The Barefoot Dragonfly

It's not too late to get some time in THE chair before Winter Break! Appointments next week starting at 12:30 on Monday. 👣❄️☃️😌

Use code SOLSTICE22 for a $10 savings.

✨ Sign up now for Foundations in Reflexology beginning January 30th, 2023! ✨😍

Step into the New Year with six weeks of online lessons followed by three days of practicum training in Foot Reflexology. 👣

You'll leave feeling empowered to help yourself and others using this natural healing modality.

Foundations in Reflexology is designed for both newbies to pressure point modalities as well as those with some experience who want to dive a little deeper and learn some new techniques.

This course is part of our 300 Hour Reflexology Program, though it can be taken as a standalone for those seeking a foundational training.

Visit https://www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/event/foundations-in-reflexology-level-one/ for more information and to register.

Join me on Monday, December 12th at 8am Central for a Zoom Presentation on the Energy Toe Hold.

I love using this technique as a standalone self-care tool, or in a reflexology session. We use it to bring awareness and balance to the whole body.

This technique is especially useful for:
👣 Migraines and headaches
👣 To calm a busy mind
👣 Ease sinus congestion
👣 Intentionally support an element you're working on in this season of your life

The presentation will be recorded so if the time and date doesn't work for your schedule you can catch it later if you register in advance. Tuition is $15: www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/energy-toe-hold/

Hand 🖐️ and Ear 👂 Reflexology practicum is in the books! 🥳

Today's herbal infusion: oat straw, nettles, hibiscus, and a pinch of honeysuckle. What are you sipping on, friends?

💧

The Barefoot Dragonfly LLC

The new American Reflexology Certification Board directory sure looks nice, y'all! 🦶

The Barefoot Dragonfly LLC Amy Kreydin is a Reflexologist and Clinical Aromatherapist in practice since 2004. She runs a 300 hour Reflexology Certificate Program twice a year. Treatments are available by appointment.

Have you been meaning to schedule a reflexology session? It's a good time for an early Fall tune-up!

Ease into the season of AIR:
*Support digestion as we transition from hot weather to cooler weather meals;
*Balance the circadian rhythm as we tip towards longer nights and shorter days;
*Nourish joints and the musculoskeletal system as we enjoy climbing, biking, hiking, camping season;
*Create space in the diaphragm and ribs for deeper breathing.

Request an appointment time: http://thebarefootdragonfly.com/make-appointment. See you soon! 👋

Pediatric Reflexology session this morning to kick off the week! We used the treasure maps to follow the breakfast waffle down the digestive system and turn into 💩. Then of course the 🦕 magnets needed to be arranged on the studio fridge and the 🐠 needed to be counted.

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When I go to the hospital to run aromatherapy group I bring my most compact HEPA filter with a high clean air delivery rate.

Today's group was interesting because I had to refresh my Spanish botanical words as we had two patients in group whose primary language is Espanol. Y'all, that little Translate app on my smartphone came in so handy because I could not recall that Rosemary is Romero and Grapefruit is Toronja. 🇲🇽

👃 Love that scent can transcend culture, language, and age. It gives me such joy to be in group with folks once a week finding new and old plant allies. 🥰

Are you celebrating World Reflexology Week with a session? As a self-regulated field the American Reflexology Certification Board is our national certifying body that covers both a written and a practical exam. Board Certified Reflexologists, like myself, can be found via the ARCB.net directory. 🦶🖐👂

WORLD REFLEXOLOGY WEEK!!
September 19-25, 2022

World Reflexology Week is celebrated on the last full week of September every year and this year it is held from September 19 to 25. It is a week that is designed to promote reflexology and raise awareness about this form of therapy.To bring reflexology in the forefront of the minds of the public on a global level.

Is it time to put your feet up and rest a while? Reflexology is whole-body wellness from the toes up!

Schedule your next treatment now: https://www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/make-appointment/

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It's not too late to request an appointment for this week or next! Find a time here: https://www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/make-appointment/ 🦶

It's Fall inventory day for the aromatics fridge over here. I go through all of my essential oils, CO2 extracts, absolutes, hydrosols, and lipids.

