HEART & SOLE

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HEART & SOLE

                 Reflexology &Touch Therapy

Science is now confirming what we have always known in our hearts – which is touch, is a primal need, as necessary for growth as food, clothing, or shelter. Much of this science is generated at Miami's Touch Research Institute, the world's only scientific center devoted to exploring the effects of touch on health. This institute collaborated with researchers at the University of Miami, Duke, and Harvard to show the positive effects of touch.

Physical touch is more than skin deep. The touch receptors in our skin send messages along the spinal cord to the brain. A simple touch can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure. The stroking of a pet, hug from a loved one, and the proverbial pat on the back all speak of the soothing qualities of touch. Touch defines our lives, buffers us from everyday stresses and soothes the discomforts of illness.

Reflexology is one form of organized touch therapy. You can choose hand or foot Reflexology.    For foot Reflexology, you need only remove the shoes. You sit in a soft cushioned recliner, the feet are placed on two pillows and the relaxation begins. The session takes place in a quiet room with soft background music and a water garden with gentle flowing water. The session is about 45 minutes.   If you choose Pampered Feet and Reflexology, the session begins with a warm, soothing foot bath, and a foot polish. Progresses to the Reflexology Session and ends with lotion being applied to the feet. This session is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. For added enjoyment, add the Dip, a Paraffin Dip for the hands, feet, or both.

In the 1990's, Reflexology is being recognized as a tool to combat stress and achieve relaxation. In 1995, 1996, and 1997, articles have been written in several magazines recognizing the benefits of Reflexology. Fitness, Self, Healthy Living, Massage Therapy Journal, and Massage & Bodywork each have had an article about, or a reference to Reflexology as a stress reliever.

At the end of Reflexology sessions, I have received numerous responses from clients. A few of the responses have been: complete relaxation and a release of muscle tension in other parts of the body, the feeling of drifting in and out of sleep, a sense of peace, tranquility, and lastly, for first time clients, surprise, that working with the feet has brought about some or all of these feelings.

Some people will try Reflexology because they are curious. Some clients come in because they have received a Gift Certificate. They usually come back or get a gift certificate for a friend or family member whom they want to experience this relaxation.

Why not consider a Gift of Relaxation? Get a Reflexology or Pampered Feet and Reflexology Gift Certificate for those Special Occasions - - - Valentine's Day, Mother or Father's Day, Baby Shower (for the future mom), Job Promotion or a Birthday.

                       "New Beginnings” Take more "My Time"

Choose this year as one of new beginnings. Let it be the year of personal enrichment.   We could learn something new, Laugh and Smile more often, or make time for Relaxation. We could choose one or all of the above.    Making and taking "My Time" for ourselves is important, not only for us, but for everyone in our lives.

Learn something new:

Select something you have always wanted to learn. It could be something creative as writing, art, sewing, or learning to play a musical instrument. Local schools or colleges offer personal enrichment classes.   Some are artistic in nature and others offer a variety of subjects/skills. You could learn a new sport or game, or hobby.

                                      Laugh or Smile More Often

Choose this year in which to Laugh and Smile more often.

Scientist and researchers now know there are two types of stress: "good" stress, and "bad" stress. Laughter is a form of "good" stress, or stress in reverse. It is one of the body's safety valves, a counter balance to tension. Studies show how humor effects your body physiologically and mentally. Laughter and smiling can combat feelings of anger, fear, and anxiety. It can give you a new perspective and promote creative situations.

Adults laugh approximately 15 times a day, while children laugh about 400 times a day. When we grew up, somehow we lost a few hundred laughs a day. Remember to smile or laugh more easily and more often.

Construct a Humor Library:

1. Since everyone has a different sense of humor, find out what makes you laugh. Write down the different situations which made you laugh today.

2. Construct your own library of joke books, funny pictures, or stories which have made you laugh. Visit a toy store and select small toys which bring to you a smile or a laugh. Put some of these items in a special place at home and in the office.

If you have had a day when you think it must a bad hair day, go find your humor library, be open minded, and remember how these items once brought you laughter.

There are a couple of books which I think will bring a smile or laugh to you: “Are You as Happy as Your Dog?” By: Alan Cohen, and “All I need to know I learned from my cat.” By: Suzy Becker.

Smile

A Smile Cost nothing but gives much.
It enriches those who give it. It takes
but a moment, but the memory of it
sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can
get along without it and none is so
poor but that he cannot be made richer
by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home,
promotes good will in business and is
the cornerstone of friendship.

