I've always been curious to try <strong><a href="http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00546/Reflexology-Dr-Weil-Wellness-Therapies.html" target="_blank">reflexology</a></strong>, a form of body work that focuses primarily on the feet.  I suppose the reason I've never followed through is because when I go in for a massage, I want the whole shebang.  I can't think of too many things in this world that I love more than a shoulder and back rub.  Ahhhh...

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One day when I was eating at THE best Vietnamese food in my fair city, Justina (the owner of Cyclo who just so happens to be my friend) relayed a reflexology story of epic proportions.  She visited a reflexology place a couple of blocks way where she received a reflexology massage by a little old Chinese man.  Not only did he give her the best foot massage of her life, but he also dished out medical advice and psychic insights into her future.

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She had me at insights.

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I showed up with at the massage parlor in a flurry of excitement.  I could wait to meet this reflexology local legend who would delve into my feet while reading my soul.

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I perused the menu of services in the lobby.  $20 for a half hour reflexology/$30 for an hour reflexology.  What a bargain!  I wondered if I wanted my feet rubbed for an entire hour.

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A woman greeted me.  "I've never tried reflexology before.  I'm not sure if I would like the 30 minutes or the 60 minutes."  She appeared confused and led me to a dark room with oversized chairs.

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I heard chatter in another language coming from the hallway.  A young man came in and stuck my feet into a warm bucket of water lined with a garbage bag.  Not exactly the most aesthetic presentation, but sterile.  When you have friends who have acquired toe fungi from pedicure shops, you appreciate sterile.

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Another woman came into the room and instructed me with great enthusiasm and a smile to "Sleep!  15 minutes!  Sleep!"  She reclined the oversized chair, covered me in towels (it was a chilly room), and lay a folded a washcloth over my eyes to block out the light.

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When in Rome, do as the Romans.  When in a reflexology parlor, sleep when the nice lady tells you to.  I closed my eyes and drifted off while thinking of someone dreamy.

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I was jolted out of my reverie by creaking chairs.  I thought that I was hearing things.  Rather, I <em>hoped</em> that I was hearing things.  Nope.  I definitely noted creaking.  A creaking chair, specifically.

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Uh-oh.  I hoped this wasn't <em>that</em> kind of massage parlor.  Justina never mentioned anything...you know...

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I listened for moaning, and thankfully, all was quiet except for the incessant creaking.

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I shut my eyes tight and focused on Mr. Dreamy.  I trusted that all would be well.

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10 minutes later, someone entered the room and pulled my feet out of the bucket.  The reflexologist moved around to my head and started massaging my temples, which is not exactly reflexology, but WOW it felt good.  Next were my shoulders, necks, arms, legs...

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Huh?

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And then my feet.  Whew!  I was ready for my reflexology revelations.

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The foot massage was quite painful in certain areas, and I was certain that this would reveal deep and powerful secrets.  I couldn't wait to consult the wise old Chinese man after our session.

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After working on my feet for 5 minutes, I heard a voice ask for me to turn over.  I assumed I was in for 60 minutes.  My makeshift eye mask was removed to reveal...

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A young Asian man of about 22 years of age, I would guess.

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Oh.

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This was obviously the grandson of the Legend!  An apprentice to his grandfather!  I trusted that I was in good hands.

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I noticed a spot at the back of the chair that was a face rest.  I wasn't expecting this at all, but as I said, I'm always game for a shoulder and back rub.

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The massage was more of an acupressure massage (I'm used to Swedish), and I enjoyed the difference.  It was one of those "it hurts but it's a good kind of hurt!"

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He then announced that we were finished.  I dragged my wet noodle of a body out of the chair, grabbed my things, met him in the lobby, and settled the bill.

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"So...what can you tell me about the reflexology?"

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I was answered with a blank stare.

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"You know...Can you tell me anything about my health through my feet?"  (I was suddenly embarrassed to ask about my future.  I thought we'd ease into that once he understood that I was open-minded and was game for the esoteric portion of today's festivities.)

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"Oh.  I don't know that."

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