I use a blue light to check the quantity of oil in bottles that have a large label and/or a dark glass bottle. 🔦

I keep a spreadsheet where I record common name, latin binomial, how much is left in a bottle (decanting into a smaller bottle if it's under 50%), and make sure they're sorted in the fridge for easy access. For my essential oils, CO2s, and absolutes I love Peter Holmes of method of organizing by fragrance energetics so these are all going back in the fridge organized by his nine fragrance categories (e.g. sweet-pungent and rooty-cold).

The QingPing air quality sensor is showing high to slightly high VOCs so I've got an exhaust fan running so I don't get a headache from ALL the volatiles trying to escape their bottles. 👃

Thanks for having me, I had such fun sharing my love for aromatherapy! ☺️👃

It was inspiring to see how creative participants got with their clay pendants and aromatherapy blends. 🥰

Did you know, during periods of health, the body requires pockets of rest every couple of hours? This is known as the Ultradian Rhythm and it's thought that this is the time when the body does necessary repair work, and prepares for anticipated energy needs for the coming couple of hours of productivity.

So go on, give your nervous system a chance to do some surveillance work and initiate those needed repairs! May I suggest working on a puzzle or listening to a guided meditation? 🧘🧩

Goldenrod can actually help calm and soothe those ragweed allergies so you might think about harvesting a little and adding to your Fall tea blends! 🤧🫖

Goldenrod is not causing your allergies it’s Ragweed. Goldenrod is a very important nectar source for Monarchs as they make their long journey to Mexico.

On Tuesday afternoons I drive over to Cross Creek Psychiatric and Detox Hospital to run an Aromatherapy Group for an hour. It's one of the highlights of my week! ☀️

Participants create a customized aromatherapy blend and put it in an aromastick they can use during their program and beyond. I love seeing the creativity, and community spirit as we explore familiar and new scents for mind, body, and spirit.

We usually have some good belly laughs as there's always a few scents that polarize our group - some folks loving the aroma, while others strongly dislike it. 😍😝

Helping folks find plant allies during hard times will never get old. 🥰

In the weeks and months following a covid infection, the lingering symptoms can be debilitating for some folks.

Clients report challenges associated with:
▪️ Neurocognitive issues – brain fog, memory recall, poor concentration;
▪️ Neuropathy – tingling, burning, numb sensations in the feet and hands;
▪️ Muscular – stiffness, involuntary twitches and spasms;
▪️ Fatigue – from mild to can’t-get-out-of-bed severe;
▪️ Headaches – shooting, dull, lingering;
▪️ Cough – upon exertion or exposure to strong smells, or in the background all the time;
▪️ Digestion – irritable bowel, constipation/diarrhea, GERD;
▪️ Mood – trauma response, feeling low, anxiousness.

Research teams and clinicians around the globe continue to ask questions to better understand the mechanisms behind post viral syndrome.

I use a two-pronged approach with clients, supporting them with Reflexology and Phytotherapy (botanical medicine), to help restore lost vitality and encourage the body to find balance. While neither of these modalities are a magic wand, here at The Barefoot Dragonfly you will be seen and heard and have a dedicated space for rest and nurturing.

You can message me with inquiries, or request an appointment through the link below:
https://thebarefootdragonfly.com/make-appointment

Just a head's up there's a rare evening slot open on Thursday, August 18th. 5:30pm for a 90 minute appointment or 6pm for a 60 minute appointment. Want to take advantage? Request an appointment here: https://www.thebarefootdragonfly.com/make-appointment/

Istanbul researchers recently had results of their reflexology study published in the Holistic Nursing Practice journal.

A group of OR nurses with low back pain from standing for hours at a time on a hard surface were given a weekly reflexology treatment for four weeks. They compared pain scores with peers who were not enrolled to receive a weekly treatment and found "reflexology significantly reduced the pain of nurses who had low back pain."

In eighteen years of practice I can attest to the benefits of reflexology for back pain in any profession that has you on your feet for hours at a time. I've helped hairdressers, nurses, doctors, chefs and line cooks, wait staff, retail workers, roofers, and many other occupations get relief, one pair of feet at a time. 👣

Gas Stoves Are Worse for Climate and Health Than Previously Thought

One of the biggest indoor air pollutants in our homes is the gas stove. Last year when I invested in an carbon dioxide sensor I was surprised how quickly our gas stove gobbled up available oxygen and dumped CO2 into the kitchen. Outdoor CO2 levels should be around 415-420, and inside a home the numbers can start to soar. Unfortunately our brains are not designed to cope with high CO2 levels and we start to experience poor cognitive function over 1,000 parts per million (ppm). At 1,400 ppm of CO2 we're looking at a 50% drop in our ability to make decisions, pay attention, respond to emergencies, use strategy, and other forms of cognitive function. Yikes!

