Feb 15, 2009

ChapterⅠ

ChapterⅠ
FATHER JOSEF'S NEW FOOT REFLEXOLOGY
VS. TRADITIONAL FOOT MASSAGE ............................ 35

Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology
Defined .................................................................................................................................................................
36
A Closer Look at Traditional Foot Massage and
Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology
..........................................................................
36
1. Vocabulary ............................ 36
2. Theory ............................ 37
3. Chart ............................ 37
4. Colors on the Reflex Chart ............................ 37
5. Reflex Point Locations ............................ 38
6. Palpation Areas............................ 38
7. Number of Reflex Points............................ 38
8. Application Sequence............................ 39
9. Primary Starting Point............................ 39
10. Amount of Pressure............................ 40
11. Use of Tools ............................ 41
12. Limitations / Cautions............................ 41
13. Length of Session............................ 42
14. Consumption of Water............................ 43
15. Comprehensive Treatment............................ 43

PREFACE 2

As a young adult I accidentally discovered foot reflexology.
Throughout my life I suffered from gastrointestinal problems. I could
not live without my milk of magnesia. One day I was competing for a
badminton championship title. The competition was very close and this
put tremendous pressure on me. For the competition I wore a new pair
of sneakers that gave me a lot of pain in the arches of my feet,
causing them to swell. My feet hurt whenever they touched the ground.
I had studied acupuncture and knew there are not many acupressure
points in the soles, so I could not understand why my feet hurt so
much. At my wit's end, I tried massaging those painful points with an
over-the-counter ointment. Gradually the pain subsided. Days went by
the hard and painful lumps disappeared and I felt much better.
Then one day it occurred to me I had not had to take my daily dose of
milk of magnesia. I came to realize the foot treatment I applied to
myself had relieved me of my gastric distress. After that I began
regularly reflexing my feet, working out the lumps and sore areas. My
brother teased me,"you should have more sense."However, from personal
experience I knew of the relaxing feeling working on the feet
produced, so I dismissed his comments.
Shortly after this, a friend of mine, who lived in Taidong, told me
that a Swiss catholic priest was doing the exact same thing, treating
patients by working on their feet. Thrilled, I traveled to Taidong and
went to see Father Josef. Thus began what has become a twenty-five
years friendship with him. As we engaged in frequent exchanges of
ideas and opinions we soon became close research partners. When we
found new inspirations and discoveries on medical theories and
treatments we would exchange views in long discussions. We shared our
thoughts on Chinese and foreign medical documents and clinical
experiences. But when answering to my repeated questions he would say,
"I have no idea how it works. It is a form of Chinese medical study,
and I'm just re-introducing it back to you. It is your job to do the
research and find explanations." These words encouraged me to embark
on a research project incorporating Chinese medical theories with
reflexology, combining them with the neurology and physiology of
western medicine.
For more than twenty years, both Father Josef and I traveled often
between Taipei and Taidong. We tried our best in our research,
consulting studies and opinions by professionals in Taiwan and
overseas, amassing many clinical experiences. We also attended, and
often lectured as a team, at domestic and international seminars on
reflexology. We took it upon ourselves to promote this revolutionary
therapy.
Despite the efforts and promotion by a great number of professional
practitioners, the public remains skeptical about the many advantages
of Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology. I believe their skepticism is
due to the lack of clear, precise, and logical explanations about
reflexology. This is what primarily motivated us to write this book.
I have nothing but high regard for Father Josef, a dedicated priest
devoted to his faith, an honest and kind person, is conscientious and
meticulous in his studies. His compassion and exemplary moral
integrity are truly admirable. I am forever grateful for the
contributions he has made to the people of Taiwan. I contribute the
current popularity of foot reflexology and its prominence in both
Taiwan and the international Chinese community to Father Josef's
selflessness and compassion. Since 1980 he has been applying this
amazingly effective treatment to thousands of people tormented by pain
and ailments. His acts of kindness have drawn widespread media
coverage and have been followed by the publishing of books on foot
massage in order to expound his specific healing method with the feet.
His work has grown to incorporate traditional Chinese medicine and
western physical rehabilitation programs to bring about new medical
thinking. It is fair to say that without Father Josef, there would be
no reflexology in Taiwan or Asia, let alone this new, well-developed
and improved foot reflexology.
The publishing of this book is the culmination of our lifetime
collaboration. Whether your concern is reflexology theories,
techniques, or the application of the reflex stick, we hope to provide
you with a clear and definitive account of what reflexology is and how
to apply it for best results. Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology is a
deep well of medical information, and yet there remains much to learn.
We invite every one of you to work with us in the 21st century to
revive your physical health by using this all-natural therapy that has
no side-effects!


Dr. Eugene Ying-Chi Cheng, Ph.D.

