<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>FEET FIRST blog | Reflexology In Portland</title>
<copyright>Copyright (c) 2010 portlandreflexology.com</copyright>
<link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog</link>
<description>FEET FIRST blog Page Feed</description>
<language>en-us</language> 
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</lastBuildDate>
<item>
 <title>Taking My Feet on Vacation</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/taking_my_feet_on_vacation.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[People who help others need to retreat and feed their souls.&nbsp; So this week I ran away to Truth or Consequences, a flat, dry, hot place two hours from Albuquerque to soak in mineral springs and wash away layers of stuff I don&rsquo;t need any more at the Charles Hotel. &nbsp; I thought I was coming to be alone, but I&rsquo;ve now seen almost every New Mexican friend I have.&nbsp; We are all soaking in these wonderful hot tubs, but that&rsquo;s another blog.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Today I&rsquo;m writing about how important it is to ask clients questions rather than impose ideas on them.&nbsp; I&rsquo;ve witnessed this important lesson again here in T or C while watching an experienced body worker provide her services to my friend. &nbsp; We ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/taking_my_feet_on_vacation.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>What fun to teach what I love</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/what_fun_to_teach_what_i_love.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[Last Monday I taught a self care class about hand reflexology. Then Saturday a 6-hour class called Self Care and Family Care Reflexology created by Judith Nourse, an RN, massage therapist and National Board Certified Reflexologist.&nbsp; Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone.&nbsp; Yes, I have over 300 hundred class hours myself and over 1000 hours working with clients, but I&rsquo;ve never taught a class before.&nbsp; And last week I taught two. What I learned in my first class is the words don&rsquo;t matter in a how-to class as much as the doing.&nbsp; And reflexology classes are about doing, using one's hands, fingers and thumbs to palpate upon reflexes indicated on reflexology maps.&nbsp; The minute I started showing people how th ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/what_fun_to_teach_what_i_love.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>The joys of Hood River Lavender Essential Oil</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/the_joys_of_hood_river_lavender_essential_oil.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[This summer I drove to Lavender Valley, a Hood River lavender farm, and bought their pure grosso lavender essence for my reflexology foot soaks.&nbsp; The fields were buzzing with bees and the smell of lavender was beyond fresh and satisfying.&nbsp; Now I am using our very own Oregon Lavender on my Oregon clients.&nbsp; I delight in every foot bath!&nbsp; As you may know, lavender is famous for its calming effect as well as its antiseptic properties.&nbsp; I also put a few drops in the olive oil I use to soften feet before a session begins.&nbsp; Oregon has many lavender farms.&nbsp; And a lavender festival. &nbsp;The actual season for celebration is short...just a 10 day period in July so I&rsquo;ll be sure to let you know dates next year. ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/the_joys_of_hood_river_lavender_essential_oil.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Drinking 8 Glasses of Water may be too much.   Or too little.</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/drinking_8_glasses_of_water_may_be_too_much_or_too_little_.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[I like to give my reflexology clients a glass of water when the session is over.&nbsp; &nbsp;No ice&hellip;just plain, filtered tap water.&nbsp; Because water plays a vital role in nearly every bodily function and lack of water is the #1 trigger for daytime fatigue. According to Clark Bartram, Bodybuilding.com, a 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, give us trouble with basic math, and make it difficult to focus on the computer screen or a printed page. &nbsp; So how much water is the real question? &nbsp;We often hear about drinking 8, 8-ounce glasses of water per day.&nbsp; But what about if I&rsquo;m 120 lbs and you&rsquo;re 210?&nbsp; Do we really need the same amount of water?&nbsp; The answer is NO.&nbsp; Here is ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/drinking_8_glasses_of_water_may_be_too_much_or_too_little_.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Bathing in Epson Salt Does More Than You Know</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/bathing_in_epson_salt_does_more_than_you_know.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[One of the great joys of being a reflexologist is being out in Portland meeting other alternative health care providers.&nbsp; Recently I met up with Karin Edwards, a ROLFER. Besides being fascinated by feet, we also discovered we both encourage clients to take hot Epson Salt baths after a treatment. Two cups of Epsom Salt in the tub does wonders calming the nerves and pulling toxins from one&rsquo;s system.&nbsp; &nbsp; According to the Epson Salt Council, epson salt is a compound made of magnisum and sulfer.&nbsp; And studies show that the benefits from Epson Salt may be: Magnesium: 

Ease stress and improves      sleep and concentration
Help muscles and      nerves function properly
Regulate activity of      325+ enzymes
