Positive Health Online

In 1998 I began my Reflexology studies (ITEC Diploma). My first teacher was a lovely lady called Anne Sherlock (now deceased) who had been a student of Prue Miskin (formerly Prue Hughes) in Devon. I learnt Precision Reflexology right from the start, as in those days ITEC accepted different approaches for examination. Precision Reflexology is an energy-based approach to reflexology incorporating the ‘linking’ of reflexes to gauge and balance energy levels in the body. Linking in reflexology had been developed by Prue based on her studies in Polarity Therapy.

A few years ago I became a Metamorphic Technique practitioner and learnt that the spinal reflexes we touch on the head also came from Polarity Therapy. So my interest in Polarity Therapy was activated and I tried to read a book a friend lent to me called Esoteric Anatomy: The Body as Consciousness by Bruce Berger (1998), a rather baffling and complex book about Polarity Therapy. I realized I wanted something simpler that related it more to reflexology; Holonomic Reflexology is just that. It’s easy to read, with lots of illustrations and diagrams, and focuses on things that are relatively easy to learn. It is an ideal introduction.

As a Healer I have always been interested in reflexology as a technique for utilizing, catalysing and delivering healing energy to the client, rather than just as a bodywork technique. Holonomic Reflexology embraces the energetic approach of Polarity Therapy and the fact that there are reflexes all over the body. The authors say:

“The touch used is not, however, merely the application of pressure to the tissues but a conscious touch which engages with the tissues of the physical body and the life energy and requires the therapist to be totally present and focused in their hands.” (Holonomic Reflexology, page 31).

The concept of ‘conscious touch’, say the authors, is a process of information exchange. How we perceive the feedback from the client, how our hands perceive their life force in their subtle body (sometimes called ‘etheric body’, which is elsewhere than in the physical body), is purely subjective. We may feel differences in temperature, tingling, vibration, a pulsing sensation, magnetic pressure or any other sensation beyond that which is experienced from just touching the body. So far, this way of working is familiar to me from more than 20 years’ work with Precision Reflexology (and other additions to this, such as working with meridians) which I have added to my treatments. I have always ‘felt’ for the reflex links in my work rather than just place my fingers on where I think the reflexes should be; in this way, I have let the client’s life force be my guide.

The new ground covered in the book is when the authors introduce us to many different ideas beyond what is normally taught in reflexology courses (sacred geometry, astrology, the doctrine of signatures and the universal life force). There are also many practical, simple protocols, maps and diagrams introduced in the book. It is not for the faint-hearted as it requires you, as practitioner, to open your mind to concepts you may not be at all familiar with, but it is a beautifully illustrated, clear and colourful book.

Holonomic Reflexology is a fascinating introduction to the basics of Polarity Therapy with simple protocols the reflexologist can incorporate into a treatment straight away. It has encouraged me to look for a simple introduction to Polarity Therapy to find out more. They recommend two such books at the end.

A great book. Five stars from me!

Acknowledgement Citation:

This review was first published in Reflexions magazine, the professional journal of the Association of Reflexologists; June 2019 edition. © Association of Reflexologists 2019.

Further Information

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