PREFACE 1

The name, practice, and theories pertaining to my earlier books on
foot massage are outdated. The people of Taiwan were accustomed to
referring to the treatment as foot massage, so we continued to use
that term for foot reflexology. Now, that the new concepts, theories
and discoveries have been enhanced, we wish to distinguish the
progress that has evolved by the more fitting name: foot reflexology.
Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology celebrates a fresh beginning of my
work.
In 1979 I became friends with Mr. Eugene Ying-Chi Cheng, an expert in
Chinese medicine. We engaged in frequent exchanges of opinion from
which we both profited. Out of this ongoing experience we began to
expand and develop our current foot reflexology practices. Cheng's
gentle, precision techniques, his self-created reflex stick—a handy
tool that has found increasing popularity since its introduction—and
the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements premise he adapted from Chinese
medical philosophy helped me supplement my own theories and practice.
I am truly grateful to Cheng for our collaboration and all he has
contributed to Father Josef's New Foot Reflexology.
When I began using reflexology on others, I soon found reflex zones
throughout areas on the leg, below the knee, in addition to the rather
limited known number of reflex areas on the foot. Over the years Mr.
Cheng and I also discovered many new reflex areas and rectified a
number of incorrect ones mentioned in scores of foot reflexology books
on the market. These reflex areas are included in this new edition.
The therapy still remains easy to learn, easy to remember, and we can
become easily accessible to all. For these reasons, from now on please
replace any old books with this newly expanded version.
When my giving treatment on the feet first became widely known, I once
had almost three hundred people knocking on the door seeking for help;
many of them were seriously ill and had traveled long distances to see
me. I became so swamped with clients that at times I only had one or
two hours of sleep a night. Despite my exhaustion, as a member of the
clergy, I considered it a blessing from God to serve people and
relieve them of their pain.
I have given foot reflexology treatments to many and do not find
working on people's feet repulsive or a degrading deed. The sense of
security and faith they place in me, when they entrust their feet to
me, is profound. I am amazed at their endurance level of pain. I can
always detect improvement in their conditions when they come back for
follow-up treatments. Foot reflexology has been proven to work in
harmony with substantiated medical theories; it is highly effective
and can be extensively and easily applied in order to maintain one's
physical well-being. Helping people with reflexology is the best way
to sing praises to the Lord.
Dr. Cheng and I are working to promote the 'One Reflexologist per
Household' program. With this home program everyone can save money on
medical expenses. If our wish that one member from every household
learns the art of this easy-to-apply home remedy is granted, the
blessing of good health will extend to more people as they find
themselves free from pain and suffering. We hope with the publishing
of this new book more people will be helped to better health.
In the Gospel of Mark in the Scriptures, it says: "Go into all the
world and preach the good news to all creation." Similarly I am
duty-bound to spread reflexology. It is a mission, and this mission
shall serve for me as an auxiliary to spreading the gospel, to show
God's glory and grace. In the name of the Lord, Mr. Cheng and I pray
for the blessing of health to all mankind.
I, Father Josef Eugster, endorse this book to be the only authentic
Foot Reflexology publication in my name that encompasses my more than
twenty-three years of clinical reflexology experiences in Taiwan.


Father Josef Eugster

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Reflexology changed my life when I was 37 years old. My experience of
the effectiveness of reflexology inspired me to promote it in my
parish, to help people, and unexpectedly it reached out to the whole
Far East.
Over the years it has become the most popular natural health method in
many countries.
Through the exchange of ideas and studies with hundreds of friends,
students, and colleagues, our method changed, improved, and took on,
at first with the name:'Taiwanese Reflexology.'Many people have
contributed to the growth and success of what is now known as Father
Josef's Reflexology.
I am indebted to Eugene Cheng. Without his longtime friendship and
studies this book would have been impossible. He introduced me to
Chinese Traditional Medicine with its theories of Yin and Yang and the
Five Elements. This gave me a new understanding of the effectiveness
of reflexology.
I appreciate all the assistance from the well-known reflexologist and
author Christine Issel who invited me to the conference in Hawaii
(1999) where our method gained wider attention. Christine, with the
help of Shannon Hu, accepted the challenge of editing this English
edition.
I am thankful to Irina Breslav who came to Taiwan and learned our
method following the conference in Hawaii. She invited me to teach
several workshops in the United States. Through her, our method of
reflexology has taken root in the States as FJM Reflexology.
I am grateful to all my students and my teachers, and for the many
colleagues in the whole of Asia, in Taiwan, my second home country,
and on the other four continents where I have taught. They have all
given me precious inspiration for this new method of reflexology. When
I was invited to teach in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) and Zimbabwe (Africa),
I realized that this method is a God given gift, especially for the
poor, who cannot afford expensive medicine.
I have been especially blessed by the countless clients who have
challenged me with their health problems and helped me improve my
knowledge and service.
With the spread of reflexology around the world, I still have two more
dreams. The first is to find out how much reflexology can do for those
suffering with AIDS. My second dream is that reflexology be used by
every family as a natural, very effective and easy method of
preventing illness. If everyone took ten minutes a day to work on his
or her feet, he or she will experience better health and the expenses
for healthcare will be less.
I pass this gift of reflexology to you with my sincere hope that it
will change your life as it has changed mine.