Healing through Reflexology is based on Zone therapy. It all began in early 1900’s, when Dr. William Fitzgerald realized that pressure on certain areas of the body produced anesthetic effect in a corresponding part of the body. He along with Dr. Edwin Bowers worked on this and came up with the theory of systematized body zones. However, in 1930’s it was Eunice Ingham, a therapist, who charted the feet as a map of the entire body and wrote the first book on Reflexology in 1938, “STORIES THE FEET CAN TELL”. Zone theory is a system of organizing relationships between various parts of the body, dividing it into 10 equal longitudinal zones running along the length of the body from head to toes and fingers. Never use pressure in Reflexology, nor look for pain so that healing is good. It is not about getting pain, but we are releasing toxins and blocks from within the zone and, therefore, it is not at all necessary to give pain in Reflexology. This is one of the easiest forms of stress release and keeping a being in harmony. Before beginning to do Reflexology, it is essential to use relaxation techniques, to ease tension, negate effects of stress on the body. These are called the Dessert techniques, which help in reducing sensitivity and open up areas for healing.
loose as possible, but not so loose that the hands slip on the foot.

It is always advisable to work on both the feet. One can begin with any foot first. But work on a foot twice, covering the entire foot first and then emphasizing on key areas. Always be in touch with the foot constantly, preferably with the holding hand. Begin with toes, go towards the foot and finally the heel.

The limbs are related to each other through the zones. The arm is a reflection of the leg in zones. The hand corresponds to the foot, the wrist to the ankle, so on and so forth, as mentioned below:

SHOULDER … HIP/UPPER ARM … THIGH/ELBOW … KNEE/
/WRIST FOREARM … CALF … ANKLE/HAND … FOOT/ FINGERS … TOES/FOREARM … SHIN BONE.

If any part of the arm is injured, the corresponding part of the leg can be worked on with the same result and vice versa. Perhaps the greatest ambition any reflexologist can have is to negate the effects of stress and the resulting calcium buildup in the feet for each and everyone.