Ankle and leg rotation
The technique shown in the video below is enlivening and invigorating for the pelvis and abdomen whilst still relaxing. It is good for any client, especially in all stages of reproduction, postpartum, to help the area recover. (As with any technique, if there is anything about doing it that makes the client feel uncomfortable, or there are any contraindications such as arthritis, do not persist in using it.)
And it is very easy for the client to do it themselves when relaxing, before going to sleep or rising in the morning. During pregnancy, it is good to suggest anything, no matter how small, that empowers the woman by allowing her to take charge of her own body and connect positively with her pelvis and uterus.
Relaxing the pelvis
The video below shows a simple way to work if someone presents with inverted ankles. It can also be used if their feet are held upright, and the ankles are too close together, or in any other way that shows they are holding tension there.
In these cases, starting the treatment around the ankles and instilling a sense of calmness in them is a priority before using a standard work sequence. Then it will be much easier to encourage the client to open up to the treatment and generally be more receptive to the potential of creating new life.
One of the best things for this is cupping the heels, a well-known sedation and balancing technique that is particularly apt in this situation. It gives a sense of calm to the client and possibly a feeling of being held and cradled like a baby themselves. It can even help them make peace on a deep energetic level with issues relating to their own parents and childhood.
Cupping can also be used during pregnancy to make an energetic connection through the reflexes between mother and baby. It can be very good for calming an overactive baby. And even postpartum to restore a sense of calmness in the area after the inevitable challenges of labour and birth.
The way of working below counterbalances the enlivening technique shown in the next video. The calming techniques shown here should always be done first if the client is anxious and closed off. You can also use the technique demonstrated in the video above for inverted ankles in the chapter on ‘Feet at presentation’ after you have calmed the client.
‘Diaphragm’ breathing
In the following video, I ask the client to ‘breathe into their abdomen’; of course, the air is not actually going there, but into the lungs. But if they imagine they are breathing into the abdomen, this makes it easier for them to be aware of and release any tightness in the diaphragm muscles. Once the diaphragm is looser, it will be easier to release any tightness in the chest and even the throat muscles. (It will be a little harder to observe the client’s breathing pattern once they are covered up, but you should hopefully still be able to see it.)
Diaphragm rocking technique
The video below shows how to use the diaphragm rocking technique, which is also working on kidney point 1. And another method that works over the kidney reflex and the venous flexor pump. (N.B. laughing after inflicting pain on a client is completely unprofessional and totally unacceptable; however, the foot model for the video is my boyfriend, so please forgive me…and yes, his feet are massive.)
Linking technique on freckles
Try a linking technique shown in the video below when there is a freckle on the foot. It can bring about an instantaneous response in the client’s nervous system (relaxation, tingling, etc.) You can also use linking points on any opposing aspect of the medial/lateral aspects of the foot.
Working the colon
Swelling caused by a build-up of old compacted waste matter can often be seen along various sections of the colon, most commonly at the flexures. The video below shows a very effective way to work on ascending and descending colons that appear congested.
Dry skin on the hallux
A build-up of dry hard skin in zone 1. of the hallux will affect the uppermost neck and face reflexes. It shows poor lubrication at the nose, mouth, and throat membranes. The video below shows a simple but effective technique to stretch the neck and release the vertebrae to ease the pressure and the energy blockage formed by the hard skin.
Yellow skin at the lungs
Whenever you see yellowness over the lungs, do extra deep work on them to encourage the expelling of phlegm. Although the foot in the video does not have yellow skin over the lung area, the technique is beneficial when this discolouration is seen. Or indeed for any chest/lung/upper lymphatic problems.
Horizontal stress line on hallux
Horizontal stress lines are also frequently seen across the dorsal joints of the hallux and also the small toes. Consider how this affects the teeth reflexes, sinus drainage, and eye or ear function. You can work the small toes the same way as shown on the hallux joint in the following video.
Dorsiflexed toes
Just to be absolutely clear, the toes of the model in this video aren’t particularly dorsiflexed, but from the demonstration, it should still be obvious how to work toes that are. (N.B., if this technique causes cramping get the client to drink a glass of water.)
As this means that you are pulling the chest and head reflexes back and up, you can encourage the client to do some deep breathing to expand the diaphragm at the same time.
For general hallux work
The technique shown below is for a general working of the hallux. The initial movement is great for getting in under the ball of the hallux. In terms of the musculoskeletal system in the body, this is the equivalent of stretching beneath the rib cage in zone 1. The following twisting movement is the equivalent of loosening the whole diaphragm.
In the foot, the movement goes between the hallux and the second toe, stretching and separating zones 1 & 2. This is very good for relieving muscle tension between the spine and the shoulder blade. Then pulling up and twisting the phalanges of the toe loosens the neck vertebrae and jaw muscles in one single continuous flowing movement.
As well as loosening the muscles and joints, it massages the organs in the area. So the heart muscle, thyroid, etc., and vagus nerve. And because it stimulates the bronchial tubes, it is also very good for lung problems. It also helps allow a little more space for the client to breathe and ‘open up’ to repressed emotions through physical and verbal expression.
Note: I am standing, but it is possible to do this movement when sitting down.
Pelvic floor reflex
In case it is not clear from the video, the pelvic floor reflex is right between the base of the bladder and the sciatic loop (it is not actually on the sciatic loop).
This is a great reflex to work for clients with issues in this area, not just lower back problems, but also bladder, uterus, etc. Like with muscle reflexes in general, clients tend to find having it worked painful but a ‘good pain’. (But do go easy here during the latter stages of pregnancy when the pelvis ligaments have relaxed.)
Spinal stretch for tightness in the lower back
The video below shows the straightforward stretching back & forth technique. But note it is given added potency by separating the toes with fingers whilst doing it. Check the client is comfortable with this separation, especially if there have been toe breaks or arthritis is present, or there is a history of gout. Further work whilst separating the toes is shown in video no.2 beneath this.
Foot inverting
The following video is from a workshop where I show how to work on a foot that is inverting. This can be applied whether the foot is flopping through weakness or being held through tension. The aim is to stretch out and evert the ankle tendon (i.e. the abdominal into groin musculature reflexes). And also massage into the reflex area of the muscles alongside the vertebrae of the mid-back, which are under pressure due to the inversion:
For ease of study and reference, all of my technique videos are shown below in the order they appear in the book. If you wish to view the video in the context of its chapter, click on the chapter heading. If you do not see the video you are looking for here, it will be a video from another website or YouTube, not one of mine. It will be playable in the chapter it is listed in, or there will be a link to view it elsewhere.