Ember's Upset Belly - Good Enough Mom

Ember and I at Lincoln Center (2019)

This morning I heard Ember coming towards me before throwing up in front of my bed. I remembered she ate something off the street last night and I was glad she got it out of her system. I comforted her and told her I was sorry she was not feeling well.

She received: 

A hug 

One Minute Reflexology for Animals 

Paw Reflexology on all 4 paws

Belly Rubs 

Chest Rubs 

During our walks, she was slower than usual and she was more insistent than usual on where she wanted to go, and I think she was definitely weakened, but we did play a little catch and fetch towards the end of the walk, and she chewed on a stick. 

Reflecting on this morning, I was very moved by the fact that she came to me to throw up (no, I don't want her to be in pain ever, that is a given) and I was wondering whether that means that she trusts me, that she knows I will comfort her. I believe she definitely knows by now how good Reflexology is for her. Yes, always wondering if I am good enough a dog mom, but our reflexology practice definitely supports her. Every once in a while I get flooded with a dose of endorphins caused by my gratitude about the existence of One Minute Reflexology for Animals. I really do, and I am glad I followed my heart. 

If you'd like to try it with your pets, here is a pdf of One Minute Reflexology for Animals found on the ICR website:

And here are videos of a few random morning sessions with Ember, please make sure to read the description https://youtu.be/j3HQ9O-EblU?si=KPEaXo_AX2PUzb7u

Thank you for reading,

Birgit and 🐾 Ember 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F, she/her

Reflexology & Yoga (chair)

Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

Asking for More Food in Three Ways?

 



Yesterday morning, Ember's breakfast portion was a bit smaller than usual. We had run out of raw food. The dry food was the usual amount. I figured it was perhaps ok because a pet parent friend of ours, suggested yesterday that Ember could lose a bit of weight. I pointed at my belly saying that it was in the family:-). 

As I started to get engaged with a work matter, after feeding her, she did something unusual:

1. She dropped one of our many "rescued balls"  (we find balls often in the park) next to me on the couch. Hm, does she want to play? Generally she immediately embarks on her nap after breakfast. I accepted her invitation to play a bit because it is always great fun. In the park when we engage in ball play she gets treats, for catching/fetching dropping. 

- Then it occurred to me that she might still be hungry. She had noticed that there was less raw food.  

2. She had also returned to her bowl but that does happen from time to time. 

3. And she also looked at the coatrack which was very odd since we had a long walk as most of the time and just gotten back. She tends to look at her leash and harness hung up around walk time but obviously my coats are hung up, too.

Was she telling me to get my coat and go buy raw food?  

Wow, just wow, Ember! 

- I conclude she said to go get dog food. 

- And perhaps she figured that if she engaged me in ball play, she would get treats which will make up for the smaller portion. 

What did I do? I listened. I gave her more treats, and I was reminded to make sure to buy her raw food. 

- I personally have made many observations since I embarked on my reflexology for animals path in 2010 surrounding Mowgli and Ember supporting the fact that animals are sentient beings, individuals, the ways they communicate, their intelligence, their spunk, etc. 

As for animal communication: I will never forget the black bear mom signaling with a growl and eye contact with me - my eyes glued at the bear family's every move for an hour or so - that she and her four (!!) adorable cubs were about to leave the pine tree (very close to the deck we were on) and that she needed space to do so, kkrrr, she was giving us a friendly warning, just in case.

I immediately understood and it took her quite a while to manage her four cubs because they were so playful and not in a hurry at all to leave the area. I have since several videos of mom bears dealing with their cubs. Absolutely precious.  

Because of our reflexology practice, my curiosity about Ember and animals in general increased. I find animals endlessly fascinating and they give me strength, hope, and so much joy. Who needs people? Just kidding. I am fascinated by people, too. 

