Giving a treatment starting with the left foot

[Doorstop]

Dear All
During my training we were taught to always start with the Right foot when giving a treatment. That made sense to me because of the digestive system. The ileocecal valve, ascending colon transverse colon then when you do the left foot you move onto the rest of the transverse colon,descending colon and eventually out to the rectum. I read the book of Laura Norman 'A complete Guide Reflexology Handbook' she advises to start with the left foot. The book is very good and well summarized but it really puzzles me why she starts her session with the left foot.

Any ideas any-one??

Fran

 

[FIDMpaige]

..maybe she's left handed?? Just a thought, really.

I'm sure it doesnt really matter too much, its like massage - always taught to start on the back, but I 've had clients who prefer to start on the front.

Maybe its just her way, you know, making it a bit differnt to differentiate herself from other systems, putting her own stamp on things.

 

[Imo]

Hi - I often start with the left foot especially if it is an old problem as the left foot relates to the past and the right foot to the present - but your logic is good re the digestive system. Quite often I find it helpful to alternate between the feet, so I work one system completely before moving on to the next. I started doing this after I had a client who remember halfway through a treatment that she had to be somewhere else urgently - when she stood up she kept falling over to one side as she was then quite unbalanced. It took her 24 hours or so to be able to maintain herself upright & I had to 'finish her off' a couple of days later!!

 

[Mina]

Hi Julieq

This is a excellent idea alternating feet after each system. It is certainly the most sensible and logic way to go. Thanks

 

[Mere<3]

I was taught to start work on the right foot - but would be interested to try another way to see what happens.

Luv Binah
x

 

[Antonia Jones]

Hi ya All

I've been considering this principle for several years.

Like most people I was taught to start on the right foot first.

There are so many reasons for this, for example: digestion and bowel movements or starting on the Yang/+ve/Logical/Sun foot before working the deeper emotions of the Yin/-ve/Emotional/Moon left foot. A principle also found in Polarity Therapy and many other systems.

In Thailand, they start on the left foot (more Yin) with women first, and for men the right foot (more Yang) first.

(Before I carry on, Yin & Yang are relative to each other depending on your point of view).

Personally I prefer to work intuitively, holding the feet for a few seconds, and then start on the foot that "calls out" to be worked first.

At the end of the day it's all about intention. It's the system and the way you perceive reflexology that gives it its power. Intention is more important than technique, based on your perception of the world and how you think it works!

If you think about how many therapies there are, how many therapists, and how many ways of practising reflexology, can they all be right or wrong? The reality is that intention and underpinning knowledge behind the technique is probably more important.

So if you (like me) wishes to work the feet more intuitively, just "listen" to the feet when holding them at the start of the treatment, and go for it. With compassionate and positive intent, you can't go wrong.

There is more to reflexology than western based anatomy and physiology!!!

Best Wishes

Reflex Pixie

 

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Hi, I was taught to work the left foot first as it from the left side of the body that the heart pumps oxygen laden blood around which then travels up to the head, internal organs and the arms and legs.
I do sometimes work between the feet depending on the symptons presented to me but I always start with the left intuitively.

 

[NewsReader]

Hi,

I agree with Reflex Pixie, go with your instincts. I was taught to work the right foot first but I get so muddled with my left and right! I have often started with the 'wrong' foot but this has not detracted from the quality or outcome of the treatment.

The reasons given for starting with the right foot are so logical and I fully agree but it is not set in stone. If the left foot is calling to be treated first then so be it.

Maggie xx

 

[Lance John]

I agree with Reflex Pixie as well. Eunice Ingham started on the foot corresponding to the side where there was a problem. If I find my concentration is not as good as it should be I do the whole treatment backwards so that I am fully focused, as Anthony Porter once suggested!