I could not resist an invitation to a reflexology experience at The Reflex Zone, a natural therapy center which is the first of its kind in the Philippines that follows the Rwo Shur health method of reflexology. Little did I know (till afterwards) that the owners (Alex and Jamie Coyiuto) are the son and daughter-in-law of friends.
There is no doubt that massage has a healing property. Mothers are told to touch and massage their babies lightly and studies have shown that massaged babies grow up with a greater sense of well-being than those who are not massaged.
But massage is not necessarily reflexology. Reflexology is a natural form of therapy that uses pressure applied to specific reflex points on the feet which correspond to different glands, organs and body systems. Pressure applied to these points breaks up crystalline deposits of uric acid, calcium and lactic acid as well as clears blockages and releases toxins in those areas. Massage is meant to relax the parts being massaged; reflexology works through the nervous system to heal ALL parts of the body.
 |
| Foot chart pressure zone legend (partial) |
The Reflex Zone’s type of reflexology is called Rwo Shur Health Method of Reflexology. This has been in existence for over 30 years now. Developed by Fr. Josef Eugster, a Swiss Catholic priest and missionary in Taiwan, it is done using just the bare hands, unlike Xiamen or Thai reflexology that involves a wooden stick that is pressed into the different pressure points.
Fr. Josef himself was healed from a debilitating severe rheumatoid arthritic condition when, upon the urgings of a colleague, applied reflexology on himself. He became a self-taught reflexologist and over time, healed many people. Rwo Shur is Fr. Josef’s Chinese name. Watch this old video with Fr. Josef’s testimony and another one with an actual demonstration:
The Reflex Zone has only 7 licensed male therapists. All of them were trained on the Rwo Shur methodology in Malaysia. We asked, why male therapists only? Apparently, studies showed that the males had a more consistent pressure on the feet.
My friend Michelle and I occupied the first treatment area closest to the foyer. Every seat was a lazyboy so I was quite comfortable. Side tables beside the therapists’ chairs contained a drawer for one’s shoes.
 |
| One of the treatment areas |
The first step consisted of a 20-minute Peppermint Crystal Mud Food Soak. A kind of powder was sprinkled on the hot water in our foot basin and as I swished my feet around to mix the powdery solution, I felt the water hardening, much like the solidifying of gelatin.
 |
| Water is still almost all liquid |
 |
| This is what it looks like after turning gelatinous and the sensation is heavy (like you are swimming in gelatin) |
 |
| After the soak, dissolving powder turns the gelatinous solution back into watery form |
A quick pumice foot scrub ends the first part. Step 2 was the actual reflexology treatment which lasted about 60 minutes. My physical therapist was Jorel and as he began pressing on different parts of the feet, pushing, pinching, or kneading, he’d explain to me what organs were affected. Most of the time, I felt no pain but definitely, there were some areas that hurt (one of which involved the gall bladder). I’m having myself checked for that soon.
 |
| Pinching |
 |
| Kneading |
On their website, they posted a list of medical conditions that can be positively affected by the Rwo Shur Signature Therapy method.
The rates are not bad at all:
Signature Therapy: PhP 1,000
Children’s Reflexology: PhP 850
 |
| With Reflex Zone owners Alex and Jamie Coyiuto |