Input on Relaxation technique

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am hoping for some input.

I have been checking out some historical references (Ancient Egypt,

Victorian Russia, oh, and Drew Barrymore has it done) to a light

touch technique that involved lightly stroking the bottom of the foot

for stress relief. I wanted to try it but, one, had a hard time

finding anyone who knew anything or was willing to try it, and two, I

was a little nervous. Either way, last week I found a certified

massage therapist who never tried it, but had heard of it and was

willing to give it a go. I had it done a few days ago and the results

were amazing!

She had me lie face down on a massage table where you face fits into

the " face " pillow. (I don't know what it is actually called. She

massaged each foot for fifteen minutes each. I was expecting a deep,

heavy massage, but never really having one done professionally, I was

surprised at it.

She held the foot and very lightly massaged it and as she repeated

the process got a little heavier each time. Regardless, I had to

fight to stay awake. It was soooo relaxing. She spent the last half

hour with the light technique-fifteen minutes on each foot. The

technique she used, she learned while in school, though then they

used pencil tips to stimulate the sole. I have several historical

references to this technique.

She said, I believe in Taiwan, they used toothpicks and that is what

she started with. It was hard to tell what she was doing but I later

asked her and she said she was using them in short strokes in a

circular motion. It tickled and though I laughed

a little, it was more just causing me to flinch. The toes were more

sensitive and she tended to stay there longer. Then she used her

fingers, trying various techniques. She finally had me laughing

pretty good. It was amazing the efeect it had. She held under the

foot with one hand to hold it relatively still. She ended that foot

by placing her palms on the soles and just held them there, slowly

sliding the off and repeating the process. I could feel the stress

melt away. I can't fully describe it but it was a complete stress

melt. She too said she was surprised at the result.

Then she did the right foot which was much more ticklish than the

left. I started laughing almost immediately with the toothpicks, then

the fingers got me to laugh steadily. It sort of put me in a state of

euphoria, like a high. I actually had tears in my eyes. She ended the

same way and I honestly cannot describe the stress relief. I was so

weak and relaxed. (I was wiped out for the entire day!)

When I sat up, but ears popped, my head cleared of congestion, my

entire body felt like a wet noodle and I wondered how I would drive

home. It was simply amazing. The therapist actually said " That was a

lot of fun; I really enjoyed that. " She mentioned she felt more

relaxed as well. The theory behind it suggests a combination of

reflexology, nerve stimulation, and the laughter. I think too that

you just have to give into it and not resist it. Any thoughts on

this. It really intrigued me when I read the historical accounts, but

to have it done really opened it up. I would appreciate any thoughts

or insight into this. Thanks much!

 

Britt

[Guest guest]

Hi Britt,

 

I was hoping you would share links to the historical references you

are refering to or books titles. Thanks.

 

Blessings,

 

Elise

 

, " quandry7777 "

<quandry7777> wrote:

>

>

> Hi, I am hoping for some input.

> I have been checking out some historical references (Ancient Egypt,

> Victorian Russia, oh, and Drew Barrymore has it done) to a light

> touch technique that involved lightly stroking the bottom of the

foot

> for stress relief. I wanted to try it but, one, had a hard time

> finding anyone who knew anything or was willing to try it, and

two, I

> was a little nervous. Either way, last week I found a certified

> massage therapist who never tried it, but had heard of it and was

> willing to give it a go. I had it done a few days ago and the

results

> were amazing!

> She had me lie face down on a massage table where you face fits

into

> the " face " pillow. (I don't know what it is actually called. She

> massaged each foot for fifteen minutes each. I was expecting a

deep,

> heavy massage, but never really having one done professionally, I

was

> surprised at it.

> She held the foot and very lightly massaged it and as she repeated

> the process got a little heavier each time. Regardless, I had to

> fight to stay awake. It was soooo relaxing. She spent the last half

> hour with the light technique-fifteen minutes on each foot. The

> technique she used, she learned while in school, though then they

> used pencil tips to stimulate the sole. I have several historical

> references to this technique.

> She said, I believe in Taiwan, they used toothpicks and that is

what

> she started with. It was hard to tell what she was doing but I

later

> asked her and she said she was using them in short strokes in a

> circular motion. It tickled and though I laughed

> a little, it was more just causing me to flinch. The toes were more

> sensitive and she tended to stay there longer. Then she used her

> fingers, trying various techniques. She finally had me laughing

> pretty good. It was amazing the efeect it had. She held under the

> foot with one hand to hold it relatively still. She ended that

foot

> by placing her palms on the soles and just held them there, slowly

> sliding the off and repeating the process. I could feel the stress

> melt away. I can't fully describe it but it was a complete stress

> melt. She too said she was surprised at the result.

> Then she did the right foot which was much more ticklish than the

> left. I started laughing almost immediately with the toothpicks,

then

> the fingers got me to laugh steadily. It sort of put me in a state

of

> euphoria, like a high. I actually had tears in my eyes. She ended

the

> same way and I honestly cannot describe the stress relief. I was so

> weak and relaxed. (I was wiped out for the entire day!)

> When I sat up, but ears popped, my head cleared of congestion, my

> entire body felt like a wet noodle and I wondered how I would drive

> home. It was simply amazing. The therapist actually said " That was

a

> lot of fun; I really enjoyed that. " She mentioned she felt more

> relaxed as well. The theory behind it suggests a combination of

> reflexology, nerve stimulation, and the laughter. I think too that

> you just have to give into it and not resist it. Any thoughts on

> this. It really intrigued me when I read the historical accounts,

but

> to have it done really opened it up. I would appreciate any

thoughts

> or insight into this. Thanks much!

