Reflexology for The Chinese Community in Toronto

A great opportunity for the Chinese Community in Toronto again for the 4th time to learn the most powerful, effective, simple method to keep one's health at its best was provided and hosted by the most influencial holistic health scientist, Father Josef Eugster.

I call him "Scientist" because he is the one who is incessantly learning and exploring the knowledge of reflexology in relation to keeping and restoring the human body in its best state of health.

The art or should I say the technique of applying pressure in many different ways on the corresponding reflexive points in the body, in order to stimulate the spontaneous self recovery of the body which falls out of balance, the balance that is crucial to health, is called "Reflexology".

People study reflexology for many many years. Some say more than 5000 years since the early Egyptians and the ancient Chinese. Manuscripts are found depicting in words and graphic Reflexology. Many different methods are developed since.

Father Josef Eugster, a Catholic foreign mission priest from Switzerland sent to Taiwan, developed his unique method of Reflexology called "Father Josef's Method" or in short FJM since the 70's. He was accidently attracted to Reflexology when he was treated with reflexology on his injured knee by a Brother when the Brother saw the way he crippled. Of course Fr Josef recovered completely. He began searching the relation of reflexology on various parts of the foot and later, legs and hands.

Numbrous healings are attributed to his FJM Reflexology. He taught the people in Taiwan to help themselves and others at a minimal cost, who have little means to be cared for by the doctors. Reflexology requires no medication and can be done without tools. It carries no such things as the side effects which the medicine does. The feeling of a little pain when applied on with reflexology is all that required to heal.

The first and second Reflexology Course held by Fr Josef in Toronto was in the November of 2005 at the Chinese Martyrs Catholic Church (CMCC), 2755 Denison Street, Markham. The courses were organised by Fr. Anthony Chuan Tien Huang, then Assistant Pastor of CMCC, who knew Fr Josef for many years while they were Taiwan. The two courses in reflexology helped train some 400 people, which included the parishioners of the Toronto Catholic Churches as well as people from all faiths and professions. Cost of the training all goes with Fr Josef back to the Hill People of Taiwan to help with children's Education.

The third Reflexology Course was held in Downtown, in June of 2006 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (OLMCC), 202 Saint Patrick Street, Toronto. The course helped train some 100 people. The organiser was still the same Fr. Anthony Chuan Tien Huang, Assistant Pastor of OLMCC.

The fourth Reflexology Course just went by and was held on Fri Aug. 10 and Sat. 11, 2007 in Downtown again at the same place as the third one, organised by the same priest Fr. Huang. More than 100 people attended. This fourth Reflexology Course was special in that 19 past students signed up for the Intermediate Level Practical Examination, by Fr Josef himself on theory and practice. To everyone's satisfaction, 15 of the 19 passed the exam and were awarded a Certificate of Complacency on FJM Reflexology, signed by Fr Josef in English and Chinese. The four were held with conditional reassessment after adequate training.

The organising committee of the Fr Josef Method of Reflexology, which includes Fr Anthony Huang, MissTeresa Zhou, Miss Christine Lo (ILPE Certified 2006) and Mr. Hugh Shang (ILPE Certified 2006) takes this opportunity to thank all those who participated in the training, the two churches and their pastors, Fr. Peter Leung (CMCC) and Fr. Peter Chin (OLMCC) who generously provided with various equipment and facilities.

The committee would also like to thank the Chinese Papers including the Sing Tao Newspaper, Ming Pao Newspaper and the Today Daily News for helping to let the Chinese Community know of such a helpful and charitable event.

The committee would like to thank the merchants who let post the Reflexology Course posters, namely Oriental Mall, Don Ting Wu Restaurant, Fat Kee Restaurant, Mei Doh Restaurant, Sunshine Delicious Food, Mongkok Mall and Scarborough Restaurant.

The committee is also indebted to past students and friends of reflexology, including Dr. Christine Wong, who let people share the happiness of healthy feet. We hope they could share what they have learned with people they know.

Sharing Class of Reflexology will be held on 2nd Friday of each month at CMCC, in the morning from 10.30am to 12.00 noon and in the evening from 7.30pm to 9.00pm free of charge. All interested are welcome. Keep up the good feet work, and be healthy.