Article: Reflexology is based on the premise that the nerves in your feet, hands and ears each correspond with other parts of your body. Applying pressure to certain reflex areas can relieve symptoms in other parts of the body. Engaging a nerve in your big toe, for example, could reduce tension in your head and relieve a headache. Applying pressure to your heel could aid in digestion. Reflexology has even been used to aid in treatment for serious conditions like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Research has shown that reflexology has four primary effects:  It can impact specific organs, such as by increasing blood flow to the kidneys. It can bring about an amelioration of specific symptoms by helping organs function properly. It can create a relaxation effect and reduce anxiety. It can relieve pain throughout the body. Reflexology is based on the idea that the body can be divided into zones. Picture your body divided into a system of longitudinal and transverse zones. Imagine five zones on each side of your body, starting at the tip of each toe, and running up the length of your body to the top of your head. The transverse zones (similar to lines of latitude) divide the areas of your feet into zones that correspond to your head and neck, your chest, abdomen and your pelvis area. Engaging the tip of a particular zone by applying pressure to a place on the foot activates the body's healing power for that entire zone. This concept is also referred to as zone therapy.  When you perform reflexology, it's necessary to learn where the reflexes are on the feet that correspond to every limb, organ and gland of your body. When you apply pressure to these specific points, you stimulate the corresponding limb, organ or gland. In this way you can use reflexology to stimulate your body's healing power. When your body is experiencing stress, your energy reserves get depleted and you are less able to fight infections or combat pain. But when your body is in a deeply relaxed state induced by reflexology, your body’s natural healing power is activated. Meeting with a person who has been certified in the art of reflexology is a good way to introduce yourself to the practice. He or she will be able to show you the finger "walking" techniques used to apply pressure to specific points on the hands, feet and ears to relieve stress and pain in other parts of the body.  Before making an appointment, be sure to check the person's credentials and verify that he or she is a certified reflexologist. Some natural health practitioners practice reflexology without having studied the art in depth. If you're interested in  becoming a reflexologist, consult the website of the American Reflexology Certification Board to find a list of programs that offer certification in reflexology. When you identify which zone you want to engage, find the correct reflex spots on your foot by looking on a chart or consulting with a reflexologist. Apply gentle pressure to the area. The pressure you apply to these spots will stimulate your body to create endorphins that interrupt the pain cycle and relieve stress.  Reflexology feels similar to getting a foot massage. The pressure you apply should feel firm, but not painful. Use your fingers and thumbs to gently work the area for several minutes. To prepare yourself for a reflexology session, simply try to relax. Reflexology is often considered a holistic healing practice, but there's no special mental preparation you have to go through to make it effective.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Learn the fundamentals of reflexology. Understand reflexology zones. Consider making an appointment with a reflexologist. Practice applying pressure to reflex points.
Article: Make sure you sit on a comfortable chair at a desk that is a few inches above your thighs. Your feet should be flat on the floor when you sit straight on the chair. Keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed. You should not write at a desk that is too low or too high for you. Make sure you do not have to crouch or strain yourself to sit comfortably at the desk. You can also use a gel pen that releases a nice, fluid line of ink. Dark ink, such as blue or black, will make it easier for you to see the ink on the page. You can also use pencil to write in cursive, especially if you want the option of erasing your letters and starting again. Get a B pencil with a triangular barrel, as it will be softer on the paper and easier to write with. Look for lined paper that a dotted line in the middle of each line. You can find lined paper made for cursive writing at your local school supply store or online. If you’d prefer plain paper so you have more room to try the flowing, loose movements of cursive, you can use it. However, it may be more difficult for you to make your letters uniform without lines on the paper. If you are right-handed, make sure the top right and bottom left corners of your paper line up straight with your nose. Use your left arm to hold the paper still. If you are left-handed, the top left and bottom right corners should line up with your nose, with your right arm keeping the paper secure. Angling the paper will make it easier for you to slant your letters as you write. In cursive, your letters should slant up and to the right by 35 degrees. This will ensure your writing is even and controlled. Guide the paper with your hand so you are always writing at an angle. The pen or pencil should rest on your middle finger and be held in place by your thumb and index finger. Maintain a loose, relaxed grip. Do not grip so tightly on the pen or pencil that your fingernails turn white or your fingers become stiff.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Sit on a chair at a desk. Use an ink pen that has a felt tip. Write on lined paper so your letters are the same size and shape. Place the paper at an angle. Use your non-writing hand to move the paper up as you write. Grip the pen or pencil lightly at a 45 degree angle.
Article: For most cacti species, you will need to repot the plant once its roots begin to show through the drainage holes of your pot or once the crown of the cactus reaches the edge of the pot.  This will usually occur every two to four years.  Repot your cactus during the dry season, usually in late winter or early spring. Roots may break during the process, and moisture can cause those broken roots to rot. Slip on thick leather gloves. The material must be thick so that it can help protect you against the prickly spines of the plant. Gloves alone may not be enough to protect your skin, but even if you take other protective measures, you should still include thick gloves among them. Run a dull knife around the inside perimeter of the pot, using a sawing motion to help break up the soil there. Continue as needed until the soil starts coming up as a solid mass.  If you have a plastic pot, you could also try squeezing the sides of the pot to loosen the soil there. Tap along the sides of the pot with a dull knife to help loosen the soil, as well. The soil surrounding the root mass should be completely loosened before you remove the cactus. Otherwise, you could end up damaging the plant. Stack a few sheets of newspaper together and fold them in thirds to create a thick, sturdy strip. Wrap this strip around your cactus. Carefully grab this strip, pressing it against the cactus as you work, and lift both the strip and cactus up and out of the pot. Alternatively, you could skip the newspaper and use an old pair of barbecue tongs to lift the cactus out. The idea is simply to keep your skin as far away from the spines of the cactus as possible.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Know when to repot. Put on gloves. Loosen the soil. Lift the cactus out with newspaper.