FootNotes

The importance of Touch
Portland Reflexology is all about gentle touch, so it’s no wonder my Medicare clients come consistently. I say this because of the experience I had when I met my new doctor and went over Medicare-required questions for 90 minutes. 
Here’s what happened: 
She typed. Then she typed some more. She asked about drinking, exercise, appetite, sex... a whole range of human behaviors, and she just kept typing.
The most ...

These are the days that try our souls. With much we can’t do anything about.  So why not do something seemingly impossible that you can do?  Something you always wanted to do, but were afraid to try? Imagine knitting a sweater; take a knitting class at Northwest Wools.  Date on-line.  Sign up for a 5K walk.  Say No when you always say Yes.  Stop teaching; start writing. Tap with Helen McConnell.  Read fiction if you’re a non-fiction reader. Apply for ...

Now it’s my website. Cherie Collins, Homespun Websites, helped me create my first website and now she’s updated it so it’s readable on your phone as well as your tablet or laptop. The new website uses that incredible video produced by Yasmin Nguyen and his photos and will launch with this newsletter now a blog. https://portlandreflexology.com/
 All and all, it’s been a humbling, unbelievable experience to have so much love and support all these years from you dear people. ...

It’s that ability to move back to our better selves. I just finished reading The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham. Apparently, I’m not the only one reviewing these last 300 years of America’s history. At one point, I was 450th on the list to borrow this library book by the Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian-biographer. Believe me, this is history worth reading.
 
Meacham’s book examines the challenges we went through as a county to become ...

One of the things I remember from my Seattle Reflexology & Massage Center training is that 85% of the trouble people have with their feet is caused by their shoes. This statement came even closer to home when I began selling shoes in 2004 to those with Diabetes and Medicare under the Shoe Bill. That bill was created to help prevent lower leg, foot and toe amputations in those with Diabetes which was costing the government $6 billion a year. It is now known as the Therapeutic Shoe Program for ...

Several of you asked if probiotics help sugar cravings. The Internet has lots of articles, but what’s the truth? Recently I met with my naturopath, Dr. Robert Madda, The Natural Path, and asked him his expert opinion. https://www.naturalpathmed.com/  Dr. Madda has been helping me with my nutrition, hormones and vitamins for more than five years and I feel well taken care of. Here’s what Dr. Madda says:
“Yes, Probiotics benefits have been proven effective in supporting immune ...

This winter three of my clients were diagnosed with a neuroma or a Morton’s Neuroma. So here I am, sharing what I’ve learned about neuromas from my podiatrist and mentor, Dr. Ray McClanahan, owner of Northwest Foot and Ankle: “If your feet feel better when you take those shoes off, that’s your biggest clue it’s your shoes causing the problem.”
 
Somehow your shoes have become too narrow. Perhaps it's because you’ve gone from summer sandals to winter ...

Ten years ago I started Portland Reflexology on January 1 at my apartment in Multnomah Village.It was me and the cat. No website, no cards, no clients. It was one of those great leaps of faith that we all have to make when we do something as outrageous as start a business that begins in our hearts. 
 
There are many people to thank as I look back in my paper Daytimers.  My dear friend, Vonnie, who came that first month and has come every month since. Cherie Collins, owner of Stellaractive, ...

Remember how your body relaxed and responded to Reflexology at your first session? Did you realize when you relax, your muscles and blood vessels also relax and more oxygen and nutrients flow into your 37.2 trillion cells? (This number comes from someone at the Smithsonian Institute who had time to count such things.) Anyway, feeding your cells with more oxygen and nutrients is Job Number 1 for red blood cells. And when the body’s cells get properly fed, they release toxins. So another important ...

Now that it’s rainy and cold, we’re back in our winter shoes and you may find your feet hurt after a summer in sandals. What I learned more than 14 years ago at reflexology school is that 85% of the time our feet hurt because our shoes don’t fit. So I often begin a first visit with a talk about how to best fit shoes.
 
