Reflexology, as you probably know, involves working on various
pressure, or reflex, points in the hands and feet which relate to specific parts of the
body. The usual treatment position for the client is reclining, so that reflexologist has
easy access to the soles of the feet. Treatment takes about 40 to 50 minutes. What Lynne
has discovered is a technique applied with the client standing. Lynne feels that this
technique, 'Vertical Reflex Therapy', or 'Vertical Reflexology', appears to activate the
zones and clears and recharges the energy lines
Vertical Reflexology takes about 5 minutes. Stimulation of the
reflexes accessed from the dorsum of the foot is deep and potent and shouldn't be
performed for long, but can be done before and after a standard reflexology treatment,
provided this is shortened. Apart from being ungainly for the reflexologist, who is
performing on all fours on the floor, the method is straight forward. The VRT Revitalizer,
a five-minute treatment described in Chapter 1, will quickly get you started. While you
are down there you can try Synergistic Reflexology - linking a point on the foot and the
hand and working simultaneously. If you can't manage it at floor level, you will be
pleased to know that the method can be applied to the back of the hand with the client's
weight bearing palm down on the table. Lynne also writes that the VRT methods can be done
on the reclining client, but the effect is much less intense. Something else well worth
including in your repertoire on the reclining client is Diaphragm Rocking, soothing and
relaxing. This is a rhythmical rocking of the feet which seems to pump energy to the part
of the body which is most in need of stimulation at any particular moment
Lynne has written a chapter on systems of the body and their
functions and how reflexology and VRT can help. The usual cautions apply. When you are
ready you could move on to Zonal Triggers and neural pathways, Knuckle Dusting, Palming
and Plantar Stepping. Detailed instructions appear later in the book and with useful
reminder boxes for easy reference and with very clear diagrams.
Lynne has researched her method thoroughly and has collected
interesting case studies from her practice and the residential nursing home where she has
a clinic. Although this is an important book in the development of reflexology and Zone
Therapy and contains some meaty stuff, it is very easy and fun to read. I like this book
and I like this method and have achieved satisfactory results with my clients using the
Vertical Reflexology method.
About the Reviewer
Kristine Walker has been teaching
reflexology for 10 years and has her own School of Reflexology and Post Graduate Studies
in Brighton. Kristine has revived and promoted Hand Reflexology in Europe and has written
a book on this subject Hand Reflexology,
a Textbook for Students
Any
reflexologist worth his or her salt will have written a book in the last couple of years
(or so it seems!); what a pity that these books are all so similar. This is where Lynne
Booth's book Vertical Reflexology streaks ahead of the field. Lynne has stumbled
across a new and original method that will delight the jaded senses of hardened
reflexologists and improve their practises dramatically. At the same time Lynne tells us
that readers new to reflexology will find in her book all theinformation they need to
enable them to practise VRT and the associated technique'