. 

Please, note, more pressure does not necessarily mean better results when it comes to reflexology, but it may mean that you are on the edge of your seat/massage table throughout the session, and perhaps the "good feeling" will come from getting off the table in one piece afterwards.  My view is: allow yourself to experience gentleness especially because life can be so hectic and not gentle at all; yin and yang if you will, but ultimately I recognize preferences vary. 

 
Father Hu's youngest practitioner whom I received a session from during the ICR Conference in Taitung, Taiwan last year did not apply deep pressure.  I also made him aware of pain in my right instep coming from stepping on a sharp rock.  It was a wonderful experience.  

However, I also had a very deep pressure session in Taipei that left me feeling very bad, but only for one day.  It left me with an understanding why someone would tolerate deep pressure, it might be the concept of "no pain no gain" which is so popular.

Father Hu has been known to reflexologists to use a lot of pressure, but he has eased his stance on it,  I heard him say that in person.  Good pain is ok, but I would say only on reflexes we might focus on.  

As for modern Reflexology, it has been developed by New York physicians like Dr. William Fitzgerald, his disciple Dr. Riley, as well as physical therapist Eunice Ingham referred to mother of reflexology, who resided in Rochester, New York, part of the year. 

While we worked hard on this hot day back in August, we also found time to have some extra-curricular fun - thank you for lighting up our day even more by bringing your clown nose,  Lynn. 

By the way, a colleague has since told me she heard that it was reflexologists joking about the painting being a depiction of reflexology and that it spread somehow. 

Perhaps the most important thing is that reflexology is still practiced and continues to evolve, rather than being forgotten because it has been difficult to get the acceptance of legislative bodies and because at times it is mentioned in one sentence with human trafficking.

Yes, it is true, there is that as well.  In New York State we have spoken openly about this in Albany with legislators. 

Lynn (who is a game designer) brought her clown noses..

Carol clowning some more.. 

 
  Golden smiles 

 Setting up on one of the locations 

 Working on realization of the tomb painting with Brian

Luise getting ready

Thank you for your visit, 

B. 

A few mindful breaths can at times allow for more ease...