When I received the news about the passing of Dwight it was 4.30 in the morning, dawn was approaching. It is usual for me to get up at that time, make a mug of tea, and appreciate the stillness before starting my day.

Receiving the news took me back to a dawn in 1983 on Mt Kilimanjaro. Dwight and I were camped for the night during our ascent of Africa's highest mountain. I had stayed up, in awe of the immensity of the universe spread around, which at that latitude and altitude had an indescribable magnificence. It was an overwhelming experience. 

Dwight and I sat together in the silence and looking out into infinity. Eventually, being so moved we both said spontaneously 'I shall remember this to my dying day'. I am sure that Dwight had that magnificence in his thoughts as he passed on. 
It was that climb up the mountain which revealed another side of Dwight, Revealing a sensitivity which, apart from his immediate family, was kept locked up to everyone else. It is this side of him, and how it affected me is the main subject of this article.

I first met Dwight back in 1974 when he arrived at London's Heathrow airport from his home country of Florida.
Dwight had wanted to come to the U.K. to introduce his Aunt's Eunice Ingham's work and asked me if I would organise something.
I arranged for him to give a lecture and a demonstration of reflexology, and to talk about his life with his ‘Aunt Eunice’ 'The 'Mother of Reflexology'

It is interesting how Dwight and I came into contact.
During my early days in physical therapy, I met (by providence ) Arthur Lincoln Pauls a Canadian osteopath living in London. Arthur was the founder and creator of Ortho-Bionomy (O.B.) a passive form of structural adjustment. As I had planned of eventually becoming an osteopath, I found his passive method of O.B. fascinating and trained with him. I should mention that Arthur was a Judo champion, so had an innate knowledge of body movement.

Arthur was invited to give a presentation of his work at a conference in, I think New Orleans. The first day of the meeting was Arthur's birthday.
During a break in the various other presentations, the person sitting next to Arthur introduced himself as Dwight Byers. A conversation began where they realised that their birthdays were only one day apart. However, when the time difference between Canada and the U.S. was taken into account it was found that they were born on the same day of the same month of the same year!

It was through this meeting that led to me organising the lecture for Dwight in 1974.

'Great to meet you' he said, giving me a very firm handshake. 'It is great to be in London, we are going to have a great seminar'. At that time, reflexology in the U.K. had something of a pious air about it — to be greeted in this positive and exuberant manner was something I had never encountered before, either in or outside of reflexology.

On the drive to the Hotel, Dwight was totally focused on the forthcoming seminar and the techniques he would teach. Despite just getting off a long flight, his energy and enthusiasm were boundless.
I naturally thought that on arriving at the hotel, he would want to catch up on sleep. How mistaken I was!

As soon as Dwight had unpacked, he appeared in the foyer ready to go, in his running apparel. He knew I was a committed runner, and because of this, I carried my running gear with me in the car.

It was one of those early spring days, where the sky was blue, and the air cool and fresh. 'What a beautiful day it is, so great to be alive, let's go for a run,' he said.
This was very convenient as the hotel was opposite London's Hyde Park
So, off we ran into the park on that beautiful, blue, sky day.
Little did I know at that time that the run would continue in many forms over the next forty years or so and change my life beyond recognition.

At that time reflexology did not have the popularity it has today so I had booked one of the smaller conference rooms at the hotel.
On the evening before the function, Dwight and I walked in the park where we discussed the programme and how we would demonstrate techniques to the group, after which we went to our rooms to sleep.

I had set up the conference room to seat around thirty people. 
After breakfast, we prepared ourselves to meet and greet the delegates as they arrived. At around 8.30am, we became aware of activity outside the room — we were greeted by the sight of lines of people in the corridor. We assumed that there must be an emergency of some kind in the hotel, and people were being evacuated. This was not so, these were early arrivals for the seminar!
More and more people arrived, and as the room could not hold that many we had a dilemma on our hands. 
This was before the age of the internet, it was mainly word and mouth that the seminar was advertised.

Fortunately, the large conference room at the hotel was free that day, so everything was transferred with the help of the staff. Around two hundred eager delegates attended, and like me were mesmerised by Dwight's charisma and magic touch as he demonstrated techniques, and spoke about his life with 'Aunt Eunice'.

It was from that day and hotel that reflexology was launched, not only to the U.K., but to Europe and the world. 
​
I cut my Ingham reflexology teeth by assisting Dwight on his regular seminar tours across the USA and Canada for several years. 
Later, we were invited to introduce reflexology to Holland, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Israel and then to South Africa, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand (North and South Islands) and countries in between

This article would not be complete without a mention of Nancy, Dwight’s lovely wife of 66 years. Nancy accompanied us on many of our seminar tours, and was a wonderful organising force and friend to me, making sure that I was well fed and that all my clothes were neatly folded for the seminars.
I have mentioned in detail her influence over the years in my compilation of a life in reflexology which after many years may finally be finished.

It was because of our long association that I knew Dwight better than most people outside of his family.
Space prevents me going into real depth about his early life, but suffice to say it was not easy.