I want your feet to feel good. Because no matter how many times I reflex and stretch and increase circulation in your foot, if you put those precious feet back ...

We are swimming in stress. In our homes, at our jobs, on the freeway, just listening to the radio, even NPR. And it seems to be getting worse. Research tells us that stress contributes up to 80% in the development of illness. So let me help you with stress reduction, which is the #1 benefit of reflexology. I’m grateful to see you, but I’m mostly grateful that you care enough about yourself to let down for an hour. 
 
Reflexology benefits are accumulative. An hour once or twice ...

What I’m re-discovering is the importance of reaching out to my friends. It’s something we women have been doing for centuries. Talking and relating to each other. Delighting in the joys and sharing the sorrows.  These friendships makes us human and able to cope. When we have friends to talk to about what matters most, we can be our authentic selves. 
Recently my dear girlfriends and I had a potluck with husbands in the middle of the week. The camaraderie lingered in my heart ...

People who help others need to retreat and feed their souls.  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’t need any more at the Charles Hotel.
 
I thought I was coming to be alone, but I’ve now seen almost every New Mexican friend I have.  We are all soaking in these wonderful hot tubs, but that’s another blog.  
 
Today I’m ...

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.  Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone.  Yes, I have over 300 hundred class hours myself and over 1000 hours working with clients, but I’ve never taught a class before.  And last week I taught two.
What I learned in my first class is the words ...

This summer I drove to Lavender Valley, a Hood River lavender farm, and bought their pure grosso lavender essence for my reflexology foot soaks.  The fields were buzzing with bees and the smell of lavender was beyond fresh and satisfying.  Now I am using our very own Oregon Lavender on my Oregon clients.  I delight in every foot bath! 
As you may know, lavender is famous for its calming effect as well as its antiseptic properties.  I also put a few drops in the olive oil ...

I like to give my reflexology clients a glass of water when the session is over.   No ice…just plain, filtered tap water.  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.
 
So how much water ...

One of the great joys of being a reflexologist is being out in Portland meeting other alternative health care providers.  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’s system. 
 
According to the Epson Salt Council, epson salt is a compound made of magnisum
and ...

My friend Mary handed me a New York Magazine photo of a man’s bare feet and said, “What can you tell me about this person?”  Actually we can tell a lot about a person by looking at his or her feet.   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 ...

I’ve been out dancing in Portland lately.  Three different dance locations and three different dance styles to see why they call Portland the dancin’ town. (Check out this amazing website, PortlandDancing.com   And it didn’t take long before I ended up at The Leotard on NE MLK Blvd for a pair of dancing shoes.  Because no matter what style you dance, you’ve got to have shoes that feel comfortable all night long.  Best part of the deal.  Not only ...

We all agree that walking is more fun with a friend.  So look what I found…a group walk every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 PM, rain or shine.  It’s called Street Rambles,organized by  Mazamas –a hiking, walking, mountaineering club.
 
Grab your walking shoes…the more flat and down- to-earth the better for your feet and let’s go. Meet at the REI store (NW 14th and Johnson in the Pearl District) and for just $2, you’ll be led through Portland’s ...

 
You won’t care what they say about your Vibram FiveFinger Multi Sport shoes because your feet will feel like you’re walking barefoot.  You’ll feel connected to the Earth and free.  This is the shoes for everyone who says,”I’d rather go barefoot.”
 
Where will you find this silly looking shoe that brings your feet back to life? At www.REI.com   In fact, I just looked at their website and found 64 reviews from men and 29 reviews from ...

Today I finally meet Frederick James.   What a privilege to hold this sweet sleeping soul.  The privilege actually began weeks ago when I was invited to Amy and Mark’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.  Vivante Midwifery and Women’s Health in Portland connected us.
As a reflexologist, I have additional training working with expectant mothers.  ...

If you’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.  In an article he wrote for Walk About, walking and hiking for fitness.
“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 ...