Help preven ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/bathing_in_epson_salt_does_more_than_you_know.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>What Do My Feet Say About Me?</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/what_do_my_feet_say_about_me_.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[My friend Mary handed me a New York Magazine photo of a man&rsquo;s bare feet and said, &ldquo;What can you tell me about this person?&rdquo;&nbsp; Actually we can tell a lot about a person by looking at his or her feet.&nbsp;&nbsp; In fact, an internationally respected reflexologist, author and speaker, Chris Stormer wrote a book called, Language of the Feet-What the feet can reveal about health and wellbeing (ISBN 3-340-93959-1) which is a perfect place to start. Chris Stormer says when standing our feet should be parallel and pointed directly ahead.&nbsp; When you notice feet are turned-in, you might guess that person is shy, self-conscious or lacking in confidence.&nbsp;&nbsp; Chris writes that the degrees to which feet are turned-out i ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/what_do_my_feet_say_about_me_.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Grab your shoes...let's go dancing</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/grab_your_shoes_let_s_go_dancing.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[I&rsquo;ve been out dancing in Portland lately.&nbsp; Three different dance locations and three different dance styles to see why they call Portland the dancin&rsquo; town. (Check out this amazing website, PortlandDancing.com&nbsp;&nbsp; And it didn&rsquo;t take long before I ended up at The Leotard on NE MLK Blvd for a pair of dancing shoes.&nbsp; Because no matter what style you dance, you&rsquo;ve got to have shoes that feel comfortable all night long.&nbsp; Best part of the deal.&nbsp; Not only does the staff help you find the perfect shoes, the store gives a 10% discount if you&rsquo;re in a dancing class. &nbsp; Jessy helped me find the perfect pair.&nbsp; I told her my shoes kept falling off.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s when I discovered real ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/grab_your_shoes_let_s_go_dancing.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Take Your Feet Street Rambling in Portland</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/take_your_feet_street_rambling_in_portland.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[We all agree that walking is more fun with a friend.&nbsp; So look what I found&hellip;a group walk every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 PM, rain or shine.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s called Street Rambles,organized by&nbsp; Mazamas &ndash;a hiking, walking, mountaineering club.  &nbsp; Grab your walking shoes&hellip;the more flat and down- to-earth the better for your feet and let&rsquo;s go. Meet at the REI store (NW 14th and Johnson in the Pearl District) and for just $2, you&rsquo;ll be led through Portland&rsquo;s NW streets headed to maybe Washington Park, the Zoo, Pittock Mansion, Arboretum or Forest Park. &nbsp; Are you a slow walker?&nbsp; Leisurely, the group is called, and they do 5 to 5 and half miles in two hours.&nbsp; For those of us who can ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/take_your_feet_street_rambling_in_portland.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Vibram FiveFingers...the ugliest shoes I've ever seen.</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/vibram_fivefingers_the_ugliest_shoes_i_ve_ever_seen_.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[&nbsp; You won&rsquo;t care what they say about your Vibram FiveFinger Multi Sport shoes because your feet will feel like you&rsquo;re walking barefoot.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll feel connected to the Earth and free.&nbsp; This is the shoes for everyone who says,&rdquo;I&rsquo;d rather go barefoot.&rdquo; &nbsp; Where will you find this silly looking shoe that brings your feet back to life? At www.REI.com &nbsp;&nbsp;In fact, I just looked at their website and found 64 reviews from men and 29 reviews from women who are using these barely there shoes for running, hiking, walking, kayaking/canoeing/rafting, wading and sailing.&nbsp; These are active, healthy people taking time out of their lives to sing the praise of ugly shoes.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; H ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/vibram_fivefingers_the_ugliest_shoes_i_ve_ever_seen_.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>How Reflexology Helps during Pregnancy</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/how_reflexology_helps_during_pregnancy.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[Today I finally meet Frederick James.&nbsp;&nbsp; What a privilege to hold this sweet sleeping soul.&nbsp; The privilege actually began weeks ago when I was invited to Amy and Mark&rsquo;s home to do reflexology for Amy who was eight months pregnant. Amy and Mark are here from England where reflexology is a part of the national health services.&nbsp; Vivante Midwifery and Women&rsquo;s Health in Portland connected us. As a reflexologist, I have additional training working with expectant mothers.&nbsp; If you are pregnant or know someone who is, it's great to know the benefits of foot reflexology.&nbsp; So I thought I&rsquo;d outline pregnancy month by month and how reflexology supports both mothers-to-be and developing babies.&nbsp;&nbsp; F ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/how_reflexology_helps_during_pregnancy.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>Walk or run barefoot a quarter of a mile at a time to start</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/walk_or_run_barefoot_a_quarter_of_a_mile_at_a_time_to_start.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[If you&rsquo;ve been walking or running in your cushy shoes with inserts and maybe even orthotics, here is sound advice from naturopathic podiatrist, Dr. Ray McClanahan, at Northwest Foot Clinic in NW Portland.&nbsp; In an article he wrote for Walk About, walking and hiking for fitness. &ldquo;While research proves there are significant benefits to walking (or running) in a barefoot position, the change cannot be made overnight. The transition should be made slowly, allowing for the feet and legs to become stronger&hellip; Fortunately, you do not have to give up your shoes and go barefoot to derive the benefits of a &ldquo;barefoot&rdquo; foot position. Those benefits can be had if you can find a walking shoe that allows your feet to positi ... <a href="http://Portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/walk_or_run_barefoot_a_quarter_of_a_mile_at_a_time_to_start.en">read more</a>]]></description>
</item>

<item>
 <title>So You Want to Run Barefoot?</title>
 <link>http://portlandreflexology.com/feet_first_blog/so_you_want_to_run_barefoot_.en</link>
 <pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:44:19 -0700</pubDate>
 <description><![CDATA[I recommend Barefoot Running by Michael Sandler.  This will give you everything you want to know about how to run light, free and in touch with the Earth.  Part inspiration, highly practical, this book tells the story of Barefoot Ted&rsquo;s Adventures from skater to barefoot runner. Not an easy journey, but a rewarding one.  Check out<a href="http://www.barefootted.com/index.php?q=/" target="_blank"> www.BarefootTed.com</a> if you can&rsquo;t wait to get started.]]></description>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>