Born in Rochester in New York State, family circumstances dictated that he became the sole breadwinner, and supporting his Sister Eusebia. This meant doing two jobs every day after school. The first was parking cars in a car parking lot, and after that washing dishes in a hotel kitchen until the early hours of the morning. From this experience came his discipline of hard work, and not wasting time, and interestingly because of the experience of parking cars, becoming a champion of NASCAR racing driver later in life.

Because of family circumstances, Dwight spent a lot of his life with his Aunt Eunice Ingham, where he received regular reflexology from her for his asthma. Naturally, he was taught her techniques of the then fledgeling therapy of reflexology.
Later, he became her driver and assistant at seminars across the U.S. and Canada. Eunice, according to Dwight, taught him the value of hard work and positive thinking, something which remained with him for the rest of his life.
Dwight did his time in the military as a medic, he was based in Germany for some of his military time, and was visited by Eunice on one occasion.

It is not generally known that Dwight for a time was involved in the funeral business, and was trained to perform autopsies, personally performing around two thousand.
This was something which he rarely mentioned at seminars.

Those who came into contact with Dwight became immediately aware of his positive, mental and 'can do' attitude. To some, this was not the way how a natural therapist should behave. In contrast, to others, it installed confidence which resulted in more therapeutic treatment outcomes.
It was because of his difficult early life and the influence that Eunice had on him that he became aware of the value of a positive attitude.
It was this that was to have a life-changing effect on me later in our friendship

The first seminar tour of the U.S. that he invited me to assist him with began in St. Louis, Missouri. What Dwight was not aware of was that I had developed (possibly due to having Polio as a child) a terrible speech impediment. This began in my teens, causing me enormous problems in communication. Up until that time, I was the best speaker in my school and loved taking part in acting class.

It became so bad that, particularly in the mornings where I was unable to get a single word out.
I was under the impression that I was to assist Dwight with the driving and setting up seminars and everything else that went with it.

How wrong I was and what a shock I had when Dwight told me that I would give the opening lecture from 8.30-10.00 am. This was not a regular audience of reflexology delegates. It was an audience of chiropractors, physical therapists and medical personal, which numbered over 300!!
'But Dwight, I stammered, I cannot speak'! ‘Porter, (he called me Porter more than Tony, in return I called him Byers)  I have not brought you all this way just to drive and set things up'. You will just have to DO IT Stop playing the victim, be positive!

The night before the conference was the loneliest I have ever spent. I decided to do a runner, pack my things and get a cab to the airport and back to my cocoon of comfort in London. In fact, I had packed my suitcase, but one essential item was missing, my passport, it was with Dwight in his room!

Thoughts crowded in about what would people make of this Englishman making croaking noises while drowning in the sweat of fear!
The time of my 'execution' arrived I was lead down the corridor to my 'death' chamber (lecture hall) by Dwight. Instead of a rope around my neck, Dwight placed a radio mike while telling me how to switch it on.
I saw the hundreds of delegates gathering in that raised lecture hall, looking down onto the stage where they would witness my execution. 

Standing backstage on my own, I was soaked in sweat, shaking, with a terrible migraine through lack of sleep and food, and in fact, being sick in a backstage fire bucket.
Dwight had begun giving the information about the times of the breaks and lunch and where the restrooms were etc. 

While this was going on, I realised that I was committed to doing something, even a Morris Dance! At least that would take attention off my speaking! I was dying on the spot when something happened (and this is true). I experienced a comforting mist descend around me which enveloped me in peace and mental strength, while at the same time my migraine disappeared, along with my fear - I knew that all would be well, in fact, I could not wait to get going with my presentation!
'And now I want to introduce you to my great friend all the way from London - Tony Porter' announced Dwight.
I walked on to that stage and gave a word-perfect presentation for 90 minutes. I was not aware of time or the audience, what I became aware of was Dwight giving me the' time's up' sign from the back of the hall.
'I knew you could do it, I had the same problem when I was young, and it was Eunice who made me do what you have done,' he said 
It was because of Dwight that I have been able to teach internationally.
Dwight’s positive attitude had helped, not only me, but many other people to overcome lack of confidence and to become highly successful reflexologists.

​There was another incident many years later when Dwight helped me to literally climb and conquer another mountain. This was getting me to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
To keep things brief, on the last day of the ascent I showed off my fitness to Dwight by jogging up to the last hut where we would stay before making the final climb to the summit during the night. I felt ok until I reached the hut, where the next thing I knew was that I had collapsed to the ground with altitude sickness

My head was bursting with pain, my entire body ached. There were five hours before we made the final ascent to the summit at 19,341ft 5,895 meters.
I told Dwight to let me be and to make the ascent without me, just with the guide. 'Porter you have not come all this way and to this altitude to chicken out' he screamed. 'Give me your feet!' and with that, he worked, pummelled, manipulated every part of my feet for nearly two hours. 'Hear what I say, you are getting to the top even if I have to push you up — be positive do you understand? Anything with a positive intention can be achieved'. And with that, five hours later in the darkness, I stood on shaky legs to embark on that final ascent to the summit

To this day I can relive that continuous upward, zig-zag trek towards the summit in darkness with a cold and snowy wind whipping around my legs like a hound from hell trying to pull me to the ground. 

