Meditation is a practice of stilling the constant chatter which constantly flows through our brains. To achieve this, attention has to be focused on something else other than the procession of thoughts. This is achieved through repeating a mantra or fixing attention on the process of the breath going in and out of the nose. Chanting a mantra is also another means of achieving a state of one mindedness. 
Interestingly reflexology acts as a type of a physical mantra — the sensation of feeling the fingers and hands applying pressure to the feet, cannot help but take attention away from the chatter of thoughts in our brains, to what is being experienced through the feet.
This focus of attention gives a meditative quality to a reflexology session — a profound, detachment from the everyday concerns of life.
Meditation has been shown to cause the release of endorphins and the other feel, good factors which I have previously mentioned, but in combination with ‘effective’ reflexology, a cornucopia of endogenous chemicals flood the brain with the potential of immense, therapeutic value.
It is not just the gentle touch which evokes this response, although in certain individuals this may be required — as I have said, there is not a one size fits all type of contact, and each person needs variations of techniques to suit their individuality. I have patients who get into the meditative ‘zone’ only when more robust and focused contacts are applied.

Tony Porter 

I  was very honoured to have been invited by Peter Lund Fransden and Dorthe Krogsgaard owners of the Touchpoint school in Copenhagen to give two A.R.T. seminars in May. One in Copenhagen and the other further north in Aarhus. Denmark is one of my favourite countries, not only for its visual identity but also for the easy-going friendliness and happiness of its people.

Both of the seminars were well received and in the free time we had Peter and Dorthe took me sightseeing around Copenhagen and Aarhus.
I was interested with the dominance of the spiral symbolism built into some of the buildings as the ones shown.

The subject of my recent blogs highlighted the importance of taking into consideration the significance of the toes in reflexology. I mentioned a  case of a patient who was born with renal insufficiency and how intriguingly this showed up by her fifth toes which are on the kidney meridian being underdeveloped.

A  considerable amount of interest was generated from this and brought to mind so many instances from the past of how reflexology has an excellent record for helping with disturbances to urinary function.

The constant supply of oxygenated blood through the kidneys is one of the most essential functions of the body - Reflexology is very good at helping with this function. 

I came across this research paper which backs this up:

Researchers in Austria studied the effects of reflexology upon renal blood flow on 32 healthy, young adults (17 women and 15 men). A  placebo-controlled double-blind trial was set up.

The treatment group received reflexology at zones (reflexes)  corresponding to the right kidney. The placebo group received treatment on other foot zones (reflexes). The blood flow of 3 vessels of the right kidney was measured then monitored before, during and following reflexology. Systolic peak velocity and end diastolic peak velocity were measured and resistive index calculated.

The two groups showed significant differences; a highly significant decrease showed during and following reflexology. There were no differences between men and women nor smokers and non-smokers.
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These results are consistent with the hypothesis that reflexology is effective in influencing renal blood flow and confirms the results of independent research that reflexology can significantly help kidney function.

Sudmeier I et al. Changes of renal blood flow during organ-associated foot reflexology measured by colour Doppler sonography. Forschende Komplementaermedizin 6(3) 129-34 1999