Reflexology can help tune us in, into our true selves

Barclay Simpson, who is providing wellness at his Practice of Reflexology, said modern day living is affecting everyone's quality of life. Medical research has tracked the roots of 90 percent of ailments to stress. People need to access a safe, rejuvenating state mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

That's where reflexology comes in. Reflexology is the stimulation of reflexes to activate the body's innate regenerative healing abilities.

If it sounds confusing, it's really not.

Simpson said misperceptions, which are learned over time, cause stress in the body. A large bill in the mail gets our heart rate up. An angry boss activates the fight or flight reaction. All these harmful emotions take their toll on health.

By applying pressure to nerve endings in a person's foot, Simpson can activate the body's innate self-healing mechanisms to restore health and mental balance. The body can be like a self-cleaning oven; you just need to know where to push the button. Learning to participate with our natural healing abilities creates wellness.

"It's like if you bought a car, drove it for years, and then realized it had heat and air conditioning," Simpson said.

Although it may sound far-fetched, the idea of the mind affecting the body's health has long been studied. As Simpson pointed out, it has been shown, heart patients who care for pets have a higher rate of survival.

How we think can affect how we feel. But thinking may be part of the problem too.

Simpson said people dwell in their heads. The static of our thoughts can keep us from hearing our true selves.

"Reflexology can help tune us in, into our true selves," he said.

Simpson became involved with reflexology as a teenager. Later, when he married his wife, a massage therapist, he learned again of its healing properties.

With instructions and guidance, Simpson can teach patients to quiet their mind and slow their heart rate. But wellness requires a willingness to participate; it is a conscious decision.

"We don't have to wait until we're sick to become healthy. I can help families optimize a wellness lifestyle," Simpson said. "If we're just wise enough to realize stress is a killer."