After three hours, the summit or what I thought was the summit came into view, it turned out to be a mirage. At that point, I collapsed onto a rock and just wanted to sleep. Above the howling wind I heard Dwight saying ‘get up Porter you will die if you don't, we are too high for rescue — make a last, positive effort, and we are there'. With that, I felt him pull me to my feet and push me forward all the way to the summit. He was in his late 60s at the time.
It was first light when we made it to the highest peak of the mountain, which is, in fact, an extinct volcano which still spews out clouds of sulphur.
We brought our Kilimanjaro reflexology flag with us to plant on the summit which you can see in the photo. The reason that I am holding it up high is to hide the vomit on the front of my anorak! 

The scene was very dramatic, as the dawn came up, we could see the clouds beneath us, hiding the plains of the Serengeti. At that altitude, breathing was laboured, but that became forgotten as the clouds rolled away like a curtain—the first rays of the sun, revealing the magnificence of the Serengeti plains below. 
Thanks to Dwight this was another 'mountain' I had overcome, the first being the one in St. Louis.

Dwight had previously climbed the Matterhorn on the border between Italy and Switzerland which is a difficult climb.

As a licensed pilot, he enjoyed taking off into the skies for relaxation.
During one of his visits to the U.K., I arranged for him to fly a stunt plane, which from the ground I watched as he performed extreme acrobatics.
On landing back to earth, he had a grin like a child in a sweetshop.
Following this, he flew a glider which he had never done before and again enjoyed every minute

This leads me to the times on some of the long haul flights we went on where he would request going to the flight deck (something you could do in those days) He would speak to the crew about all things flying.
The conversation went to reflexology which the flight deck crew found interesting. This was continued to the passengers (much to my embarrassment) where he offered to give treatments. The four empty seats at the back of the aircraft with the armrests up made a convenient treatment couch.
Dwight walked up and down the isles explaining reflexology to passengers. At the same time, I sat cringing with eye mask and headphones on, burying my head in the sand.
However, when the time for sleep came, a member of the cabin crew sheepishly explained that she was not feeling well and as she was off duty could she take up the offer of treatment, to which Dwight of course obliged. 

Laying on the four seats with a pillow under her head, Dwight applied his magic to her feet, and within a few minutes, she was in a blissful, soporific state. The end result was that she got up feeling renewed and could not thank Dwight enough. The word got around, and a passenger asked for a treatment and received the miracle of Dwight's magic. He ended up giving more treatments during that time.

After breakfast had been served, a member of the cabin crew invited us back to the flight deck where the Captain was most interested to hear about the treatments. He mentioned that his co-pilot had a stiff and painful neck, on hearing this, I offered to massage his neck and shoulders giving him great relief. 
You may think, as I did that this was not the 'thing' to do outside of a clinical situation and this brash approach was not good for the image of reflexology.

The outcome was that as the flight was nowhere near full, we were upgraded to 1st class for the rest of the flight. The member of the cabin crew who received treatment could not thank Dwight enough and had decided to train in reflexology. The Captains wife attended our seminar in Australia. 
Years later Virgin Airlines introduced reflexology on various flights.

Getting back to his seat, Dwight asked why I was embarrassed? 'I helped people which is the purpose of reflexology, we are in first class, you helped the co pilot and we shall meet the Captains wife at the seminar. What is wrong with that’?
As a point of interest socks or whatever, were not removed during these treatments.

At that time, security was far more relaxed, and I doubt very much if what we did in those far off days would be permitted today.

I am not suggesting that Dwight was all Milk and Honey are any of us?
We had our disagreements which often became heated. He was a complex human being and needed to be understood. But behind that was a highly sensitive and kind person, not only a great friend and supporter to me, but to thousands across the world.
I know that Dwight’s attitude did not sit well with various people and organisations of reflexology, particularly in the uk. They knew nothing about the man, nor had anything approaching his experience or command of touch. All I can say, is that without him reflexology would not enjoy the popularity it has today, and they probably would not have been in work.

He had a genuine love of reflexology and had a touch of magic, firm sometimes painful (a good hurt) but immensely therapeutic.
He believed as I do, that it is the ability to give effective touch, rather than having degrees in various physiological sciences that makes a successful reflexologist. I can vouch for this as I have had students with degrees in medicine, had all the knowledge, but without having that effective touch.

Don’t get me wrong, study and knowledge of the various physical sciences is paramount to be a professional reflexologist, what I am saying is that this alone does not guarantee being an effective and  successful reflexologist.

People who were fortunate to know or have been taught by Dwight will know his charisma and his positive attitude not only to reflexology but to life.
I am thankful that our paths crossed. I feel that it was my Ying which complimented his Yang and vice versa. 
He is greatly missed.
I am completing a compilation which at this time is 250,000 words and growing, of a life in reflexology which includes more detail of Dwight and our travels. 

