Move to the top of the foot now. Imagine the entire back, as this is the area of reflection you are looking at. Your hands are resting on the edges of the foot, with the thumbs on the sole. You are starting just before the anklebone, where the foot bends. Walk all the fingers in slowly, feeling in between each bone. (See FIGURE 14-1.) The fingers look and act as though they are playing an accordion.

Continue to finger walk in toward the center until the fingers meet. Move up slightly, bring the fingers back to the edge, and walk in again. Each time your fingers meet at the center, shift up slightly, bring the fingers back to the edge of the foot, and walk in again. Follow this procedure up to the base of the toes.

At the base of the toes, turn all the fingers down toward the ankle. The palms of the hands are at the top of the foot. Finger walk down the foot; again, this is in between the toes, just from a different angle. Walk all the way to just before the ankle and slide back.

FIGURE 14-1 To work the back reflex, walk with all four fingers on each side of the foot across the surface until the fingers meet in the center.

The Muscles and Bones of the Back

The bones involved are the lower ribs and lower vertebrae. The muscles are extensive. There are muscles in between the ribs, known as the intercostals. The latissimus dorsi, the oblique muscles, and part of the trapezius are found on the back. The muscles deep to the spine are also in the back.

The reflexology techniques employed to work the back reflexes are working on reflex areas that are representative of this region of the body. As the circulation improves throughout the body, often the muscles in the back area do relax. When someone has a horrific backache and cannot stand to be touched, reflexology is a great tool.

Solar Plexus

You have reflexed a number of areas on the foot, and pressing into the solar plexus lets you bring a conclusion to this segment of the treatment. Working the solar plexus reflex is a reminder to the receiver and to the giver to breathe and flow with the movement of the work. Press your right thumb into the solar plexus reflex. Pull the toes down toward the thumb; ask the recipient to take a slow, deep breath, and hold. Keep pressing as you instruct the receiver to release the breath slowly. Gently remove the thumb and let the toes relax as well.

Butterfly and Flutter

As you prepare to move on to the next section, a transitional move is used. Using both hands, walk the thumbs and fingers together toward the center of the foot, working up and then down the foot. All the digits are involved in a butterfly movement. If you find this too confusing, work the top surface and then the bottom surface.

Once the butterfly has been employed, use the tips of the fingers to make fluttery movements on the top surface of the foot. Move from the ankle area to the toes, repeating this technique.

You have worked the upper portion of the foot, reflexing points connecting to the body from the waist up. The receiver is relaxed, and you are ready to move on.