>

> Britt

>

[Guest guest]

Elise,

 

I have been fascinated with this technique for quite sometime, and

the lack of information, made it even more so. I never had the

technique done, until recently, simply because I couldn't find a

therapist. I am presently trying to gather some information, rather

references that I will be glad to post. Unfortunately, much of what I

have are bits and pieces, scraps here and there. And, I also am not

sure anymore where I received some of the information. I can share a

little of what I know for now, but forgive me, at least for the time

being of not having documentation. It is references I have gathered

and rememered...but I am trying, especially since I have now

experienced the results of the treatment.

 

Paintings of the technique can be found in the Louvre and also at the

Museum of Pius Clementia in Rome. The technique has also been

recorded in art in China, Japan, India, and S.E.Asia. In almost all

these cases, it was a technique practiced by royalty.

 

Queen Hatshepsut (1600 B.C.) the only female Pharoah received this

treatment, first having her feet massaged, then stroked with

feathers. It may have been a soothing technique as well. I am not

sure. But it has also been seen on several black and white movies

from the thirties, forties, etc. where Egypt, Cleopatra, etc. was

involved. Not that that lends credibility.

 

Several of the Russian Czarinas, Catherine the Great, Anna Ivanova,

Anna Leopoldovna all were pampered by having their feet massaged,

then stroked with feathers, and I remember in these cases, it was

mentioned that it did cause laughter. In fact, it was a highly paid

position and women or palace eunucks were actually trained in

the " art " . It was a pampering of the royalty.

 

I recently saw an interview where Drew Barrymore admitted to having a

massage therapist and once a week she has her feet tickled for stress

relief. Also, Groucho Marx also had that done before he went on stage

when he hosted " You Bet Your Life " . That was from a book, which I may

still have from the 80's. I remember reading he learned it from his

mother who also had it done.

 

Not all the references are very detailed and specific...hence my very

limited understanding. But since I have now first hand experienced

the end result, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO IT!!! I will post

more as I find some information. I have someone looking for me as

well. Again, I would still appreciate anyone's input or thoughts.

 

Britt

 

, " Elise "

<shamaness_spiritwolf> wrote:

>

> Hi Britt,

>

> I was hoping you would share links to the historical references you

> are refering to or books titles. Thanks.

>

> Blessings,

>

> Elise

>

> , " quandry7777 "

> <quandry7777> wrote:

> >

> >

> > Hi, I am hoping for some input.

> > I have been checking out some historical references (Ancient

Egypt,

> > Victorian Russia, oh, and Drew Barrymore has it done) to a light

> > touch technique that involved lightly stroking the bottom of the

> foot

> > for stress relief. I wanted to try it but, one, had a hard time

> > finding anyone who knew anything or was willing to try it, and

> two, I

> > was a little nervous. Either way, last week I found a certified

> > massage therapist who never tried it, but had heard of it and was

> > willing to give it a go. I had it done a few days ago and the

> results

> > were amazing!

> > She had me lie face down on a massage table where you face fits

> into

> > the " face " pillow. (I don't know what it is actually called. She

> > massaged each foot for fifteen minutes each. I was expecting a

> deep,

> > heavy massage, but never really having one done professionally, I

> was

> > surprised at it.

> > She held the foot and very lightly massaged it and as she repeated

> > the process got a little heavier each time. Regardless, I had to

> > fight to stay awake. It was soooo relaxing. She spent the last

half

> > hour with the light technique-fifteen minutes on each foot. The

> > technique she used, she learned while in school, though then they

> > used pencil tips to stimulate the sole. I have several historical

> > references to this technique.

> > She said, I believe in Taiwan, they used toothpicks and that is

> what

> > she started with. It was hard to tell what she was doing but I

> later

> > asked her and she said she was using them in short strokes in a

> > circular motion. It tickled and though I laughed

> > a little, it was more just causing me to flinch. The toes were

more

> > sensitive and she tended to stay there longer. Then she used her

> > fingers, trying various techniques. She finally had me laughing

> > pretty good. It was amazing the efeect it had. She held under the

> > foot with one hand to hold it relatively still. She ended that

> foot

> > by placing her palms on the soles and just held them there,

slowly

> > sliding the off and repeating the process. I could feel the

stress

> > melt away. I can't fully describe it but it was a complete stress

> > melt. She too said she was surprised at the result.

> > Then she did the right foot which was much more ticklish than the

> > left. I started laughing almost immediately with the toothpicks,

> then

> > the fingers got me to laugh steadily. It sort of put me in a

state

> of

> > euphoria, like a high. I actually had tears in my eyes. She ended

> the

> > same way and I honestly cannot describe the stress relief. I was

so

> > weak and relaxed. (I was wiped out for the entire day!)

> > When I sat up, but ears popped, my head cleared of congestion, my

> > entire body felt like a wet noodle and I wondered how I would

drive

> > home. It was simply amazing. The therapist actually said " That

was

> a

> > lot of fun; I really enjoyed that. " She mentioned she felt more

> > relaxed as well. The theory behind it suggests a combination of

> > reflexology, nerve stimulation, and the laughter. I think too

that

> > you just have to give into it and not resist it. Any thoughts on

> > this. It really intrigued me when I read the historical accounts,

> but

> > to have it done really opened it up. I would appreciate any

> thoughts

> > or insight into this. Thanks much!

> >

> > Britt

> >

>