Reflexology and Meditation
It is always usual to make resolutions at the beginning of each new year, which although begun with excellent and positive intentions, gradually start to wear off. It is only a few who can maintain that initial drive and hold their intentions intact, and through this will realise the benefits of their initial aims. These can be, for example, to maintain a regular practice of meditation (which is of particular benefit to those in the natural healing professions such as reflexology). Or to make exercise a daily activity.
There are other pursuits, such as learning to play a musical instrument or taking the decision to read as many books as time permits.
It takes a regular and faithful practice of at least three months to begin to experience positive benefits. Three months seems to be the amount of time for the benefits of pursuits to manifest.
Many years ago I had the good fortune to meet a cardiologist at a conference I was attending on meditation. Actually, as a side note, he did not look anything like my perceived idea of how a medical consultant should look. He had something of a hippy image about him. How surprised I was when he introduced himself as a consultant cardiologist!
During a break, he explained to me the value that regular meditation had for him. He told me he practiced morning and evening and always before performing surgery. Sometimes he would go into a storeroom in the hospital for a few minutes of chanting meditation before beginning surgery. Working in his type of profession is difficult to maintain regular meditation times, however he always made it a point to practice even for a few minutes. He related that meditation was the most valuable thing he had done in his life.
He later explained that the internal vibrations caused by chanting have rejuvenating benefits on the entire body. One of the reasons is that it stimulates the Vagus nerve, while also having a beneficial effect on blood and lymphatic fluids.
This effect can be observed by the way a bowl of water reacts to the vibrations from a Tibetan singing bowl.
I used to work in the practice of a medical consultant in London, who was a leading authority on the effects of stress. He invited all of the staff to join him in a thirty-minute chanting meditation at the end of the day. This practice was received with a considerable amount of derision from the practitioners in the adjacent practices! However, it was of great benefit, particularly when performed in a group situation.
Meditation helps to make for a more sensitive and receptive Reflexologist - unless you are already doing so get meditating!
My Best Wishes
Tony Porter