Pawspoint to the Rescue (continued)

The points below the eyes release fear. Again, notice Sasha's delight in having these spots tapped. They released her fear of firecrackers and thunder. I knew a beautiful older dog that was grieving for his deceased companion. He mourned, wouldn't eat or play. A few gentle taps around his eyes and on the side of his front paws and he was his old self again.

Although it involved a different emotion, tapping in the same places for the miniature schnauzer who was afraid of big dogs and anything new turned her into a very social being, now bolder and braver than her human!

Perhaps you want to do Reflexology on your friend. Please realize that your animal's paws are just her toes, or maybe her toes and the ball of the foot. The area that is called the instep and heel on our feet never touches the ground in dog, cat or horse. So if you try to work on paws alone, you will tickle and irritate your friend more than correct and calm. The hock is equivalent to the heel and in Reflexology terms, the hock represents the buttock, hip and low back area.

As the foundation of the body, feet and paws balance the body for which they are made. The horse stands on his middle toe. Can you imagine the muscular strength it takes a horse to carry us, pull plows and hay-wagons, follow and round up cattle and win races. And we trip over our feet! All animals, including us – the five finger-five toed kind - adapt to our weight, to the way we walk, to the way we stand and even to your emotions. Watch a happy yet exhausted dog returning from a long hike, compared to a tired dog who has been bored, asking you to please take him for a walk. His emotions are in every step.

Corky, jumps into my Reflexology chair, turns over and hands me first his feet then his hands. It relaxes him, improves his circulation, elimination, assimilation and provides a special bond between us. He does what all my clients do – closes his eyes, heaves a big sigh and relaxes totally. So take a few moments with your companion to stroke and knead the area above the toes – the metatarsals, and the heel. Move the skin over the flesh rather than massaging it. Move it in circles one way and then the other. Push the skin up, hold it there a few moments then pull it down. Keep repeating this in different spots along the foot, then moving up the leg toward the knee and finally work on the thigh. Now repeat the procedure on the "hands". Just like us, their hands are different from their feet and are used differently. And if you already do Reflexology and know how to "hook" "inch" and "walk" to affect the reflexes, perform those on your animal friend and receive looks of love and pleasure.

Remember that the toes represent the head and you can knead them gently for eye and ear problems. The funny shaped pad reflects to the lungs. The metatarsal area relates to the liver, gall bladder and ascending colon on the right side and the stomach, spleen and pancreas on the left side. Although horses have no Gall bladder they do have a gall bladder function, so work that area.

Ah! The magic of feet! They are truly an enchantment to us Reflexologists who learn to read your system's feet first! The manual, Pawspoint Reflexology for Animals by Yvette Eastman, can show you step by step how you can work with your friend. You can find it, and more on the web at www.touchpointreflexology.com

Touchpoint Institute of Reflexology gives regular classes in Pawspoint Reflexology for Animals as well as all levels of Reflexology and Touch For Health. Yvette Eastman is your facilitator. For more information, e-mail Yvette at: Yvette@touchpointreflexology.com