Three Fingers Mark the Spot
The left hand is the holding hand. Hold the right foot by the toes or cradle the foot in the palm. The left hand will provide support and stability as well as leverage. Look at the plantar surface of the foot, visualizing the two guidelines. Find the centerline of the foot and place your first three fingers to this line from the inside edge of the foot. The fingers look like three stacks of wood piled up, one on top of the other.
When holding the fingers to the centerline, the second knuckles seem to rest at the inner edge of the foot. The index finger is lying on the waistline, the middle finger is lying just above the index finger, and the ring finger is lying just under the diaphragm line. These fingers are holding the place of three reflexes, marking the spot.
Fact
The ring finger is holding the area of the stomach and pyloric sphincter reflexes. The middle finger is marking the area for the pancreas reflex. The index finger is lying on the area of the duodenum reflex. All three fingers give you a clear vision of the reflexes held in these areas.
Proceed with Thumb Walking
Now remove the fingers. Beginning at the top area, where the ring finger was, thumb walk slowly across this line to the center mark. Feel the foot under your thumb as it begins to relax, as the reflex responds to the pressure. Thumb walk along the next reflex, that of the pancreas. Move slowly, taking tiny bites as the thumb walks in toward the centerline of the foot. Thumb walk the last line, which is the reflex for the duodenum. Again, using small, slow moves, let the thumb walk along this reflex into the tendon line.
Bring your thumb to the end of the waistline at the inner edge of the foot, the outside edge of the duodenum reflex. Turn the thumb and walk up in a straight line to the diaphragm line. Bring the thumb back, moving in a bit along the waistline, and thumb walk up again to the diaphragm line. Repeat this movement until the thumb reaches the centerline.
Essential
When you move back to an area already worked, you'll likely see that the initial stiffness or tightness has disappeared; the area is much more giving now. It's as though the foot has let its guard down, trusting you. This is body wisdom, recognizing the reflexology as a good thing.
Switch Hands
Switch hands and use the right hand to hold the foot while the left thumb walks from the centerline out along the reflex for the stomach. Bring the left thumb back to the tendon line and thumb walk along the pancreas reflex out to the inside edge of the foot. Lastly, thumb walk along the waistline from the center of the foot to the inner edge, reflexing the duodenum reflex. Switch hands again, and, using the right thumb, repeat the thumb-walk technique from the inner edge of the foot to the centerline for the three reflexes. Walk each one slowly, feeling how the area has changed under your thumb.