This quote from the Upanishads 800-200bc is appropriate at this time:
‘There was never a time I did not exist, nor you nor all the Kings, nor in the future shall any of us cease to be’.
Thank you from us all Dwight and see you down that trail you mentioned.

Tony Porter copyright 2020

I received this official obituary from the family of Dwight.
Later I shall be posting some of the memories I have of Dwight over the years I knew him.




Dwight  Byers
February 11, 1929 - August 29, 2020

Past President of the International Institute of Reflexology, Inc. Dwight was the nephew of the late Eunice Ingham, who was the original pioneer and developer of Reflexology as it is known today. His life-long teaching has taken him to all 50 states in the U.S.A., seven provinces in Canada, and 32 foreign countries. Additionally, he had appeared on radio and television, in newspapers and various other media print as well. There is no one with more practical and teaching experience in the world than Dwight.

Dwight is the author of the book BETTER HEALTH WITH FOOT REFLEXOLOGY, which has now been translated into nine foreign languages, and the author of Reflexology Charts and other media. 
Dwight was an avid hardcore Tennis Player. He loved the great outdoors, he climbed the Matterhorn and Mt Kilimanjaro inTanzania. He hiked through  Nepal and the Inca Trail including Mt. Machu Picchu. He enjoyed doing many of the Nascar (the fast...the furious, the adrenaline rush) Experiences throughout the U.S.A. 

Family was very important to Dwight. He was an amazing husband to Nancy Byers for almost 66 years (September 17, 1954). Father to Linda (Brian) Rolston and Gail Byers. Wonderful Grandfather to James (Alicia), Melissa (Peter), Christopher and Zachary. He cherished his Great Grandbabies Audrey, James Jr, Benjamin and Emily. Dwight loved his family (In-laws, Nephews, Nieces, Cousins and his Close Friends were all family to him). 

The world lost an amazing man! Fly high until we meet again! Please keep guiding us along in life. 

Graveside services to be held at Bay Pines National Cemetery on Monday, September 21 at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in memory of Dwight Byers.

Linda & Gail Byers

Nous sommes en 1950 et une épidémie de polio se propage au Royaume-Uni et dans de nombreuses régions du monde. Des milliers de jeunes étaient frappés par le virus, certains avaient de la chance et souffraient d'une légère paralysie, tandis que d'autres comme moi, bien que très malades, étaient épargnés. Il y a eu 45 000 cas et plusieurs centaines de décès dus à la polio au Royaume-Uni cette année-là.​

La photo de nous a été prise en mars de cette année à l'occasion de son 80e anniversaire.

Cela me semble encore surréaliste quand je pense à la façon dont ce massage avec ces blocs de liège dans les années 1950 a conduit à une vie de réflexologie qui a inclus de nombreuses aventures et rencontres merveilleuses à travers le monde jusqu'à aujourd'hui.

Je n'ai pas mentionné notre merveilleuse mère. Elle a joué un grand rôle dans le maintien de la cohésion, en particulier pendant ces jours sombres. Elle avait également un lien avec la réflexologie :
Elle souffrait de symptômes digestifs et prétendait les guérir ou du moins les atténuer en passant un peigne métallique sur le dos des mains. Naturellement, elle a été ostracisée par son médecin et ses amis. Elle ne se savait pas que le Dr Fitzgerald, célèbre pour sa thérapie des zones, utilisait des peignes métalliques sur les doigts et les mains pour soulager la douleur.

Mes voeux vous accompagnent.

Tony
​ 
Pour obtenir des informations sur les séminaires A.R.T. en France, veuillez contacter
Sophie BOSC  Tél: 06 31 57 10 49  or s.bosc262@orange .fr;

À tous mes merveilleux étudiants et amis en France

La première partie de ce blog a suscité un nombre considérable de réactions, non seulement sur le sujet mais aussi sur les débuts de la réflexologie. C'est pourquoi j'ai décidé de m'écarter légèrement du sujet et d'inclure d'autres informations qui pourraient être intéressantes.

Le sujet principal de la première partie était la différence entre la façon dont la réflexologie était perçue à l'époque où j'ai commencé, à la fin des années 60 et au début des années 70, et celle d'aujourd'hui.


​
Ce sujet de "La dilution de la réflexologie" est né d'une discussion que j'ai eue avec Dwight Byers il y a quelques années sur la façon dont sa tante, Eunice Ingham, administrait les traitements. Deux de ses étudiants de l'époque étaient également présents et pratiquaient toujours ! Ils m'ont raconté qu'à l'époque des années 50, les références dont nous disposons aujourd'hui n'existaient pas - ils étaient très seuls pour trouver les moyens les plus efficaces de faire travailler leurs pieds.

