An extremely relaxing treatment,reflexology aids not only physical health, but encourages emotional and mental healing too, promoting a state of homeostasis (internal body balance), thereby maintaining health in all areas of our lives.
A safe, natural therapy used to treat, balance and relax the body. Reflexology is a non-invasive complimentary therapy that works on the feet, hands and ears assisting the body to heal itself. Following illness, stress, injury or disease, the body is in a state of imbalance and vital energy pathways are blocked, preventing the body from functioning effectively. Reflexology can be used to restore and maintain the body’s natural equilibrium and encourage healing. Reflexology works on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands and feet that correspond with every organ, gland and part of the body.
So many of my clients come to me feeling highly anxious and stressed. I believe stress to be one of the most significant problems in our society today and the cause of a multitude of modern diseases and disorders. Constant exposure to stress gradually erodes the immune system and the end result is ‘dis-ease’.
Because reflexology reduces the negative effects of stress and helps the body normalise, this in turn helps the body to ward off the potential for more lethal illnesses.
My goal through reflexology is to help bring about normal body function and promote a feeling of wellbeing in my clients, while encouraging the body to function at its optimum.
Regardless of your health ailments/conditions, the reflexology process involves the entire foot, starting at the toes and working down the length of the foot.
Focus will be given to the area corresponding to the specific problem, however, working the entire area allows the nerve pathways and congestion to release and promote the relaxation response of the entire body, including internal organs and glands as well as muscle groups, bones, nerve ganglions (solar plexus, brachial plexus) and nerves (sciatic).
Every patient will heal differently, but reflexology is beneficial for all ages, from babies to the elderly.
Reflexology to the feet, hands, or ears sends a calming message from the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, which in turn signals the body to adjust the tension level. This enhances overall relaxation, brings internal organs and their systems into a state of optimum functioning, and increases blood supply (which brings additional oxygen and nutrients to cells and enhances waste removal). It positively affects the circulatory, respiratory, endocrine, immune, and neuropeptide systems in the body. The resultant release of tension has a positive effect in relieving muscular pain.
A significant challenge facing many women today is infertility. Many women find themselves in the awful predicament of not being able to fall pregnant. They’re told to relax in order to conceive, but most feel they can’t relax until they fall pregnant. Anecdotal evidence suggests reflexology can assist with fertility issues by giving the recipient a feeling of wellbeing and helping them to feel less stressed. It encourages the body systems to work more efficiently and helps to create a healthierenvironment for pregnancy to occur.
Immune defences are boosted through reflexology treatment. It stimulates the lymphatic system, which redu ces the risk of an infection. Reflexology cleanses the body of toxins and impurities. The body has built in mechanisms for cleansing itself in the form of lymph nodes, kidneys, the colon and skin. If any of these become blocked or function improperly, toxins and waste matter build up. Reflexology also stimulates the production of endorphins leading to improved immunity.
Reflexology is used by many people as a method of eliminating pain. As an analgesic treatment, reflexology can reduce the severity of migraines and headaches, simply by relieving tension in the muscles that can often result in these conditions. Any headaches induced by stress can also be improved, since stress often manifests in the physical symptoms of a migraine. This is actually one of the most popular applications of reflexology.
Stress can’t be avoided, but it becomes a problem when one fails to manage it well. Stress depletes the body of essential nutrients and upsets the delicate hormonal balance. The body’s defences break down making a person more susceptible to illness and disease. Reflexology reduces stress by generating deep, tranquil relaxation that helps the body to balance itself and allow healing energy to flow.
Reflexology helps clear away the stress and turmoil of everyday life giving you a chance to regain healthy, restful sleep patterns. Your body will respond with gradually increased mental and physical clarity as you experience the careful manipulation of specific reflex points on the foot. Reflexology can help relieve insomnia using techniques based on ancient knowledge of the specific reflex points to help relieve stress – the major contributor to sleep issues.
