Endocrine balance technique/Lymphatic technique

[Tejinder]

Hi!

I've been researching the various maternity reflexology courses available. I see that the Suzanne Enzer course includes teaching two techniques: the Endocrine Balance, and the Lymphatic Technique.

Can anyone share with me what these two techniques involve please?

Do we not balance the endocrine system, and work on lymphatics sufficiently in a full treatment without these specific techniques? Or does the pregant body need the extra help from these techniques? If you have been taught these specific techniques, how beneficial have they been in your practice?

Also, are these specific to Suzanne's course, or do other courses, eg. Moshe Kruchik, also teach similar specific techniques?

Many thanks!

 

[Tnnshvle81]

As far as I know (and someone who's done other courses as well as Susanne's will probably correct me) these are specific to her courses since she developed them. I could be wrong. Personally, I don't only use them with my maternity clients. I've made the hormone balance part of my opening movements and the lymphatic technique a part of the closing movements of every treatment for every client and I've found, by doing this, that my clients need fewer treatments and have less of a healing crisis than when I didn't use them. You can get hold of Susanne's publications which will show you how these are done, but there's no substitute for doing the whole course.

And in answer to your question about the pregnant body, a pregnant woman is a mass of raging hormones. Far more than your average teenager for instance. And although they're all there doing a job, they can always use a hand. Additionally, the lymphatic system could also do with some help during pregnancy because you pick up infections and bugs far more easily in pregnancy than at any other time, so if your lymphatic system is able to work more efficiently, it's easier to get rid of the bugs. Everything takes longer to shift when you're pregnant. I remember a crick in my neck that took nearly a month to sort out, rather than the usual 2 or 3 days. All because of hormones.

Hope that helps
Lynne

 

[Chelsea Brooks]

Hi Lynne

Thanks so much for a really informative answer. I may well try to get a copy of the publication as it will be useful whichever course I choose to follow. I'm assuming it's the Reflexology Maternity Manual you are referring to?

Would you be happy to explain briefly what the two techniques entail?

Many thanks for your help,

 

[cuomdtjb]

Hi Sparkie, Lynne,

Right.
There are hormonal changes during pregnancy and these changes occur in order to create the perfect environment for the baby's development. In addition to this, also to favour the physical changes the mum-to-be has to go through in order to be able to provide this perfect environment. A closed circle with a continuous feedback.

When the body changes occur and the mum-to-be starts to grow, the need to keep good circulation and avoid stagnations, constipations or retentions of any kind becomes crucial.

Therefore, the lymphatic stimulation is as important but not less than the stimulation of the digestive system and the urinary tract.

Lynne, you mention the crick in your neck.
I would adventure to say (and apologise in advance for any possible mistake), that if the muscles of your neck addapted themselves to physical changes properly or if you kept a good posture before pregnancy, this problem could have probably healed in the same amount of time as if you weren't pregnant.

One one hand there are evident hormonal changes and progesterone is there to soften the tissues in order to let the body grow better and to favour circulation. On the other hand, probably there was not a good circulation and if this is right, it was the poor oxygenation of the muscular tissue as a consequence of (probably) poor postural habits before and during the pregnancy.

From my point of view, Reflexology is able to make a great contribution in pregnancy as a "body educator". When we give Reflexology during pregnancy, we not only wish to prevent or work on a symptom, but also educate the body for the rest of the pregnancy and for birth.

Love,

Moshe Kruchik

 

[Question]

Thanks Moshe. Actually I was just using my experience as an example. Perhaps I should also have added that I have extremely good posture (as a cellist it's vital to avoid injury, and not just from lugging the great beastie around) but that I did break my neck in 1988. So anything that affects my neck takes longer than average and even longer still during pregnancy. But the point was made. If you're pregnant, muscular injury of any kind takes longer than usual to heal. A friend of mine (also a cellist) had the same problem and hers still took nearly 3 weeks.

Still, you're absolutely right. High progesterone and (especially) relaxin levels mean that muscles and tendons are at greater risk of injury from everyday tasks, especially when you consider that many of us spend a good proportion of the day in front of a computer without ever having been taught the proper posture for the task (yes people, there is an art to avoiding injury when using a computer and it's really easy to learn). So the women I support love me when I tell them they should avoid things like pushing supermarket trolleys, long periods of housework (ironing and hoovering especially) and making beds. All these require twisting and stretching which can put soft tissues at risk.

Besides, it's nice to have someone else do it for you once in a while

And sorry Sparkie. The techniques Susanne teaches are even tricky to master from the book. You really need to be shown how it works in order to do it effectively.

 

[etefyugrifwigrecr]

Dear Lynn

I am definitely with you in your answer and your advice to the mums-2-b is very wise and lovely.

A good postural hygiene is essential for the well being in pregnancy. Training good posture, movement and correct breathing are for me the saint trilogy of pregnancy. Add to that a balanced diet, training everything together with your partner, lots of good pampering and positive thinking and you have great possibilities to come to your Reflexologist only for pleasure.

Have a nice day,

Moshe