Imaginez la difficulté d'être seul et de devoir créer une façon de travailler, un toucher spécifique, sur les pieds sans les supports et références qui existent aujourd'hui ? Les chartes de réflexologie n'étaient pas aussi compressives qu'elles le sont aujourd'hui. Elles ont été conçues progressivement au cours de nombreuses années de développement constant (dans le cas d'Eunice Ingham, en passant par les services des hôpitaux et en appliquant différents types de pression sur les zones des pieds des patients et en observant la réponse). On les comparait aux diagnostics cliniques et allopathiques). 

C'est grâce à ce suivi constant qu'une meilleure compréhension de la réflexologie s'est progressivement constituée, et que les tableaux de base ont été élaborés.

Comme Eunice était kinésithérapeute et travaillait avec différents médecins, cela signifiait que la réflexologie (un terme qu'elle a inventé) s'alignait exclusivement sur le soulagement des maux physiques.

Ma longue association avec la famille (Ingham), et le fait d'être « le gardien » de certains des écrits d'Eunice Ingham, confirment que ses efforts ont été le point central du développement de la réflexologie dont nous bénéficions aujourd'hui. 
En effet, où en serait la réflexologie aujourd’hui et que ferions-nous sans sa contribution ? Elle a été une véritable pionnière. Tous les réflexologues, en particulier en Occident, font partie d'une lignée qui remonte à elle, sous une forme ou une autre.

Revenons au sujet original de la finalité et de la reconnaissance de la réflexologie de cette époque jusqu'à aujourd'hui. Vous pouvez déduire de l'introduction ci-dessus comment la réflexologie était utilisée pour divers troubles physiques, pour lesquels, lorsqu'elle était utilisée de manière ciblée, avait une valeur significative. C'est ainsi qu'elle était encore perçue à mon époque (je suis sûr que d'autres de mes contemporains seront d'accord avec moi)

J'ai raconté comment les clients s'attendaient à vivre des séances « positives et fermes ». Ils n'auraient pas toléré certaines des versions "massage-spa" de la réflexologie qui dominent aujourd'hui.
Il est difficile de faire le lien entre le statut de la réflexologie d'il y a 50 ans et celui d'aujourd'hui. 
On pourrait faire une analogie en essayant d'expliquer l'atmosphère qui régnait dans le Londres des Sixties ; ce n'est pas possible. Mais comme le dit le dicton : "Si vous vous souvenez des années 60, vous n'étiez pas là !

Je conclurai ce sujet en répétant comment la réflexologie d'aujourd'hui a été largement (et non exclusivement, je suis heureux de le dire) presque totalement reconnue comme étant un contact doux sur les pieds à des fins de relaxation. Cela peut avoir de la valeur - qui peut nier les bienfaits de la relaxation ?
Si les techniques de relaxation sont utilisées pour répondre aux besoins du client et font partie du vaste répertoire de la réflexologie, le réflexologue peut très bien les utiliser. Le problème est de savoir si c'est le seul type d'application connu par le praticien ? Si c'est le cas, la véritable portée et la valeur de la réflexologie sont refusées aux clients.
Il existe une variété infinie de types de pieds, combinée à une variété infinie de besoins physiologiques/émotionnels des personnes. La réflexologie est une modalité unique et exige une connaissance des nombreux types d'applications pour en maximiser le potentiel. Ce n'est qu'à cette condition qu'il sera possible de fournir le meilleur traitement possible aux clients.
Il y avait quelques thérapeutes dits de "zone" à Londres dans les années 1960-70. L'un d'eux était Joe Corvo, avec qui j'ai eu plusieurs séances et que j'ai appris à connaître assez bien lorsqu'il avait un cabinet dans le nord de Londres dans les années 1970.

Dire que ses traitements étaient positifs est un euphémisme. Je me souviens « m'être accroché à la table de massage avec mes dents ! » 
Il utilisait une sorte de sonde en caoutchouc dur ou en bois pour entrer en contact avec les réflexes.
Ses séances duraient environ 20 minutes. Il a eu beaucoup de succès, les gens faisaient littéralement la queue pour ses traitements. Il comptait parmi ses clients des personnalités du monde du spectacle, de la politique et même de la royauté.
Il travaillait sans relâche, se déplaçant continuellement d'une salle de soin à l'autre, donnant environ 25 traitements par jour. En outre, il était en quelque sorte chanteur d'opéra et donnait un petit « récital »durant son traitement. 

Je peux attester qu'un médecin à la retraite m'a dit que le traitement de Joe Corvo l'a guéri d'une grave maladie.
Je ne vous suggère pas du tout de commencer à travailler de cette manière, mais je vous ai donné ces informations comme une comparaison de différents types d'approche.