The reflexology practice is trauma-informed*  (see link) and fosters Ember's connection to herself and  also our connection to each other. We have come a long way. She had deeply entrenched trauma caused by early life abandonment, she was taken in as a stray by the Bowling Green Humane Society and came to New York in a van full of dogs with Muddy Paws and before we adopted her on November 26, and she had at least two foster families in about two weeks. 

Thank you for reading, 

Birgit and 🐾 Ember

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F, she/her

Reflexology & Yoga (chair)

Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

*One Minute Reflexology for Animals was part of my final paper  (2019) to become a TCTSY (Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga Facilitator). The TCTSY methodology I have found can also be applied to reflexology, and has been applied to Weight Lifting (TIWL).  

200.000 Nerve Endings in the Feet and Reflexology

As for a possible number of nerve endings on the feet, the latest I came across was 200,000. 

I had been looking for a number ever since a clinical psychologist laughed at the number I was told which was 7,200 many years ago. He said it was many many more.  I regret not having insisted on a number:-). This was in 2011. 

How many? Ha! He is right, of course, I had no doubts, he knew what he was talking about - I respected his work. I remember how curious I was.

For those who have been experiencing reflexology these numbers are not necessarily important because of their  experience, the benefits, etc., and not the discussions surrounding it… 

The below paragraph was a possible answer for me. This is probably of interest to fellow reflexologists, reflexology trainers, schools. And yea, it is really helpful to connect to our feet and the ground if possible from time to time. I need to to much more of it myself, I live in NYC. 

"Geary explains that the nerves in our feet are sensitive (the sole of your foot has over 200,000 nerve endings– one of the highest concentrations in the entire body) for this very reason; they make us safer, more careful, and better able to adapt to the ground beneath us. When barefoot, we are better able to climb, cut, pivot, balance, and adjust rapidly when the ground shifts beneath us, as it does when we walk on uneven terrain, or anything besides concrete and pavement."

As for the significance of the feet related to reflexology, I will keep it simple and use what RAA (Reflexology Association of America) has been using since 2019, the result of a discussion between organizations and practitioners. 

Reflexology is a protocol of manual techniques, such as thumb and finger-walking, hook and backup and rotating-on-a-point, applied to specific reflex areas predominantly on the feet and hands. These techniques stimulate the complex neural pathways linking body systems, supporting the body’s efforts to function optimally. The effectiveness of reflexology is recognized worldwide by various national health institutions and the public at large as a distinct complementary practice within the holistic health field.

According to reflexology the feet, hands, ears (face, too, by the way and possibly many other areas) are a microcosm of the entire body and are seen as a gateway to welless. So yes your feet are a representation of your entire body as well as the foundation of your anatomy. 

Thank you for your visit and for reading, 

Birgit 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F, she/her

Reflexology & Yoga (chair)

Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

http://nymag.com/health/features/46213/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/02/29/why-kids-should-go-barefoot-more-and-probably-adults-too/

I may have shared this in an article I contributed to a reflexology newsletter, possibly International Council of Reflexologists (ICR) since I served on their board from 2017-2021.

I wanted to elaborate on the foot-neural pathways wellness connection. These days I often find myself connecting dots. My previous post about bare foot paths (reflexologists like to call them reflexology paths) inspired me to look for it, so voilà. 

New York has a Bare Foot Water Feature (“reflex your feet”)

NYC has a public reflexology path or barefoot path if you will. 

Last weekend the water was back on and I kept walking the entire length back and forth for a while, dragging my feet for some splashing.

I came across several loose pebbles which I picked up with my toes, and there were some Irises along the path, my grandmother's favorites. 

The cemented pebbles are rather flat (can not be compared to the paths in Taiwan) and do not really hurt. However, after a while I felt my feet getting more sensitive and feeling more alive - ah - and yes it took a while for me to get it, to connect the dots last year that this may be the first of its kind in NYC. Years ago I was engrossed in this idea that NYC needs a barefoot park. To combine it with running water is genius. 

High Line website "The water feature is a favorite of children and barefoot visitors. Wetland species like cattails, rose mallow, and swamp milkweed grow in the raised steel planters along the pathway." 

