By Josie Wu Translated by Cara Steenstra

Even though the traditional folk therapy of "foot massage has been around Taiwan for over 20 years, my first experience of it was only a very recent event. A Swedish friend of mine, Peter, was visiting Taiwan for the first time and was curious about everything. As we were strolling around the streets of Taipei, Peter stopped suddenly and would not stop staring at a foot massage center that had caught his attention. Then came a flood of questions from Peter. "What are they doing?" "Interesting! Does it really work?" "Does it cure diseases?" "Does it hurt? It must hurt!" "What kind of theory is this? How does it feel?"

My curious friend, who wanted to try stinky tofu the first day he arrived in Taiwan, immediately rolled up his trousers to have a go at it. As for me, I simply went along for the ride but realized just how great it felt and that it was not really painful after all. While I watched my friend's face contort and his eyes bulge during the massage, I kept imagining him going home to tell his friends about this "horrific" experience. Surprisingly, he not only finished the entire therapy, he also kept exclaiming about how "cool" it was! The next day, he continued to exalt the wonders of its effects, telling me about the wonderful nights' sleep he had enjoyed and how energized he felt. It was entirely beyond what I had imagined!

Foot massage can be traced back to ancient China where, thousands of years ago, Chinese people had already used foot massages to treat ailments and to stay healthy. The theories are similar to acupuncture, and were introduced to Japan during the Tang dynasty, evolving into what is known nowadays as "harikyu" and "sokushindo". There is an old saying that goes, "When trees age, their roots age first; when people age, their feet age first." Some people claim the feet are a human being's "second heart", and are intimately connected to the body and its organs, also taking on the entire weight of the body. Foot massage stimulates the reflex areas in the foot to adjust bodily functions, improve blood circulation and metabolism.

Well known for the development and progress of foot massage in Taiwan is Rev. Josef Euguster. Last month (December 2004) was Rev. Euguster's 65th birthday. He is friendly, full of energy and speaks fluent Mandarin and Taiwanese. As a missionary in Taitung, apart from his religious work, he also promotes the new methods in reflexology enthusiastically. He stresses that real foot massages are unlike those painful scenes seen on certain TV prank shows, but should be done according to the individual's physical needs, applying necessary pressure, making one feel refreshed afterwards.

Rev. Euguster aims only to help others, and has never opened a single shop. Yet his name has almost become a brand name for foot massage businesses because of the effects of his methods. Forty minutes of foot massage plus 10 minutes for a medicinal foot bath usually costs around NT$500-NT$600. These therapies are popular among tourists, businessmen and those in the entertainment business. Even though many places use the name of Rev. Euguster, the quality of massage therapists may differ, so one must take care when choosing. The Tai-Chi-Tong Traditional Therapy Research Center has five branches in Taipei and one in Hsinchu, and is a member of the Chinese Foot Reflexology Association. They wish to differentiate themselves from other massage businesses claiming to use his methods, and work hard at passing on their professionalism and training talents.

An experienced technical consultant, Mr. Chen Bi-Hsiung, said that a truly qualified therapist should be able, by simply touching the client's foot, to professionally judge the level of strength needed in order to achieve the best results without causing any harm. Health problems are often caused by lack of exercise. Foot reflexology therapy, which means foot massage, aims to stimulate reflex areas to improve blood circulation, expel toxins that have accumulated in the body, stimulate metabolism in order to achieve the effects of good health. Mr. Chen also added that a regular lifestyle, a balanced diet, moderate exercise and good moods are the actual basis of maintaining good health.

Zi-Zu-Chang-Le Traditional Therapy Research Center is also a member of the Chinese Foot Reflexology Association. The premises are not large, with nine therapists. The difference is that since their opening three years ago, they have received numerous reports from Japanese travel magazines. The bonsai trees and indoor plants create a very relaxed environment. The manager, Mr. Chen, who was once invited to lecture in Japan, insists upon certain concepts he learned from the Japanese such as patience, friendliness and attention to service. He also wants to break away from the old image of the ZhongShang area. Even with an all-male therapist team, their client base is mainly female. Mr. Chen remarked that many tourists from Japan come here as if on a pilgrimage to enjoy foot massage and, due to their proximity to the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel and Le Petite Sherwood Taipei, many business travelers visit them, too.
Originated from central and southesn Taiwan is the Teacher Deng Health Center, with 10 branches across the country. They just opened a flagship store in the Carrefour Hypermarket in HsinTien. The place is bright and spacious, with luxurious seating and audio-visual entertainment. Their motto being "economical, healthy and recreational," they welcome the entire family and stay open 24 hours. So you can enjoy a massage anytime to improve your circulation and immune system. They also have a "Shanghai Foot Bath" that contains 10 medicinal herbs.

If you wish to gain further understanding of the benefits of foot massage, a lot of information and books are readily available. Those who suffer from ailments should consult their doctors before beginning any form of treatment. Overall, foot massage is a very practical method for maintaining good health.

Tai-Chi-Tong Traditional Therapy Research Center
Tel: (02) 3343-3926
Address: 72, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 2
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Zi-Zu-Chang-Le Traditional Therapy Research Center
Tel: (02) 2700-8817
Address: 109-2, XinYi Road, Sec. 4
Hours: 11a.m. -12 a.m.
Teacher Deng Health Center
Tel: (02) 2541-2700
Address: 136, MinChuan E. Road, Sec. 2
Hours: open 24 hours