If it's not in your household's budget to switch to an induction stove I'd recommend cracking your kitchen window and always running the exhaust hood over your stove when the range or oven is on.

Gas Stoves Are Worse for Climate and Health Than Previously Thought A new study is heating up the debate over gas-powered stovetops

Human eggs have a 'standby battery mode' that allows them to last decades

Immature egg cells are designed to last a lifetime - giving us multiple decades of menstrual cycles. New research looks at the 'standby' mode feature oocytes have that other cells do not. Will be interesting to see where future research takes us in better understanding the longevity of our egg cells. 🤓

Human eggs have a 'standby battery mode' that allows them to last decades Human oocytes can last for up to 50 years—and a newly discovered metabolic pathway is key to this longevity.

A little morning Cat Science as Athena calculates air flow through one of the air filters. 😆

I added shiny tassel streamers to this build so I could tell at a glance if it is running. Occasionally the cats take notice. 🐾
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I'm back!!
Thank you for your patience with me as my communication was less-than-prompt this past week while in New Mexico filling up my Aunt Amy cup to overflowing. 🥰

I got to enjoy some epic park days, ride a steam train, milk a goat, feed the chickens, share a saddle on a trail ride, exchange pedicures (if you haven't had six year old twins do your nails you've been missing out! 😆), spend time with my parents in their garden, and overall had a wonderful visit with family.

I'll be replying to emails, setting up student registrations, and returning calls throughout the day. But I'm also catching up on laundry, and probably grabbing a nap so I appreciate your continued patience with me as I get settled back into routines here. I'm also headed out for an asymptomatic PCR test as I did share a lot of maskless time with multiple households and want to make sure I didn't bring back any unwanted souvenirs. 🤞

That's me off for some Aunt Amy time with eight of my nieces and nephews, three of my sisters, and my parents. Don't worry, I've packed the adaptogens and beet powder! 😅

Please allow for an extra day or two for me to reply to communications as my internet access will be sporadic.

See y'all on the flip side!

Years ago a research paper came out that stated essential oils from Lavender and Tea Tree could disrupt the endocrine system of young children. Several prominent educators pointed out the deeply flawed study but the media ran with it anyway.

Researchers from the Franklin Health Research Center in Tennessee had their study published in last month's International Journal of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine demonstrating that children in the Lavender and/or Tea Tree essential oil groups, did not experience an increase in endocrine disruption. See the abstract here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352646721000855

Research like this is important in our field to help us better understand the impact of different aromatics on populations, especially the youngest amongst us with immature body systems. This is good news for parents who want to use safe and appropriate doses of Lavender and Tea Tree in their child's wellness plan.

Did you know our brains have a self-cleaning mode that runs in the background? It removes waste in a similar fashion to our lymphatic system, cleaning the upper most room of our body-house. The kicker? We have to be sleeping for this feature to run.

Now's a good time to check in on your sleep hygiene
*Dimming lights a couple hours before bed.
*Wearing blue-light blocking glasses for evening television, computer, and cell phone use.
*Cracking a window in the bedroom so CO2 doesn't build up and interfere with sleep.
*Rubbing your feet before bed.

Reflexology has an excellent track record for insomniacs - helping to gently reset the nervous system and nudge the body back towards balance. Don't forget that Reflexology sessions have a cumulative benefit and will snowball with each weekly or every-other week session.

Why You Should Treat Your Anxiety and Stress With Foot Reflexology

Reflexology is one of the most relaxing modalities I know. 😊 One of the reasons it works so effectively for acute anxiety and stress patterns is that shift from fight-or-flight into rest-and-digest that occurs minutes into a session. The body isn't designed to sustain a constant vigilance and needs pockets of rest to do important repair work. Book your next session to give your nerves some nurturing rest! 🦶

Why You Should Treat Your Anxiety and Stress With Foot Reflexology The feel-good treatment has been practiced for centuries — and for good reason.

Is this the year you enroll in a professional program? We're still accepting applications for the Autumn Program that kicks off next month!

Students travel from Dallas, Houston, Del Rio, San Antonio, and from neighboring states for practicum classes. Find out more at http://thebarefootdragonfly.com or send me a message!