It can perk up the weary, bring cheer
to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad
and is nature’s best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, or
borrowed or stolen, for it is something
that is of no value to anyone until it is
given away.

When people are too tired to give you
a smile, give them one of yours. No
one needs a smile so much as he who
has none to give.

Add Relaxation to Our Agenda:

Relaxation means different things to different people. Decide what is relaxing for you and put it on the agenda.   A hobby can be a form of relaxation because we are focusing our attention on something we find enjoyable and taking our mind away from some of life's pressures.     Hobbies can result in a sense of achievement and personal gratification.    Some might find a walk in the woods, jogging, or a visit to the park relaxing. Whatever our form of relaxation, let's add it to our agenda.



Mistakes . . . They can be a Stepping Stone
                        or a Campground

We all make mistakes. I don't think we get up in the morning and set out to make mistakes during the day. A mistake can be viewed as an opportunity to learn a lesson and move forward in life.

We might perceive an error or misspelled word in a newsletter a larger goof than if the same error had occurred in a letter to a friend. The more people who know about the mistake can make it appear larger to us as individuals.

If we talk to someone who owns and operates a business, most times, they will tell us their success is a result of trial and error. Several years ago my husband and I went to Pennsylvania on vacation. One of the points of interest I enjoyed immensely was Hershey, Pennsylvania. The whole city smelled of chocolate. We took the trolley tour of this wonderful city. The one piece of information which has stayed with me is the story of Milton S. Hershey. His success came only after numerous mistakes, even to the point he was forced to file for bankruptcy. He never gave up. Because of his lifelong affinity for sweets, coupled with his persevering nature, he pressed on and is now known as the "Chocolate King." He learned from his past mistakes and used them as stepping stones in the future.

For the larger mistakes we make in life, once we recognize the mistake, it is important to avoid being too hard on ourselves. We can try to understand why it happened in the first place, what was going on in our life at that particular time. Treat ourselves as kindly as we would a valued friend, and look to understand, not to judge. If there is anything we can do to correct it, do so. If not, then instead of allowing the mistake to magnify - try to view it as a bump in the road of life and continue down the road.

We can look to a baby or a child and observe how they hand mistakes. A baby who is learning to walk, learns from the falls they take before they become proficient at the task. They get up and try again. A child who says or does something that hurts a friend's feelings will apologize, forget it and be on their way. They have so many places to go and things to do that they don’t take time to fret or stew. When we reach the point of viewing mistakes like a baby or child, we are on our way of seeing mistakes as stepping stones, and not as a campground.

For One Week . . . Let's Give These Suggestions a Try

Sunday: Give thanks for the blessings of life. Try to pick something that costs no money, but encourages us to see the wonders around us. Observe Nature, or watch a child at play.

Monday: Give a gift today. A gift can be simple things as giving directions to someone who is lost - or opening a door for someone. Write a note to a friend or family member and tell them something nice about them, something you admire and why.

Tuesday: Be aware of the choices we make today. It has been said, when you make a choice, you change the future.

Wednesday: Turn a task into fun. Listen to your favorite music while you do a chore. Whistle or hum while taking out the trash.

Thursday: Make a wish - write it down in a notebook. Each time we make a wish, we plant a seed. Then just sit back and watch the sprouting of these seeds.

Friday: Seek happiness - Try to feel unmoved by loss of gain of material things. They are not the true source of happiness, if they were, all the millionaires and billionaires in the world would be happy.

Saturday: Perform an act of service - do something for someone who is less fortunate. Try to take notice of the ways we can be of service to someone today.

When we are aware of our good fortune and share it with others, I think we will find at the end of the week our life to be more joyful and carefree.

                                                    Attitude
                                         by Chuck Swindoll

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it."



Life . . . What you get out of it depends on how you play it.

Heart and Sole: This is my first newsletter. It has been fun putting it together and I hope you have found it to be interesting. For me the goal of Heart and Sole is to present ideas for consideration, sprinkled with positive reminders to encourage us to lighten up. My wish is that it will help us to enjoy each moment to it fullest and to cherish what we have and to share it with others.   Paula

Recommended Reading:

Are You As Happy As Your Dog? By: Alan Cohen

All I need to know I learned from my cat By: Suzy Becker.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff . . . and it's all small stuff
by Richard Carlson, PH.D.

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