Finger Walking
Finger walking is similar to thumb walking; it uses the same motion and form. The index finger — sometimes all the fingers — is bent slightly at the first joint then pushed along in a walking or creeping movement. Practice again on your own hands.
Learning the Technique
Close a hand into a loose fist, the top surface facing up; this is the hand you will work on. Grasp this hand with the other hand, letting your thumb slide between the thumb and index finger of the fisted hand and rest in your palm. The fingers are on top of the hand. While you are using the index finger, the other fingers will rest on top, slightly closed in. These fingers move along without working as the index finger walks down the top of the hand.
Begin at the first knuckle under the index finger of the hand with the closed fist. Begin by placing the finger, tip surface touching, just below the knuckle. You will be moving away from the fingers down toward the wrist. From the tip touching the hand, the finger is bent with the first joint pushing out. Bend the working finger down at the first joint, pushing forward slightly. This straightens the finger a bit, so that the pad of the finger is touching the surface of your hand. Pull back up into the hammerlike position. Again the movement is a push/pull motion, creeping along just like the inchworm. This is one finger-walk move.
Walk down the top of the hand, in between the thumb and index finger, in the fleshy section. The thumb will rest under this area; the other fingers are slightly tucked under, just along for the ride. Begin with the finger bent up in the hammer shape, and count 1, 2, 3. Move the finger down into a straight line, with the pad touching the skin pushing forward, and count 1, 2, 3. Pull up into the hammer shape, and pull slightly back again. Imagine you are pinching the skin. You aren't, but it does seem as though you are. Continue this exercise with the finger walking down the fleshy pad, and the thumb moving underneath. The thumb holds the underside, providing leverage, keeping the hand steady, and pushing back a bit.
Bring the index finger back to the first knuckle, unfurl your other fingers, and place these fingers at the other knuckles. Bend all the fingers up onto the tips. Move forward ever so slightly, straightening out the fingers as the pads touch the skin. Bring the fingers back up onto the tips; this will pull the skin back toward the knuckles a bit. Move forward again and continue the push-pull movement down to the wrist.
Alert
Never use tools. Pushing a pencil or an implement that says it is a “reflexology” tool can hurt the foot! Tools have no feeling; you cannot gauge how deeply they are going into the foot. Remember, fingers and thumbs are all that is needed to do an excellent job. It's not how hard you push; it's where you are working that is important.
Why the Fingers Are Used
The index finger is used to reach certain reflexes, on the top or side of the foot. When the fingers are used, the thumb generally is held in place on the opposite side of the foot to provide leverage. Finger pressure is steady and even, not abrupt or heavy. Using the fingers also gives the thumb a break so the hands don't become tired.
Finger walking allows the area of pressure to broaden. Always move forward with tiny bites. Watch that you are not bending your finger too much; this will cause your fingers to ache later. Slow movement ensures all the reflexes will be stimulated.
When you use all four fingers at once, you are covering a greater region at one time, which is useful in some areas. The back reflexes are a part of the foot where using the fingers is very effective. This technique is also excellent for working on the lymph reflexes, but you will learn more about that later. The more you practice, you will begin to find places on the foot where the index finger or all the fingers are more efficient than the thumb.