Thank you for your visit,

Birgit 

Additional reflexology path experiences (Taiwan) 

Taiwan: The first Reflexology Path

Reflexology Path? Taipei City Wall

Stone Foot Path Coach and Regal's Achilles Tendons

 

Kevin Kunz on Reflexology Paths

One Minute Reflexology for Animals ICR Paws Update in ICR March Newsletter

One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICR Paws is covered in the March 2023 ICR Newsletter.  - Thank you, Liza Thomas and ICR. 

Here is the new link to our initiative on ICR website:

icr-reflexology.org

While the first page is the practice itself and thus for layman and reflexologists, the second page (shared below) contains additional information, such as translations, and milestones (the short version) which might be more interesting to reflexologists (associations) interested in getting involved and includes a mention of DR (distance reflexology as per Dorothea Kreidl). 

The mentioned newsletter contains both pages. 

Thank you for your visit.

Best wishes,

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F, she/her

Reflexology & Yoga (chair)

Trauma-Informed Care 

🐾 One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Paws.pdf

Does Ember “Reflex?”

I noticed her using the leg of our table. Am I joking? Partially yes, because I do not know with certainty. 

However, she receives facial and also some foot reflexology regularly, and I also noticed Mowgli using objects to "reflex" areas I reflexed.

Some previous posts on observations surrounding our canine friends/wolves: 

- And here you can see a wolf sister “reflexing” her late brother? 

https://frogontheface.blogspot.com/2021/07/accidental-endorsement-of-5.html

- Here you can see a dog who had received reflexology talking his friend into reflexology. 

https://frogontheface.blogspot.com/2017/10/fafa-and-joker-papa-and-chocolate.html?m=1

- Here you can see Mowgli using my faux reflexology path. 

https://frogontheface.blogspot.com/2017/04/mowglis-surgery-more-reflexology-sound.html

- Here Mowgli was using a bone to reflex. 

https://frogontheface.blogspot.com/2017/02/mowgli-follows-in-my-footsteps.html

Thank you for your visit.

Best wishes,

Birgit (or Billie)

 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F

She/Her 

Reflexology & Yoga (focus: chair) 

Trauma-Sensitive Care 

-  You are welcome to use and share our complimentary One Minute Reflexology for Animals.  Perhaps it is as helpful to you as it has been for us. 

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PAWS.pdf 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses/?r=nametag

New York State: time to recognize the profession of reflexology! | MoveOn

Legislative Building/Well/2nd Floor 

I have written about our legislative work before. 

Many  New York based reflexologists have visited legislators in Albany. 

Please sign our petition.  New York needs integrative care and reflexology should be part of it. People should have choices. Meds alone won't do the job. Period. Thank you for this petition, Petra van Noort. Thanks to all who have done this work, some possibly stepping outside their comfort zones. Please sign and try reflexology if you have an opportunity. Thank you for your visit,

Birgit (or Billie) 

https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/new-york-state-time-to

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F

She/Her 

Reflexology & Yoga (focus: chair) 

Trauma-Sensitive Care 

-  You are welcome to use and share our complimentary One Minute Reflexology for Animals.  Perhaps it is as helpful to you as it has been for us. 

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PAWS.pdf 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses/?r=nametag

 

YOU TUBE English, German, French; One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICRPaws

Some time  around Christmas I finally got it. I suddenly knew exactly how to do a video of One Minute Reflexology for Animals without obsessing about what I was wearing or how messy my hair was. 

I set up the phone camera and started giving Ember her morning session. Unlike Mowgli she did not have a reaction to the video, maybe because the camera was not reversed. I took that as her approval!

The topic video had come up in meetings with colleagues and I was hesitant. But it would indeed be an additional way of sharing the practice. And sure enough, I ran into someone who said she was a more visual person and could not do much with the pdf instructions. Thank you, Karen. 