L'un des fondements de la réflexologie est qu'un réflexe douloureux indique automatiquement un problème, un déséquilibre, quel qu'il soit - une sorte de prophétie d'une maladie imminente. Ceci n'est pas valable, ni exact et est la cause de confusion, de désinformation et de peur. Pour une personne en bonne santé, les pieds doivent réagir de façon vivante. C'est la texture d'un réflexe qui révèle des informations précieuses, donnant une indication beaucoup plus fiable de l'état "énergétique" d'une personne. C'est l'un des piliers de la formation A.R.T.
Un autre consiste à "traiter ce que vous trouvez et non ce que vous cherchez". C'est ce qu'on nous a inculqué, à nous les étudiants en physiothérapie. Cela s'applique particulièrement à la réflexologie : 
Laissons-nous les pieds révéler les réflexes perturbés et nécessitant d’être « travaillés », ou bien le réflexologue traite-t-il les réflexes qu'il estime avoir « à travailler » pour diverses affections ?
Ceci fera l'objet d'un futur blog.
Je vous souhaite un bon retour au travail, quand ce sera le cas!

Meilleurs vœux
Tony

Pour obtenir des informations sur les séminaires A.R.T. en France, veuillez contacter
Sophie BOSC  Tél: 06 31 57 10 49  or s.bosc262@orange .fr;

Also in attendance were two of her students from those days and were still in practice! They related that in their days of the 1950s the availability of reference we have today did not exist — they were very much on their own to find the most effective ways to work feet.

Imagine the difficulty of being on your own and having to create ways to contact the feet without the support and references which exist today? Reflexology charts were not as compressive as they are now. These were gradually conceived over many years of constant development (In Eunice Ingham's case, going through the wards of hospitals and applying various types of pressure to areas of the feet to patients and monitoring the response.) This was compared with clinical, allopathic diagnoses.) 

It was through this constant monitoring that a better understanding of reflexology was gradually built up, and through this, the basic charts were developed.
Because Eunice was a physical therapist and worked with various doctors, it meant that reflexology (a term she coined) became exclusively aligned with easing physical ailments.
 
My long association with the (Ingham) family, and being a guardian of some of Eunice Ingham's writings confirms that her efforts were the pivotal point in the development of reflexology which we enjoy today. 
Where would reflexology be, indeed what would we be doing today without her input? She was a true pioneer. Every reflexologist, particularly in the Occident are part of a lineage going back to her in one form or another.
 
Getting back to the original subject of the purpose and recognition of reflexology from those days till now. You can deduce from the introduction above how reflexology was used for various physical ailments, to which when used in a focused manner had significant value. This was the way it was still viewed in my day (I am sure that others around at that time will agree)
 
I have related how clients expected to experience positive and authoritative treatment sessions. They would not have tolerated some of the 'interpretations' of reflexology which dominate at this time.
It is difficult to relate the status of the reflexology of 50 years ago to that of today. 
An analogy can be made when trying to explain the atmosphere in London during the (swinging) 1960s. It is not possible. But then, as the saying goes 'If you remember the 1960s you were not there!'
 
I will conclude this subject with repeating how reflexology of today has largely (not exclusively I am pleased to say) become recognised almost totally as a gentle, contact of the feet for the purpose of relaxation. This can have value — who can deny the benefits of relaxation?
 
If the relaxation techniques are used to suit the perceived needs of the client and are part of the extensive reflexology, repertoire of the reflexologist all well and good. The problem is if that is the only type of application known by the practitioner? In this case, the true scope and value of reflexology is being denied to clients.
 
There is an infinite variety of types of feet, combined with an infinite variety of physiological/emotional needs of people. Reflexology is such a unique modality and demands a knowledge of the many types of applications to maximise its potential. Only then will the ability to provide the best, possible treatment for clients be possible.
 
There were a few 'zone' therapists around in London in the 1960s-70s. One was Joe Corvo with whom I had several sessions and got to know quite well when he had a practice in North London in the 1970s.
 
To say that his treatments were positive is something of an understatement. I can remember hanging on to the treatment couch by my teeth! 
He used a type of hard rubber or wooden probe to make contact to the reflexes.
 
His treatments were around 20 minutes. He was very successful, people were literally queuing up for his treatments. Luminaries from the world of show business, politics and even royalty were among his clients.

He worked non stop, continually moving from one treatment room to the other, giving around 25 treatments daily. He was something of an opera singer and would give a 'performance' while treating. 

I can attest to being told by a retired doctor how Joe Corvo's treatment cured him of a serious medical condition.
I am not suggesting that you start working in this way at all but related the information as a comparison of different types of approach.
 
One of the underpinnings of reflexology is that a painful reflex automatically indicates a problem, imbalance, whatever — something of a prophecy of an impending ailment. This is not valid and is the cause of confusion, misinformation and fear. In good health, feet should display robust reflexes. It is the texture of a reflex which reveals valuable information, giving a far more reliable indication of the 'energetic' status of a person. This is one of the mainstays of A.R.T. training.
 
Another is to 'Treat what you find and not what you are looking for'. This was drummed into us, physical therapy students many years ago. It applies particularly to reflexology: 
Do we let the feet reveal the disturbed and valid reflexes, or does the reflexologist treat the reflexes which they feel are valid for various conditions? 
This will form the subject of a future blog.
 
I wish you a successful return back to work, whenever this will be!