Circulation can be greatly improved through reflexology. Blood needs to flow freely throughout the body, carrying oxygen and nutrients to all the cells, removing the waste products of metabolism and other toxins. Stress tightens up the cardiovascular system and restricts blood flow. By reducing stress and tension, reflexology allows the cardiovascular vessels to conduct the flow of blood naturally and easily.
Nerve function is imperative to the body’s communication channels. Every part of the body is managed by messages carried along neural pathways. When these pathways are impaired, nerve function is impeded and messages are not moved effectively resulting in the body operating at less than optimum levels. Reflexology stimulates more than 7,000 nerves in the feet.
Reflexology can be as effective for sinus relief as other homeopathic remedies. You may need stronger intervention if your sinus problems are related to serious infections or blockages – but if reflexology can help, it will work best when you’re hydrated. Drink plenty of water regularly and especially drink a large glass before undertaking sinus-relief techniques
For the body to be healthy, everything must work together. If one part is out of balance, other parts suffer. Reflexology restores the natural energy flow and returns balance to the whole nervous system through pressure on specific points.
Energy levels are revitalised. By relaxing and opening up energy pathways, reflexology revitalizes the body and supplies it with energy on all levels
The first visit will generally take about 15 minutes longer than subsequent appointments. You will be asked about your medical history, your general health, exercise regimen and your nutrition. Your lifestyle and any ailments will then be discussed, followed by an examination of your hands and feet. The entire area of both feet will then be treated and possibly also the hands and ears. The treatment usually lasts about 60 minutes. The very young or elderly may be given shorter treatments, but more frequently, so that the body systems are not over-stimulated. There is no need to get undressed – only shoes and socks are removed.
During your session you may feel different sensations in your feet. There may be sharp pain for short periods or your feet may feel very sensitive, but for the majority of the time you will feel a sensation of gentle and pulsing pressure. Sensitivity varies from person to person and from treatment to treatment, but generally the session will be calming and comforting and the pressure will be adjusted to suit the individual’s needs.
There are no known negative side effects as a result of reflexology. Since this treatment helps the body to normalise, a natural response is sometimes experienced if the body has toxins to release. These are often subtle and usually positive signs that your body is attempting to return to a state of balance and harmony. Symptoms usually last for 24-48 hours.
After effects may include:
Some people confuse reflexology with massage. While both reflexology and massage use touch, the approaches are very different. Reflexology focuses on ‘reflex maps’ of points and areas of the body in the feet, hands and ears using unique micro-movement techniques such as thumb or ‘finger walking’ and ‘hook and backup’ with the goal of creating a response throughout the body. While massage works from the ‘outside in’, reflexology works from the ‘inside out’, stimulating the nervous system to release tension.
Yes, reflexology is totally safe and beneficial during pregnancy, however it is recommended to wait until the 13th week of pregnancy by which time the placenta is fully established.
Reflexology dates back to ancient civilisations such as Egypt, India and China and was only introduced to the west in the early 20th Century.
Because reflexology is an ancient practice, its origin and history is difficult to trace, however, it is thought to have been passed down through an oral tradition, and possibly first recorded on the Egyptian tomb of Ankhamor in 2330 BC along with other medical procedures.
The frequency of visits depends on the health and wellness goals of the client. Clients with chronic conditions can benefit from bi-weekly or weekly sessions. Usually the time between visits increases as the body begins to regain a state of natural balance and vitality. Monthly visits can help keep stress in check and build immunity
Reflexologists do not diagnose or tell you about any congestion or tension they may observe during a session which may suggest abnormalities. One of the theories of reflexology is that the body will nurture and repair itself once released from stress. If the body is extremely stressed, you may be encouraged to seek medical advice.
No, there are many different methods and techniques, however all achieve the same results. Blocked energy causes many ailments and all methods of reflexology aim to unblock energy pathways.
I am a fully insured member of the Reflexology Association of Australia. Many Private Health Funds cover Reflexology treatments.