Because I shared the practice with my cousins (thank you for your feedback, Anja and Eva) and a friend in Austria, I decided to do a video in German as well, and then I remembered I had studied French for years. I had to look up most words and I hope it came out ok. 

Two native French speakers were supportive. Thank you, Stan and Eddy! 

Please note it is possible that your animal friend does not like their face and/or some of the (reflex) areas touched or does not show a visible response.

Please respect your animal friend's comfort zone. It is about meeting them where they are at because it is a trauma-informed practice. 

https://youtu.be/j3HQ9O-EblU (English) 

https://youtu.be/rAFhVg3zYRM (German) 

https://youtu.be/-PGvE3PKVps (French)

(Me and videos: One day many moons ago, I recorded a morning reflexology session with Mowgli. When I watched the video afterwards, I saw Mowgli's reaction when he noticed it; I was using the reverse feature.  

Also Mowgli was with me one day when I thought like everybody I had to start posting videos on IG to announce something. I was totally obsessed with getting it right, looking good of course, oh and the light, oh and what was I wearing. - I looked at Mowgli who was patiently waiting at Rustic Overlook in Central Park. I was thinking how pathetic this was, when our morning walk usually was all about relaxation and nature. What a waste of time! I learned from that. Thank you, Mowgli.) 

Thank you for reading, 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F; She/Her, Reflexology & Yoga (focus: chair) 

Trauma-Sensitive Care 

-  You are welcome to use and share our complimentary One Minute Reflexology for Animals/ICR Paws Perhaps it is as helpful to you as it has been for us. 

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PAWS.pdf 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses/?r=nametag

Reflexology/ARCB - Mount Sinai Hospital



Today I received a phone call from a nurse at Mount Sinai. While I have worked a hospitals before, hired by someone in recovery and/or a family member, I do not remember any phone calls from staff.

The nurse found me via the ARCB listing on their website.  I am one of the ARCB-certified reflexologists in good standing in New York City. 

Best wishes,

Birgit  

Reflexology and ARCB is listed under massage, this is what it says; 

• Reflexology. The American Reflexology Certification Board (ARCB) certifies reflexologists who undergo 100 hours of training and pass an exam. To find a qualified reflexologist go to www.arcb.net.

Massage mountsinai.org

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F; She/Her 

Reflexology & Yoga (focus: chair) and Trauma-Sensitive Care 

-  You are welcome to use and share our complimentary One Minute Reflexology for Animals.  Perhaps it is as helpful to you as it has been for us. 

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PAWS.pdf 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses/?r=nametag

A Honk, A Smile, and Peace - Happy New Year



Fireworks, yes or no? I was discussing with two friends close to midnight.  

It was rainy on and off, and it was close to midnight or perhaps slightly past when I headed out. I had the light and was crossing 10th Avenue, then some honking. But why? I had the light, nevertheless I looked around and saw the honk was coming from the MTA bus. Then I saw the bus driver's smile, 2023 glasses and peace symbol - oh, I see. I ran over and asked the bus driver to do it again for a photo and we wished each other a Happy New Year. 

It was such a beautiful moment for several reasons, one being that I have met many MTA Employees surrounding their work/life and wellness. So this driver and I could have actually intersected (get the pun?) in the past. Of course there was no time for this discussion. 

Happy New Year, to Peace ☮️ ✌️✌🏻✌🏼✌🏽✌🏾✌🏿Wellness. 

(I admit when I headed out I was slightly irritated, I hate to rush, but it was all reversed with a honk and what followed). 

Birgit Nagele, ARCB, LVCY, TCTSY-F

She/Her 

Reflexology & Yoga (focus: chair) 

Trauma-Sensitive Care 

-  You are welcome to use and share our complimentary One Minute Reflexology for Animals.  Perhaps it is as helpful to you as it has been for us. 

https://icr-reflexology.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PAWS.pdf 

IG: https://www.instagram.com/glimpses/?r=nametag