Best wishes

Tony 


 

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Le titre de ce blog peut surprendre : si la réflexologie s'est diluée, pourquoi est-elle si populaire ?
Avant de continuer, je dois préciser que je ne cherche pas à dénigrer » la pratique de tous les réflexologues bien intentionnés et dévoués qui exercent.
Mon but est de révéler la trajectoire qu'a suivie la réflexologie depuis l'époque d'Eunice Ingham jusqu'à aujourd'hui. C'est à partir de là que l'essence de ce que l'on appelait la réflexologie s'est en effet diluée.

J'ai la légitimité d'un regard rétrospectif en raison ma longue pratique en réflexologie et de ma longue(cancel) association avec la "famille" Ingham. C'est pour cette raison que je suis en mesure de faire la différence entre la réflexologie d'alors et celle d'aujourd'hui. 

L'objectif premier de la réflexologie est de détecter et de "travailler" les réflexes pertinents. Les techniques développées par Ingham dans ce but sont identifiées comme des techniques classiques, et connues comme étant « la technique de reptation, populaire aujourd'hui. Ceci constitue (ou devrait constituer) le fondement de la réflexologie.

C'est ici que l'on trouve la première dilution de la réflexologie. Les techniques classiques (de reptation) ne peuvent être utilisées en conjonction avec aucun type de lubrification. D'une certaine manière, l'utilisation de la combinaison des techniques classiques de réflexologie avec un lubrifiant est devenue courante. Cela a transformé la réflexologie en quelque chose qui ressemble à un pouce traînant, un type de massage des pieds, qui n'est pas la réflexologie dont j'ai été sevré ! Il existe des techniques spécifiques (comme celles de l'A.R.T.) qui sont conçues pour être utilisées en conjonction avec la lubrification en cas de besoin, mais, je le répète, jamais avec les techniques classiques !

Quel est l'objectif d'un traitement de réflexologie ?
Aujourd'hui, le but d'un traitement de réflexologie est de détendre le client, c'est d'ailleurs la façon dont la thérapie est maintenant acceptée. J'admets que le fait de faire appliquer un lubrifiant sur les pieds et de donner un léger massage avec le glissement des doigts et des pouces est relaxant - ce qu'un enfant pourrait faire, mais ce n'est pas de la réflexologie !

Quel était le but initial de la réflexologie ?
Le but initial de la réflexologie est facile à comprendre en paraphrasant le mantra d'Eunice Ingham "Trouvez un point sensible et travaillez-le". 
C'est ainsi qu'on nous enseignait à l'époque : trouver un point sensible (réflexe perturbé) et le traiter en utilisant les techniques classiques (sans lubrification).
Ce processus n'a peut-être pas été particulièrement relaxant pour le client à l'époque. Il s'agissait d'appliquer des contacts spécifiques de manière positive et de se concentrer sur les réflexes perturbés pendant quelques minutes - et non pas seulement l’effleurage rapide d’un pouce huilé. L'objectif de chaque traitement était d'obtenir des bienfaits thérapeutiques et non de (cancel) relaxer. La sensation ressentie par le client était celle d'une "bonne ou douce douleur".

En fait, c'est ce que les clients attendaient et payaient à l'époque, beaucoup d'entre eux ressentant très rapidement un bénéfice thérapeutique et un soulagement de leurs maux, même anciens. Nous devions faire quelque chose de bien, car les séances étaient réservées des semaines à l'avance pour ce type de traitement. Je me souviens avoir travaillé de 9h à 21h lorsque j’exerçais dans mon cabinet londonien. Il existe un potentiel important et largement inexploité pour cette approche originale de la réflexologie - il suffit de changer l'orientation dans la manière dont les traitements sont administrés.

Quel est le problème de l'utilisation de la lubrification avec les techniques classiques ?
L'objectif d'une réflexologie efficace est de pouvoir détecter les réflexes perturbés et ensuite appliquer les contacts appropriés Cela n’est pas possible sur les pieds enduits de lubrifiant, en particulier sur les zones dorsales des pieds où les bouts des doigts sont utilisés pour détecter et contacter les réflexes - les applications réflexes sont telles ici qu'elles exigent une surface sèche sans lubrifiant pour être efficaces.

C'est la raison pour laquelle les séances de traitement doivent être divisées en deux phases.
Phase 1 & Phase 2 Je vous expliquerai cela dans mon prochain blog.​

Pour obtenir des informations sur les séminaires A.R.T. en France, veuillez contacter
Sophie BOSC  Tél: 06 31 57 10 49  or s.bosc262@orange .fr;

(Traduit de l’anglais e français par deepL.)

Meilleurs vœux

Tony Porter

This is part of a separate paper.
This can be demonstrated and experienced by working specifically on the toes, with the most effective range of techniques. If the techniques are used correctly, and with sufficient focus, a response will manifest in other areas of the body, which seemingly have no reflex relationship to the reflexes of the toes. The more I used this modality, the better the responses became, and as I have already mentioned, it had an ‘amplifying’ benefit to the general treatment. 

