Father Josef's Method of Reflexology
A Swiss Priest Revives This Foot Therapy in Taiwan and Asia
Father Josef Eugster was born and raised in Eastern Switzerland and was placed in Taiwan in 1970 through the Missionary Society of Bethlehem. This Catholic priest renewed the interest in Reflexology in Asia in the mid-1980’s through his need for quick, and simple, relief of rheumatic arthritis in his knees.
The Story of Father Josef
Father Josef’s knees bothered him so badly he could hardly walk by the age of 37. The first sign of relief came when a colleague brought him a Reflexology book. Eugster used the book Good Health for the Future through Foot Reflexology (Trema 1976, ASIN: B000LQNRFS) by Hedi Masafret, to cure his arthritic knees in just two weeks. He followed the diagrams and charts and was completely self-taught. Determined that this was part of his mission in Taiwan, Father Josef began to work on his congregation, especially those who could not attend services due to poor health.
Word traveled quickly of this priest that was helping to heal people. In fact, Father Josef received a letter from the Health Minister to stop doing Reflexology. Eugster petitioned the President and Vice President of Taiwan to continue offering Reflexology and even had the opportunity to meet with the Vice President and Health Minister in person. The Vice President had Father Josef appointed to a hospital where he could continue his work in Reflexology.
After many thousands of Reflexology sessions Father Josef started to train helpers which brought him invitations to introduce the method to Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and China.
The Rwo Shur Health Method
The first institute in Taiwan that was founded by Father Josef’s trained helpers was named after Josef himself – Rwo Shur – his name in Chinese. The Rwo Shur health method was brought to China in the mid-1980’s and is the most common form of Foot Reflexology in modern Asia.
Originally the amount of pressure used in Father Josef’s sessions caused a lot of pain to the recipient. Today’s method is a bit gentler though it still uses a good amount of pressure so that the body can heal faster.
Father Josef’s Method of Reflexology
Eventually Father Josef came away from the commercialism of the Rwo Shur Health Method and institute to form his own non-profit in the United States called, simply, Father Josef’s Method of Reflexology. He teaches his method in workshop formats in the United States to Reflexologists as continuing education.
A typical Father Josef session may last anywhere from 20-45 minutes and uses a lot of knuckle techniques, some cream or oil for lubrication and a small wooden dowel. Eugster gives daily sessions for two to three weeks for chronic client complaints with an impressive track record. The Rwo Shur method is also very helpful during acute cases such as back strains, the common cold, headaches and migraines, and more.
To find a Reflexologist trained in Father Josef’s method in the United States contact Irina Breslav at his non-profit office:
Father Josef’s Method of Reflexology – 1441 High Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut, 06903, USA 203-968-6824 fjmreflexology@optonline.net
References:
- Father Josef’s Method, author attended 12-hour continuing education workshop, September 2004.
- Soul Work by Kathryn Treece, Massage Magazine Issue 93 September/October 2001, accessed online October 2008.
- Reflexology Around the World by Beryl Crane, Positive Health magazine, accessed online October 2008.
Further Reading:
Chinese Reflexology Charts
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