There are a number of massage therapy schools in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. Most offer a wide assortment of courses and training to meet all requirements of the massage therapist. Many of these offer Reflexology as part of a standard training program. Just what is Reflexology? It's an alternative treatment approach that concentrates on energy flow to help relieve the tension and stress found in the body.
It's not surprising that the prevalence of Reflexology has spread rapidly across the country. The techniques for reflexology are very different from traditional massage, yet include it as part of an elective course for any of the accredited massage and shiatsu diploma programs in Minneapolis massage therapy school. Since it's such a popular modality, many massage therapists have chosen to include Reflexology as one of their massage specialties. As a result, massage therapists may benefit by incorporating Reflexology as an additional modality to their practice. In addition, students pursuing a professional massage therapy degree or continuing their education can learn Reflexology at their school and then add it to their curriculum.
The benefits of Reflexology come from the specific regions of the body where reflex points are located. When applied properly, it will target these reflex areas in the hands and feet to help promote healing through increased blood flow and decreased tension. This same targeted application will also improve muscle strength in the shoulders and back. However, as with massage, there are not specific areas of the body that are targeted for reflexology. Instead, it's believed that the hands and feet are the ideal location for applying pressure for maximum benefits.
Perhaps the most popular area in which Reflexology is practiced is over the neck and shoulders. Massage techniques concentrate mainly on these regions because they're believed to harbor a great deal of energy which can be tapped for therapeutic benefits. As a result of this, applying pressure points like those from the neck and shoulders is a fantastic way to relax the body and generate extra energy for healing. While massage therapy focuses primarily on pressure points on the body, Reflexology applies its treatment methods to the particular areas where pressure points are located.
Another area where Reflexology could be applied is over the ears. This is not surprising given the proximity to the head and neck. The ear is also connected to the brain which gives the ears their sensory organ, thus providing a potential source of sensory input. Because the ear contains sensitive nerve endings, the use of massage to the ears provides a relaxing effect in addition to the potential advantages of stimulating the nervous system which aids in the healing process. This is why ear reflexology has been viewed as an effective modality in the treatment of chronic conditions like depression, tension and pain.
One of the crucial ways in which Reflexology may be used is through the use of pressure points on the whole body. Stress points refer to targeted areas in the body which allow for better blood flow, thus allowing for increased general wellness. For example, there is a specific pressure point known as the acupoints located close to the wrist. By applying pressure on these acupoints, the reflex points located in the wrist start to transfer blood flow to the entire body, including the skin. By increasing blood flow, the entire body is able to increase its immune system and operate more effectively to fight infection and heal itself.
As previously mentioned, Reflexology uses its finger pressure points to stimulate the nerves in the body. It's this connection to the nervous system which makes Reflexology therapeutic in many cases. However, as interesting as that may seem, the principal reason that massage therapy is often regarded as capable of relieving pain and the treatment of a variety of conditions is because of its ability to alter the state of a person's energy system. According to conventional reflexology, the body consists of the 강남출장안마 five standard meridians that run parallel to one another. By working each meridian with unique techniques, the energy system of the person can be changed.
Massage allows for the easy transfer of energy across the meridians and to the various areas of the body. If done properly, it can stimulate the appropriate circulation in the body, allowing for organs to receive the proper nutrients they need. Besides potential benefits like improved circulation, there are also proven reflexology methods which can help decrease pain and reduce the healing time following an injury or operation. Therefore, regardless of what you initially had in mind once you decided to visit the spa, it might be worth it to consider Reflexology.