I have repeatedly stated that it is possible to give a full treatment just by working specifically on the toes. The toes have a wide area influence in the body, and this is something which has always interested me.
(The techniques of working the toes, form a major part of A.R.T. training.)
I could not accept that it was only due to the reflex or the classical neurological model. — there had to be something else.
It was during this time that I had an invitation to give a presentation at a conference on the influence of the Fascia several years ago that I realised what that ‘something else’ was.

As the various presenters gave their presentations on the Fascia, I realised that it was this which formed the primary communication between the feet and areas of the body. 
I discovered that the existence of the Fascia is not only confined to the human body but is ubiquitous throughout nature. 
 
The Fascia - connects everything in the body as one functional unit. It is truly a matrix — a ubiquitous web of support and communication to and from all parts of the body. It covers every one of the 5,000 structures of the body; Every nerve, muscle, organ, gland etc. are covered by different types of fascial tissue. It keeps moving parts of the body protected and prevents them from sticking to each other, like a well-oiled engine.


​The illustration shows the extent of the Fascia of the body, a version of the human internet.
The fascia is a continuous web of communication throughout the body. The Fascia is the most universal tissue in the body, and yet its influence is only really being investigated. It holds a great amount of secrets waiting to be discovered, and is a major influence on reflexology and also acupuncture. 
Consideration of the fascia will enable a better understanding of the principle of reflexology. In the next chapter I will explain that on some reflex areas of the feet, there is a reflex within a reflex. 

The fascial, web is not just related to the Human form. 
It is of interest to note that a type of fascial web runs throughout nature and even the universe.
As an example, right here on planet earth, nature’s fascia casts its influence beneath our feet. The next time you go for a walk in a forest, or park, look at the trees, it may seem that they are individuals existing on their own. Nothing could be further from the truth. Beneath the soil is an enormous structure — a mycelium, a fungal network, an internet of nature a ‘Wood Wide Web’ connecting everything.

Those trees you see as being individuals are all interconnected to other trees through the mycelium web of the fungus. The mycelium is composed of millions of thread-like structures. It is these that create a network of communication between the trees and plants even though hundreds of meters apart an organic internet.
This fungal network serves not only as a means of communication but also as a means of support. For example, if a tree is having difficulties in surviving, other trees will send extra nutrition, or in the case of an infection a chemical antidote.

The Mother tree
There are trees which are older and larger than the others; these will be the Mother or sacred trees which, for want of a better description will be a centre (hub) of communication with the other trees of the forest, acting as a server in natures wood-wide net. From here it directs nature’s pharmacy, sending organic ‘medicines’ through the strands of the mycelium giving help to the trees which need it.
We become aware of this web in the autumn when various types of fungi appear, which are the flowers of the mycelium.

The role of the Mother Tree was very well depicted as Eywa by Director James Cameron in his film Avatar.
Eywa was the biggest and oldest tree in the forest. It was the guiding force and deity of Pandora, which was one of the moons of a fictional planet which acted to keep the ecosystem working in perfect homeostasis.

(The film is analogous to the way mankind is wantonly destroying areas of the Amazonian rain forest. While on this subject 280,000 square miles have been destroyed since 1978 This continues at the rate of 80,000 acres daily!)
 
James Cameron, apart from being a great director, obviously has infinite knowledge of the Gaia principle, which is that all living organisms interact with each other for the purpose of maintaining the homeostasis of the planet.

There is an incredible similarity between the strands within the fascia, the tissue of the synapses of the nervous system and the strands or filaments of the mycelium.
This is not all, It is thought that a cosmic web exists, linking everything in the known universe. 
It is by becoming aware of the infinite complexity and influence of the nervous system and the fascia, (which is accepted as being a second nervous system), which gives reflexology greater credence.

It is because of this complexity that the reflexes cannot have exclusivity to an organ, gland or structure of the body; there will always be overlapping onto other structures. 

There is a new world to the understanding of reflexology emerging. The simplistic view of pushing button A to produce a response to button B can no longer remain as being valid. It is this belief which is the reason for the continuing dilution of the therapy to nothing more than a spa-type foot pampering. Thankfully there are those involved in reflexology which are not of this persuasion.

Having a deeper understanding of reflexology reveals the futility in believing that a reflex, for example of the stomach, relates exclusively to that organ is a fallacy. A disturbed stomach reflex could quite easily be the cause of neck or shoulder pain. In this case, working on the reflexes to those areas will, at the most only be palliative. This is why developing the ability to detect disturbed reflexes is the golden key to effective reflexology.
Everything and everyone is connected, there are no empty spaces in the body or anywhere. 
With this in mind, I leave you with the following quote: 

The world is a mirror of infinite beauty, yet no man sees it. It is a Temple of Majesty, yet no man regards it. It is a region of Light and Peace, did not men disquiet it. It is the Paradise of God.
Thomas Traherne 1636 - 1674


Best Wishes, good health, stay safe and be positive.
 
Tony Porter ©
Director/Founder A.R.T and Focused Reflexology.
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